Your Definitive Guide To The Best Beach Reads Of 2023

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

The standard by which a beach read can be measured is varied, but one thing’s for sure—it has to be entertaining. No, actually, engrossing. Because if the story isn’t going to serve as a mini-vacation from your vacation, it’s not doing its job.

Now, with the wide selection of all-consuming tales that—not by accident—find their way onto shelves near the end of the spring and start of summer, deciding what to read can be a mission in itself. But this isn’t the type of stress your vacationing mind should have to take on.

So, allow this curated list of 2023's best beach reads to do the work for you. Whether you're in the mood for a can't-put-it-down thriller or a devour-in-an-afternoon romance, there's a book that suits your exact literary tastes just waiting for you to discover it. From there, you can turn pretty much anything into a beach read… just add sunshine, sand, and water.

The only hard part will be deciding how many you want to pack, because it's a major bummer to not have enough books to last you all trip long. (But if you've got an e-reader, consider that problem solved!) Ahead, these 25 best beach reads—old and new—will transport you to other worlds, all without leaving the sand.

Happy Place by Emily Henry

Put simply, it wouldn’t be summer without an Emily Henry novel. Like Henry’s prior books, Happy Place is chock-full of witty banter, sizzling tension, and lovable characters. In Happy Place, two college sweethearts-turned-exes have to pretend they’re still together so as to not ruin a perfect, nostalgic weekend with their best friends. The more they try to keep up the act, though, the more they wonder why they broke up in the first place.

Quietly Hostile: Essays by Samantha Irby

Samantha Irby hive, you won’t want to miss this one. For very good reason, Irby’s developed a loyal following who love her humorous essays on queer marriage, the TV writing industry, pop culture, and the small, mundane, and deeply relatable humiliations of everyday life. Quietly Hostile is no different. (But you’ll especially want to pick up this collection if you’re a Sex and the City fan.)

People Person by Candice Carty-Williams

It’s been a few years since Carty-Williams’ debut, Queenie, jumped to the top of everyone’s must-read lists—but, in my own opinion, People Person is even better. Her laugh-out-loud, genre-defying sophomore novel follows five British half-siblings who have nothing in common but their absentee father, Cyril Pennington. When one of them, Dimple, finds herself in a terrifying crisis, she calls on her estranged brothers and sisters for help. From there, all five Penningtons struggle to connect with one another for the first time.

Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum

So, you’re already on the beach—why not read about another idyllic beach setting? In Rosenblum’s un-put-downable debut, a handful of wealthy couples take to Fire Island and cheat, social climb, and gossip their way through the summer. If you’re looking for White Lotus in book form (with a bit of Big Little Lies and a splash of Housewives), you’ll devour this one.

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

Despite her objectively cool job transcribing sessions for a kooky, small-town sex therapist, Greta has an uneventful life—that is, until she becomes fixated on one of her boss’ clients, who she privately dubs Big Swiss. When she meets Big Swiss in real life and recognizes her voice, she jumps into an ill-advised, messy love affair. Beagin’s novel is hilarious; at turns sexy, disturbing, and insightful; and beautifully chaotic.

Chef's Choice by TJ Alexander

All the best tropes abound in this delightful queer love story about Jean-Pierre, a grumpy French trans man who needs a girlfriend in order to inherit the culinary empire run by his celebrity chef grandfather. Enter Luna, a sunshiney trans woman who desperately needs money after losing her dead-end office job. JP and Luna are happy to help each other out, but slowly, their feelings and chemistry become undeniable. Full of swoons, shenanigans, and so much queer joy, Chef’s Choice is an unforgettable romance for this summer and beyond.

The Perfect Find by Tia Williams

After losing her job and fiancé, 40-year-old fashion editor Jenna Jones is in desperate need of a comeback. Thankfully, she manages to land a job at a trendy millennial website—but soon finds herself struggling with the shifting, digital-heavy media landscape, and growing feelings for a very off-limits, much younger videographer. (Psst: After reading, you can also watch Gabrielle Union star as Jenna in the all-new Netflix film adaptation.)

Sizzle Reel by Carlyn Greenwald

If you’re itching to travel to California, Carlyn Greenwald’s debut rom-com will (pretty much) take you there. Shortly after coming out to herself and her best friends as bisexual, aspiring cinematographer Luna finds herself crushing hard on Valeria, a possibly-gay actress who might just return her affections. But as her summer heats up with Valeria, her long-standing, tight friendship with her super-cool roommate Romy starts to get more complicated—prompting Luna to question what (and who) she really wants.

Once More with Feeling by Elissa Sussman

Once upon a time, disgraced pop star Kathleen Rosenberg (formerly known as Katee Rose) became a hot tabloid topic when she cheated on her boy band beau with his bandmate, Cal Kirby, effectively blowing up her career. Years later, as a much more jaded adult, she wants nothing to do with Cal—but then, he offers her the chance to star in the Broadway musical he’s directing, and she can’t quite bring herself to turn down the opportunity of her dreams. This big-hearted rom-com is all about second chances, both professional and romantic.

You Were Always Mine by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza

After publishing their acclaimed novel We Are Not Like Them, author duo Christine Pride and Jo Piazza have once again penned a thought-provoking page-turner about race, family, and friendship. In You Were Always Mine, two unlikely friends—Cinnamon, a married Black woman with a stable career, and Daisy, a troubled, pregnant 19-year-old white woman—forge a connection over weekly lunches in the park. When Daisy abandons her baby to Cinnamon, both women are forced to confront their traumatic pasts, futures, and what it means to be a parent.

