Saturday, June 22, 2019

What makes a book a good beach read?

If it has an island setting? Or the word summer in its title? Maybe. A white sand beach on the cover never hurts either. But for me, a really good beach read needs at least five things:

  • a bit of humor ('cause who doesn't like to laugh?)
  • a little romance ('cause summer is a good time to fall in love)
  • a fun and fast-paced adventure ('cause a good beach read should never be boring or slow)
  • a happy ending ('cause there's no crying at the beach!)
  • and last of all, it can't be too deep or serious ('cause when I'm at the beach, the last thing I want to have to do is think)

But that's just me. 😎

Here's my next fun summer beach read (even though I'm sadly not headed to a real beach any time soon):


What about you... what do you look for in a good beach read?
Whatever it is ... Happy Summer Beach Reading!


And welcome to summer!

37 comments:

  1. I love this post :) Yes, you hit the nail on the head about a summer "beach" read. I haven't read Ruggle's books yet but I do like this genre once in awhile.

    I'm not sure if you'd enjoy these because I'm older than you but I enjoy Lisa Scottoline's humorous essay books she puts out every summer with her daughter Francesca. They're ultra-shot essay chapters about being a female, a dog lover, a cook, a family member, etc. It's fun because you can pick it up and read the chapters out of order.

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    1. I do like humorous essays that you can dip in and out of. Thanks! And if you like Laura Griffin's books, I think you'd also really like Katie Ruggle's. :D Thanks for commenting!

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    2. I'll check out Ruggle for sure. I have a similar post on my blog about my summer reading "wishlist". It's way too long and unrealistic unless I win the lottery, lol.

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    3. I thought it was a great list! My book lists are always way too long for me to ever realistically read, too. But I keep dreaming that someday I'll have more time. :D

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  2. I do like an island setting, but as far as summer reads go, I often look for something cold and snowy so I can imagine I'm not in the midst of our Louisiana steam bath. ;0

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    1. I can understand you wanting to escape the Louisiana summer heat with a cold and snowy read! It can get hot here in Utah, but we don't have the humidity you do.

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  3. I completely agree with you. Those are qualities I have to have for a beach read too. And maybe a cooler setting every once in awhile, as well. :)

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    1. Yeah, in the middle of July, a cooler setting certainly appeals. :)

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  4. A white sand beach always catches my eye haha even if it's a genre or type of book I don't normally read. I'm a sucker I guess for those kinda scenes. Humor and adventure always work good too!

    I love that pic!

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    1. I find myself picking up books with white sand beaches on the cover, too. I just can't help myself. :)

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  5. Hi Lark, I like a sunny climate too for a beach read and the writing has to be good of course but not too serious. Novels set in Miami, Hawaii, the Islands!

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    1. Good writing is always a must! Even when I'm reading fluff.

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  6. I've never been one for 'summer reads' or 'beach reads'. I just read the next book I want to read regardless of season or weather, unless it is a special themed week/month/challenge!

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  7. To be honest, I don't think I've ever actually read on a beach. I visit them so infrequently that I'm usually wandering around not sitting. But, for me, when I am on vacation, I like to read something about the place I am visiting. If I was on a beach in Hawaii, I would try to read something set in Hawaii, etc. :)

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    1. When I travel, I like to read about the place I'm visiting, too. :)

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  8. It has to really, really hook me. I always take a book to the beach, and I rarely read it. The first Mistborn and The Luminous Dead are the only ones I can remember in the last couple of years to hook me enough.

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    1. A good beach read definitely needs to be a book that will catch and hold your interest! :D

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  9. It also has to be a book you don't care if it's full of sand! Or suntan lotion! Books I read at the beach never quite look the same...

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    1. :D I hadn't thought of that! But you make an excellent point.

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  10. It’s winter here but I don’t ever read at the beach. The combination of sand & sunscreen messes with me. Enjoy your warm weather. It never gets too cold where we are but it’s raining now & I sat up last night to finish a detective novel which is perfect in this atmosphere. 🙂

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    1. We've had a cooler spring here than normal, but we're supposed to move up into the 90s this week. Sigh. Guess it's time to start up the old air conditioner. :)

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  11. Run to Ground is the perfect kind of beach read. Not too heavy or where you have to think much, just fun. Enjoy! :)

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    1. I'm really loving these Katie Ruggle reads! :D

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  12. I think that for me beach reads (or an airplane read) has to be very plot driven, because it's easy to get distracted in public with the noise and other people. With a plot heavy book, its easy to find my place again if my attention wanders.

    I agree with Kathy too that if the book takes place in a sunny clime, its a bonus!

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    1. Airplane reads have to be just right, don't they? I need one that doesn't read too fast ('cause I don't want the book to end before the flight!), but that pulls me in to the story so I can escape the discomfort of airplane travel. Ugh. I hate flying.

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  13. That's easy - shark books! Although in reality I haven't been to the beach in years so that's probably why shark books are okay. I honestly probably couldn't read one at the actual beach!

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    1. I don't know...I think a shark book would be a perfect beach read. (But then, I tend to stick to the sand and shallow water when I'm at a beach; I never venture out into the deep.) :D

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  14. I'm scared to take books near sand and water, but I love your beach read criteria.

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    1. On beach vacations I always leave my library books at home so I don't accidentally ruin them. :D

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  15. I totally agree with your criteria! I like young adult books for summer reads, since they are often sweet and go so fast.

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    1. And in the summer that's the kind of book I want...one that's fun and goes fast. :D

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  16. I don't leave near the beach and we don't actually vacation there very often either, so I rarely actually read books on the beach. We do have a backyard pool, but it's too hot and I sunburn too easily to read poolside either! So, in the summer I'd say I end up reading the same kinds of books I do in the winter, although I do tend a bit toward lighter books in the summer.

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  17. I think of summer reads as lighter or easier or quicker books -- not necessarily all three, but at least one of those. On the other hand, summer vacation is also a time when I can dig into a longer or meatier book, so...

    This year, my summer TBR has a lot more fantasy on it, because I feel I've been neglecting what used to be one of my go-to genres. There's also some historical mystery. Few of the books on my list, with the exception of a couple of romances, are books I would necessarily think of as "summer reading," but they'll be summer reading for me!

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  18. I agree with all your points of a good beach read needs, Lark. Hope you enjoy summer! :)

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    1. Thanks, Melody! I hope you have a good summer, too. :D

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