After all these Years by Susan Isaacs.  Isaacs is the ultimate beach book author. Her books are funny and engaging - usually murder mysteries. This is one of the best.  "The day after her lavish wedding anniversary bash, Rosie Meyers gets a big surprise: her nouveau riche husband, Richie, is leaving her for a sultry, sophisticated, size-six MBA.  So, when he's found murdered in their exquisitely appointed kitchen, no one is surprised to find Rosie's prints all over the weapon."  "The suburban English teacher is the prime suspect -- the police's only suspect. And she knows she'll spend the rest of her life in the prison library unless she can unmask the real killer. Going into Manhattan on the lam, Rosie learns more about Richie than she ever wanted to know. And more about herself than she ever dreamed possible."

After You by JoJo Moyes.  This is the sequel to Me Before You.  "I couldn't resist After You. Not as perfect as me before you but still a great read.”

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield. "Fun easy read – Laura Bush story with a Midwest twist! High school tragedy, survival, falling in love to someone out of your element, questioning a marriage, repenting husband, finding religion, power, wealth, white house Read the 500 page book in four days. A real ego boost when you haven’t finished a book in a year. Very light, but not Danielle Steele." And, “am embarrassed, but whipped through American Wife and fully enjoyed the trash.”

Attachmentsby Rainbow Rowell. "Very beach-worthy. A romantic story about an Internet security professional whose job is to monitor the emails of employees in the newsroom of the paper where he works. He becomes fascinated by an ongoing email conversation between two friends and falls for one of them. A tech geek makes for an odd romantic hero, but it works."

Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Sykes “A total beach read, but it does have something to say and it's pretty darn funny.”  From Amazon (on release of 10th anniversary edition):  "For readers who adore Candace Bushnell, Tinsely Mortimer, and Lauren Weisberger comes New York Times bestselling author Plum Sykes’s sly and amusing satire—now back in print for its 10th anniversary in a gorgeous, eye-catching package, with a new foreword by the author."

The Best Day of Someone Else’s Life by Kerry Reichs. Looks like chick lit with an "always the bridesmaid…" theme, and, I gather, some deeper messages than the average product of the genre." Eleven weddings in eighteen months would send any sane woman either over the edge or scurrying for the altar. But as reality separates from illusion, Vi learns that letting go of someone else's story to write your own may be harder than buying the myth, but just might help her make the right choices for herself.

The Best of Usby Sarah Pekkanen.  "It is an easy, easy read, but she develops characters unusually well for a paperback beach read.  And although I hadn't met her before her recent reading at Politics and Prose - she's a Chevy Chase mom of three, so hats off to her!"

The Big House: A Century in the Life of an American Summer Homeby George Howe Cult. "I thoroughly enjoyed this book from last year’s list, the history of a summer house on Cape Cod. It helped that I read it while I was staying in a house that had been in a family (not mine) for generations and had to be sold, mirroring exactly what was in the book."

Big, Little Lies by Liane Moriarty.  This was on the list last year, but so many of you told me you loved it, I'm promoting it to a top pick this year. VERY beachy.  (NB: Moriarty has another book coming out in July called Truly Madly Guilty)  “Another hilarious novel from Moriarty whose familiar female characters share all of the petty conceits the rest of us do – but articulate them far more humorously. Voted top comedy on Goodreads last year, this story involves a murder at an elementary school parents’ party, but neither the killer nor the victim are revealed until the end.  Among the hysterically recognizable cast of characters: the members of a “support group for the parents of gifted children.” "Murder mystery among parents at a private school in Australia.  Twists and turns.  Characters you will love and hate and fight for." "I had an absolute blast reading this book about parents at a little school in Australia. It is clear from the start that someone was killed at a school fundraising event, though we don't know who or what the circumstances were. Moriarty takes us back through the months leading up to the event, tying the stories of various characters together in an artful fashion. She intersperses this with little snatches of dialogue that are evidently from police interviews with parents who attended the party. These are HYSTERICAL. So, yes, it's a satire. But it's not an over-the-top, cover-to-cover campy satire (those exhaust me). It's also a murder mystery, a romantic story, a friendship story. It's very clever but also very human with endearing characters and love-to-hate characters, and some in between. I just had the best time." "Why did I resist this book for so long? This book was a blast - - overall the story has a light tone and yet Morriarty covers some pretty heavy topics including spousal abuse and bullying. The characters were well drawn, sympathetic, the humor was actually quite funny and the observations about marriage, the parenting culture, and class differences among friends were all spot on. I originally dismissed this as chick lit and I guess it is but it makes me realize that not all chick lit is created equal."

