by Jessica Hincapie
As someone who grew up in South Florida, the word “summer” brings with it specific images of mosquitoes, heavy rains, and of course… the beach.
Despite the rainy days, my friends and I always managed to find time to pack up the car and go to the beach. Everyone has their own list of things to bring to the beach whether it includes umbrellas, a boom box, or a cooler full of beer. My list, however, was much simpler and consisted of really only two things.
1.) Sunblock – because let’s be serious, I have the skin color of a paper doll.
2.) And finally, and most importantly (even more important than sunblock) – a book.
Yep, I rarely went to the beach without a book, because there is nothing like sunbathing with a good book in hand, the sound of the ocean close by. For me, the perfect books to read by the beach are the ones that leave you smiling and which normally consist of a romance or two. Here’s my ideal list of beach books for the summer.
The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han
I remember reading the first one and flying through it, wishing I didn’t have to wait for the others. Now you can get all three together. This book is great to read out on the sand. Even if you aren’t able to make it to the beach or have a pool of your own by which to read this book, it’s still a great summer read, because it has all the luxuries of summer within its pages. Summer houses, backyard barbecues, beach bonfires, and a pair of gorgeous brothers – this trilogy is a great summer read.
And even cooler: the author, Jenny Han, will be teaching a class here at The Writing Barn in December with author Siobhan Vivian. I will definitely have my books ready for signing. Just gotta make sure to empty out the sand from between the pages.
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Honestly, anything by Sarah Dessen is a good choice for the summer. She is definitely the queen of beach reads. The majority of her books take place in the summer, as she herself grew up in a beach town, not much unlike my own. She definitely knows what makes for a memorable summer. For the sake of this entry, though, I had to pick just one, so I went with my all time favorite. The Truth About Forever is about the summer that changes it all. Beautifully written, this book is filled with phrases I have burned into memory. There are a few tear-jerking moments, but don’t let that deter you away. The book is a realistic read with a great group of characters you will fall in love with.
Dream Factory by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler.
If you live in Florida, there is another place by the beach that people come from all over the country to visit, and that place is Disney World. I think I’ve been to Disney 30+ times, and despite it always being fun, the “magic” can wear off rather quickly. That’s what’s so great about this book. It’s an inside look at the lives of two young adults who sign up to be Disney characters for the summer. Told from alternating points of view, Dream Factory is hilarious and heart warming. It is perfect as a quick and easy beach read. And what could be more fun than watching Cinderella get with Dale the chipmunk?
Roger and Amy’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
Now, this book doesn’t quite take place during the summer like the others, but it deals with a road trip – which to me screams summer – and it is still a great read to take with you to the beach. If you’re stuck at home for the summer, this is a great read to make you feel like you too are traveling cross country. The book is filled with pictures and visuals of all the places the protagonists visit and is a great, engaging read for sitting by the water. It, too, has some sad parts, but in all was a fun read.
I’m going back to the Sunshine State soon, and I’m raiding The Barn’s bookshelf for new beach reads to take with me. If you know a great YA read I can sink my teeth into, feel free to write it in the comments and let me know! I’m always taking suggestions.