With summer finally here, many look forward to the blissful serenity of cracking open a book with the sun shining and the ocean waves crashing against the shore.
If a certain book does not come to mind, the six selections below are perfect suggestions for long days spent under the sun.
“A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman
Backman’s novel tells a heartwarming story about a seemingly bitter and closed-off old man who is transformed through the persistent love of a lively family who moves in next door.
Fans of Disney Pixar’s “Up” will enjoy this book, which tackles themes of love, grief, redemption and found family. A movie adaptation is also available.
“Beach Read” is a perfect summer read for romance fans. The book takes place in a fictional beach town where two polar opposite writers, January Andrews and Augustus Everett, strike a deal to get out of their writing slumps. The novel is a quick read that can be finished in one sitting, with a happy ending to wrap it all up. It is a perfect book for a beach read!
“Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens
Set in the marshlands of North Carolina, the main character, Kya, raised herself and became infamous in her town. She is drawn to two young men, but when one of them turns up dead, Kya becomes the main suspect. The descriptions of the hot and humid marshland climate make it a perfect book to read in one sitting at the beach.
“The House in the Cerulean Sea” by TJ Klune
“The House in the Cerulean Sea” adds a little magic to any beach vacation. With its similarities to the plot and concept of “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” by Ransom Riggs, fans of Riggs’ book or its 2016 movie will enjoy this read as well.
Linus Baker, a case worker for a government organization, is assigned to an orphanage on the island of Marsyas. He discovers the mystical qualities of the children and finds himself feeling at home among them. This book brings magic and found family not only to Linus Baker but to the reader as well.
“The Five People You Meet in Heaven” by Mitch Albom
The shortest book of the list is Albom’s novel, which follows Eddie, who dies on the pier where he has worked his whole life and wakes up in the afterlife. He meets five people in heaven whose lives had an impact on him, or who had an impact on him.
The book tackles love, grief, acceptance and forgiveness in a very short amount of time. “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” is a light read that makes readers appreciate the simple things, such as time on the beach, a bit more than before.
“Malibu Rising” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Reid’s novel focuses on four themes: money, fame, power and disaster. Four famous siblings throw a spectacular party each year in their cliffside beach mansion, but this year it ends in disaster. The story uses flashbacks to lay out the plot of this one fateful evening. Celebrity drama is something many cannot look away from, and this book has everything that makes famous scandals so entertaining. It's a perfect book for some drama by the ocean.
Try out these books on your next beach vacation or as a reward for a difficult semester.
This article was edited by Jessica Ackerman, Marina Zaczkiewicz and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Sabine Kanter-Huchting, Ariana Kavoossi and Emma Brown.
