25 best beach reads for your late summer holiday
Beach reads are a special thing for book lovers: the ultimate accessory to the idyllic lazy day by the pool. You've bought the beach bag; ordered the bikini, the trending bucket hat, a face sunscreen and of course the new sunglasses – but now it’s time to run to that bookshop or add to your basket the new books that will transport you to a land far away. Hot Girl Summer is well and truly here – and she is a reader.
For those craving mystery and suspense, immerse yourself in gripping thrillers such as Red Queen, The Guest or Yellow Face, that will keep you on the edge of your beach towel. A new edition of Uncle Paul, originally published in 1959, is an irresistible psychological thriller that takes place amidst deckchairs and sandcastles. And you can get that shot of self-esteem and joy from The Shift, a book of self-care & love from Tinx, the girl everyone wants as their best friend.
Elsewhere, explore tales of passion set against sun-kissed settings with Romantic Comedy, Happy Place, Carrie Sotto is Back and It Starts with Us. There will not be a beach on earth that hasn’t seen a Colleen Hoover, Taylor Jenkins Reid, or Emily Henry book. Science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts can embark on journeys to distant realms: Fourth Wing is the viral Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones sensation that you will be unable to put down.
Finally, connect with characters as vibrant and viscerally real as they get in the more literary The Bee Sting, Tom Lake, and Soldier Sailor: three sweeping, brilliant books that will remain with you for a long time after the plane journey home. Small Worlds and The Lost Daughter are two lyrical, beautiful books, exploring facets of family relationships, and the human experience with incredible tenderness.
After more books content? We've got sleep books, cookbooks, poetry books, romance novels, true crime books, autobiographies, vegetarian cookbooks, mental health books and adult colouring books. We've also got coffee table books, vegan cookbooks and books by black authors. Don't say we don't treat you.
Ahead, the best beach reads to take with you on your next holiday.
Best beach reads 2023
Jenkins Reid is THE summer author. Chances are you have already devoured The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones & The Six, and Malibu Rising (if you haven’t you should pack them instead of clothes). This is a book tailor made for the beach, it will have you hooked from the opening sentences. Sotto is one of the best tennis players in the world, retired into a life of luxury she and her family worked so hard to achieve. That is until her record is broken. Soto has a lot to prove to the many that don’t believe in her, but will the cost of success be worth paying again? We are packing this for a re-read on the beach.
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Best beach reads 2023
We all want some sun over August, and if you want some literary heat you have got to immediately order Little Rabbit. Do not make plans when it arrives as you will want to cancel everything to read this. The setting is Summer in New York at an artist’s residency. Our main character finds the older choreographer a nightmare, the embodiment of arrogance. The tension becomes charged and quickly develops. Back home she has to confront the impact of this entanglement, being a young queer woman and emerging artist. The lust, the exploration of the self, the wit of this book. Chaya inhaled it in one sitting.
Best beach reads 2023
However, you feel about the woman that has upended publishing this century, it is undeniable that many millions of people across the globe will be reading a Colleen Hoover book as you read this article. Every bestseller list has at least a handful of her backlist which demonstrates her winning formula: characters you care about, a simple clear plot, some added spice and voila you have a winning title. It Starts with Us is the follow up to the gargantuan hit that was It Ends With Us, soon to be a major film release. Lily is now separated from Ryle and navigating co-parenting smoothly until Atlas finally asks her on a date. We get both of their perspectives picking up just where Colleen left us. We challenge you to count how many Hoover books you see on holiday, if you can keep track.
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Best beach reads 2023
THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD YOU WILL CANCEL ALL YOUR PLANS. You know that feeling when you read a book and you love the characters so much you just don’t want it to end? Honestly if this isn’t made into a film or series, we are going to start a petition. Tom and Ming meet at a university drag night, two opposites drawn together by sheer magnetism. Everything changes when Ming announces her intention to transition. This is just a beautiful book with humour, tenderness, love used to explore difficult questions. You can feel the trepidation and fear, the hope, the yearning for acceptance both from others and within. A @thebibliofilles must read for the summer.
Best beach reads 2023
The List is going to keep you up talking to your friends for hours. Each of you will have a different opinion. It’s a real conversation starter and perfect for a holiday with friends. Ola and Michael have It all; she’s an acclaimed journalist at Womxxxn magazine and he’s just got himself the job of his dreams. Young, talented, and successful, their wedding is imminent, and life is good. That is, until Ola wakes up morning to discover the list. A collection of names pulled together anonymously, alongside a plethora allegations, Ola would normally be the first to cover and support it — and unsurprisingly, she’s asked to do so. But this time, it’s hit far too close to home — because Michael’s name is on it. Punchy, topical and hugely thought provoking, we @thebibliofilles reckon The List will make you think about the issues surrounding social media and the power of the internet in the modern age.