Bittersweet by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore.  Gothic suspense.  From Amazon:  Plain scholarship student Mabel Dagmar is surprised when her glamorous blue-blooded roommate at their prestigious east coast university befriends her, even more when Genevra "Ev" Winslow invites her to spend the summer at Bittersweet, her cottage on the sprawling Vermont estate owned for generations by her family.  Mabel falls in love with the place, finds a love interest and begins to feel like one of the Winslows.  But she soon discovers a dark side to this family - will she keep the secrets?  Lots of twists will keep you turning the pages.

The Castaways (and other titles) by Elin Hilderbrand. "This is perfect beach reading. She writes well, her characters, dialogue and plots ring true, and they are all set on Nantucket, so it’s like a mini-vacation just reading her books."

The Chaperoneby Laura Moriarty. “A fast beach read with a vivid 1920's backdrop, this is the story of Louise Brooks (who became a famous silent film star) and the chaperone accompanying her to NY where she will attend dance school. To borrow from Wicked lyrics, both women are not sure they were changed for the better, but because they knew each other they were changed for good...”

The Charm School by Nelson Demille. Okay, I cheated and added this NOT NEW book after the list was published. Until this Russian spy story emerged, this book might have seemed a little dated. But hey! Cold War intrigue is BACK, baby, and suddenly this novel is not only timely, but seems weirdly prescient. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading this great old (v beachy) book, I highly recommend it. I remember when I got to the end of this book, I absolutely HAD to be somewhere, but I absolutely COULD NOT put it down. DeMille's best, I think. Maybe now that fear of Russian spies is once again in vogue, they'll finally make a movie of it.

A Circle of Wives by Alice LaPlante.  “This is a super-fast beach read about a man who was married to multiple wives (only one knew about the others) who is found murdered and the story is about trying to figure out which wife killed him and how.  It isn't a wonderful book, but it is readable and does keep you guessing about who murdered the polygamist and why.”

Cocoa Beach by Beatriz Williams. An American nurse and a British soldier fall in love in France during WWI.  Upon their return to England, however, the charming soldier appears to be a master manipulator.  She flees to the States but remains trapped by his manipulations. What is real and whom can she trust? Many twists and turns make this a fun read to the end.

Colony by Anne Rivers Siddons.  Beachy -- SOOO beachy.  But no surprise, that's what Siddons writes - beach books, (many are actually set on beaches).  This one is about a summer colony in Maine.  Lots of family melodrama, very page turney.  Was a runaway bestseller when it was released in 2002.

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella: “This and other books in the Shopaholic series are total beach reading; I just bought my fifth one.” Another reader recommended Undomestic Goddess.

Cowboys Are My Weakness: Stories by Pam Houston. "Houston is a frequent contributor to O magazine. Ok, this is OLD, and this is not classic in any way but it is one of my FAVORite books! it's a collection of short stories written by a 20 something year old woman, about 20 something year old women who are doing their darndest to make their ways in the world... they are falling in love with the wrong men, trying out the wrong jobs, but always hanging on to their sisters and, thankfully, their own true grits. This book makes me reminiscent for my past-- and, even better-- thankful for my present. Short stories. chick focused. Easy breezy, clever read (but not dumb)."

