Spring break is coming fast, and I am sure you are all looking forward to spending days on the beach or by the pool, rather than spending days in class. It is definitely something to be excited about! The beach provides countless opportunities for relaxation, and we know that after midterm week, you’re going to need to relax. My favorite way to relax on the beach is to read. It’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in something simple and light-hearted. When picking out a beach read, you must remember the three Es: engaging, entertaining, and easy to read. You want your beach read to be all three! Here are some fun beach reads to consider:
1. For the Romance/Chick-Lit Lovers
The Barefoot Williams Series by Kate Angell is the way to go for the romance lovers! This fun series is about the Cates and Saunders—two families who have been feuding over land for decades. They have the town divided. Half of the townspeople are loyal to the Barefoot Williams Boardwalk, while the other half of the townspeople are loyal to Saunders Shores.
The first book, No Tan Lines, focuses on Shaye Cates and Trace Saunders, who are forced to work together on a beach volleyball tournament that extends across both families’ land. While working together, they start to see each other in a different light. It begins with admiration and grows from there. Shaye and Trace’s chemistry is undeniably hot, hot, hot!
The second book, No Strings Attached, follows the romance between Trace’s little sister, Sophie, and Shaye’s older brother, Dune. Sophie and Dune met when they teamed up for the volleyball tournament in the first book, and they can’t resist each other. Dune loves Sophie’s awkwardness and sweetness, and Sophie has loved Dune since she was seven. It’s a very sweet and funny story from the first page to the last!
The third book, No Sunshine When She’s Gone, focuses on Aiden Cates, and it will be available April 24th. Keep an eye out for it when summer finally arrives!
2. For the Mystery Lovers
The Confessions Series by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro is intriguing and will catch your attention right away. You can easily finish one book in a few hours! They are the perfect distraction from the mundane people watching you will most likely be doing on the beach. In the first book, Confessions of a Murder Suspect, it’s up to Tandy Angel to clear herself and her siblings from the suspect list for her parents’ murder. As Tandy (who happens to be a genius) works to find the real murderer, secret after secret is shared, and it becomes hard to put the suspenseful novel down. Lucky for you, Tandy’s story doesn’t end there.
The second book, Confessions: The Private School Murders, brings more mystery and secrets. Tandy’s love and memories are missing, and her brother is on trial for murder. Tandy must balance all of that while also solving the murders of many young girls.
The third installment, Confessions: The Paris Mysteries, is available for pre-order. The official release date is October 6th.
3. For the Young Adult Lovers
The Summer I Turned Pretty Series by Jenny Han focuses on Isabella “Belly” Conklin. The trilogy follows Belly’s growth from girl to woman. Belly, along with her mother and brother, spend every summer at a beach house that they share with another family. Susannah and her two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah, have always been like family to Belly. Over the course of the three books the characters experience love and heartache. Some of you may feel weird about the love triangle between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah, but don’t worry, I promise these novels are very tastefully written. The romance is epic, and the advice that Belly gets from her mother and Susannah are words that every girl should hear.
4. For the Readers that like to Cry
I am sure you are aware of how heartbreaking Nicholas Sparks’ novels can be, and The Best of Me is no exception. You will ball your eyes out, but it will be great! It will be a release of all the built-up tension and stress you had from midterms. Also, the sun will be shining so you can’t get too down! The Best of Me tells the story of Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole. They were from opposite sides of the track, but they fell in love in high school. They were torn apart and went their separate ways. Twenty-five years later, they were reunited. With instructions from their deceased mentor and friend, they go on a journey that teaches them more about each other and themselves. It is a really beautiful novel that will stick with you forever. It may seem like a heavy read, but it is still engaging, entertaining, and easy to read.
As you can see, there are tons of options out there! No matter what genre you are interested in, you can find a book that is engaging that you won’t be able to put down. Don’t get too distracted by these great reads, though- we don’t want you to forget to reapply that sunscreen! Be safe and have a great spring break.