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Best beach reads 2023
THIS BOOK IS PURE JOY, and it deserves a prime spot on the beach with you this summer. The amount of people that we have insisted read this, who have reported back beaming is ridiculous. Get yourselves ready for the new novel by one of @thebibliofilles favourite writers -- the inimitable Curtis Sittenfeld. Sally Milz is a successful comedy writer on a late-night sketch show The Night Owls (think Saturday night live). She's given up on love, focusing primarily on her career which is going from strength to strength. When it results in her meeting pop sensation, Noah Brewster, a guest on the show, everything changes. But Noah has a reputation -- and someone like him wouldn't be interested in somebody like her, would he? Written by one of the very best out there, Romantic Comedy is a novel that you won't want to put down and one you'll want to recommend to everyone you know.
Best beach reads 2023
It is as if Emma Rosenblum sat down with the clear intention to write the absolutely perfect, sun-drenched book that screams summer and beach from every angle. Fans of White Lotus – immediately order this. If you love scandal, drama, secrets and hilarious larger than life characters look no further for your next read. Fire Island is the ultimate holiday destination that most of the world will never get to see. For the uber wealthy only, and of course their teams of staff, everything is going according to plan until a body is discovered. This is caustically witty, with the right balance of humour, suspense, and satire, that would be the perfect poolside accessory.
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Best beach reads 2023
If a new Emily Henry book isn't the perfect way to head into the Summer, well, quite frankly, we don't know what is! From the author of Beach Read and Book Lovers comes the new novel that is perfect for your holiday. The story of Harriet and Wyn, the poster couple since they were in college, the pair have recently gone their separate ways. But they still haven't broken the news to their nearest and dearest. When it's time for their annual week-long holiday with their closest friends in Maine, they make a pact to keep up appearances and pretend that they are, in fact, still together. After all, with years of being together behind them, how hard can it be to fake it, just for one week? A glorious slice of easy reading perfection, this is the second-chance romance that you won't want to miss.
Best beach reads 2023
You have binged The Summer I Turned Pretty series and now you feel bereft, a void that needs to be filled. Our advice is to return to the world of Jenny Han and read the book behind the show, a tender coming-of-age tale that casts a spell of nostalgia and first love. Set against the backdrop of lazy summers and the ocean's embrace, Han's writing envelops you in the wistful atmosphere of youth. Protagonist Belly's journey to self-discovery, intertwined with the Fisher brothers, is a delicate dance of friendship and budding romance. Han paints emotions with a gentle brush, allowing readers to feel every heartbeat and butterfly flutter. The novel's exploration of evolving relationships is as poignant as the sunset's hues. "The Summer I Turned Pretty" is a sun-soaked, heartfelt narrative that captures the essence of fleeting seasons and the transformative power of a single, unforgettable summer.
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Best beach reads 2023
This book should be read by everyone alive and if you take this on to a beach or by the pool, you will inevitably be stopped by someone who wants to wax lyrical about one of the greatest living writers there is. The Lost Daughter, which has sold many millions of copies, is an intimate exploration of womanhood and identity. The narrative's raw authenticity is both captivating and haunting, as it delves into the complexities of motherhood, desires, and regrets. Ferrante's prose is a tapestry, weaving emotion into every sentence. Through Leda's introspective journey, the novel navigates the intricate web of relationships, illuminating the fragility of human connections. It is a masterful reflection on the choices we make and the echoes they leave, resonating long after the final page.
Best beach reads 2023
I know what you are thinking – who recommends a 600-page book as a beach read? Hear me out. The summer is surely for laughter and this newly longlisted for the Booker Prize title is being lauded as one of the funniest books of the year. Murray portrays the Irish family at the heart of The Bee Sting so adeptly, the characters are so layered, the observations so sharp you will roar. This is a tragicomedy, there is pathos weaved into grief, with an evocative sense of hope. The family are in crisis from all angles, and we revisit the same tumultuous months from the perspective of each of our cast. Deserving of the praise and worthy of being heaved into any beach bag.