The Devil in the Junior League by Linda Francis Lee. "Good non-thinking book for the beach. Southerners, in particular, will appreciate this. 'No diamonds before 6 p.m.'" The Junior League of Willow Creek, Texas, is très exclusive. Undesirables need not apply. Fredericka Mercedes Hildebrand Ware (Frede to her friends) is a member beyond reproach...until her life begins to unravel. When her husband betrays her, steals her money, and runs off to places unknown, it's something Frede would prefer to keep under wraps. The last thing she needs is to become fodder for the JLWC gossip mill. And to make matters worse, there's only one person in town who stands a chance at helping her get revenge—Howard Grout, a tasteless, gold-chain-wearing lawyer who has bought his way into Frede's tony neighborhood. But there's a price: She has to get his tacky, four-inch-stiletto-and-pink-spandex-wearing wife, Nikki, into the Junior League.

Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Meloy. What could go wrong on a holiday family cruise?  Kidnapping, a South American drug ring, murder, illicit sex, all wrapped up in a package of privilege, race, and guilt.

Falling by Jane Green. "Formulaic Jane Green fiction, which is why it’s perfect for a summer read.  British gal has heartbreak, moves from Manhattan to Westport, CT, meets rough-and-tumble single dad.  Making out ensues, as does tragedy.  Blah blah, blah …. pour some rose and crack this one open.  It’s a fun, easy read".

The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates.  Several of our contributors mentioned this as a good beach read.  From Amazon:  "It is 1950 and, after a disastrous honeymoon night, Ariah Erskine's young husband throws himself into the roaring waters of Niagara Falls. Ariah, "the Widow Bride of the Falls," begins a relentless seven-day vigil in the mist, waiting for his body to be found. At her side is confirmed bachelor and pillar of the community Dirk Burnaby, who is unexpectedly drawn to her. What follows is a passionate love affair, marriage, and family -- a seemingly perfect existence. But tragedy soon takes over their lives, poisoning their halcyon years with distrust, greed, and murder."  Another great one by the same author is We Were the Mulvaneys.

Family Pictures by Jane Green.  “Grown up chick lit where the secret parentage of a young girl gets exposed because of her friendship with someone at school who takes her on a trip to NY to "visit colleges."  Turns out Dad had a secret life AND FAMILY.  Dun-duhn-DDUUUUNNNNNNN.  A quick, easy read and perfect for a breezy Saturday afternoon read on the front porch.

Girls of Summer by Nancy Thayer. "Another frothy, enjoyable beach read by Nantucket-based Thayer, whose novels (along with Elin Hilderbrand's) pretty much epitomize beach reads.  Lisa is in her fifties.  Her husband left her and abandoned their two children many years earlier, and while she's shied away from romance, she's built a life for herself and her children, Juliet and Theo.  Then there's Mack, a widower ten years her junior, whose wife died when their daughter Beth was three. Mack restores old houses, and when he starts working on Lisa's, a spark is ignited.  Their budding romance is complicated, however, when their grown kids, all for different reasons, and all with their own romantic challenges, end up back on the island. Quick read. Fun.  And if you like it, Thayer has written many more novels for you to enjoy."

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne.  Since this list is supposed to be “beach books,” I’m adding this enjoyable, lightweight novel.  It’s about colleagues, a man and a woman, who cordially despise one another.  Gee? I wonder what happens.  It is chick-lit, I suppose, but well-written and fun, and richer than it first appears.  Five stars for beach-worthiness.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett. "Initially I thought it would be one more (deserved) stab at racism in the South, but this is different. A very different voice and very real. Great book for discussion. Easy to read, good beach book."  "This book, set in the 60s in the South, against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, explores those timeless bonds between women --regardless of race, of age, or of position in life." And another:  "This is my favorite book of the year and it should definitely qualify as a beach book. It is a page- turner for sure. I told a friend about it and she told me that she stayed up until three in the morning to finish it (she has small kids so this is no small sacrifice) … It’s just so engrossing, I wish I could start it over again. Walked by a woman the other day who was reading it sitting on a bench – she said she cannot put it down." I am on vacation with a friend who bought the book last night and was immediately engaged, saying it had changed her vacation. Now she “really has a book.” You know that feeling.

