Best Beach Reads – Best 2023 Summer Books

by Elin Hilderbrand
Publication Date June 13, 2023

This novel centers around Hollis, a popular food blogger who loses her husband to a car accident. The fight she had with him right before he drove away drives an even deeper wedge between her and her teenage daughter, Caroline.

After learning about a trend called a “Five-Star Weekend” where one woman organizes a trip for her best friends from each phase of life, Hollis decides to host her own. But gathering her best friend from each decade from childhood through midlife doesn’t turn out to be the joyful Hallmark movie she’d envisioned. But it will definitely be a weekend she’ll never forget.

The Book Girls Say… Melissa loved this guilty-pleasure read and agrees that it lives up to its 5 star namesake. We’d include all of Elin’s books on this list if we had room, but instead, we created a post dedicated to her complete works.

If you love the setting of Hilderbrand’s novels, also consider All the Days of Summer, the newest release from Nancy Thayer, which also takes place on Nantucket.

by Camille Pagán
Publication Date March 1, 2023

Aly is six months into her dream job as the editor-in-chief of All Good magazine when she overhears her coworkers belittling her. This leads to a very embarrassing and very public meltdown. She agrees to take a month of unpaid leave to save her job. Unsure where to go or what to do with herself, she retreats to the Lake Michigan beach house she inherited from her brother, Luke. But when she arrives, she discovers that her brother’s best friend, Wyatt, also inherited a stake in the house.

She sees Wyatt as nothing more than an unkempt and unmotivated slacker standing in the way of her selling the beach house. But like her, he’s still processing his grief from losing Luke. As they spend more time under the same roof, they may discover that’s not the only thing they have in common.

The Book Girls Say… If you need a quick read, this might be the perfect book. At just over 250 pages, it’s fun and fast, with a good balance of emotion and depth. Like most of Pagan’s books, this one combines women’s fiction and romance.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 4/11/2023.

by Emily Henry
Publication Date April 25, 2023

We can always count on Emily Henry for a perfect new summer title, and this year is no exception. In Happy Place, she tackles one of our favorite tropes - fake dating.

Perfect couple Harriet and Wyn met in college and have been an inspirational duo ever since. But, as their annual week-long Maine vacation with friends approaches, they have a big decision to make. Do they finally confess that they broke up six months ago and still haven’t managed to tell their best friends?

But the cottage they visit each year is being sold, and it’s the last time they’ll all be together in their sacred spot. It feels wrong to ruin the whole mood with their bad news. So Harriet and Wyn decide they can surely fake being in love for one week. After all, they’ve had years of practice.

by Viola Shipman
Publication Date June 13, 2023

Like the women in her family before her, Mary Jackson has spent her life running the Very Cherry General Store in Good Heart, Michigan. Like her lakeside hometown, the store is constantly inundated by tourists and facing threats from developers. She’s in her eighties and ready to retire, but when she was young, a mysterious prediction told her to await the arrival of a stranger - a young woman - to take over the store and carry on her legacy.

Newly 40, Becky Thatcher and her best friend were in search of a beach vacation and found themselves in Good Heart. After meeting Mary at Very Cherry and listening to the octogenarian talk about destiny, Becky begins to reflect on childhood memories that she’d forgotten for decades.

The Book Girls Say… Viola Shipman, the pen name for Wade Rouse, is one of our favorite authors of feel-good books and we’ve been eagerly awaiting this release for months!

by Jennifer Gold
Publication Date April 1, 2023

After a Mediterranean adventure forty years ago, Ann Fawkes wrote her first novel. It became an instant bestseller, but she never wrote another book. She now lives a reclusive life in the San Juan Islands off of the Washington coast.

Podcaster Maggie Whitaker wants to interview Ann, but Ann will only agree if Maggie agrees to keep her story off the record. As Maggie listens to the story of Ann’s life - and specifically the love affair that inspired the novel - Maggie realizes that Ann’s story intersects with her own in a way she could never have imagined.

The Book Girls Say… This sweeping novel spans both decades and continents. While this is a more emotional book than many of the beach reads on our list, armchair travelers will love the beautiful imagery of Greece and Italy. And the twists and turns will keep you turning the pages.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 4/12/23.

by Steven Rowley
Publication Date May 30, 2023

The Celebrants focuses on a group of five college friends who are now approaching their 50s. Right before graduation, they lost the 6th member of their friend group, and the tragedy has had a lasting impact on each of them. During the memorial, the group made a pact that each person could summon the group together once with no prior planning. As part of the gathering, whoever has gathered the group gets a living “funeral” to remind them that life is worth living.

