Annie’s Favorite Beach Reads

Is there anything better than a cold drink, a hot sun, and a good book?  Yeah, I didn’t think so.  While I can’t help with the cold drink and hot sun part, I can help with a good book, so that’s what I’m going to do!  

Before we get started, I wanted to ask for your help: I’m planning a little Q&A to celebrate 250 followers (yay!) so leave some questions in the comments, on my Twitter, or send me a message using the form on my Get in Touch page and I’ll tell y’all what you want to know!

Okay, back to your regularly scheduled program.  Here are some of my favorite beach reads:

• Heist Society by Ally Carter: I was a die-hard fan of this trilogy in middle school, but I still love it today.  The series focuses on Katarina Bishop, a teenage girl who was born into a family of professional thieves.  The books are a good time and, while they are easy to devour sitting on a beach, they also make you think: are you who you were born to be?  I bought the entire series on ThriftBooks for less than $10.00 (such a steal, right?) and you can check out the first book here.
• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: While some enjoy reading “easy” books, I’m a fan of the hard-hitters during my vacation and Gone Girl is the book for the job.  This book describes the tumultuous marriage of Nick and Amy Dunne and the subsequent fallout when Amy disappears–is Nick responsible?  It took me a while to get through this read because of its gravity, but it’s packed with intrigue and speculation while it’s not for the faint of heart.  You can get your copy here.
• The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd: This book seems so summery to me every time I pick it up.  Between the quaintly painted cover and the South Carolina heat that practically rolls off of Kidd’s prose, The Secret Life of Bees could give you a sunburn just from holding it.  It’s cheerful, it’s lighthearted, and it tells a heartwarming story of the unusual places in which we find love and acceptance.  You can snatch a copy for your next vacation here.
• To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han: While I’m not entirely finished with this book, I think it fits the mold of a beach read: lighthearted with a relatable narrator dealing with high school boy trouble.  What’s not to love?  I talked about this book in my second Reading and Writing Update, so head on over to check out my full update and thoughts on this book thus far.  You can also check out Lara Jean’s story by getting a copy of this book here.
• A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams: I mentioned this book in my Favorite Snow Day Reads post back in January, but today I’m going to let this book switch sides of the spectrum.  It’s the perfect book in the snow when you want to feel like you’re at the beach.  It’s also the perfect book when you’re at the beach and want to feel like a child of old money summering on an exclusive beach in Rhode Island.  What’s not to love?  You can check it out here.

What do you like to read in the summer?  Let me know in the comments and don’t forget to head over to my Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, Wattpad, and Spotify to show some social media love <3