Joyland by Stephen King.  “This one is more of a mystery than a novel of suspense. Most of the action takes place in and around a beach amusement park, so it makes a fine summer read. The book focuses on the long ago murder of a woman at the amusement park, whose ghost haunts one of the rides.”

The Last Painting of Sara De Vos by Dominic Smith. "This was the best novel I read in 2016.  It's a page turner that tells the story of a 1960s forgery by a young art historian in NYC and then transports you to 1600 Holland and the story of the artist whose painting was forged. Both are women and their lives parallel and connect in surprising ways."

The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy. "I LOVED this book and read it so fast at the beach that I had to force myself to put it down to make it last longer. It's about the Citadel military life and insight into that world is fascinating. But there is also a lot of story and character about fathers and friendships and families."

Love in Mid Air by Kim Wright. "I am currently reading this fairly well-written but kind of trashy novel. It is a total beach read!!!!"  From Amazon:  "A chance encounter with a stranger on an airplane sends Elyse Bearden into an emotional tailspin. Suddenly Elyse is willing to risk everything: her safe but stale marriage, her seemingly perfect life in an affluent Southern suburb, and her position in the community. She finds herself cutting through all the instincts that say 'no' and instead lets 'yes' happen. As Elyse embarks on a risky affair, her longtime friend Kelly and the other women in their book club begin to question their own decisions about love, sex, marriage, and freedom. There are consequences for Elyse, her family, and her circle of close friends, all of whom have an investment in her life continuing as normal. But is normal what she really wants after all? In the end it will take an extraordinary leap of faith for Elyse to find--and follow--her own path to happiness."

Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos. I found this book, the first novel by poet de los Santos, extremely engaging, and I stayed up way too late finishing it. (What else is new?) It's dually narrated by Clare, an 11-year-old dealing with her mother's intense emotional difficulties, and a 32-year-old lost-ish soul named Cornelia. How their lives intersect is the crux of the story. This would be an excellent beach read. Nice writing, entertaining (if improbable) tale.

 Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll.  MID-SUMMER ADDITION!  I read this until 4:00 this morning, so please excuse my incoherence. This is such a quintissential beach read, I felt it was worth calling to your attention.  Also, because I almost didn't read it because of the weird cover - so weird I just had to include a picture of it.  (WTH?).  Okay, brief synopsis:  Through sheer force of will, TifAni FaNelli, now known as Ani (Ah-Nee) has finally gotten everything she wanted - the rich, blue-blood fiance, the awesome job, the right clothes.  But she is both haunted and driven by some terrible, very public incident from her high school years, when she attended an elite school on the Main Line in suburban Philadelphia. You go back and forth between her high school life and her present-day "perfect" life as the old story unfolds.  I hadn't read much about it, but enough to be warned that the "Gone Girl" comparisons are overdone, which they are.  It's dark and you aren't sure how reliable the narrator is (or whether you're supposed to love her or hate her).  I am probably too tired to think through all the many flaws, but as this is (ostensibly) a "beach book" website, I think the key words are:  "read this until 4 a.m."  The most Gone Girl-esque thing about it was how it grabbed me by the collar and didn't let me go.

The Manny by Holly Peterson. "The ultimate junky, funny, easy beach read."

A Model Student: A Tale of Coeds and Cover Girlsby Robin Hazelwood. "A brilliantly written beach read because robin is Yale grad so smart and so funny and it was a great story." It’s fiction about a 17-year-old who is a model while also a student at Columbia University. Great look at the world of modeling.

Movie Star by Lizzie Pepper: A Novel by Hilary Liftin.  "Dating someone famous?  Let this book be your fictional guide." "Fictionalized story most took to be based on Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Trashy but fun."  People tell me they read it in a day.

Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife: Pride & Prejudice Continues by Linda Berdoll. "Oh my gosh, it is trash! But it’s fun, especially if you loved Pride & Prejudice and like to imagine what became of Elizabeth and Darcy after they got married. You have to overlook the author’s attempt, lame at times, to use the language of the times. (Someone must tell her how to use the word 'betwixt,' because she DOES NOT KNOW). If you like this sort of book (continuations of, or different perspectives of, Jane Austen novels) there are others in the genre. The Pamela Aiden trilogy, which begins with An Assembly Such as Thistells the P&P story from Darcy’s perspective. You really and truly can skip the second book in that series."

