Top Ten Books I’d Recommend As Good Beach Reads
hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
10. Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Fairies, swoon-worthy male leads, and A Midsummer’s Night Tale makes this the perfect summer book to read while listening to the waves crash against the sand.
9. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
This is the only one of Dessen’s novels I’ve read (I know), but judging from it I’d say that her reads are perfect for the summer time when you need to recover from all that heavy class reading.
8. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Summer road trips are more fun with John Green’s prose and characters along for the ride. This might be John’s least known novel, but it is definitely not one that should be missed.
7. Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson
Get ready for a whole bunch of Maureen Johnson books… This one takes place on the high seas and has a stomach twirling romance. As the Doctor would say, OH YES!
6. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
Want to go on a summer trip but strapped for cash? Tour England and other cities in Europe with this book! Johnson’s knowledge and love of England and Europe shines through and with a realistic romance and fun premise, you’re sure to enjoy the trip.
5. Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
Add Maureen Johnson’s humour with a cool setting, a sweet romance, and kooky side characters and you have a recipe for a perfect beach read.
4. Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brasheres
What’s better than a summer story? FOUR SUMMER STORIES!
3. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Have a summer adventure with the Greek Gods! There is no camp cooler than Camp Half-Blood, and who knows to have a better time at the beach than a son of Poseidon?
2. I want to go home by Gordon Korman
Nothing says summer better than summer camp! This quick and hilarious read is the perfect read in between dips in the water.
1. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard (my review)
Romance and exotic settings? Perfect combination for a great beach read! Imagine yourself on a beach in tropical South America, while you dig your toes in the sand.
Now a question for you!
What do you look for in a summer read?
I like mine to be set in the summer time with some overseas travelling if possible. Some form of romance is a must, and I prefer the language to be easy-ish. I mean, it’s summer time! I did all my thinking September through April.
coffeeandwizards 
Oooo, I LOVED 13LBE, but the sequel was EVEN BETTER and I was wondering which of MJ’s books to read next…. 🙂 Thanks!
I LOVED The Last Little Blue Envelope, and you’re right: it was better! I love that it was better because that so rarely happens with sequels, and it totally changes your perspective on the first one and ugh so amazing.
Creeping on your goodreads, I think you should check out Suite Scarlett and Scarlett Fever next.
I love Sarah Dessen’s books and 13 Little Blue Envelopes. Like you, I love to read books with travel in them for summer reading. I also like books that are set on the beach, romance, and humor. Nothing too dark or depressing.
Yeah, those are the qualities I look for in a good summer read. Summer is the time for fun, so fun reads seem like the way to go.
Great list! Wanderlove has definitely piqued my curiosity for some time (travel + adventure + romance story? Totally there), going to have to bump it up my list now 😉
Here’s my TTT for this week =)
You should definitely read it asap. It was a great summer read.
Fun list!! i thought about adding 13 Little Blue Envelopes, but didnt. I do have Wanderlove on mine though! I like to read about summer adventures, whether they be here in the States or overseas, and I agree with previous comment about not liking anything depressing.
Here is my Top Ten!
Summer adventures make awesome summer reads for sure!
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants seems to be coming up on almost everyone’s list! Looks like lots of people agree with you! P.S. Love the concept of your blog, I mean what more could you need in life besides coffee and wizards?
Oh really? I hadn’t seen any yet, but it seriously is a great summer read. I feel like it’s almost a classic.
And thank you! 🙂
Love this post! Your criteria for summer reads is spot on! I definitely like books easyish, some romance, and a unique setting. If I read a scary book… because I can’t handle scary stuff well… I’ll give scary books a shot in the summer because things don’t seem so terrifying when you’re on a blindingly bright beach.
Last summer, my favorite read was Amanda Hocking’s Trylle series. I blew through that in a rocking chair with iced tea and it was heaven on Earth.
I really need to read Maureen Johnson! Haven’t read anything by her 😦
Oh that’s interesting that you like scary reads in the summer, and your explanation why makes sense. I can ‘t handle scary reads even in the middle of the day XD
YOU REALLY DO! Go read her books now!!
Yay for Wanderlove! Awesome list! 😀
Drop by my Top 10?
I’m going to have to get down to reading Rick Riordan. Love your list. I’ll have to check out John Green. Haven’t read him yet. Thanks.
I just started reading Riordan, and he’s pretty good. John Green is a must.
I want to read Wanderlove so bad!!! I like beach reads to be set in the beach setting too. Idk why lol. This is a great list. I love Along for the Ride! My Top Ten Tuesday
It makes it more realistic, maybe? I dunno XD
After reading The Name of the Star, Maureen Johnson is definitely on my summer list (Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes heads up my Summer TBR list for next week’s TTT). I mean, I love her Twitter feed so I guess it’s time to read everything she ever wrote in a crazy frenzy of beachy reading!
Her twitter is the best thing ever created. Ever.
Great choices. I am gonna add to my already LONG tbr pile!! Come check mine too:
Here is my Top Ten post!
Yes, I love your inclusion of Percy Jackson! Those books basically sum up my middle-school experience. Three of us reading under the same table in a class about prophets, me sitting between two boys named Gabriel… I’m getting ahead of myself. I was 12. Anyway… Sisterhood! A great pick 🙂
Awww you read this book in middle-school *pinches your cheeks*
*Scribbles list down* Everything I hoped it would be!
😀
Love Percy Jackson! I also included 13 Little Blue Envelopes on my list! And your first book, Wondrous Strange sounds really good. Definitely need to check that out – thanks!
It’s part of a wonderful trilogy that I read last summer. Definitely recommend it.
I really like most of your picks! I definitely have to agree when it comes to An Abundance of Katherines. I only read that novel fairly recently, but I fell in love with it 🙂
I’m glad you loved AoK! ❤
Along for the Ride has made its way onto a lot of Top Tens this week. I will have to read that one now 🙂
It was a really fun read 🙂