Twenty-eight years later, Jordan has a big secret that may destroy their nearly three-decade-old pact.

The Book Girls Say…While this book has some hard themes and deals with grief, the character-driven story is wrapped in Steven Rowley’s signature wit and heart. Melissa found it a bit heavier than the Guncle, but still wanted to give the book a hug when she was done.

PS: We have a Celebrants book club guide with discussion questions, as well as a printable version available on Etsy that also includes bonus content, a custom bookmark, and more!

by Susan Mallery
Publication Date March 7, 2023

Finley and her sister, Sloane, had a rough childhood. Their mother abandoned them to pursue her Hollywood dreams, then their grandfather walked out on them, too. Traumatized by the chaos of her youth, Finley now does everything she can to keep her life calm and orderly. On the other hand, Sloane is following in her mother’s footsteps. When Sloan walks out on her daughter, Finley finds herself raising her niece.

Finley is determined to give her niece the stability she never had and to ensure she’ll always know she’s loved and wanted. So when Sloane shows back up, Finley is very hesitant to trust her.

The Book Girls Say… If family drama is not your style for a beach read, Susan Mallery also has another book coming out in late June. In The Happiness Plan, Heather, Daphne, and Tori are three best friends searching for joy when their lives aren’t going quite as planned.

by Christina Lauren
Publication Date May 16, 2023

Fizzy is the best-selling author of romance novels, but feels lost in her own life. While she’s felt lust, she’s never experienced the true love she writes about in her books. The more she considers this disconnect, the more she worries she’s been telling readers about something that doesn’t exist.

Connor is a documentary filmmaker and loves that his work lets him live near his daughter. But when his boss wants him to make a reality TV show, he’s not sure he can pull it off. After a chance run-in with Fizzy, he has an idea. What if the lead in his new show is the queen of romance novels?

The Book Girls Say…In “The Soulmate Equation,” Fizzy is the hilarious and beloved best friend of the main character, so you can get to know her a little before she gets her own story in The True Love Experiment. Christina Lauren books are perfect when you're looking for a quick read.

by Victoria Benton Frank
Publication Date June 6th, 2023

In this summer read, you’ll meet three generations of women from Sullivan’s Island in the South Carolina Lowcountry. The matriarch gran, mother Lily, and grown daughters Magnolia (Maggie) and Violet. The Magic Lantern Restaurant has always been run by the women in the family, but Maggie is struggling to forge her own culinary path in NYC.

When Maggie gets a call that she’s needed back home, she returns to find the restaurant in disarray. She’s also about to uncover some shocking secrets about her family’s past. And then there’s the handsome farmer who catches her eye…

The Book Girls Say… Dorothea Benton Frank, the queen of Southern fiction, passed away in 2019, but her daughter Victoria stepped in to fill her shoes. The early reviews suggest that her first book is a home run, filled with wise-cracking dialogue, southern one-liners, and a loveable cast of characters.

by Kristina Forest
Publication Date February 28, 2023

Lily is an assistant who dreams of moving out of the non-fiction division and working as an editor for children’s books. While awaiting the promotion that’s been eluding her for years, she finds comfort by corresponding with her favorite fantasy author. Through their emails, they begin to form a friendship that feels like it could become even more… until he ghosts her.

Months later, Lily is in need of a date to her sister’s wedding and thinks that her new neighbor, Nick, might be able to set her up with someone. Little does she know that Nick is the author she’d been corresponding with.

Lily only knew the author by his pen name, N. R. Strickland, but it didn’t take long for him to realize that she was the same Lily he fell in love with over email. He agrees to set her up with a wedding date, but there’s nothing simple about this favor, because he can’t get her off of his mind.

The Book Girls Say… We always enjoy rom coms with book-loving characters! Add in a You’ve Got Mail-inspired storyline, and we can't wait to pick this up poolside.

by Nicola Harrison
Publication Date June 20, 2023

During the War, Hazel left her Kansas home to become one of the "Rosie the Riveters" at Douglas Aircraft. But when the war ended, she was dismissed so a man could have her job. After her taste of a different lifestyle, she doesn’t want to return home to be a typical 1940s housewife. Instead, she takes a job for a famous, but cantankerous artist named Hanson Radcliff.

As Hazel thrives in Laguna, she hasn’t let go of her dream of returning to work with airplanes. But along the way, her life moves on and she befriends Jimmy, a hotel bartender with the potential to become more than a friend. Her life would be a dream for many, but is it enough for her?

