Lit Hit List: A Few Favorite Beach Reads
It’s time for another Lit Hit List, this time featuring a few of my favorite beach or poolside reads! No, I’m definitely not projecting that I want to be outside in the sun…right now. In my roundup, I tried to do a mix of old and new, as well as different types of genres — but all books that scream “summer reading” to me.
A mystery that will keep you guessing: The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
This is one of the best whodunits I have read in years, and I would describe it as “in the vein of Agatha Christie.” There’s a book inside a book and a mystery on top of the mystery — and yes, it takes a little getting used to. It’s totally worth it if this is a type of book you like, as it is extremely clever and will definitely keep you engaged.
A fun rom-com that will make you want to move to England: The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
I teased this one on our instagram, but I adored The Flatshare. The premise, the characters, the humor, the love story — all of it was great, and I wish I could read it again for the first time, just to have it unfold again.
A historic romance series that will make you wish you wore a bodice sometimes: The Pink Carnation Series by Lauren Willig
This amazing twelve-book series was my gateway to reading romance novels — I believe I received the first when I was still in high school. It not only has aspects of romance, but of British spies and Napoleon, of humor and pathos, of falling in love unexpectedly and yes, of ripping bodices. I would recommend reading them in order, otherwise there are some character developments that really don’t make sense, but all of them are a treat.
(Note: I linked the first book in the series up there, but my favorites are either the stories of Henrietta and Miles or Charlotte and Geoff)
A non-fiction book about a bonkers time in US history: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
I am a big history nerd, and there is nothing I love more than a narrative non-fiction microhistory. (I am also a treat at cocktail parties, I promise). I love all of Erik Larson’s work, but this one seems the most “sit-on-the-edge-of-a-pool” appropriate. it’s the true story of the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, and the serial killer who used its events to lure in his victims.
A story that will make you wish you were more athletically inclined: A Season of Daring Greatly by Ellen Emerson White
Like everyone else in America, I spent a good portion of the summer obsessed with the US Women’s National Team, and then I spent a good portion of several warm afternoons celebrating their victories with a cocktail. The week after that, when my hangover finally subsided, I picked up this oldie-but-goodie again, about the first woman to play professional baseball. It’s inspiring, it’s about an amazing summer, and it’s about America’s pastime — perfect for sitting in a beach chair.
A spy novel that’s about more than just espionage: American Spy by Lauren Wilkenson
This is one of the most-hyped books of this year on #bookstagram, and it’s mostly deserved. I did find it a bit difficult to get into the narrative structure — if you read it, I think you’ll see what I mean — but that didn’t make the story less compelling, just a little more confusing. This is a story of a black female spy at the height of the Cold War, but it also touches on important issues of love, of colonialism, of trust, and of betrayal. I am still undecided on what the ending means, and I’d love to hear your thoughts if you read it. (Please tell me what it all means!)
An adorable YA love story that will make you want to hop on a train: Field Notes on Love by Jennifer E. Smith
Of all the books on this list, I read this one the most recently, and y’all, it gave me the warm fuzzies. Thanks to a breakup and some previously-booked travel, Hugo and Mae are two strangers embarking on a cross-country train trip the summer before college. Was it a little predictable? Sure! Did that make it any less fun or enjoyable? Absolutely not.
A novel of female strength, of all kinds, in the darkest of times: Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
This book tells the interconnected stories of three women during World War II — Carolina, Kasia, and Herta — and all that they go through during the conflict. This is not the easiest of reads, but it is a great reminder of the courage of everyday, quiet heroes, and what we can do when pushed (both good and bad).
If you liked this one, I’d also recommend The Huntress by Kate Quinn — same time frame, same structure, more Nazi hunting!
A thriller that will make you wonder who your neighbors really are: The Banker’s Wife by Cristina Alger
I know I mentioned it in an earlier review, but “The Firm” was one of my favorite books as a kid, so when I say a book has tinges of “The Firm", I mean it as a high compliment. This one does, in a great way! It’s got dastardly spouses, shady coworkers, mafia connections, and laundered money. Perfect ingredients for a summer reading cocktail.
A few that we have already reviewed that would also be great accompanied by sand and sun, in my opinion: Red, White, and Royal Blue | An Unkindness of Magicians | City of Girls | Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo | The Gown
…and some that are in my TBR Pile:
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren I am always up for a enemies-turned-lovers book (see below), and this one that combines wedding hell and a honeymoon gone awry sounds absolutely great. I picked it up from the library yesterday, and I cannot wait to dive in!
Well Met by Jen DeLuca I chose this one of for my August Book of the Month* and I am so excited for my blue box to arrive — a love story in my neck of the woods about enemies falling in love in the Renaissance Fair world. Obviously, I’m in.
Time after Time by Lisa Grunwald I love a good time travel read (see also: The Time Traveler’s Wife and The Jane Austen Project) and this one looks absolutely great. A woman stuck in Grand Central Terminal but not in her time, thanks to Manhattanhenge? Sounds great to me.
*This is an referral link to my Book of the Month Club account - I have been a member for about 2 years now (I’m so pleased to be a BOTM BFF), and I don’t think there’s a better value. You get a new release (hardback) for less than $10 a month, and there are tons of add-on books for the same price. If you are a big reader and you love reading the latest books, I can’t imagine a better deal. Even better, you can shop their whole back catalog and everything is still less than $10!
