15 Buzzy Books to Pack in Your Beach Bag

Each new book by Room author Emma Donoghue is cause for celebration. Her latest, Haven, takes place in 7th century Ireland. It’s there that a charismatic leader sets out with two other men to start a novel version of life according to God. Their new home? A remote island whose only population is thousands of birds. Today we know this true-to-life island as Skellig Michael, but it’s through Donoghue’s signature style that the past comes alive.

When they were teens, four girls signed on to Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, a secret government department established by Queen Elizabeth I. Decades later, the country is still recovering from civil war among witch factions. One of the original four, Helena, now ranks as High Priestess of the Coven, but life has pulled her three colleagues in different directions. Now they face the threat of a powerful warlock who might upend everything about the HMRC. Can the original four team up to stop the destruction of the HMRC? You’ll race through this fun, queer read with amazing worldbuilding to find out.

This is going to be the romance you hear about all over this summer. Bolu Babalola’s debut novel, Honey and Spice, has an unforgettable heroine: spirited and observant, college student and radio show host Kiki Banjo knows how to avoid tricky things like romantic relationships. But soon she finds herself kissing Malakai Korede, the man she’s previously branded as “The Wastemen of Whitewell.” Together, Kiki and Malakai form a fake relationship to save their reputations on campus. But behind closed doors, is Kiki and Malakai’s connection as fake as they think?

A Hundred Other Girls is being marketed as a read-a-like for those who loved The Devil Wears Prada, and it’s not hard to see why. You’ll cheer on Iman Hariri-Kia’s heroine, Noora, as she tries to get closer to turning her writing dreams into reality after getting a coveted position as the assistant to a legendary yet aging-out-of-relevance editor-in-chief at influential Vinyl magazine, who Noora grew up idolizing. Witty and winning, A Hundred Other Girls announces a new writer of immense gifts.

This propulsive thriller just keeps upping the stakes with each passing page. Heather is a massage therapist; new wife to Tom, a physician very much her senior; and step mother to Tom’s two teens. Taking Heather and the kids along to a conference in Australia, Tom plans a relaxing time for everyone. When a group of rough men invite Tom, Heather, and the kids a chance to explore a remote island, they jump at the chance. Their choice haunts them as things quickly spiral out of control after a car accident. The Island is action-packed and unputdownable.

The much-anticipated next novel from Red, White & Royal Blue author Casey McQuiston has arrived, and you don’t to miss it. This queer YA love story follows Chloe Green in the aftermath of being kissed by her rival Shara Wheeler. But before Chloe can process the kiss, Shara disappears, leaving behind three very different people who she kissed. To find Shara, each of these unlikely friends band together to bring her back by solving Shara’s cryptic clues. Fun and flirty, this is the perfect YA romance you need.

The buzz could not be higher for Morgan Talty’s debut short story collection. Talty weaves together 12 linked stories about contemporary life in a Penobscot community in Maine. Each of Talty’s memorable stories are shot through with palpable emotion, unforgettable characters, and, quite often, humor. If you only read one short story collection this year, make it Night of the Living Rez.

From Tina Brown, former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, this is the dishy, tell-all beach read about Great Britain’s royal family you’ve been waiting for. If you woke up early to see the royal weddings, followed the Megxit drama, or love The Crown, this book is for you. Based on years of research and countless interviews with players close to the center of the Windsor’s game, The Palace Papers is as eye opening as it is page turning.

Capers make such great beach reads. This caper thriller stars an ambitious Harvard senior, Will Chen, employed by a Chinese benefactor who wants Will to steal back Chinese artifacts from the Harvard museum. To do it, Will needs to put together a cracker jack team of talent to pull off the heist. Not only is this novel funny, it’s a thoughtful commentary on Colonialism, identity, nation-wide trauma, and the problematic complexities of embodying the American Dream.

For some, Hollywood is the place of dreams. But for aspiring actress Luli Wei, it holds more nightmares. Set in pre-Code Hollywood, Siren Queen immerses readers into the complex, fantastical world of show business as seen through the eyes of an unforgettable protagonist. Soon Luli realizes that the villains on screen are less vicious than the ones she tackles every day. With the studios wanting to capitalize on her name and face, Luli learns the glitz and glamor of that world comes at a cost: blood magic. Can her ambition and talent shepherd her through this dark world? You’ll be racing through this one to find out.

If you’re looking for beach reads, it doesn’t get any beachier than The Swell. In Annie Reynolds’ gripping novel, surfer Kenna Ward’s boyfriend drowned, causing her to go on hiatus from surfing. Then she gets an invite to a wedding between Kenna’s best friend, Mikki, and a man who is part of a secretive group of elite surfers. Traveling to a remote Australian beach for the wedding, Kenna becomes immersed in the surfing world again. But when person after person goes missing, it’s clear there’s something more going on. Prepare to clear your schedule for this Agatha Christie-esque book.

In the Mass Dragoning of 1955, hundreds of thousands of women grew wings, a tail, and the ability to fly. And fly they did, away from all they knew. The shocking event left Alex curious about her aunt, who turned, never to be seen again. Now Alex searches for answers amidst the new normal. Feminist, thought-provoking, queer, and built in a world that feels real, When Women Were Dragons is a must-pack book for your vacation.