The Book Girls Say… This book is also featured on our list of summertime reads for historical fiction fans.

by Mary Ellen Taylor
Publication Date May 1, 2023

Dani has built a beautiful life in the Outer Banks as an artist. However, only months after the death of her husband, she begins losing her vision. So, on a whim, she sells her waterfront home and plans a move with her pre-teen daughter to an old Virginia farm. While this move feels necessary to Dani, her daughter disagrees.

Throughout the summer, they put their efforts into turning an old silo into an art studio, which helps create new friendships in town. Along the way, the mother-daughter duo works to find peace amid their stormy season of life as they each endure new challenges and continue healing from past grief.

by Pamela Kelley
Publication Date June 6, 2023

Jess thought she had the perfect life in Charleston, but when she finds out that her husband has been cheating on her, she leaves behind her high-profile lawyer job and returns to her childhood home on Cape Cod. The best part is that this puts her closer to her lifelong friend, Allison.

Allison loves her career as a magazine editor, but with circulation dwindling, she’ll soon be forced to find a new direction. When she learns that the owner of her beloved local bookstore is looking to sell, it’s the perfect opportunity. Allison and Jess decide that they, together with their adult daughters, should take over the shop.

In the process of reopening the bookstore to their community, they also open themselves up to the possibility of romance and second chances.

by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Publication Date March 14, 2023

Fans of Finlay Donovan and Dial A for Aunties will love 60-year-old Vera Wong. She’s a self-proclaimed tea expert and a meddling matchmaker for her son.

When she wakes up one morning to find a dead man in her tea shop, she decides to add detective to her resume. She’s convinced she’ll do a better job than the police, anyway, so she might as well catch the killer herself.

The Book Girls Say… If you love cozy mysteries, be sure to also check out our complete list of Summer Cozy Mysteries.

by Amy Spalding
Publication Date February 21, 2023

After suffering a devastating breakup three years ago, Nina has deprived herself of everything she loves - including her dreams of scriptwriting for TV. She moved out of LA and into her aunt’s condo in the suburbs. She took a work-from-home job as an assistant to a talent agent. She spends her days managing celebrity email accounts. It isn’t very interesting, but she thinks she’s better off that way.

But then a surprise meeting called by hot, young actress Ari Fox has Nina questioning everything. Ari is out and proud, in addition to being a serious control freak. She has definite opinions about how Nina should handle her emails. As the two get to know one another, Ari pushes Nina to return to her writing. And is Nina mistaken, or is Ari flirting with her?

The Book Girls Say… This body-positive LGBTQ romance is described as “full of heat and heart.” Reviewers also say it’s full of talk about food and warn that you won’t be able to stop reaching for snacks as you read… so go ahead and get your bowl of popcorn ready now.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 4/11/2023.

by Colleen Oakley
Publication Date March 28, 2023

This well-rounded and humorous book crosses genres from contemporary fiction to mystery and romance.

After a fall, Louise’s daughter insists that a full-time caregiver move in to assist Louise with daily life. Like many independent seniors, Louise wants no part of this arrangement. She’s still perfectly capable of pouring her own vodka each day.

Tanner is twenty-one and needs a place to live. She’d love to find a way to make a living in her pajamas playing video games instead of dealing with the real world. Since she knows the reality is that she needs money, she takes the opportunity when a chance to be a live-in caregiver falls in her lap.

Tanner and Louise are doing okay as roommates, mostly ignoring each other until Tanner starts noticing questionable things around the house. For example, the garden shed is locked up like Fort Knox, and the news reporting on a jewelry heist with a suspect who looks like Louise.

When Louise packs a bag and insists she and Louise must leave town in the middle of the night, they begin what might be the most incredible adventure of their lives.

by Ali Brady
Publication Date May 9, 2023

Hannah and Libby inherited their grandmother’s PR agency, but they’re rapidly losing clients. If they want to save the company, they’ll need a big-name client that can help them get back on the map.

When they learn that an influential self-help guru, Lou, is shopping for a new agency, they think it could be the answer. But Lou insists that whoever she works with must participate in her 12-week “Crush Your Comfort Zone” challenge. Shy Hannah is challenged to go on 12 first dates, and Libby, who spent her youth avoiding gym class, has to compete in an obstacle race course.

The Book Girls Say… Ali Brady is the pen name for the BFF writing duo of Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey. In this book, they alternate chapters, each writing from one sister’s perspective.

