Beach trips: they are the perfect time to get caught up on books you’ve been dying to read. Here’s a peek into my beach bag to see what I toted down seaside and why they are worth the space (since I’m an old school, no Kindle or Nook kinda girl):
All the Light We Cannot See-Anthony Doerr
Just stunning writing. I haven’t felt this way about a book since I found The Book Thief a few years back (YA category be darned!) I loved the storytelling and the characters so much. My biggest takeaway: I felt such a mixture of pity and sadness for those who lived this time period in Europe during World War II and the few choices they had in their lives. This one will break your heart, but you must read it anyway. OK, so maybe not what you want to enjoy on the beach, but read this one. You will be forever changed and haunted by it.
The Rosie Project-Graeme Simsion
Get ready for this one–it’s a romantic comedy in the making (actually, I think they are casting for the movie now). With endearing characters like Don Tillman, a genetics professor who thinks he can create the formula to finding a wife, dubbed the Wife Project–to Rosie Jarman, the barmaid he meets who helps him on his quest, you will laugh and possibly even snort out loud. Or is that just me? Oh well. You get the picture-lots of humor in this one.
What Alice Forgot-Liane Moriarty
My beach read from 2 years ago, and it’s still showing up on must read lists for a reason. Alice wakes up on the gym floor thinking she’s 29, blissfully in love with her husband, and expecting her first baby. Reality: she’s 39, getting divorced, and the mom of 3 kids. We follow along as Alice struggles to remember the past 10 years and come to terms with who she has become. I flew through this one and it’s a perfect pairing with soaking up the rays.
The Girl on the Train-Paula Hawkins
Suspenseful and nailbiting for sure. I definitely didn’t see some of the plot twists coming, which is refreshing because many in this genre are quite predictable. Of course, I’m the weirdo that DIDN’T love Gone Girl, and the critics compare The Girl on the Train to Gone Girl. Narrated by 3 of the characters, including a drunk divorcee who spies something while traveling on the train that brings her into a police investigation, this ride will leave you breathless.
Searching for Sunday-Rachel Held Evans
I’ve always felt closer to God on a beach, so Searching for Sundays may be my perfect beach read that brings me closer in my faith journey than any novel ever will. I need this book desperately because I’m having a hard time with “the church.” Glennon Melton from Momastery.com recommended it, and something inside me said to grab this one. I haven’t regretted it.
Honorable Mention:
The Art of Social Media-Guy Kawasaki and Peg Fitzpatrick
This is a goldmine for bloggers and social media fans alike to get tips from the “big dogs”–Guy and Peg are so knowledgeable, even the most savvy can learn a trick or two from this book. This falls outside the novel category, but maybe you need a change of pace. Read a chapter, take a dip, then see what the change in scenery inspires you to do. Could be exactly the right book for you to peruse on the beach!
What are YOUR favorite beach reads this summer? Care to share? I’d love some recommendations!
-Sherry
Thanks for the recommendations! Just read “Girl on the Train” and LOVED it!! Now, I’m re-reading “What Alice Forgot” since it has been several years since I read that one. Great ideas for us summer bookworms 🙂
I’ve got another one for you, Marge–it’s by the author of What Alice Forgot–Big Little Lies! It was a perfect beach read. And soon to be made into an HBO series.