My 2020 List of Summer/Beach Reads to Read!

 Now that it is August, and that things are mostly still closed and it is not a summer that we are used to, I’ve been doing a bit more reading than I normally would. Some of these in the list I’ve already reviewed, but having beaches opening again in Ontario, I thought it might be cool to create a list of the best summer/beach reads that I’ve read this summer and that I would recommend for a good read at the beach, or just give that summery vibe! So without further ado, here is my small list of good beach/summer reads!

Beach Read— Emily Henry 

So I have reviewed this novel in full, which you can read here, but I would definitely recommend this for a beach vibe. While it doesn’t take place in full “summer” you do get that feeling from it. It’s a good and easy read about love, life, and growing after grief. The basic premise is that two authors challenge each other to write in the other’s genre. A romance author struggling to believe in love again is tasked to write the next great American novel, and a distraught literary fiction writer must learn to pen something romantic. Along the way, a budding romance between the two begins, and they begin to help one another grow—both as authors and through life’s individual challenges for them.

                               Paris is always a Good Idea— Jenna McKinlay 

This one I had mixed feelings about. I believe I reviewed this about two weeks ago, which you can also see more about what I thought here. This book just came out a couple weeks ago as well, so I was lucky enough to get to read it upon its release. Although I personally, didn’t like the way the book ended, and some (if not all) of the family dynamic the main character goes through, it’s still a novel I think is worth reading. You get to see some awesome cities throughout Europe, and the novel (overall) gives a traveling/backpacking vibe characteristic of summer vacations, which is great. The premise of the story is that a twenty-seven-year-old corporate worker, named Chelsea, realizes that the only time she was ever happy was when she was on a gap-year in college working through Europe. When her father announces his intention to remarry seven years after her mother passed away from cancer, Chelsea decides to retrace her gap year travels through Europe—and three men who stole her heart. 

The Lost Girls: Three Friends, Four Continents, One Unconventional Detour Around the World— Jennifer Baggett, Holly Corbett, and Amanda Pressner

This book was a rare find. I remember absently picking it up in the travel section and thought it might be a second-rate book that would be a 2-3 star at best. That is not the case. This book doesn’t just cover travel (and a true travel story at that) but also ceasing life while you can, and growing into the person you want to become. I absolutely loved this book, and while it might not be the easiest read you’ll come across, it is the most soul-fuelling travel/summer vibe book I’ve ever read. The book tracks the three authors mentioned above— all friends: Jen, Holly, and Amanda, and their time embarking on a year-long trip around the world together trying to search for meaning and experience in their lives. Above all, while you’ll get some awesome travel tips and scenes from Brazil to Laos, you’ll also get some very relatable moments about life and growing up (especially if you read this in your twenties) from people who actually are just like you. It’s inspiring, it’s well-written, and while it may be dry at some times, I cannot believe that this book is so underrated. Definitely give this a read! 

I See London, I See France— Sarah Mylnowski 

I know I’ve raved about this novel before. It’s one of my favourite travel/summer novels, and you can read my full thoughts here. But I found it was a fun and romantic novel about two friends spending a month backpacking through Europe. Above all, one of the things I really loved this book was how it dealt with friendship and making the transition from teenage friendships to a more adult one, as well as learning to deal with love, and taking what you want in life. While some of the characters and scenarios are annoying— I will admit (as well as irritating), the story is amazing, and the character development is astounding and relatable. At the very least, you’ll get a glittering tour through Europe’s major hotspots, and it’ll feel like you’re really there! The premise is that two friends, Leela and Sydney embark on a month-long tour through Europe, all the while Sydney is worrying about her mother back home (who suffers from agoraphobia and relies on Sydney) as well as the surprise of running into Leela’s ex-boyfriend, Matt, and hot friend, Jackson. Drama at it’s best is here! 

Love and Gelato- Jenna Evans Welch

I’ve definitely talked about this series before as well, which you can read my full thoughts on here. Olga got me into this series, and I have fallen in love with it since then. Also, I feel it prudent to bring up now since the author will be releasing her third book of the trilogy, Love and Olives, come November! So keep an eye out! Essentially, however, this book is also about grief—but the shimmering beauty of Italy, and that is (oddly) a very good combination. This is a story that does have the travel vibe but also shadowed with darker feelings of grief and healing. The story is that after her mother, Hallie, dies, Lina is sent to live in Tuscany for the summer. Her mother’s dying wish is for her to get to know her father. But, when she is given a journal her mother wrote, stating that she “made the wrong choice”, Lina is thrust into a secret world of romances, art, and hidden bakeries—and as she retraces her mother’s footsteps through Italy— a secret that will change everything about her, and her family. Definitely give this book, and it’s sequel Love and Luck up! You will not regret it! 

Next Year in Havana— Chanel Cleeton

I’ve also spoken a lot about this book. It’s an excellent read about identity and history, and often the conflict between them. You can read my full review here, but I will say you will enjoy the story immensely. The basic premise is Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing romantic stories of her family growing up in Havana, Cuba, from her grandmother Eliza Perez, who was forced to flee to the United States during the Cuban Revolution. After Eliza passes away, it is her wish that Marisol take her ashes to the country of her birth and scatter them. While traveling in Cuba, however, Marisol discovers a huge family secret— one that has remained buried since the revolution. At the same time, the book also tracks Eliza’s journey to the States, and as a young girl living in Cuba during a time of political unrest. The daughter of a sugar baron, a young Eliza Perez is part of high Cuban society, sheltered from the political troubles happening at the time. That is—until she begins a secret affair with a passionate revolutionary. This is a read with both a travel vibe, but also a historical one, so it turned out to be both enjoyable and educational, which I very much appreciated. While it’s not the “easiest” read, it is a good one that will keep you engaged, so give it a look!

The Rossetti Letter—Christi Phillips 

You can read my full review here, but as an academic, I really loved this book. It’s both historical fiction, set in Venice with a travel-vibe, has romance, mystery, as well as switches back and forth from 17th century Venice to the present day. It’s a great novel to read by the beach personally for all these reasons. I’d rate it a fairly easy read since it’s not too difficult to understand and the plot moves fairly quickly. Basically, the premise is that a Ph.D. candidate named Claire Donovan is offered the chance to travel to Venice to finally finish her research on Alessandra Rossetti, a courtesan who’s letter to the Venetian Council warned of a plot by the Spanish to overthrow the Venetian Republic in 1618. Only, having to deal with an unruly teenager was not what Claire had in mind while traveling—but the opportunity is too good to pass up. When an arrogant Cambridge professor proposes to present a paper at the conference in Venice denouncing Alessandra as a co-conspirator— the clock is ticking for Claire to prove him wrong. In the process, the mystery of Alessandra’s life, and true involvement in the Spanish Conspiracy is revealed. This book isn’t just all academia though—you’re given a side plot with Alessandra’s perspective, tracing her journey in the Spanish Conspiracy, as well as some present-day moments of love, growth, and beautiful scenes of Venice. 

That's all for now! Definitely give these books a buy or borrow! If you've already read them, let me know what you think in the comments! 

~Meghan