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Best beach reads 2023
Social media favourite Boy Parts author is back with what is set to be another bestseller that cultivates the same hype and adoration. Clark is a writer to watch, and she has stepped up to the pressure. Penance draws upon the fascination with true crime, the pervasive nature of the internet and the growth of fake news, creating a story that feels so achingly real it’s almost uncomfortable. 16-year-old Joan was murdered on a night that shocked the small seaside town and now, years later, journalist Carelli is compiling the definitive account of the crime. Clarke holds up a mirror to society through the characters and fast paced plot and keeps the reader guessing until the end. Exploring the brutality of teenagers, classicism, and the voyeuristic nature of the media, we couldn’t put this one down. Dark academia, sad girl, true crime fans – this one is a must read.
Best beach reads 2023
How could we not include Uncle Paul in this list, newly released by Faber I mean the cover just transports you to the seaside. This may look like a quintessential, light summer read but do not be deceived, this is a twisting, noir thriller that packs an almighty punch. You will be utterly lost to the plot, centred around a nightmare summer holiday set in a caravan resort. There are sandcastles, deckchair politics, coastal villages and a mysterious uncle arrested for a domestic attempted murder, who is out for revenge. Secrets, lies, and dysfunction swirl in this sinister and brilliantly paced novel.
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Best beach reads 2023
EVERY GIRL NEEDS THIS BOOK. It feels like every single beach worldwide will have someone reading this feel good, life affirming, shot of self esteem from the Internet’s big sister & our absolute @thebibliofilles favourite, Tinx. Her willingness to share even the most vulnerable (and hysterical) of anecdotes, her relatability & warmth shine through the pages, with readers saying they inhaled The Shift in one pool side sitting. Tinx asks us to reevaluate what makes you happy, reflect on those pervasive thoughts that can inhibit and restrict decision making. In a world where it feels like everyone is portraying the perfect, Instagram worthy life, The Shift looks beyond the grids and posts to what fuels us. Honestly, it feels like spending a few hours with a best friend that has had her fair share of beak ups, giving you that perspective & boost of confidence that is so sorely needed. One for the beach bag, your friends will want to steal it.
Best beach reads 2023
This book contains an addictive, drug like essence that will make you relinquish all responsibility until the very last word. Do not say I didn’t warn you. Read when you have a few hours of absolutely nothing to do so you can give it your full attention. Without shadow of doubt Fourth Wing will be appearing on the beach and by the pool. It is sold out across the world, the bestselling fiction book in the UK, America, and Canada. A viral, TikTok title that had us @thebibliofilles in a headlock, this is the best parts of Hunger Games & Game of Thrones. Violet is a chronically unwell main character that is fighting to survive in War college where she is training to be a dragon rider. Sparks fly from the mythical creatures and between the soldiers in training. Just writing this makes me want to read it again.
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Best beach reads 2023
The book everyone is talking about that is just the perfect summer read, this one was Oprah’s most recent book club pick and let us @thebibliofilles tell you why. A stunning, immersive, and beautifully written reimagining of Little Women, this novel focuses on the four Padavano sisters; go-getter Julia, bookish Sylvie and twins, Emeline and Cecilia, a caregiver, and an artist. Julia, the eldest, plans her life to a tee, marrying William and beginning the journey she’s set out for them. When something terrible happens to William, she’s left reeling and confused; this wasn’t in her plan at all. Now, everything in front of her is changing and she - and her sisters - are forced to confront their lives through a new lens - with huge repercussions. You won’t want this one to end and you wont look up from the page, however beautiful the waves and sand are.
Best beach reads 2023
Picture the scene. You are a young mum, on a beach, kids running around you. You might feel overwhelmed, exhausted, wistfully watching as others relax by the water. This is the book for you, the book to make you feel utterly seen. Kilroy is an author that is in her prime, returning after a ten-year hiatus with a magnificent and tender novel that will resonate the world over. Beginning in the early days of motherhood, she explores the intensity of emotion that can overwhelm a new parent, and the confusion when your identity morphs into that of another person by the creation of new life. At so many points you will find yourself shouting at the page, she encapsulates the chaos and tumult of sleepless nights so vividly is what as if I had a newborn in my arms again. If this doesn’t win awards, we are not sure what will.
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Best beach reads 2023
We love a translated book that is a window to another culture and place, and let me tell you, Red Queen is a story that the whole world is going to be talking about. It is selling by the millions, and it is only getting more hype. The book behind the Amazon Prime show , this thriller is going to have you gripping that wine glass tight as you race through the pages. Antonia Scott is a on a one-woman crime fighting mission with a catch, she doesn’t leave her home in Madrid. Until she hears unknown footsteps coming up the stairs. Are you feeling the tension already?
