I hope you’re reading and loving Wild Dark Shore as much as I am — can’t wait to discuss in about two weeks! — but I also wanted to share that I have been side-carring (yes, we’re anointing it as a verb) with some lighter fare most nights of the week. I find that reading a frothy romance before bed dispels any worries I’m carrying from the day and guides me straight into peaceful sleep. It asks almost nothing of me after long days that seem to paw at my pockets. I think that a part of this has to do with the trope-density of the romance genre: familiar shapes, legible patterns. Ah, we’ve been here before. Katherine Center (author of one of my beach read picks below) recently commented: “The central question in a rom-com is never ‘will they or won’t they?’ Because they will. They definitely will!” I think this is a core part of the chamomile I find in romance reading: it is never whether they’ll get together; it is when. So it’s all effervescent speculation rather than true agita.
I will admit that I’m pretty quick to abandon ship if I’m not into a romance trope, not interested in the characters, or distracted by anything too heavy in the plot line. I generally DNF beach read books heavy on the grief motif. I have a lot more forbearance when I’m reading literary fiction — I usually know the effort will be worth it, or at least worth reflection. For these lighter books, I often feel a little manipulated, or dragged through the mud, when there’s something too intense on the docket.
Anyhow, for romance/lighter fare, I am a Kindle Unlimited subscriber so I almost always have something new queued up that is covered by the subscription that I can ping-pong over to without much guilt when I DNF something. (Although, I will be the first to say that I never feel guilty for buying a book even if I don’t finish it. I love to support writers in any way I can!)
My Top Rec for a Summer 2025 Beach Read (So Far).
The standout from my recent beach reading: One Golden Summer. Just as delightful as the last one, and probably even more resonant if enjoyed somewhere close to water. A must-pack if you’re going to a lakehouse this summer. This is my top pick for an easy, romantic, funny, nostalgic, slightly spicy summer read. The setting alone is spectacular! It has the feel of a teenage summer romance (slow build, wet bathing suits, dock dives!) but unfolds between two thirty-somethings with their own baggage, and the protagonist, a professional and acclaimed photographer, is smart and self-aware. I enjoyed the meta-fiction about how, as a photographer, the protagonist navigates the requests and demands of her clients and the reception of her work in the art world — I couldn’t help but imagine Fortune was writing about herself navigating parallel concerns as a writer.
All My Summer Beach Read Picks.
Notes below:
I’m currently reading My Favorite Bad Decision by Elizabeth O’Rourk. The banter and friction is excellent so far, and I’m enjoying the backdrop of two fated lovers climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Makes for interesting setting, pace, and serves as a built-in plot driver (rising action, climax, falling action — clever). Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, only one bed (tent), forced proximity.
Next in my romance/beach read TBR pile:
It’s A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan. Just came out yesterday! Description: “A former adolescent TV actress-turned-Hollywood producer whose “fake it till you make it” mantra sets her on a crash course with her past, forcing her to spend a week on Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love.”
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. (Release date: June 3rd.) I know a lot of us are enormous Reid fans, beloved for her The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six. In an interview, she described Atmosphere as follows: “It just felt like time for me to write a very high-stakes, dramatic love story…What is my Titanic?” I already pre-ordered this! I couldn’t help myself. I will be traveling to a resort for a week shortly after submitting my manuscript and I will be diving in. Description: “An epic new novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program about the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits.”
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. The queen of the beach reads! I absolutely adore Henry’s backlist (if you are somehow new to her, start with Book Lovers! So charming.) Description: “Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping novel from Emily Henry.” This book has gotten mixed reviews! A lot of talk about how this is a departure from her usual style, but then others have said it’s still got that signature Emily Henry joy and pleasure to it. I’m looking forward to it!
Back After This by Linda Holmes. This was a top rec from Magpie readers! A lot of you read and enjoyed it; will definitely get to this in the coming weeks. Description: “A podcast producer agrees to host a new series about modern dating—but will the show jeopardize her chance at finding real love?”
Anywhere with You by Ellie Palmer. (To be released August 5.) I’m already looking forward to taking this with us to the lake at the end of the summer, when it’s released! Description: “A nostalgic, heartwarming romance about a Type-A woman who road trips through the Minnesotan woods with her non-committal childhood best friend . . . only for their long-suppressed sparks to start flying.”
The Love Haters by Katherine Center. Just released and have been hearing good buzz. Description: “Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past―now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim―but pretends that she can.Plus, Cole and Hutch are brothers. And they don’t get along.”
Park Avenue by Renee Ahdieh. (Release date: June 3.). This one sounds fun: “Fans of Crazy Rich Asians, Schitt’s Creek, and White Lotus will get more than their fix of backstabbing and danger. A delectable and drama-filled thriller.”
A Few Thriller Picks, Too —
If you’re not a romance reader — well, can I convince you?! Ha. But if you’re not, my mom is an avid thriller reader and recommended The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis (about art theft at the MET) and Famous Last Words by Gillian McCallister (suspenseful domestic thriller).
Two other thriller releases on my radar this summer:
+With a Vengeance by Riley Sager (release date: June 10th): “One train. No stops. A deadly game of survival and revenge. In 1942, six people destroyed Anna Matheson’s family. Twelve years later, she’s ready for retribution.”
+Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell (release date: June 24): “three women are connected by one man in this kaleidoscopic thriller.” You might remember her from None of This Is True, which I know many Magpies loved. I also enjoyed it but it was one of the first thrillers I ever listened to on audiobook and I didn’t really enjoy that experience? I think I prefer to read thrillers in paper.
