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It’s summertime here in the Northern Hemisphere, and for many of us, that means it’s time to head to the beach. For readers, there are few things more relaxing than reading a book on the beach. The sounds of the surf, the warm sand beneath your toes… and the absolutely gripping novel in your beach bag.
The term “beach read” is almost synonmous with the Romance genre, and for good reason. Who doesn’t love a summer Romance, a little extra steam while you read in the sun? If you can’t decide what book to bring to beach, we’re rounding up some Romance recs that are sure to hit the spot.
Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler
- Spicy Rating: 3
- Length: 344 Pages
- ARC Received: No
We love a good forced proximity road-trip romance, and Mrs. Nash’s Ashes delivers – with a side of heartfelt depth that’ll have you reaching for your sunglasses to cover up those tears. A young woman is determined to take her neighbor’s ashes on a cross-country trip to reunite with the love of her life, but she just might find love of her own along the way.
The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
- Spicy Rating: 2
- Length: 320 Pages
- ARC Received: Yes
If you need a good dose of drama to keep you invested in a Romance read, why not pick up a book where the main character just so happens to be her love interest’s bodyguard? Our main characters in The Bodyguard enter into a fake dating situation as an excuse for her to come along to the family home without raising an alarm. But soon, they can’t deny that the chemistry might be real.
Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca
- Spicy Rating: 3
- Length: 334 Pages
- ARC Received: No
Will this series be on every recommendation list I write for all eternity? Perhaps. But you can’t say summer here in the midwest without also saying ren faire season, and Well Traveled is the perfect read for those who enjoy sweating in a corset as much as they do in a bathing suit on the beach. Ren fest romance, on the road – need I say more?
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
- Spicy Rating: 3
- Length: 382 Pages
- ARC Received: No
Yes, I know that Henry literally has a book called Beach Read, but this is my list and I prefer People We Meet On Vacation. The vacationing premise gives this one a lighter, more beachy tone that works perfectly for sipping a cool beverage while listening to the waves. Oh, and it’s a friends-to-lovers romance with a twist on “only one bed,” so… yeah, I’m here for it.
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
- Spicy Rating: 3
- Length: 416 Pages
- ARC Received: No
You wouldn’t go wrong to put any of Christina Lauren’s books in your beach bag, but The Unhoneymooners is my pick because it’s set on an actual tropical vacation. After her sister’s wedding turns into a nightmare thanks to a seafood buffet gone wrong, Olive gets convinced to take her nonrefundable honeymoon – with a plus one in the form of her nemesis, Josh. You know where this is going.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
- Spicy Rating: 3
- Length: 426 Pages
- ARC Received: No
Not all of us want a boy-meets-girl situation for our Romances, so might I offer girl-meets-girl… who also might maybe be a time-traveler from the past? One Last Stop takes place in New York, but has a bit of a summer vacation vibe due to the “break from reality” premise. The supernatural twist will keep you invested and wondering just how these two young women could possibly wind up at happily ever after.
Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
- Spicy Rating: 2
- Length: 320 Pages
- ARC Received: Yes
Who doesn’t love the inception of a beach read that’s about a beach trip? In Same Time Next Summer, former high school sweethearts unexpectedly reunite when they both spend the summer at their family’s former beach haunts. The only catch? One of them is engaged – to someone else. But will the second chance be what it takes for these two to agree they’re meant to be?
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
- Spicy Rating: 2
- Length: 352 Pages
- ARC Received: No
For me, all a beach read romance needs is to grab hold and refuse to let go, so you don’t even hear those kids fighting that seagull for a french fry two towels over. The Flatshare has a wacky premise and well-written characters to deliver. Two people become roommates with an unusual arrangement – they share a bed, but not at the same time. Their schedules are so perfectly opposite, they’re almost never in the flat at the same time. But when they start exchanging sticky notes, they realize maybe they have more in common than they thought.
Lucy on the Wild Side by Kerry Rea
- Spicy Rating: 3
- Length: 352 Pages
- ARC Received: No
If you grew up spending summer afternoons at the local zoo, Lucy on the Wild Side will scream summer to you. Lucy works at the zoo, and she is incredibly dedicated to caring for the gorillas there. When a wildlife personality decides to film the next season of his show at her zoo, with one of her gorillas at the forefront, personalities clash. But sparks also fly, because of course they do.
One Night on the Island by Josie Silver
- Spicy Rating: 3
- Length: 512 Pages
- ARC Received: Yes
Let me say this up front – Josie Silver will make you cry. Every time. So bring your sunglasses if this is your beach read of choice, but trust me, it’ll be worth it. One Night on the Island takes “only one bed” to a whole new level, bringing us “only one cabin on this remote island that we both booked due to miscommunication and now we’re stuck here.” Oh, it’s good stuff, friends, with plenty of good banter and great character development.
Fancy checking out some great adaptations from Reese Weatherspoon’s book club? We have a guide for that.
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