This summer read set in Chicago along the shore of Lake Michigan is a great balance of sisterhood, second-chance romance, and found family. Reviewers also love the Jewish representation throughout the book, including cultural and food references throughout.

by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Publication Date July 11, 2023

It’s been nearly thirty years since June bought Camp Holly Springs. June’s niece, Daphne, met her two best friends, Lanier and Mary, at that camp and they’ve been helping each other through lifes up and downs ever since. But now June is in danger of losing the camp that means so much to all of them, and Daphne is facing an impossible situation at her law firm. Lanier and Mary are facing personal problems of their own.

Despite all of the challenges these four women are up against, they agree that nothing is more important than saving Camp Holly Springs. Along the way, they may just set the stage for their next chapters.

by Amy T. Matthews
Publication May 23, 2023

Jodie is the shy twenty-something sister of hugely successful outgoing influencer, Bree. While Bree seems to have life figured out, Jodie is anxious and unsure of what to do with her life. Sadly, Bree has Leukemia and prepares for her death by recording a series of videos for her sister.

She asks Jodie to complete her bucket list and let the world watch as she completes each item, which includes terrifying tasks like flying over Antarctica and having a cameo in a Broadway musical. Jodie is compelled to agree by more than her sister’s dying wish. If she can keep Bree’s followers, a corporate sponsor will pay off the family’s medical debt. And if she can gain followers, more people will benefit by having their own medical debt covered.

While this is largely a book about finding yourself, one of the bucket list items is to fall in love, so there is a romance thread as well.

The Book Girls Say…For another new summer read about an influencer, check out Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts by Kristyn J. Miller, which features a well-known podcaster who decides to take up a sponsor’s offer for an all-expense paid wedding trip to Catalina Island.

by Nancy Thayer
Publication Date May 2, 2023

Heather’s marriage has fizzled out, and her only child, Ross, is graduating from college, so she realizes it’s time to step back and figure out what she really wants from her life. She’s found a cottage to rent for the summer on Nantucket, and things are going well until her son announces that he’ll also be moving to the island to work for his girlfriend’s family business.

Kailee, the girlfriend, was excited to move back home with Ross until she found out his mother would be on Nantucket. She’s clashed with Heather from their first meeting. But maybe the magic of a summer on the island will be just what they both need to reconcile and find the futures they each want.

by Jenny Colgan
Publication Date July 11, 2023

Armchair travel to Scotland this summer with Morag McGinty, a third-generation pilot who runs puddle-jumper flights to the tiny, windswept northern islands. Together she and her grandfather deliver mail, packages, tourists, medicine, and even sheep. It’s a vital lifeline that all the residents rely on, but Morag’s boyfriend from flight school, Hayden, wants her to move to Dubai with him.

Morag is on the verge of upending her life for Hayden when a rough landing in a storm maroons her on Inchborn Island. This off-the-grid island has a population of one. Gregor, an ornithologist from Glasgow, is there for the bird-watching station. But he might be the one person who can give Morag the perspective she needs.

by Carley Fortune
Publication Date May 2, 2023

Fern is 32 and has returned home to run her mother’s Muskoka lakeside resort, despite vowing to stay away. In addition to her complicated feelings about this turn of events, the property is a mess. And it’s managed by her ex-boyfriend, making things extra awkward.

She needs help and is shocked when Will arrives and offers assistance. She only knew him for 24 hours back in her twenties but has been thinking about him ever since. However, he was supposed to meet her nine years earlier and didn’t show up. While he may be the only person who can understand her situation, she’s not sure she should trust him.

by Jojo Moyes
Publication Date February 7, 2023

They say you learn a lot about a person when you walk in their shoes… but can you also swap fates with them?

Nisha leads a charmed and glamorous globetrotting life. But suddenly, things aren’t going her way. First, someone accidentally walked off with her gym bag (custom-made, red crocodile Christian Louboutin’s and all), and then she returns to her London hotel room to discover that her husband has locked her out of their penthouse and cut her off.

Sam Kemp is struggling to keep her family afloat, and while she didn’t mean to swap bags with Nisha, she also doesn’t have time to worry about returning it. By the time she realizes the mistake, she’s already late for a meeting, so she puts on Nisha’s red heels rather than the old black pumps he left in her own bag. She’s shocked at how much more confident and empowered she feels.

From this start follows a story of mix-ups, mess-ups, second chances, and intertwined fates that Good Housekeeping calls “Freaky Friday all grown up.”

