It’s beach season! That means it’s time to stop by the library and fill your suitcase with books to keep you occupied while you enjoy the sun, sand, and salty sea air.

 

You may have heard the term “beach read” before. A beach read can be any book that you enjoy, but is not too serious, since you are reading it on vacation after all. The term “beach read” is often used by publishers to sell their summer books and its usage dates back to 1990. Over time, our perception of books tagged as beach reads has changed a bit. The term is now used to describe any book that is quick to read and has carefree themes or may take place in a summer setting such as in a seaside town. Most often, beach reads are romance novels or low-stakes psychological thrillers. Whatever type of beach read appeals most to you, I’m sure the library has it! Keep reading to discover the best beach reads of Summer 2023.

 

Happy Place by Emily Henry follows ex-fiancés Harriet and Wyn, who used to go together like peanut butter and jelly, but now that has changed. They broke up five months ago, but still haven’t told their friends. Their friends always plan an annual getaway at the beach, and guess who ends up sharing a room while lying through their teeth that they’re a happy couple? Harriet and Wyn. After years of being in love, how hard will it be to fake it for a week in front of the people who know them best?

 

The Beach at Summerly by Beatriz Williams takes place first in 1946 and then eight years later in 1954 in mid-century New England. Summerly is a seaside estate belonging to a wealthy family, and main character Emilia is the daughter of its year-round caretaker. Emilia has a romantic history with the sons of the wealthy family who own Summerly, which makes her situation less than ideal. Taking place during the Cold War, follow Emilia as she finds love, loses it all, and seeks redemption.

 

The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda is a thrilling mystery about a group of former classmates who reunite to mark the tenth anniversary of a tragic accident--only to have one of the survivors disappear, casting fear and suspicion on the original tragedy. Their annual meeting place, a house on the Outer Banks, has long been a refuge. But by the tenth anniversary, main character Cassidy Bent has worked to distance herself from the tragedy and from the other survivors. Will she become entangled again?

 

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy is the third installment of the Avalon Bay series. College student Cassie Soul hasn't spent an entire summer in Avalon Bay in years, not since her parents divorced and her mother spitefully whisked her away to Boston. Now that her grandmother is selling the boardwalk hotel that's been in their family for five decades, Cassie returns to the quaint beach town to spend time with family, celebrate her twenty-first birthday, and maybe find a summer romance.