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult.  This is a typically gripping Picoult novel about a school shooting. "I haven't read anything that great recently but can't put this one down. Good summer fiction." Sterling is a small, ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens -- until the day its complacency is shattered by a shocking act of violence. In the aftermath, the town's residents must not only seek justice in order to begin healing but also come to terms with the role they played in the tragedy.

No Angelby Penny Vincenzi. "This is the first in a trilogy about the Lytton family. I first heard this author mentioned in this article, which offers some other authors and titles, too. It looks like a fun, engaging series, though I haven’t read them yet." Celia Lytton, strong-willed, tough and courageous, moves through life making difficult and often dangerous decisions - with the most far-reaching consequences for everyone...For her husband, Oliver, head of the great family publishing house of Lyttons; for Sylvia Miller, whose life of relentless poverty is transformed by Celia's intrusion; for Oliver's daunting elder sister, who is not all she appears to be; and for Sebastian Brooke, with whom Celia makes the most dangerous decision of all.

The Overnight Socialite by Bridie Clark. "A modern day Pygmalian. It takes place on Park Avenue...fast paced and full of laughs. It may be chick lit but it isn’t without character."

Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Vanora Bennett. "I am into historical fictions so skip this if you are not, but it is about Sir Thomas Moore and his family and it is very engaging. Decidedly low-brow."

Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay. Historical fiction about the roundup of thousands of Jewish families in Paris, deported and and ultimately transported to Auschwitz."Easy, interesting read for the beach."  "I read it in a day and understand why it's so popular but suggest reading with managed expectations. It's about a horrifying bit of French history. Sarah's story was poignant, evocative and sad. That said, it is not a very elegantly written book, and I had little sympathy for Julia (doormat!). It also ultimately devolved into a rather silly romance. With all that, I still think it's a good read."

Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams.  Beatriz writes the BEST beach books.  A Hundred Summers was on the list last year, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  This is her latest novel, another romantic, page-turning saga set against vivid historical backdrops.  Secret Life has interwoven narratives – that of young Vivian Schuyler in 1964 Manhattan, and of her aunt, Violet Schuyler Grant in 1914 Berlin - an aunt Vivian never knew she had until she receives a mysterious parcel and begins to unravel a secret family history.

Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita. "Tween Mother-Daughter reading. There are four books in this series and my daughter and I have read each one and talk about them. In depth. No swear words, some kissing, no sex, no weirdness. Just a fun story of a girl (think Miley Cyrus) who is a huge TV star and longs for a normal life. Light, fluffy, fun."

Silver Bay by JoJo Moyes. From Amazon: “Liza McCullen will never fully escape her past. But the unspoiled beaches and tight-knit community of Silver Bay offer the freedom and safety she craves—if not for herself, then for her young daughter, Hannah. That is, until Mike Dormer arrives as a guest in her aunt’s hotel. The mild-mannered Englishman with his too-smart clothes and distracting eyes could destroy everything Liza has worked so hard to protect: not only the family business and the bay that harbors her beloved whales, but also her conviction that she will never love—never deserve to love—again.”

Social Crimes by Jane Stanton Hitchcock.  From Amazon:  "When Jo Slater, one of New York’s premier socialites and a patron of the arts, befriends a French countess, she ignores warnings from friends about the mysterious newcomer. Soon, the young woman knocks Jo off her Park Avenue throne. But using her knowledge of the greatest historical swindle of all time—a true story involving Marie Antoinette—Jo sets out to reclaim her fortune and her place in society.  For the plan to work, however, she must resort to the most desperate of measures: murder. Social Crimes is a savvy social satire bursting with money, betrayal, and passion that will thrill readers of sophisticated mysteries."