The Book Girls Say… This book is a departure from the style of many of Jojo Moyes’ other novels. Readers say this book is highly entertaining, and some classify it as “chick lit” (though we’re not fans of that term)! One reviewer calls it “The Devil Wears Prada meets Finlay Donovan,” which had us sold right there. However, it also deals with more complex issues than a typical beach read, including depression, suicide, and divorce.

by Georgina Moore
Publication Date May 16, 2023

This family drama features three very different sisters and their mom, Margo. She let daughters Rachel, Imogen, and Sasha run wild after her all-encompassing relationship with their father ended.

Margo is now approaching 60 and entertains lovers and friends in her Isle of Wight cottage, all while still refusing to speak of her ex, Richard. However, her silence is impacting her daughter’s happiness and ability to move on.

Rachel wants to return to London, but is tied to the now-crumbling family home, Sandcove. Playwright Imogen feels pressured to marry her fiancé. Sasha used to be fun, but now she’s stuck between her dysfunctional family and controlling husband, but she also has a secret that could shake the family again.

Some sections of the book also look back to the relationship between Margo and Richard, and how alcohol abuse affected their relationship.

The Book Girls Say…This character-driven family drama explores what happens to complex relationships when the past and present collide. The Island of Wight is richly described, so you’ll get an armchair vacation as you read.

by Sarah Adler
Publication Date May 23, 2023

Millicent never expected to be traveling to Key West with a portion of the ashes of her elderly best friend in her backpack. But before Mrs. Nash died, Millie promised that she would reunite her with the woman she loved 80 years earlier.

She also didn’t expect to be on a road trip with a cynical writer. Millie met Hollis through her ex’s MFA program and was surprised to find him also stranded at the airport due to flight cancellations. They agree to make the long drive together, encountering entertaining oddities along the way as they get to know each other. While Mille thought this trip was about Mrs. Nash’s love story, maybe it’s really about her own.

by Jo Thomas
Publication Date August 1, 2023

Growing up, Beca’s grandparents owned an ice cream parlor in her seaside hometown. After a decade in the city chasing her career dreams, Beca decides to move home. She’s upset to discover that the new owner of the ice cream shop, who just happens to be her ex-boyfriend, has stripped the place of all its heart.

Beca decides to honor her family’s legacy by opening an ice cream shop of her own using a long-forgotten recipe book. The rivalry is fierce, but then disaster strikes and forces Beca to question what will really make her happy.

by Beatriz Williams
Publication Date June 27, 2023

Emilia Winthrop lives on the stunning Summerly, an idyllic seaside estate. But Emilia is not in the main house; she’s the daughter of the year-round caretaker and a descendant of Winthrop Islands' original settlers. In June 1946, the first summer after the war, glamorous Olive moves into the guest house. Her life couldn’t be more different than Emilia’s. While Olive was traveling the world, marrying men, and being involved in politics, Emilia cared for her incapacitated mother.

As Olive and Emilia’s friendship grows, Olive encourages Emilia to find more adventure in life. However, an FBI agent shows up, claiming someone is transmitting vital intelligence to the Soviets from inside the estate.

Eight years later, Emilia is a professor at Wellesley College when Washington comes knocking again. Now the traitor she helped convict is being swapped for an American spy. She must finally confront the decisions from her past.

The Book Girls Say… This book is also featured on our list of summertime reads for historical fiction fans.

by Annabel Monaghan
Publication Date June 6, 2023

Everything is falling into place for Sam - she’s 30 years old, she has a great job in NYC, she’s engaged to a doctor, and she’s planning a wedding near her family’s Long Island beach house. But then she bumps into her first love, Wyatt - the guy who broke her heart when she was 17.

It’s been more than a decade since they’ve seen each other, but in a moment, all the memories come flooding back. After all, he wasn’t just any high school boyfriend - he was the boy she spent every summer with from the time she was five.

by Katie Bishop
Publication Date June 6, 2023

Fifteen years ago, Rachel met Alister in the Greek Isles. She’s been in love with him ever since. The problem is that she was just 17 years old at the time, he was 20 years older than her, and she’s now married to someone else.

As she becomes increasingly obsessed with reliving the events of that summer, she connects with other women who were similarly drawn to life on the island. She slowly starts to recall deeply repressed secrets about her time working for an enigmatic and wealthy man who controlled much more than she realized.

The Book Girls Say… This book deals with challenging themes, including power, sex, and consent, while exploring the complex nature of memory and trauma. This #MeToo-inspired thriller could be a difficult read for some.

