Summer reading just hits different. Give me sunshine, a good book, and a waterfront view, and I’m perfectly content for hours.

This summer has looked a little different than I imagined. While our home is being renovated after unexpected water damage, I’ve spent far less time cleaning bathrooms and making beds—and a lot more time by the river or at the pool with a good book. If I’m being honest, there are definitely worse ways to spend the summer.

I love a good thriller. In the summer, though, give me a little romance, a little drama, a beach town (preferably Nantucket), someone who owns a charming oceanfront inn, beautifully complicated characters, and enough family secrets to keep me guessing. That’s my kind of beach read.

Let’s start with Elin Hilderbrand. You cannot go wrong with any of her books but here are my favorites.

1. 28 Summers absolutely wrecked me—in the very best way. I finished it and just sat there staring at the last page. If you’ve ever wondered about the “what if” moments in life, this book will stay with you long after you close it. This one makes me want to buy a cedar shake beach house with an outdoor shower.
2. The Five Star Weekend. (Now a series you can watch on Peacock) If you pick one Elin book, make it this one! This is a story about Hollis, a famous food blogger, who loses her husband and the next summer invites a friend from each phase of her life to vacation on Nantucket. I laughed, cried, gasped at the plot twist and immediately wanted to look up Air BnB’s in Nantucket!
3. Swan Song. You want a little mystery? Pick this one. Lavish parties, a missing person and mysterious fire, old money, a sailboat and a little romance definitely sets this one apart! You will be up until 1 AM thinking, “Just one more chapter!”

A few more that deserve a spot in your beach bag…

1. Every Summer After by Carley Fortune – my current read and it’s a good one! Also now on Amazon Prime! Think lake days, nostalgia, old flames, romance, and sitting on the dock with your feet in the water.
2. Beach Read by Emily Henry – another great lake story. From the title, it surprised me because the beach is not the focus of this book. Think hate to love relationship with your neighbor, family drama and grief, comedy, a little spice, and some jaw dropping moments.
3. One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune – a must-pack if you are going to the lake! This is a quick and easy read, with the pages intertwined with romance, nostalgia, teenage love, and a little spice!
4. The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews – basically ANYTHING by MKA is good in the summer! This is a murder mystery set in the a little southern town in North Carolina. Divorce, deception, a difficult teenage daughter, and a missing husband will have you not wanting to put it down!
5. The Wedding People by Alison Espach – one of my absolute favorite books ever! A woman gets blindsided by her husband and leaves on a whim to a luxury hotel in Newport. She gets tangled up with a chaotic wedding party.
6. Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum – a quick read about murder, infidelity, and summer scandals!
7. These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean – Let’s talk about the family drama! An inheritance, sibling rivalries, and a bunch of secrets encompasses this perfect summer read.

Still waiting on the nightstand…

1. June Baby by Shannon Garvey
2. One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
3. Summer State of Mind by Kristen Woodson Harvey

I’ll report back on those! For now, I’m trading my laptop for a striped beach towel, an icy glass of lemon water and my favorite sunnies. If you need me you can find me on the back of the boat for the rest of the afternoon!

What are your favorite summer reads? Put your recommendations in the comments below! Let’s add to my “To Be Read” list!

Until the tide comes in,

Mary Faison, Editor