Ah, summer, longer days of sunshine, out-of-office set and ready, and the beach calling your name. Sadly, most of us still have to do the 9 to 5 tango during the week; our weekends and vacations are our time to relax and curl up with a great book. If you haven’t updated your bookshelf (or Kindle library) in a while, it’s time to find the perfect read for your preferences. From mysteries and thrillers to romances and autobiographies, these are our top picks for seaside reads for 2021:
You might recognize this man as the widower of writer Amy Krouse Rosenthal. A few years ago, their relationship went viral when her essay, ‘You May Want to Marry My Husband,’ was published by The New York Times ‘Modern Love’ column. It was a heartbreaking, poignant and powerful piece, and now Rosenthal shares his own side of the story with a debut memoir. Though it is sure to be a tear-jerker, it will also be a page-turner that touches your soul.
If you’ve been single during the pandemic, you may have lost hope of finding the right person. Though understandable to feel frustrated, this book may be just what you need to believe that love is out there for everyone — including you! After a breakup, Broadway composer and songwriter David Friedman collected the couple’s ‘how they met’ stories for a decade, gathering responses from everyday people, celebrities, and more. Allow these hilarious — and sometimes unbelievable — tales to inspire you to keep swiping.
If you’re a big fan of psychological thrillers, this one will have you sitting on the edge of your beach lounger. It’s from a New York Times best-selling author who wowed crowds with this debut novel, ‘The Silent Patient.’ Now, he’s back with even a twister tale that takes place at Cambridge University. One-by-one female students are being murdered without explanation, and a narcissist group leader could be to blame.
Raise your hand if you’re a master procrastinator who waits until the last minute for, um, everything. Often, those who delay do so because every last detail paralyzes them. Until everything is perfect, they can’t move forward. This book seeks to help you leap into action instead of waiting in the wings. Ready, set, read!
If you’re a fan of the movie ‘Dirty Dancing’ and the hit TV series ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,’ this book is your jam. In this fictional page-turner, two families — The Goldmans and The Weingolds— return to their beloved Golden Hotel after decades apart. Their relationship has changed, as well as The Catskill region. How will they adapt — and can they save the hotel before it’s gone?
This fictional read is the worst nightmare come true: after being in a coma, Emma Harris wakes up to find her life incredibly different. Her former fiance is now in love with her best friend, her employer let her go, and everything she had before is gone. This story is one of the new beginnings — hence the name — and has many juicy twists and turns.
Known in the interwebs as @TheBloggess, Jenny Lawson has thousands of followers who look forward to her every word. She painstakingly takes them through her own depression experience — and now, she’s turned it into a gripping memoir. Appropriately titled, this book aims to break down the stereotypes around mental and emotional health, all while making us laugh and cry in the process.
Fans of Jennifer Weiner countdown to every book release — and this summer’s novel doesn’t disappoint. It weaves the lives of Daisy Shoemaker and Diana Starling together effortlessly, keeping readers hooked with each chapter. One is a busy homemaker, another is a business leader, but they share one thing in common that could pull them together, rip them apart — or change everything. You’ll have to read to find out.
Foodies will know The Lost Kitchen, one of the most sought-after dining destinations in the world. They only open up reservations once a year in the spring — and they’re mighty hard to come by. But who is the chef behind the food? Erin French grew up on a farm and fell in love with food while working as a line cook at her father’s diner. Her memoir is gripping, fascinating — and will leave you hungry for more.
This thriller tells the story of Nella Rodger, the only Black employee at a fictional book publisher, Wagner Books. After experiencing racism and microaggression, she is relieved when another Black woman is hired. Imagine their surprise when scary, threatening messages start appealing on Nella’s desk. In this thriller, you’ll need to grip your book tightly as you prepare for one unbelievable whiplash after another.
If you’re someone who reads every last tabloid article about The Royal Family, this is the beach read for you. The fictional story follows the career of Sarah Percy, a columnist who, well, writes gossip. She was much inspired by her mother, who always believed her life was parallel to Princess Diana. The story weaves through family dynamics, British aristocrats, and much more.
While the pandemic has been difficult for everyone, some silver linings may come out of it. In his book, author Jim Lord helps professionals bounce back, reimagine their careers, and take giant leaps of faith toward a better tomorrow.
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