If thrillers are your thing, you'll also want to check out our complete this of summery mysteries and thrillers.

by Ashley Poston
Publication Date June 27, 2023

Clementine has been protecting her heart ever since the worst day of her life. She wants to find love, but she’s scared to get hurt. But then she meets a man with kind eyes, a Southern drawl, and a taste for lemon pies. He’s precisely the kind of man she’d fall for… if only he didn’t exist seven years in the past.

Her late aunt always told her that her apartment was a pinch in time - a place where moments blend together like watercolors. And it seems she was right. When she finds this man standing in the kitchen and realizes she’s living seven years in his future, she knows she shouldn’t let her heart get involved. But she just might anyway.

The Book Girls Guide… Ashley Poston is also the author of The Dead Romantics, which surprised Angela by becoming one of her favorite books of 2022. Poston is the master of mixing romance and magical realism elements. Even if magical realism isn’t your typical genre, give this one a chance!

by Elin Hilderbrand

If you dream of relaxing days summering on Nantucket, you can grab any of Elin Hilderbrand’s books.

The Hotel Nantucket takes place at a recently restored hotel with quite a history. In 1922, the hotel had a tragic fire, which killed a 19-year-old chambermaid, Grace. It degraded from a gilded gem to an abandoned eyesore in the following years. Thankfully, it has finally been restored by a billionaire from London.

He hires Nantucket native Lizbet as the general manager. She’s in charge of restoring the reputation of the hotel. This job can be complicated since it involves making sure the staff gets along with each other, the guests, and the ghost of Grace. Grace is determined to keep up her shenanigans until someone acknowledges that her death in 1922 wasn’t an accident.

The Book Girls Guide... All of Hilderbrand books make you want to plan your next vacation to Nantucket. As an added bonus, The Hotel Nantucket includes a detailed travel guide to Nantucket with hotel and restaurant recommendations at the back of the book.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
96% Would Recommend to a Friend

Elin Hilderbrand is the queen of beach reads, and you can't go wrong with any of her titles, but our other favorites include: 28 Summers and Golden Girl.

by Emily Henry

Emily Henry has become a dependable master author of contemporary romance novels. Her 2022 summer release, Book Lovers, is about a literary agent named Nora. When Nora’s little sister, Libby, begs her to take a month-long summer trip to a small town in North Carolina, she envisions all the possible romance novel tropes that could happen in her own life. Why couldn’t she run into a handsome country doctor and find her happily ever after?

Instead, Nora runs into Charlie, a brooding editor she has encountered several times back in the city. While neither of them is the ideal heroine or hero, they kept being thrown together in unlikely situations and must confront the stories they’ve told themselves about who they are.

PS: If you're looking for more books about book lovers, we've got you covered in this post!

PSS: Emily Henry has writen other great beach reads that you won't want to miss, including People We Meet on Vacation, and Beach Read.

by Carley Fortune

For six summers, friends Percy and Sam were inseparable. They spent every moment possible together in Barry's Bay, often curled up with books. As they get older, their connection leads to more than friendship.

But after Percy makes a big mistake, she spends the following ten summers in the city guarding her heart. However, when she gets the terrible news that Sam's mother has died, she returns to the lake for one weekend. Her chemistry with Sam is still undeniable, but is the past too much to overcome?

The Book Girls Say... If you're looking for an unputdownable, slow-burning summer romance, this one is for you!

by Ali Brady

Published June 15, 2022

Kat and Blake first met at summer camp when they were just 12 years old. They had an instant connection, but their friendship was shattered when they learned that they were not just besties, but also half-sisters.

Fifteen years later, following the sudden death of their father, Kat and Blake discover that he’s left both of them the family beach house in Destin, Florida. This joint inheritance puts the sisters at immediate odds. Blake desperately needs the money (after being demoted from nanny to dog nanny) and wants to sell the house. Social media influencer Kat, on the other hand, desperately wants to hold onto the house because it holds so many happy childhood memories.

The two agree that they’ll spend the summer renovating the run-down beach house, and then Kat will buy Blake out. They immediately begin butting heads when Blake’s renovation plans don’t align with Kat’s artistic vision. As the summer goes on, the two will have to come to terms with their shared past and learn how to become sisters.

The Book Girls Say… Think the Parent Trap meets HGTV. Each sister finds herself drawn into a summer romance (complete with a few steamy scenes), but ultimately this is more a book about sisterhood that may even cause you to shed some tears.

by Mary Kay Andrews

Hattie’s had a rough time over the past several years. Her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident at 25. She works for her father-in-law carrying on the family restoration business, but she also dreams of taking on bigger projects. So, she used his life insurance proceeds to flip a small house. Unfortunately, the proceeds from that house went into another, which turned into a disaster. In addition to losing money, she lost her confidence.