Best beach reads 2023
If you can take one book with you away, The Guest is a strong contender for your sole summer reading experience. It is propulsive, completely addictive and is receiving international praise. Set in a hot Long Island summer, Alex makes one fatal error at a dinner party and is immediately dropped by her older partner. She stays on the exclusive island, sowing discord, and chaos wherever she goes. We love an unravelling female protagonist and Cline creates an unforgettable character. Every sentence drips with dread, you just know things are going to take turns for the worse. Read this one with a cocktail, by the water, with an empty afternoon ahead of you in the heat.
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Best beach reads 2023
You might find yourself immersed in the beauty of the ocean, thinking how lucky we are to live this world and how important it is to protect it. We have to recommend the force of nature that is Mikaela Loach and her brilliant book on climate change. This non-fiction debut is exactly what your summer needs, its an easy to read, clever, and unapologetic look at the economic systems, the media the capitalism and reliance on the status quo that is inhibiting progress and change. We love that Loach goes beyond the rhetoric to provide relatable, practical tips to make a difference, looking at racism, feminism, ethical fashion, and inequality and how this is inextricably linked to climate policy.
Best beach reads 2023
Ann Patchett is widely described as one of the world’s greatest living writers and here @thebibliofilles we couldn’t agree more. The author of one of our favourites, The Dutch House, is back this month with an absolutely beautiful novel; and we savoured every word. Set in the midst of the pandemic, a family finds themselves locked in on their farm, where they spend their time cherry-picking. The three daughters beg their mother Lara to tell them the story of her romance with Peter Duke, a famous actor who was an unknown at the time of his relationship with Lara; a relationship that began as part of a theatre production put on by a company called Tom Lake. Shifting from present to past seamlessly, by the end of this novel you will know Lara and her family intimately and you’ll find yourself wondering if there is any author able to observe the intricacies of human nature quite like Patchett. Trust us, it’s magic.
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Best beach reads 2023
The book that everyone is talking about - and let @thebibliofilles tell you why. Juniper and Athena are rising stars. At Yale together, they publish their debuts in the same year too. The respective aftermaths, though, are quite different. Whilst Athena’s literary offering is celebrated, Juniper’s doesn’t even manage to secure a paperback release - and she thinks she knows why; Athena is Chinese American and June is white - and no one wants a story about basic white girls anymore. After a freak accident occurs, resulting in Athena’s death, Juniper takes matters into her own hands, stealing Athena’s unpublished manuscript and claiming it as her own. What’s more, she publishes it under a new name - June Song - complete with an ethnically ambiguous author photograph. Scathing, spiky and full of laugh out loud moments, the undercurrent of this book is serious and important as it calls into question the matter of privilege and how far you might go to protect your reputation.
Best beach reads 2023
If like us at @thebibliofilles you were obsessed with The Paper Palace last summer little monsters is the book we insist you read. Written in a lyrical prose, with all the feels and emotions you would expect the story centres around one family over the course of one summer in the perfect beach setting of Cape Cod. This is one you will not want to miss. Ken and Abby were raised in a remote water side home but now everything is different. The siblings are each facing their own challenges, protecting their own secrets, or at least trying to. You will race through the pages of this gripping story a family loyalty and dysfunction.
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Best beach reads 2023
Honestly, we would read Caleb Azumah Nelson’s shopping lists at this point. Small Worlds is the perfect book to follow Open Water – Nelson shows that he is no one hit wonder, but a writer of astonishing depth and beauty. This is a story of fathers and sons; of the worlds we create and the soundtracks we choose for our lives. Stephen escapes through dance, celebrating and grieving through music and movement. Who is he when the music stops? When he has to face the shame and conflict at home? Nelson's lyrical prose is both powerful and evocative, and he expertly captures the nuances of contemporary Black British experience. Small Worlds is a stunning work of fiction that is sure to captivate readers with its intimate and emotionally charged portrayal of life and love. You will finish this one on the plane ride.
Best beach reads 2023
Bess, Joni, and Evangeline; nineteen years old and the best of friends. That is, until a summer holiday in Mykonos changes everything and Evangeline is lost forever. Bess and Joni are cleared of any involvement in Evangeline’s death but the media ravages at them in the aftermath of the tragedy. Ten years on, Joni has become a motivational speaker whilst Bess leads a quiet life, not willing to risk everything again. When Joni finds herself caught up in a crime eerily similar to that of a decade before, Joni struggles to know what to do. Is this the past repeating itself or is she heading into dangerous territory?
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