Ladies and gentlemen, it’s officially June! Cue the summer jams, ice cold drinks, and sunscreen. And don’t forget your beach read!
You know what I’m talking about. Those books you take the trouble to pack in your suitcase. They don’t actually have to take place on the beach, of course, but usually they get you in the spirit of vacation. Maybe it’s a light and fluffy romance, maybe it’s a gripping thriller, maybe it’s the latest guilty pleasure.
Regardless, everyone needs a beach read, even if (like me) you’ll be vacationing on a mountain and trying not to get eaten by bears.
What should you read this summer? So glad you asked! I have a few thoughts.
Summer Reading by Genre
Non-fiction
Is there anything more “summer vacation” than a road trip? In Scotland? I think not. This book is pure escapism with a healthy dose of humor (and whisky). Your guides on this journey once again are actors Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish, sharing anecdotes about Scotland, their experiences, and their adventures in that shabby old campervan.
If you are really looking for a good time, do what I did and listen to it while driving. I could swear those two were in the backseat bickering back and forth!
It’s light, it’s hilarious, and it will get you itching to travel. A perfect summer read!
Contemporary
This is another fun, light read – which is pretty incredible given the subject matter. The first chapter introduces us to four characters – a TV personality fallen from grace, a shy mother, a failed musician delivering pizzas, and a teenage girl still reeling from a childhood tragedy – who decide to end their lives and happen to choose the same spot to do it. But that’s just the beginning of the story, as we get to follow these characters through the next few weeks as they struggle with their choices and what comes next.
The characters are unique and well-developed, with each one getting to narrate their own story. The book is funny at times and heartfelt at others – an excellent choice for a vacation read!
Fantasy
What do you get when you take the story of the apocalypse and infuse it with a cast of quirky characters and Monty-Python-style humor? This delightful collaboration between two master storytellers.
I was chuckling from the first paragraph, and I didn’t stop. I mentioned quirky characters, and I wasn’t kidding. We get a satanic nun who accidentally misplaces the antichrist, an uptight angel who sells rare books as a day job, a demon who likes living on Earth, witches and witchfinders, and even the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It’s chaotic fun watching these characters stumble their way through the End of Days.
A quick, fast-paced gem that doesn’t take itself seriously – perfect for vacation!
Mystery
This is a fun romp! Groundhog Day meets a locked-room mystery worthy of Agatha Christie? Yes, please!
The book begins with an invitation to a party and dives right into our initially unnamed protagonist’s head as he lives the day over and over trying to find out who killed Evelyn Hardcastle – the daughter of the wealthy family hosting the party. The catch is that each morning, our hero wakes up in a different guest’s body. And it seems like time isn’t the only thing working against him…
Twisty, fast-paced, and absolutely compelling, I think I read this in one sitting. If that doesn’t scream beach read, I don’t know what does!
5. Cozy Mystery + Urban Fantasy
I am a sucker for a quirky cast of characters, and this book has it in spades. At the beginning, we find ourselves in Midnight Texas – a tiny town with one road, a gas station, and a pawn shop. We follow newcomer Manfred as he moves to town and meets the few permanent residents. When the wife of pawnshop owner Bobo Winthrop is found murdered, we have ourselves a mystery!
This book reminds me of Northern Exposure (a small town full of quirky characters) mixed with Midsomer Murders (everybody seems to have a secret) with a dusting of urban fantasy on top. And there’s Mr. Snuggly, a talking cat.
If you’re looking for a small-town mystery with a side of magic, vampires, and witches, make sure to tuck this little book into your suitcase!
What types of books do you look for on vacation? What should I read this summer? Comment below!
Hey! I watched the movie for A Long Way Down. Did I watch it with you? I read *listened to* Hollywood Park by Mike Jollet. It’s good for a summer road trip because you can jam to some Airborne Toxic at the beach fire later that night!
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