When Hattie gets the rare chance to star in a beach house renovation reality show called The Homewreckers, it could be what she needs to turn everything around. What she doesn't expect is that this home makeover project will also reveal new clues in the decades-old disappearance of Hattie's favorite high school teacher, leading her to split her time between renovation and investigation.

The Book Girls Say... We were eager to read this book because Mary Kay Andrews is the queen of beach reads and because we loved the idea of a home renovation-themed romance. We were excited to discover that The Homewreckers also an excellent summer cozy mystery!

Angela also loved that Savannah, Georgia, was like a character in the book.

by Susan Mallery

Robyn is a single mom of grown kids, and she desperately needs an escape. Her daughter is in bridezilla mode. Her son isn’t following the college path she expected. Her best friend has major marital issues, and her ex is making a terrible decision.

Luckily, Robyn's free-spirited great-aunt, Lillian, has invited her to Santa Barbara for the summer. The sunshine is just what she needs to reset. But then, one by one, everyone follows her. However, the different environment and influence of Lillian help Robyn see all the problems from a new perspective.

by Rebecca Serle

Carol and Katy have planned a mother-daughter trip to Positano, the magical Italian seaside town Carol spent a summer long ago. But when Carol dies before the trip, Katy is faced with embarking on the adventure alone.

As soon as Katy steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, however, she can feel her mother's spirit. She's taking in the beautiful views and delicious food when her mother appears. However, it's not the older mother she just lost. Instead, it's a healthy, tanned, younger version of her mother. Throughout the summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mom but as the young woman her mother used to be.

The Book Girls Say...As you may have guessed by the plot, you'll need to suspense your disbelief as Katy runs into her mother as a young woman. Some people classify this book as time travel/magical realism because of this plot point, but to us, it reads more like women's fiction.

We both enjoyed One Italian Summer but weren't sure how we would rate it as we read the first half. The main character wasn't our favorite, but we loved her mother. By the end, we rated it as four stars and loved the detailed descriptions of Positano.

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The successful Riva siblings are always the envy of those around them in Malibu. Their father is legendary singer Mick Riva, but each of the four siblings found success of their own in pursuits, like professional surfing and photography.

The book is set in 1983 at sister Nina’s famous end-of-summer beach house party. By midnight, the party is out of control. Before dawn, Nina’s mansion has been burned to the ground.

During this unforgettable night, each sibling has secrets revealed.

We both enjoyed this summer novel by the author of Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo!

by Trish Doller

Float Plan takes you to the sunny Caribbean with Anna as she sets off on the boat that she inherited after losing her fiancé. While Anna initially begins her adventure alone, she quickly realizes that she’s in over her head. She hires Keane, a professional sailor dealing with his own struggles as he faces a future that looks much different from what he had planned.

Anna initially intends to follow the exact sailing route that she and her fiancé had planned to take together. Along the way, she discovers that she’ll have to chart her own course - both aboard the boat and in her life. Likewise, Keane is navigating rough waters both aboard Anna’s boat and in life.

The Book Girls Say... We both love a good beach read, but this book took Angela by surprise because it has so much more depth than she expected. Both main characters are authentic, flawed, and well-developed. In the end, it turns a sad start into an uplifting story about grief and second chances.

Additionally, Trish Doller paints vivid descriptions of the islands visited, paying attention to what makes each island unique.

If your idea of the perfect beach vacation is lakeside, rather than oceanside, be sure to check out the Trish Doller's The Suite Spot - a fixer-up romance set on an island in Lake Erie. While it's listed as the second book in the series, it reads as a standalone.

by Steven Rowley

When family tragedy strikes, uncle Patrick needs to take custody of his niece and nephew for the summer. GUP - Gay Uncle Patrick, is a former sitcom star and loves the kids, but is used to them going home after a weekend.

His career is stalled, and his lifestyle isn’t exactly ideal for a 6 and 9-year-old. He quickly realizes that having the kids longer than a few days means he needs to be more of a parent figure and that treats may not solve everything.

In order to help the kids, Patrick will also have to figure out how to help himself. This means facing some difficult memories from his past and deciding what his future will hold.