Finally, one of my best guy friends just asked me to read this with him, saying he’d heard it described as a contemporary Bonfire of the Vanities. The book jacket describes it as: “A pulse-pounding novel of class, privilege, sex, and murder, from the New York Times bestselling author of Two Nights in Lisbon and The Expats.” I already bought it!
For More Dedicated Romance Readers —
A beach read I drank in big gulps last month: Lucy Score’s Story of My Life, described somewhat curiously as “Gilmore Girls Meets Schitt’s Creek.” I don’t really understand the GG reference but it is a small town, and it is comedic. I’d describe it more crisply with these handles: grumpy male love interest, fake dating, and the main character is a romance novelist herself, so there is a fun level of meta-fiction. This is true “genre genre romance” in my view. You might like if you’re a fan of Elsie Silver.
Along the “genre genre romance” / Elsie Silver lines, Jessica Petersen released the third installment of her Lucky River series in late April. These are spicy, sparkling cowboy romances. I find she reaches heavily for family trauma in this series, FYI.
Lastly, you might consider Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez. I know a lot of romance readers love Jimenez (including one of my sisters) but I’ve never read anything from her! This one garnered a lot of positive praise! Description: “There’s no such thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes—all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediate yes. That is until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong. Of course, there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving an asshole wrong . . . unless, of course, he can admit he made a mistake.”
Book Lover Finds.
Not related to books, but had to mention that Dorsey is launching some new paracord pieces today — keep your eyes peeled! Their previous paracord sets sold through quickly and then eventually became available again via pre-order. They’ll have some chic bracelets this go around, for $200!
Onto book lover finds: I want all of the bibliophile items below, and I also think they’d be such fun gifts for book club members, or birthdays of friends you’ve made via book club.
BOOK LOVER FLEX CUPS // BOOK LOVERS BOOKMARKS // BEACH READS AND BUBBLY BOOK LOVER TEE // BAD BOOK GIRL HAT // CUSTOM EX LIBRIS EMBOSSER // READING LOG / JOURNAL // BOOK LIGHT // RILEY SHEEHEY’S PRIDE AND PREJUDICE BOOK COVER PRINT // LITTLE WOMEN MUG // CUSTOM LEATHER BOOKMARK // STICKY TABS // ACRYLIC BOOK STAND // CHAPPYWRAP
These and more fun finds below.
+If you are a romance reader: fun romance reading merch here.
+More general book lover merch here.
+Book log/journal. I love the idea of this! Another chic option here.
+My favorite tabs for physical books. Love using these if I’m going to be discussing the book with someone else (book club!) so I can remember the bits that jump out at me.
+Gorgeous ex libris embosser! Also love this style. And if you’d rather have a sticker version, these are cute!
+A gorgeous way to display a special book.
+Chappywrap — my favorite blanket for book reading sessions on the couch.
+Penguin Books mugs! Cute gift if you can find one that is one of your friend’s favorites!
+Book cover prints illustrated by Riley Sheehy. So charming — omg. I bought the Little Women one and framed it in one of these. It now sits on my desk in my studio!
+A candle that smells like the library?! I need this. Olfactory notes: “A luxurious leather-scented candle laced with vanilla, drawing inspiration from an old library with leather hardbacks and dusty floors.”
+Frosted (reusable) “book lover” cups for your next book club! How cute?! The gals can take them home! And love these book-print plates for snacks.
+This Etsy shop has some really cute bookmarks to give out to your book club ladies / fellow book lovers, too. Like if you’re into Throne of Glass or the Elsie Silver books?! How cute! I’m swooning.
+On the bookmark train: these gorgeous leather ones can be customized with a name!
+Big investment, but Olympia Le Tan has the most gorgeous book clutches. Swoon. This Etsy store has lots of look for less options!
Collectible Book Sets.
While curating the finds above, I kept coming across gorgeous special editions and collectible sets that I’d love to see on my own shelves, and decided to put them all in one place here. I have also been noticing a trend in more contemporary romance novels of books with painted edges — fun joy-sparker. For example, take a look at the Katherine Center book recommended above with its aqua-painted edges. A fabulous lagniappe if I’ve ever seen one!
JUNIPER BOOKS JANE AUSTEN SET // SIGNATURE GILDED EDITION OF PERSUASION AND SENSE AND SENSIBILITY // JUNIPER BOOKS LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE // LITERARY LOVERS TINY BOOK BOX SET // JUNIPER BOOKS LITTLE WOMEN, ETC // BOND & GRACE ART NOVEL: THE SECRET GARDEN // JUNIPER BOOKS OUTLANDER // JUNIPER BOOKS JUDY BLUME //
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Oooo thanks for the heads up on the new Chris Pavone! I LOVED The Expats when it came out (I also gifted it to my dad and I may have re-read it, too) and enjoyed Lisbon though not nearly as much. Also excited that I’m #2 in the queue for Next Summer Will Be Different. I’m hoping to make it through both that and One Golden Summer this year!
Oh good! I can’t wait to dig in and then share notes!
xx
Back After This was such a delight!
A word of caution about The Love Haters, and this comes from someone who is a BIG Katherine Center fan. The main character in the book is dealing with an eating disorder and body dysmorphia. I found it really hard and unpleasant to read about, and I was honestly surprised there wasn’t a content warning at the beginning given how prominent it is in the plot.
Yikes – thanks for the heads up. That would be triggering for me! I might skip it — merci!
So many good recs here!! Thank you! After finishing (and loving!!) Emily Henry’s new book, I listened to the Abby Jiminez on audio and I highly recommend!! It is delicious. I am going back and reading the rest of her books now! If you enjoy Emily Henry’s style and tone, you will love her.
Ooo now I can’t wait! xx