It’s that time of year when we get a pep in our step and amass towers of books that match summer’s bright buoyancy.
It’s been a minute since we shared a big list of beach reads to keep you equipped for the season, so we decided to make it count, calling upon the expertise of our staff and contributors for a list of the 50 best beach reads of all time. We expanded our thinking beyond the books we personally love—though you’ll find those listed here as well—to consider the books we’ve literally seen on the beach, the it books of summers past, and classics of the beach read canon.
Now, what exactly is a beach read? We’ve asked and answered that question here ourselves and, for this list, we leaned into the versatility of the category because readers of all stripes deserve a page-turner with which they can while away the long days and warm nights. On these pages, you’ll find romance, fêtes, summer camps, adventures and misadventures. We nominated, voted on, and debated about these books until we had a bold, beautiful list we felt great about. So, if you’ve been looking for a vetted resource to help you figure out what to put in your trusty tote—my friend, you’ve come to the right place.
English (US)