19 Beach Reads for the Summer of 2025
Sunshine, long days, and every reason to get lost in a good book—summer is just around the corner and it’s time to stock up on sun cream and beach-worthy reads. Whether you’re lounging seaside, poolside, or in your back garden, these books are perfect for warm, sunny days with engaging plots and summertime vibes.
From swoony romance to page-turning thrillers, these are 19 books that’ll have you hooked from the start and perhaps even giggling and kicking your feet:
Grumpy literary writer Augustus Everett and sunshiney romance author January Andrews agree to swap genres for the summer. What could go wrong (besides falling in love)? Witty, emotional, and full of flirty chaos—this is enemies-to-lovers gold with just the right dose of angst and beachy charm.
Jo is spiraling. She’s navigating influencer life, a career in medicine, and figuring out what she wants…which may or may not have to do with a love triangle. Old crushes, messy careers, and the internet’s watchful eye make this book perfect for a day in the sun.
If you love a romance with laugh-out-loud banter, Damien’s a dark lord with world-ending plans and Amma is a glitter bomb who can’t help but the day. And they’re stuck together. They bicker, banter, and maybe catch feelings… even as destiny looms. Think slow-burn romantasy with a satirical twist.
And it is, SO good. They shouldn’t fall for each other—not in 1950s NYC—but they do. Forbidden glances in a bustling newsroom make for a classic Cat Sebastian slow-burn. Queer, tender, and quietly radical, this one’s perfect for reading with your feet in the sand.
A grumpy tech genius, a sunshiney producer, and a reality dating show with one very off-script love story. Sweet, funny, and delightfully queer, this is the kind of feel-good romance that’ll have you grinning into your beach towel and rooting for love behind the scenes.
For the girlies who like a touch of grit to keep things interesting: a girl goes missing from a summer camp and dark family secrets start bubbling to the surface. Haunting vibes and full of twists, this one’s got that summer atmosphere and classic literary mystery feel.
She’s the maid of honour, he’s the best man—and their secret fling at her sister’s wedding is pure chemistry. Steamy, cheeky, and full of drama, this is the perfect short read for fans of sass and sneaky make-outs by the pool.
Eve is chaos in a cute dress; Jacob is structure in suspenders. After an accidental (ish) hit-and-run, she moves into his B&B, wreaking adorable havoc on his perfectly ordered life. Enemies-to-lovers meets forced proximity in this sweet, steamy rom-com perfect for a summer day.
After her husband’s sudden death, Hollis invites four friends—each from a different era of her life—to Nantucket for a “Five-Star Weekend.” Secrets, drama, and old flames collide in this summery novel about grief, friendship, and the messiness of starting over.
Lucy swore she’d stop hooking up with her best friend’s younger brother. But summer on PEI—with its beaches, oysters, and Felix—is a dangerous mix. She’s here to help her bestie, not catch feelings… again. But this year? Things feel different—and not just in his flirty smirk.
Kicked out and clinging to summer in the Hamptons, Alex has no plan—just charm, nerve, and a talent for slipping into other people’s lives. One week, one lie at a time, she drifts deeper into trouble, leaving a trail of chaos in her wake. This one will have you hooked, even as you drift off in the heat of the sun.
For a cosy and easy beach read, Molly Gray has you covered. People might think she’s a little odd, but order is her happy place. That is, until she finds a VIP guest very much dead in his bed and suddenly becomes the prime suspect. Whodunit meets heartwarming in this quirky mystery.
Twenty years after a steamy, chaotic week as teens, bestselling erotica author Eva Mercy and mysterious literary darling Shane Hall run into each other in Brooklyn—and sparks (and old wounds) fly. They navigate past heartbreak, present chemistry, and the very real question: can you rewrite the ending? Sexy, funny, and full of heart.
Gracie’s stuck running her late father’s champagne shop in Manhattan—and fending off a smug corporate hottie trying to buy it out. Meanwhile, she’s falling for charming, but mysterious, Sir she met on a blind dating app. And as fate would have it, she’s got no clue she’s already met him in person. And they hate each other.
One sunshiney optimist. One grumpy Pulitzer winner. One island, one elusive heiress, and one impossible joint assignment. Alice and Hayden are both vying to write the biography of reclusive legend Margaret Ives—but she’s only giving them half the story each. Will they get the full scoop—and maybe fall headfirst into their own love story along the way?
A horror novel set in the ’90s in Charleston, and bored housewife Patricia suspects her charming new neighbour might be more bloodsucker than Southern gentleman. Good thing her true-crime book club is ready to throw down. Think Steel Magnolias with fangs. Check the trigger warnings—this one gets gnarly.
In Oak Bluffs—Martha’s Vineyard’s elite Black beach haven—three goddaughters spend one last summer with their beloved godmother, Ama, who’s giving away her coveted beachfront home. But with secrets, rivalries, and old flames surfacing, this summer’s not just about kicking back—it’s about legacy, truth, and who really deserves the keys to paradise.
Bhanu and Sunny are workplace rivals vying for the same promotion—until one impulsive lie turns them into fake dates at a destination wedding in Hawai’i. With meddling families, nosy exes, and growing tension (the flirty kind), their pretend relationship starts to feel dangerously real.
Rufus Leung Gresham—abs of steel, wallet of lint—is about to lose his family’s crumbling fortune unless he woos a rich heiress. Cue a glitzy Hawaiian wedding, scheming relatives, and a hot mic that spills all the tea. Add in the girl-next-door he actually loves, and you’ve got a juicy, jet-setting mess of love, lies, and legacy. Think Crazy Rich Asians meets The Crown—but with more champagne and way worse behaviour.
There’s something for everyone here, whether you’re looking for sticky summer atmosphere, a romance that’ll have you swooning, or an edge-of-your-seat drama. Whatever you choose, don’t forget to reapply your SPF!
Happy reading, ladies!
