July 19, 2026
Beach, and sea, and ocean reads
At some point every summer, bookstores put out their displays of “beach reads.” Those fun, sometimes frivolous, books you can read to the sound of the waves coming in, the feel of sand under your feet, and the coconut smell of sunscreen lotion in the air. But “beach read” doesn’t mean “forgettable”; it means a cracking good story you can get lost in. And those come in all grades of mental SPFs.
Watery books to read on the beach or when just thinking about being on the beach.
Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst (July)
MY HEARRRRRT!! Oh my stars, Sarah Beth Durst is a treasure, and her writing is always fresh and captivating.
– Liz, Columbus Bound Book Shop in Columbus, GA
The Sea Hides Its Dead by Megan Bontrager (July)
Meandering and claustrophobic, you will be lost in more ways than one along with Professor Beck and his crew. Do we deserve retribution for our sins? Or are the divine’s motives just as sordid as our own?
– Lana, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, GA
Sea Melt Lover by Yuki Kazami (June)
Incredibly beautiful art. I hope the tiger man got eaten by the Good Boy eels.
– Meagan, Righton Books in St Simons Island, GA
Should the Waters Take Us by Stephanie Soileau (July)
There are not many stories about the people and the place I am from, but Stephanie Soileau delivers a novel so close to home that I had to put it down multiple times to catch my breath.
– Kelsey, Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg, FL
Man Overboard! by Kathleen Rooney (July)
I won’t tell you what happens, because that would ruin the journey for you. A feel-good book, in my opinion. An easy read that glues you to the page from the very first sentence.
– Erika, Righton Books in St Simons Island, GA
In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto (July)
If you love banter and rivals-to-lovers, In Stormy Weather is the perfect summer romance for you!
– Claire, River & Hill Books in Rome, GA
Featuring reviews of:
- We Were Forbidden by Jacqueline Harpman, reviewed by Mackenzie, Thank You Books in Birmingham, AL
- The Missed Connection by Tia Williams, reviewed by Hallee, Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, AR
- Our Knives Will Save Us by Nephi Craig, reviewed by Beth, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
- Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven, reviewed by Lara, Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, FL
- Toad on the Go by Jashar Awan , reviewed by Erika, Righton Books in St Simons Island, GA
- Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevado, reviewed by Asia, Square Books in Oxford, MS
- Bookseller Buzz: Habits of the Sea by Shea Ernshaw , reviewed by Susan, M Judson, Booksellers, Greenville, South Carolina; Matilda, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, Georgia; Savannah, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, North Carolina; Erika Patoni, Righton Books, St. Simons Island, Georgia