Blog Post

What's a Great Beach Read?

Desiree Worrall-BelangerJun 23 2023

We already know that reading books for just 30 minutes a day can make you happier and healthier, and help you live longer. When you combine the benefits of reading books with the benefits of the beach, you get a powerful wellness combination!Your beach read book could help you treat the people in your work and home life better. Beyond the wellness boost from “beach brain,” books also increase your empathy and emotional intelligence.Books about the beach, books set at the beach, and books to read at the beach, Fable has you covered with a “Beach Reads” book list filled with books of all genres.

What Exactly is a Beach Read?

There are a lot of different opinions on this. Some say that “beach reads” are books where “the houses the main characters live in are on the beach of a lake.” Others will say that “beach read” stands for the book's vibe - meaning it is something “light and fluffy” that people can easily read while they’re at the beach or on vacation. If we want to look at the term in a more historical context, then “Beach Read” was actually coined by publishers as a marketing strategy. “Beach read” initially referred to “the blockbuster books published in summer.” According to research by The Guardian, the term was first used in 1990. Over 30 years later, “beach read” is still broadly used across social media. What do I think qualifies as a “Beach read”? I think a book qualifies as a “beach read” when it gives you the urge to get to the closest body of water, lay down a towel, put on some sunscreen, and read under the sun for hours while listening to the waves crashing. While countless books are actually set at a beach house - like “Happy Place” and “Beach Read” by Emily Henry for example - or near a lake or a body of water of some kind, I don’t think these are the only types of books to qualify as “beach reads.” Rather, it’s all about the vibe they give off. When you go to the beach and see people reading, are they ALL reading fluffy rom-coms? Definitely not. Some of them might be reading mystery and thrillers, or even non-fiction. With all that said, this is why I think the “vibe” is what really gives a book the label of “beach read,” which will vary from reader to reader.

Romance Books With a Beach/Waterfront Setting

For the reader who’s looking for a “beach read” that is set at the beach, a beach house, or just some kind of body of water. Beach Read by Emily HenryLove and Other Words by Christina LaurenThe Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Romance Books with Beach Read Vibes

For the reader looking for a good book to bring at the beach but isn’t necessarily looking for a book set at the beach. Normal People by Sally RooneySeven Days in June by Tia WilliamsAct Your Age, Eve Brown by Tilia Hibbert

Mystery Books With a Beach/Waterfront Setting

For the reader who’s looking to be so absorbed in a fictional crime that they get sunburned (please set a timer to reapply sunscreen regularly if you read these!).The Guest List by Lucy FoleySomething in the Water by Catherine SteadmanThe Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

Fantasy Books Surrounded by the Sea

For the reader who’s looking to escape reality and forget they’re surrounded by people at the beach.Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne YoungHouse of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. CraigThe Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

Find summer reading book clubs and book recommendations on Fable

In a world struggling with cognitive dissonance and toxic behaviors on social media, we believe that a reading habit delivers digital nutrition. Our platform ensures that our community members can reap the general health benefits of reading and the mental well-being benefits of reading books on our platform.Take a look at our “Beach Reads” book list, curated by yours truly!Fable also makes it easy for readers to share their thoughts and connect with others through Book Clubs. With our platform, you can host every aspect of an online discussion at a single destination, to reach readers and build safe online communities regardless of location or time zone. Start your own beach reads book club today!Every week, we update our Fable blog with new features, interviews, and reader resources. Explore any of these pages to become a better reader and discover book recommendations in every genre.

By Desiree Worrall-Belanger

Desiree Worrall-Belanger is a Canadian bookish influencer known under the username @rainydayslibrary. Having been annotating for multiple years, Desiree shares her tips and tricks on her platforms - one of the primary focuses on her social media accounts as of late 2021. Pursuing an honors in English and a minor in Visual and Material Culture studies at Mount Allison University, Desiree is devoted to the world of words. If you’re trying to reach her and she doesn’t answer, odds are she’s at the bookstore, or perhaps she’s practicing some of her favorite hobbies such as reading, listening to music, and crocheting.