A Southern Girl by John Warley. “Set mostly in Charleston, as well as the beach at Sullivan's Island, it tells the story of a conservative, aristocratic southern family's adoption of a Korean orphan and her introduction into Charleston society. You can imagine the tensions, the drama, the conflicts because conservative and aristocratic as the protagonist's family is, he loves his little girl more than anything in the world. It's a great story, beautifully and humanely told, that will appeal to both men and women. It kept me up late turning pages. Plus it is the first book issued by Story River Books, a new imprint edited by Pat Conroy for the U. of S.C. Press, and the endorsements and Word of Mouth on it are really promising.”

The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz. "Fun series of mysteries featuring a mediocre PI with a crazy family. Good beach reading."

Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart. "Read this on a Vamoose ride to NYC. Set in NYC during the latter part of WWII, the book tells of the life changing adventures (in that 1940's kind of way) of two Iowa college students who move to Manhattan for a summer and secure jobs at Tiffany's. The cute tone is as if your 80 something year old grandmother were recounting favorite memories with that far away smile on her face. In fact, the book is a memoir, albeit quite light."

The Suspect (Karl Alberg Mysteries, No. 1) by L.R. Wright. "Winner of an Edgar Award, this book was written in the 80’s but I just found it. It is a murder mystery set on the coast of British Columbia and the entire story revolves around three characters whose lives become entwined. What makes this murder mystery a bit different is you learn who the killer is on page one. It is a quietly written book – no gory details, violence or sexual assaults – which was a nice departure. The author carefully describes bits and pieces of each character which are all pieces to the puzzle and eventually answer the question of why there was a murder. I was hooked from page one … It’s a perfect beach book!"

Tales from the Yoga Studio by Rain Mitchell. “Truthfully, I picked this up because in the nano second that I scanned the cover, I saw Anita Diamant's (The Red Tent) name, thinking she was the author... Only when I got home did I realize she just provided a promotional quote. That being said, the book is a great summer read. It reminded me of reading 'Something Borrowed,' in that it's a quick light read. Very LA, although perhaps it could be very DC or very NYC. “

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith. "Another beach read for fans of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency."

Tempting Fate by Jane Green.  “I'm a sucker for Jane Green books.  I can't help it.  Woman in her 40s, married, meets hot dude in his 30s, tech millionaire.  Will they?  Won't they?”

Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald. "My favorite of all Fitzgerald novels because of the mix of light entertainment of a summer on the beach in France in the 1920s with beautiful people and parties and elegance along with the intense emotional fallout from a failing marriage and the pain of loss friendship and innocence. I've read this book countless times for 20 years and each time I love it just as much and see a new angle into the character's motivations."

Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams.  From the bestselling author of Secret Life of Violet Grant, Overseas and One Hundred Summers.  This title will be released June 23.  From Amazon: "In the summer of 1966, Christina Hardcastle—'Tiny' to her illustrious family—stands on the brink of a breathtaking future. Of the three Schuyler sisters, she’s the one raised to marry a man destined for leadership, and with her elegance and impeccable style, she presents a perfect camera-ready image in the dawning age of television politics. Together she and her husband, Frank, make the ultimate power couple: intelligent, rich, and impossibly attractive. It seems nothing can stop Frank from rising to national office, and he’s got his sights set on a senate seat in November.
 
"But as the season gets underway at the family estate on Cape Cod, three unwelcome visitors appear in Tiny’s perfect life: her volatile sister Pepper, an envelope containing incriminating photograph, and the intimidating figure of Frank’s cousin Vietnam-war hero Caspian, who knows more about Tiny’s rich inner life than anyone else. As she struggles to maintain the glossy façade on which the Hardcastle family’s ambitions are built, Tiny begins to suspect that Frank is hiding a reckless entanglement of his own…one that may unravel both her own ordered life and her husband’s promising career."

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. Many contributors assured me I would get beyond my doubts. (You know … doubting that I can enjoy a teen vampire book?) Truly, though… The series seems to have gone viral from teens to their curious moms to the big world beyond. Some of your comments:  "My No. 1 beach read... I can't think of anything more perfect to get absorbed in while ignoring the kids at the beach and engaging your 10th grade babysitter in the whole Edward vs. Jacob debate."  "I am so enjoying these books." "If you like Jane Austen, you will like these." "If you have been hesitant because of that "vampire thing," jump right in. There's so much more than that, including an amazing love story, you almost forget the vampire thing. And this was a great series to share with my 12 year old daughter (Note: Definitely pre-read the first part of the fourth book in the series before handing over to a daughter!)” " CRACK! Pure crack. I was a huge doubter... and now I am hooked. I wish I had saved them for the beach .. They would have been perfect, mindless, a one-sitting- book-a-day reads."

The Unlikely Spy and other titles by Dan Silva. “These are great beach reads if you like fast-paced, historical mysteries. My husband and I both read them – but honestly we’ve read them a few times and are always surprised (again) by the ending. They don’t stick, but they are good.”

Watermelon, by Marian Keyes. “Easy summer reading.” This Irish author has written a bunch of other books, too. (Don't forget Irish novelist Maeve Binchy - also good for beach reading).

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart.   Dark.  Like pitch black, dark, but a fantastic, engaging read.  Do not read any more about it, just read it.  Ignore that it’s shelved as young adult.  “I read this in straight through in basically one sitting today. I really enjoyed the world that Lockhart creates with Beechwood Island and the Sinclair family. I may not have summered on a private island but I felt the New England island atmosphere was really believable and relatable. Lockhart nails so many of those feelings when you are young enough to still be governed by adults but old enough to run wild with your friends all day long. The foursome of The Liars will probably remind many people of their own childhood tribe - either one you were in or one you wish you'd been in. A terrific summer story - read it before you hear spoilers.  I read this in straight through in basically one sitting today. I really enjoyed the world that Lockhart creates with Beechwood Island and the Sinclair family. I may not have summered on a private island but I felt the New England island atmosphere was really believable and relatable. Lockhart nails so many of those feelings when you are young enough to still be governed by adults but old enough to run wild with your friends all day long. The foursome of The Liars will probably remind many people of their own childhood tribe - either one you were in or one you wish you'd been in. A terrific summer story - read it before you hear spoilers.” 

The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella “ Total Junk Read - Reading anything by Capella will make you very hungry and leave you with a strong desire to move to Italy (I also recommend his first novel, The Food of Love). The story takes place in Italy in WWII, and based on a tiny bit of truth. But mostly it's a love story with a focus on food and cooking. A wee bit smutty as well (Amazon describes it as ‘sensuous’).”

While I Was Gone, by Sue Miller, author of the Good Mother. Definitely in the beach book category.  "Narrator Jo Becker, now a veterinarian married to a minister in a small Massachusetts town, was once a runaway bride who assumed a false name and lived with other dissaffected '60s bohemians in a group house in Cambridge. Her special friend in the house was sweet-spirited and generous Dana Jablonski, whose shocking and unsolved murder broke up the group and left Jo with unresolved questions about her own identity. She manages to ignore the memories of that time until, almost three decades later, one of the former housemates, Eli Mayhew, moves to her town. Eli, now a distinguished research scientist, provides a revelation that acts as the catalyst provoking Jo to face her guilt about her past behavior... "

The White Queen: A Novel (Cousins' War)by Phillippa Gregory. "If you like this genre, this is a quick, fun read about Queen Elizabeth and Tudors v Yorks ('War of the Roses' or the 'Cousins Wars.') A summer Harlequin in that British royal history kind of way."

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. A journalist takes a trip on a luxury ship, it’s a thrilled with twists and turns until the end! Quick easy beach read!

The Yellow Eyes Crocodiles by Katherine Pancol.  Pancol is a best-selling author in France. “This is a light hearted romp through one woman’s mid-life crisis, and following re-emergence into the world as a woman, a mother and as a daughter and sister. While the author is French (I read the English translation) and there are purely Gallic moments, the themes of family life and friendship are universal. I laughed and cried, but it is not too serious. As my local wine shop says of some bottles, ‘a perfect summer sipper.’”