Full of laugh-out-loud humor, heartwarming moments, and happy endings as the family explores grief, this is a well-rounded novel with characters you’ll adore.

by Elana Johnson

Like us, the main character in The Love List,  Beatrice, loves a checklist and the satisfaction of marking items complete. When a new phase of her life begins after a divorce, she decides that a list is the best way forward. But it’s not a list of chores and tasks; it’s a love it…a list of things she wants to do based on the things she loves.

Visiting 10 national parks, getting a puppy, and taking a dream vacation all make the list. Since she needs time to relax and reset, renting a Hilton Head home for a beach vacation is the perfect place to start. When she arrives, Bea meets the home’s owner, Grant. Soon, he becomes her tour guide, friend, and then more than a friend. Can she fall in love again at 45?

by Jennifer Weiner

While many books on the list focus on romance, That Summer is friendship-focused.

Daisy Shoemaker has a great life, with her own business and a beautiful home. Except she’s still discontent with her distant husband, typical teenage daughter, and a lack of a close friend. While she’s dealing with these relatable challenges, she starts getting emails for Diana, a successful single woman with a very similar email address.

The women begin to build a relationship over the misdirected emails, but then Daisy finds out the connection was NOT accidental. Who IS Diana? With page-turning wit, the book explores past, future, and the power of sustained friendship.

The Book Girls Say... Jennifer Weiner's 2022 The Summer Place, is another beach read you might enjoy. It's a family drama full of secrets, with a large cast of characters and a non-linear timeline.

By Katherine St. John

With secrets, scandals, steamy relationships, and stormy weather approaching a Caribbean Island, The Siren will quickly immerse you into the characters' lives as you go behind the scenes of a blockbuster movie set. The producer and lead actor, Cole, also owns the island. His son Jackson wrote the script and is directing the film. What could go wrong when Jackson hires his dad’s ex-wife, Stella, to star opposite him on screen? 

The story is told from three different woman’s perspectives. First, Stella, who desperately needs a hit film to revitalize her career. Second, Taylor, a young producer who left her previous company in a scandal. And finally, Stella’s assistant Felicity, who comes to the island with her own secrets. 

Warning: While the overall tone of the book has a vacation feel, it does address some darker topics as well, including rape and substance abuse.

by Angie Hockman

When we saw Shipped recommended for fans of The Hating Game and Unhoneymooners, we were instantly intrigued. Who doesn’t need a steamy romance in their beach read pile?

Henley and Graeme are up for the same promotion at a cruise line. While they’ve never met, they’ve exchanged more than a fair share of snarky emails.

To determine who will receive the dream job, their boss requests that they each prepare their best proposal on how to increase bookings for the Galapagos Island cruise. To give them each an equal chance, their boss sends them on the cruise to experience it for themselves. Obviously, because this is a rom-com, they’re forced to travel together.

Soon, Henley realizes Graeme MIGHT not be as terrible as she thought. This classic troupe is always entertaining when done well, and Angie Hockman pulled it off. You’ll be left with a reinforced belief in the power of second chances.

by Libby Hubscher

Marin has lived life as safely as possible, never even stepping foot outside Tennessee. Her concern started after her journalist mother was killed on assignment. The tragedy had the opposite effect on her sister, Sadie, who travels the world as a photographer.

After returning from a tough assignment, Sadie convinces Marin to join her in a spa weekend on the island of Saba. Marin is skeptical about leaving home, even for a girls' weekend, but agrees. Her fear of travel is confirmed when Sadie misses the flight. Then, a stranger steals her sister’s seat on the plane, and Marin’s luggage is mixed up with another passenger's.

Luckily, the seat stealer is handsome! Lucas ends up being the perfect travel mate. Marin begins to discover more about herself through each adventure.

Although the cover of this book looks like standard rom-com fare, this book is a blend of romance with heavier themes. Reviewers describe this book as an enjoyable rollercoaster of emotion but warn that you'll want to keep the tissues within reach!

by Kate Stayman-London

Are you a fan of The Bachelorette? If so, One to Watch might be your perfect match.

Bea is a plus-sized fashion blogger tired of watching casts full of size 0 models. After a drunken post about the un-realness of the reality dating show Main Squeeze, she gets a shocking call asking HER to be the next star of the show.

Can she trust the male contestants with her heart, or is it safer to remember she's on the show mainly for her career?

As the season progresses throughout the book, you'll forget about the real-life craziness of 2020 and root for Bea to find love.

The Book Girls Say...Melissa enjoyed that the story varies between the narrative/ standard book format and snippets of podcast dialog, emails, etc. ABOUT the show as fans watched. All the aspects came together and served as a great way to help your brain fully engage in the story.