The 30 Best Beach Reads to Add to Your Summer Reading List

What makes a great beach read? There’s really no one perfect definition or genre to encompass all these varied, wonderful books. In general, though, we usually think of the best beach reads as the kinds of books you can pack in a bag and bring with you to read while you’re lounging by the pool, enjoying a solo picnic in the park, or, of course, at the beach.

These books might be sexy romance novels, engrossing adventures, or heartwarming tales of family and history, but they probably won’t be too heavy or demanding; they’re reads for relaxation, above all.

From icons of literature to brand-new books from the past few years, there’s no shortage of great picks for your beach reading. Browse the list ahead which consists of both the best beach reads of all time and newer 2024 beach reads. Enjoy!