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon

This is it: the hottest, sweetest book you’ll read this summer. In Solomon’s latest novel, a ghostwriter named Chandler has a particularly horrendous one-night-stand with a C-list actor named Finn… and then, learns her next ghostwriting project is his memoir. As they grow closer working on his book, Finn asks Chandler to teach him how to be better in bed. Obviously, what follows is a lot of steam and cuteness, but also a heartwarming story about sex positivity, mental health, and healthy relationships.

Zora Books Her Happy Ever After by Taj McCoy

If you’re a sucker for a well-executed love triangle, Taj McCoy’s sophomore novel is for you. Smart and business-savvy, Zora is more focused on her job owning and running a bookstore than dating—that is, until her long-standing author crush, Lawrence Michaels, breezes into her store and changes everything. Before she knows it, Zora has two admirers: charming Lawrence, and his grumpier, quieter best friend, Reid.

Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory

No author writes better books for a cozy night in or a relaxing day spent outside than romance queen Jasmine Guillory. In every single one of her novels, you’ll find smart women, dreamy love interests, and sizzling chemistry. Drunk on Love is especially perfect for the summer months: In it, a hardworking winery owner realizes her latest hire is her recent spontaneous one night stand. You might be able to guess what happens next… 😉

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

Whether you’ve already breezed through Hazelwood’s first two novels or you’re new to her universe of steamy, delightfully nerdy rom-coms, Love, Theoretically deserves a prime spot in your beach bag. This sexy rivals-to-lovers story stars Elsie, a people-pleasing theoretical physicist who wants nothing to do with the notoriously arrogant experimental physicist Jack Smith. But as they continue to cross paths in their personal and professional lives, Elsie starts to realize he isn’t quite as conniving and cold as she once assumed.

The Daydreams by Laura Hankin

In Hankin’s juicy, immersive novel, four ex-castmates from a teen show reunite thirteen years later for a reunion special—but they’re confronted with old secrets and tensions. Think Daisy Jones and the Six, but with an irresistible Y2K backdrop.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

If you haven’t read this modern classic yet, now’s your chance—after all, it’s about to become a Prime Video movie in August. Compulsively readable, deeply romantic, and very spicy, McQuiston’s queer rom-com centers around the forbidden, electric romance between a fictional British prince and first son of the United States.

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

With Prime Video’s series of the same name returning for a second season this summer, now’s the perfect time to dive into Jenny Han’s beloved YA trilogy. Belly Conklin has always looked forward to her summers spent on the beach with her mom, brother, and family friends, but she’s thrown for a loop when two brothers—both of whom she’s known her whole life—are suddenly interested in her in a whole new way.

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

The last (and, in my opinion, the best) book in Hibbert’s Brown sisters trilogy follows friendly, flighty Eve, who happens to land a job at a charming bed and breakfast. The problem? The uptight B&B owner, Jacob, wants her out of his way, stat. As they continue to clash, they’re both surprised to find themselves drawn to each other—and even more surprised when their begrudging friendship turns into something more.

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Can’t decide between buying a murder mystery, a family saga, or a romantic comedy? Try Dial A For Aunties, which is—for the most part—all three genres in one. When Meddy accidentally kills her horrible blind date, she enlists the help of her mom—and three aunties, all in the wedding planning business—to get rid of the body. (As one does.) Unfortunately, matters are then further complicated when the body ends up at the same resort where all five women are about to work a wedding. Oh, and did I mention Meddy’s dreamy ex from college happens to show up, too?

Exes and O's by Amy Lea

Tara Chen is an expert in all things romance—well, romance novels. In real life, she’s already had ten great loves, and they’ve all dumped her. Desperate to find a happy ending of her own, she enlists her new relationship-averse roommate, Trevor, to help her track down her exes and figure out which man might’ve been the one that got away. But what if her perfect match is actually right in front of her?

Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler

One of the most buzzed-about books of this year, Genevieve Wheeler’s heartfelt debut follows a 26-year-old American in London who meets her dream man and then ends up losing herself in a very one-sided relationship. This novel explores heavy themes including mental health, trauma, and grief, but it’s also a beautiful, cathartic, and affirming read for anyone navigating the complexities of love and heartache in their twenties.

The Stand-Up Groomsman by Jackie Lau

Vivian and Melvin have nothing in common: she’s guarded, serious, and career-focused, and Mel is a stand-up comedian who loves snagging the spotlight and cracking jokes. Naturally, they don’t exactly get off on the right foot, but because their best friends are getting married to one another, they’re forced to spend time together planning an entire wedding. Eventually, sparks start to fly.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

If you’ve already binge-watched and read Daisy Jones and the Six, why not give Reid’s other beloved novel a shot? Like Daisy Jones, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo centers around a fictional charismatic superstar: this time, a renowned actress who was a prominent diva in the 1950s and ’60s. Decades later, Evelyn Hugo finally tells her story in her own words, including the truth about the seven men she married (and the one woman who was the love of her life).

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

Looking for an immersive, dark academia mystery that will also make you think? Look no further. In I Have Some Questions For You, a boarding school graduate named Bodie returns to her alma mater decades after her popular roommate was murdered—and a young gym assistant was convicted based on rumors alone. With true crime aficionados and podcasters looking into the case with renewed interest, Bodie realizes she knows more about what really happened than she thought. (Keep in mind that this is a juicy, fast-paced read, but also contains heavier topics, including grooming and sexual assault.)

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Ellie Cosimano

If you’re looking to jump into a new funny, fast-paced universe, might I recommend Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan series? In the first of three books (and counting), a down-on-her-luck novelist is mistaken for a paid assassin—and she’s given an assignment she accidentally accepts. Before she knows it, Finlay’s swept up in a wild world of murder, cover-ups, and hijinks.

You Might Also Like

• Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream

• These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals