I love reading all year round but summer is probably my favorite time of year to get lost in a good book. Beach reads are some of my favorite books, and every summer, I look forward to seeing what’s new from some of my favorite authors. But I also have some favorites, too. Today I’m sharing some of my favorite authors, my favorite books from summers past, and new books I’m looking forward to reading this summer by the pool or at the beach.
Favorite Authors
I love reading books set in or near where I’m heading on vacation. And that’s how I found Mary Alice Monroe. Her seven-book beach house series, set on the Isle of Palms outside of Charleston, SC, are some of my all-time favorites. A few years ago, we headed to Charleston on our way to Hilton Head, so these books were the perfect way to get in the southern spirit.
Elin Hildebrand is another author I love. Set in Nantucket, her books sweep you away to the sparkling New England island with stories that keep you engaged right from the start.
If you haven’t read anything by Liane Moriarty, you should definitely pick up some of her books. This Australia author wrote the book that inspired the mini-series Big Little Lies, but a number of her titles top my list of favorites.
Finally, there’s Kristin Hannah. The first book of hers that I read was Firefly Lane, but it was The Nightingale that really reeled me in. Since then, I’ve read The Great Alone and The Four Winds and have loved every single one of them.
Past Favorite Beach Reads
To me, beach reads are books that are “unputdownable.” They could be a romance, a mystery, or a thriller. But regardless of the genre, they are the ones that you stay up late to finish, just because you need to know what happens. Here are a few of my favorites, in addition to the ones I’ve listed above:
The Summer Guests by Mary Alice Monroe
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Summer of ’69 by Elin Hildebrand
28 Summers by Elin Hildebrand
The Blue Bistro by Elin Hildebrand
What Alice Forgot by Lianne Moriarty
The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
American Royals and Majesty by Katharine McGee
The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Verity by Colleen Hoover
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
On my Summer TBR List
Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hildebrand
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Rivals by Katharine McGee (3rd book in the American Royals series)
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner
Whew, that’s a long list but I’m sure there are a few I forgot to add! Now fingers crossed the lines at the virtual library move quickly so I can start reading!
What are you reading this summer? And what new books should I add to my list?