Gotta love a good beach read, am I right?! I have been sticking to my New Year’s goal of reading at least one book per month. I’m ahead of the goal, actually, so it’s going well! I wanted to share a few of the books I’ve read that I think would make great, easy beach reads. Just so you know, I don’t generally enjoy any books that are “heavy” – nothing dark, suspenseful, violent, etc. I can handle a little drama, but for the most part I want my books to be an enjoyable, light escape 🙂 So that’s pretty much what you’ll get with this summer reading book list! I’ll also add that these are mostly all probably best for a more adult audience!
Summer Reading Book List
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – it was a page-turner for sure, very entertaining and actually much different than I thought it would be. It’s a popular read and Netflix picked it up to do either a series or a movie with it (not sure which) but the drama of it as well as it not being super predictable was fun. Evelyn Hugo is a woman who will do anything to get what she wants, and to protect the people she loves. I loved the “Old Hollywood” vibe throughout the stories. *A note here, I’d recommend buying this book somewhere besides Amazon. I usually get my books there but apparently there are a bunch of Evelyn Hugo books that were misprinted in the wrong size (I got one of them and it was illegible) so to avoid that I’d say check out Barnes & Noble or Target, here.
- Malibu Rising – Written by the same author as the book above, I figured I would enjoy it because I enjoyed her writing in the Evelyn Hugo book. There is actually a connection between the two books (it’s not necessary to read it in a particular order, you likely wouldn’t notice the connection if you didn’t know about it, but if you want to read both, I’d say read Evelyn Hugo first, then read this one.) I liked that this one had several story lines going at the same time, similar to Evelyn Hugo. Again, unexpected and just enough drama for me :). Lots of familial drama and a set of siblings overcoming an absent dad by sticking together.
- The Midnight Library – I had seen a lot of people posting about this one so I figured it would be a good one to try! At first it seemed like it was going to be a sad, downer type of book, but I kept going and I’m glad I did. It turns around as the main character learns a lot of valuable lessons through a set of very unique experiences only possible in the Midnight Library.
- The Ex Hex – OMG loved this one. It was so fun and had just the right amount of drama amidst a couple (who are both witches, I should add) when one accidentally curses the other after a breakup. The two main characters are both likable …and the sexual tension, a few steamy love scenes, & a dash of magic make for a fun read! If you like the movie Practical Magic paired with witty banter and comic relief, you’ll enjoy this! PS- I just saw this book is getting a sequel, The Kiss Curse, in September! I already placed my preorder!
- One Italian Summer – I loved this one! Having gone on an amazing trip to Italy back in 2018, it was so fun to read about Naples, Rome, and mostly the Amalfi Coast (specifically Positano and Capri) since we visited all of those places! I had such a vivid picture in my mind of the places the book talks about. We even had lunch one day at the Hotel Poseidon, which is the main setting for the book. It’s unpredictable and heart-warming as a woman navigates the loss of who she considers to be the love of her life – her mother.
- In Five Years – Okay this one was borderline something I’d consider a bit too sad, but I still think it was a beautiful story overall and I’d recommend it. Written by the same author as One Italian Summer, again it’s about navigating a certain type of loss – Set in NYC, I enjoy that this author writes stories that showcase all the different types of love we can experience…this time the type of love that exists between the very best of friends.
- Evvie Drake Starts Over – a friend recommended this to me and it’s an easy read! It’s probably my least favorite on this list, but just because I think the others are so good. This one seemed a little, vanilla perhaps, compared to the others. But an easy beach read with a cute love story. Felt very realistic in that I think the story of a woman basically starting her life over & finding love could totally happen the way the book writes it out!
- It Happened One Summer – Okay I am currently reading this one right now and I’m halfway through but I already love it and I’m enjoying it so much. After getting arrested, an LA socialite gets sent to the small fishing town where she was born (& where her biological father died) to learn how to be responsible and self-sufficient. She wasn’t planning on meeting a handsome fisherman who behaves like a gentleman and actually courts her…something unlike anything she knew from her dating life back in LA. We will see what happens!! I just have a feeling I’m going to like it 🙂
- Hook, Line, and Sinker – this is the sequel to “It Happened One Summer” …and while I haven’t read it yet (it’s up next when I finish its predecessor) I just have a feeling I will like it since the stories are intertwined and the characters are in the current book I’m reading! Here’s a quick summary from the product page: “In the follow-up to It Happened One Summer, Tessa Bailey delivers another deliciously fun rom-com about a former player who accidentally falls for his best friend while trying to help her land a different man…”
- Any of the Julia Quinn books – If you like the “Bridgerton” series on Netflix, then you should definitely read the books! They are better than the show, IMO, and the author, Julia Quinn, has written SO many other books also set in the Regency era. I have read them all, lol. I read most of them last year…again they are just easy reads, fun love stories & the occasional steamy scene too! A lot of them are also in series, so be sure to be reading them in order. You can check the order of the books on her website here.
SHOP THE BOOKS:
What books would you recommend for summer reading?!
xo,
Bess
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