The Best Beach Reads for Summer 2020

Reading outside in the summer is definitely one of my favorite things. I can spend hours happily reading in Washington Square Park or at the beach. I probably won’t be spending much time doing either this summer, but I have been grateful for my building’s roof deck.

My criteria for a perfect “beach read” (or I guess “roof read” in the case of this summer) is something light. It also has to totally suck you in. Below are some of my favorite books that do just that.

Happy reading 🙂

My Favorite Beach Reads:

Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein

I’m obsessed with everything Hannah Orenstein has written, but her most recent book (which came out this week!) might be my favorite. This book takes place on the road to the 2020 Olympics. Avery Abrams is a former competitive gymnast. Her career was ended when a poor showing at the Olympic trials as a teen left her injured. Now she’s in her late 20’s and figuring out what to do with her life. She ends up moving back to her hometown after a bitter break-up which leaves her feeling more helpless than ever.

Things are starting to fall into the place though. She lands a gig at the gym she trained at growing up to prep an up-and-coming all-star for the Olympics. And her new co-worker happens to be her former crush from when she was a teen. During all of this, though, a scandal in the gymnastic world breaks which leaves Avery reeling.

I sped read this book in a few short days… and kind of wish I hadn’t read it so fast because now I have to wait for another book of hers to come out! It’s the perfect book for this summer — especially with the 2020 Olympics being postponed.

 

Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren.

I adore everything written by writing duo Christina Lauren, but Unhoneymooners in particular is the perfect summer read.

Olive Torres has the worst luck. Seriously, the girl can’t catch a break — that is until every guest at her twin sister’s wedding comes down with food poisoning. The only two peoples spared? Olive and the best man, Ethan.

With the bride and groom too sick to travel, Olive and Ethan get to take advantage of their honeymoon to Hawaii. The only problem? They hate each other. But a free trip to Maui is too good to pass up, so the non-couple makes their way to paradise and pretend to be newlyweds on their honeymoon . They start to realize that maybe they’re having too much fun pretending and don’t hate each other after all.

This book is the perfect escape to paradise… even if you’re stuck at home this summer.

 

The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

Are you sick of hearing me talk about this book yet? My new goal in life is to make EVERYONE read this book. It’s just so freaking good.

Solene, a 39-year-old gallery owner living in LA, is annoyed that she has to take her tween daughter to Vegas to see a boy band. Yet another thing her ex-husband has flaked on. During the meet-and-greet, though, one of the members of the insanely famous band, August Moon, starts flirting with her. Solene brushes it off, but 20-year-old Hayes Cambell (who is sort of based off of Harry Styles) is determined to woo Solene.

And so begins their whirlwind romance as Solene navigates the highs and lows of dating someone ultra-famous and half her age.

I’ll be the first to say I didn’t think I would like this book when I first heard the plot. The age difference seemed weird to me. But after hearing about it enough on the podcast Bad On Paper I gave in to my curiosity. Oh, it was as good as everyone says it is. The book left me with the worst book hangover ever. I literally became a Harry Styles and One Direction fan because I needed something to help me get over this book. Go. Read. It. Now.

 

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

Choosing a favorite Jasmine Guillory book is like choosing a favorite musical for me… I just can’t pick. All of her books, though, are interconnected and take place in the same “universe” so I recommend starting with The Wedding Date. Although I personally didn’t realize this and read The Proposal first, oops.

Alexa Monroe is the high-power, no-nonsense, chief of staff for the mayor of Berkley. She meets Drew, a pediatric surgeon from LA, in an elevator… and ends up being his date to the wedding of his ex-girlfriend that very night. A bit crazy, yes.

At the end of the night though they realize sparks might actually be flying and decide to keep seeing each other long-distance. But of course that’s easier said than done when you’re both busy people.

Jasmine Guillory has this way of writing characters with so much depth and humanity that it’s impossible to not get attached to them.

 

The Knockoff by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza

I read this book a few years ago but it’s still one of my all-time favorites. Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza are so excellent at writing books that are satirical yet scary realistic. Whenever friends ask what book they should read, I always point them to this one.

Imogen Tate is the long-time editor in chief at Glossy magazine. She’s a bit old school in how she views the magazine industry. Her former assistant Eve comes back to Glossy with her MBA and a plan to overhaul the magazine and bring it to the 21st century. Imogen knows her stuff when it comes to fashion but is less than thrilled to have to adapt to the digital world and social media. She’s determined, though, to stay on top.

I’m sure the book is a bit dated now in how it talks about social media, but I remember loving everything about this revenge-y novel of not only old vs. new but also real vs. fake.

 

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

I’m so happy TJR has received SO much hype for her newest book, Daisy Jones and the Six, but I personally love her first few books which were modern romances.

Maybe in Another Life is a book I constantly think about. It’s all about the different paths our life can take. 29-year-old Hannah Mills is a bit lost and ends up moving back to her hometown, LA. Upon coming back to LA, she goes out with her BFF Gaby and runs into her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

At the end of the night she’s left with two decisions: Head home with Gaby or stay for a bit longer with Ethan?

For the rest of the book we flip-flop back and forth between the effects of both decisions. It turns out things go very differently. It makes you think a lot about “fate” and if some things are simply meant to be.

If you haven’t read anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid I highly, highly, recommend.

✨

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