I will be honest here and say I don’t travel much in the summertime, other than an occasional road trip to my home state of Pennsylvania. I am not a beach person and prefer to spend my vacations exploring cities or going to Disney World than sitting in the sand. However, I know I am in the minority here and for many people this is the most wonderful time of the year. While I don’t frequent the beach, I do think a good beach read is the same as a good plane read: something that pulls you in and keeps you turning the pages. I do love a slow-paced literary fiction tome in my every day life, but on vacation I just want ride along with the story. I hope you like these books as much as I did.
Beach Read by Emily Henry — Starting off with a cliched title, but Emily Henry’s adult debut romance novel is so much more than a fluffy beach romance. It follows Augustus Everett, an accliamed litfic author who is stuck in a rut, and January Andrews, a bestselling romance author who no longer believes in love after the death of her father, who make a pact to force themselves out of their respective writers’ blocks. Gus is going to spend the summer writing something happy, while January takes on the next Great American Novel. And they surely aren’t going to fall in love… I think all of Emily Henry’s titles would make great reads for your summer vacation, but this one remains special to me.
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston — If you’ve like me and you’ve already read all of Emily Henry’s books, I recommend checking out Ashley Poston as a readalike author. There’s a romance, but the main characters are dealing with more than just their love lives, and there’s also a bookish angle, in this case the publishing industry. Florence Day works as a ghost writer for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, but reeling from a terrible breakup she can’t bring herself to write about love. After her new (very handsome) editor refuses to give her an extension on her latest book deadline and she prepares to kiss her career goodbye, she receives a phone call that sends her back to the Southern funeral parlor she grew up in.
Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter — This fictional mixed-media mystery is written as a teleplay of a true-crime documentary of an unsolved murder. I’m usually not one for true crime (the fictional aspect helps), but I couldn’t help but get swept away by the interactive element. You as the reader are given the clues along with the panel of experts, so it’s fun to see if you can crack the case before they do. I read this book myself on a long plane ride and it was the perfect distraction.
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett — In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return to the family’s cherry orchard to weather the lockdown. While helping with the harvest, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duck, a famous actor with whom she shared the stage and a romance with many years ago. The framing device of a woman reflecting on her past to her daughters in the story as well to you, the reader, on the page is really immersive.
Everyone on My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson — Ernest Cunningham meets his family for a reunion at a ski-resort in Australia, only to become stranded due to the weather conditions. Ernie talks to the reader directly as he details how each member of his family has indeed killed someone, raising the stakes on everyone’s safety in the isolated setting. This is fun, fast-paced, and the snowy setting is a nice mental reprieve from the heat.
Beartown by Fredrik Backman — Much like the previous recommendation, this title takes place in a cold setting: in this case rural Sweden. It centers on a small town that revolves around the local youth hockey team (think high school football in small town Texas, like in “Friday Night Lights”) who are about to compete in the national semi-finals. The match becomes the catalyst for a violent act that will leave the whole town in turmoil. This title is heavier than some of the others I’ve recommended here, but it is absolutely riviting and heartwarming at the same time, a testiment to the human spirit and community.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman — If you’re taking a long trip and are looking to binge read a whole series, I would recommend the four books of the Thursday Murder Club. In the first novel, an unlikely group of elderly characters gather once a week at the retirement village where they live to try to solve cold cases, only to get inovled in an active case when a dead body turns up on the grounds. The fourth book is a tear-jerker, but overall this series is a delight. Also the movie is currently filming so you’ll be ahead of the curve when it comes out!
Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann — This book needs a lot more hype because it is one of the most creative family dramas I’ve ever read. Swann reimagines Greek/Roman mythology in a ranching family in Texas. For instance: Zeus/Jupiter becomes Peter, who has children with his wife and a mistress. I read this book years ago at this point and I still find myself thinking about it.
One by One by Ruth Ware — This is probably my favorite Ruth Ware because it’s so clearly a homage to And Then There Were None, one of my all-time favorite books. A company (that’s framed as sort of Spotify/Instagram hybrid where you can see what music people are listening to) has a group outing at a Swiss ski chalet, only to become trapped after an avalanche and then they start dying, one by one.
Bonus: Best roadtrip audiobook
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green — If you are stuck in the car for hours on end I can’t imagine a better way to pass the time than to listen to John Green talk to you about stuff and then rate it. This ranges from silly, Dr. Pepper, to sentimental, Auld Lang Sang, and everything in between. I laughed and teared up at equal parts and if you’re traveling with a companion I imagine it would be great conversation fuel when you stop for lunch.
What has been your best experience reading a book on vacation? Or do you have a title you’re really excited to take on holiday with you this year? I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Until then,
I love the beach... but not in the summer. These are such great recommendations! I don't usually get to read much on vacation. I'm too busy watching my kids!