Beach Reads
By Jennifer James Davenport
It’s amazing how quickly summer slips away; those long, lazy beach days always feel too short. Between endless to-do lists and busy schedules, I only managed to get through half of the books I’d hoped to read. But that just means I have the perfect stack waiting for me this fall and I can’t wait to dive in.
“One Golden Summer” by Carley Fortune
Alice never expected to cross paths with Charlie Florek again. Her grandmother always said the lake had a kind of magic, and Alice believed it. One unforgettable summer at 17, she spent her days at a cottage with Nan, and snapped a photo of three carefree teenagers in a yellow speedboat, a single shot that would alter the course of her life. Years later, Alice has built her world behind a camera lens. She’s comfortable observing from the edges, letting others take center stage. But something inside her craves more. When Nan injures her hip, Alice suggests they return to Barry’s Bay, hoping the place that once gave her joy might do so again. What she doesn’t expect is the sudden appearance of that same yellow boat and the man steering it. Charlie Florek was just 19 when Alice first photographed him. Now he’s older, bolder, and as charming as ever! Long summer days and nights on the lake with Charlie rekindle something deep within her, yet his gaze, direct and unflinching, threatens to unravel the walls she’s carefully built around her heart. Alice has always been gifted at truly seeing people, which is why her photography feels so alive. But for the first time, she finds herself the one being seen.
“The Stolen Queen” by Fiona Davis
In 1936, eager anthropology student Charlotte Cross seizes the chance of a lifetime when she’s invited to join an excavation in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. But what begins as a dream opportunity quickly unravels when tragedy strikes, casting a shadow over her future. Fast-forward to New York in 1978, where 19-year-old Annie Jenkins is overjoyed to land a job with legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland. Immersed in preparations for the iconic Met Gala, Annie finds herself at the center of New York’s most glamorous night. Meanwhile, Charlotte, older and more reserved, has built a career as associate curator in The Met’s Department of Egyptian Art. Obsessed with proving the significance of Hathorkare, a long-overlooked female pharaoh, Charlotte buries herself in research. But on the eve of the gala, disaster strikes again: a priceless artifact vanishes, and whispers of an ancient curse begin to resurface. Thrown together by circumstance, Annie and Charlotte form an unlikely partnership to uncover the truth. Their hunt for the missing relic leads them across continents, straight back to Egypt, the one place Charlotte vowed she’d never return.
“All That Life Can Afford” by Emily Everett
Anna’s fascination with London began in the quiet aisles of her hometown library, where she escaped into stories of Jane Austen’s refined world. But the reality she faces after graduation is far less romantic and includes a damp apartment, endless bills, and the grind of barely getting by. Her life takes a sharp turn when she’s introduced to the Wilders, a wealthy family who invite her into their circle as a tutor. Suddenly, Anna is swept into a whirlwind of luxury, Saint-Tropez getaways, glamorous parties, and intoxicating freedom. At the center are two very different men: one eager to fold her into his privileged world, the other drawn to the vulnerability she tries so hard to conceal. For Anna, it feels like she’s finally living inside the kind of story she once dreamed of. But every fairy tale has its cost, and she must decide how much of herself she’s willing to give up to belong. With sharp social commentary and vivid storytelling, “All That Life Can Afford” explores ambition, identity, and the delicate balance between who we were and who we hope to become.
“Dream State” by Eric Puchner
Cece thinks she knows exactly what she wants: a future with Charlie, her dependable fiancé, at his family’s Montana lake house where they’ll soon be married. While she busies herself with wedding plans, Charlie brings in his old college roommate Garrett to officiate. On paper, Garrett is the wrong choice, an emotionally closed-off baggage handler carrying the weight of a tragic past. Yet as Cece spends time with him, she begins to question not only who Garrett really is but also the life she’s about to commit to. As tensions rise, a stomach flu outbreak threatens to derail the wedding, exposing cracks in Charlie and Garrett’s friendship and forcing Cece to reckon with the difference between the life she’s always imagined and the unexpected possibilities tugging at her heart. But the story doesn’t end with that fateful summer. Spanning five decades, “Dream State” traces the ripple effects of those choices not just on Cece, Charlie, and Garrett, but on their children, who must navigate the echoes of their parents’ mistakes against the shifting landscape of a warming Montana.
“Say You'll Remember Me” by Abby Jimenez
Xavier Rush seems almost too good to be true: a ridiculously handsome veterinarian with the kind of charm that practically belongs in myth until he speaks and ruins the illusion with a painfully bad first impression. Samantha, however, has never shied away from a challenge, and sparring with Xavier quickly turns into undeniable chemistry. What starts as a night full of banter, sparks, and unexpected vulnerability soon feels like the kind of date that could change everything. But just as the connection deepens, Samantha’s reality crashes back: Her family is in turmoil, and she can’t allow herself the luxury of romance. She asks Xavier to let her go, to hold on only to the memory of their perfect night. Yet some connections refuse to fade. No matter the distance, Xavier and Samantha can’t forget what they found in each other. And maybe one night isn’t the end of their story after all – because sometimes the best memories aren’t just meant to be remembered, but built into a life together.
“Sandwich” by Catherine Newman
For 20 years, Rocky has spent one week each summer at the same weatherworn rental on Cape Cod, a place layered with sandy memories, delicious meals, and the occasional septic disaster. It’s the backdrop of her family’s happiest traditions and their most chaotic moments. This year, Rocky finds herself caught in the middle: between teenagers testing their independence and parents growing older by the day. Add in the roller coaster of menopause rage, melancholy, and everything in between and Rocky is balancing more than ever. But when unexpected events stir up memories of summers long gone, she’s forced to confront both old heartbreaks and the secrets she’s been carrying. In just one fleeting week, everything shifts, past and present, joy and sorrow, stability and change.
