Back in January, Lexi shared her picks for the 10 Books to Read in 2018. She’s back with picks for the best beach reads. Enjoy!

Best Beach Reads for 2018

There’s reading and then there’s reading on a beach. To me, there is absolutely nothing better than sitting in my beach chair right at the water’s edge, with the waves gently rolling over my feet and a delicious, can’t-put-it-down book.

Here are my top picks for Beach Reads…including some that are on my list for Spring Break 2018!

1. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

To me, this book about a fictional Hollywood starlet and her seven husbands is the quintessential beach read. Interesting characters, page turner, twists that you don’t expect…this is the book that got me back into reading recently and I can’t recommend it enough.

2. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

I read Gone with the Wind the summer going into my senior year of high school. My family spent two weeks at the beach and during that time I fell in love with Scarlett, historical fiction and really long, juicy books. Ever since, I try to read one epic book a summer, when I have a little more time to sink my teeth in. I’ve had some hits and misses over the years but none will ever compare to Gone with the Wind.

3. The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy

I’m always searching for books that are set in the place I am vacationing. My family travels to the Carolinas every summer and thankfully, I have had Pat Conroy novels to keep me company on many of these trips. The Prince of Tides is my favorite. It’s tragic and dark but an epic story about a Southern family and all of the struggles they endure.

4. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

The cover of this book alone should sell you but the writing is surprisingly gorgeous. If you can’t visit a seaside Italian village this summer, at least you can pretend with this story of love and redemption.

5. Class Mom by Laurie Gelman

After a year of PTA and school events, I’ve added this one to my list for the summer. All of the reviews I have read include “funny” and I think we can all agree that we have to laugh at some of the things we do for our kids and our schools! Looking forward to this lighthearted, easy read.

6. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

The minute we take off for spring break this year, I am cracking this one open. Kristine Hannah, always a favorite, deals with the Vietnam War, a topic that I haven’t read much about, in her new book. Although this story is set about as far away from the beach as your can be (Alaska!), I love reading about new places and a different period of history. I can’t wait.

7. The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney

This was a quick and entertaining read about the Plumb family and what happens to the four siblings after their long-awaited inheritance doesn’t turn out quite the way they planned. Some of the characters were move likable than others but regardless, I kept turning the pages, anxiously awaiting what would happen to each of them.

8. The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand

After posting my last book review, I realized how many of my friends are Elin Hilderbrand fans and for good reason…the ultimate beach reads! Set on Nantucket, her novels make you feel like you are living on the island of red chinos and woven baskets. The Identicals, her newest book is an easy, fun read and a twist on a modern day Parent Trap.

9. All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

I love a good mystery or thriller on the beach – where it’s bright and sunny and I can’t get too scared! This book was more suspenseful than scary but it had a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing. Once you get the hang of the backwards timeline, you will become addicted to this story about the disappearance of two girls years apart

10. Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush

When a friend recommended this book, I wasn’t sure it was for me as I never gave much thought to the Bush twins while their dad was in office. I’m glad I gave it a shot because I ended up absolutely loving this memoir, written in alternating voices of the twins. Barbara and Jenna’s honest, funny, and tear-jerking stories have stayed with me. Please listen to the audiobook on this one…the twins narrate and there is a sweet forward from their mom, First Lady Laura Bush, included.

Post by Lexi Kiriakatis