Beach Reads
Summer is here and so are new books you will love! Bring on long days, warm nights, and the perfect excuse to lose yourself in a great book. Whether you’re lounging poolside, relaxing at the beach, or savoring quiet evenings on the porch, this season brings a lineup of can’t-miss new releases. From heart-racing thrillers to unforgettable romances, these are the stories everyone will be talking about.
“Not Quite Dead Yet” by Holly Jackson
From the bestselling author of the “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” trilogy comes Holly Jackson’s first foray into adult fiction: a gripping psychological thriller where the victim is racing the clock to uncover her own killer. Jet, 27, has always lived in the shadow of her wealthy family in Woodstock, Vt., drifting through life with the belief that she still has time to figure it all out. That illusion is shattered on Halloween night when she’s brutally assaulted by someone she never saw coming. The trauma leaves her with a devastating prognosis: within seven days, a fatal aneurysm will end her life. Suddenly, everyone in Jet’s life becomes a suspect. Her once-close friend who’s now her sister-in-law, her former flame, even members of her own family. As her physical condition worsens, Jet turns to Billy, her childhood friend, and makes a chilling decision: If she’s going to die, she’ll go down fighting. She’s not just counting down the days, she’s investigating them. Because Jet Mason is determined to crack the case … before time runs out.
“A Mother’s Love” by Danielle Steel
Halley Holbrook, a celebrated author nearing her 50th birthday, has much to reflect on, especially as her daughter Valerie’s wedding marks the start of a new chapter not just for her children, but for Halley herself. Raising twin daughters, Valerie and Olivia, is the achievement she cherishes most. She’s given them a life filled with warmth and stability, everything her own childhood lacked and something she’s kept hidden from them for decades. With Valerie settling in Los Angeles with her new husband and Olivia joining her out west, Halley finds herself alone in New York for the first time. In a bid to escape the silence of her empty apartment, she sets off on a trip to Paris. On the flight, a chance encounter sparks something unexpected: companionship, laughter, and a glimpse of romance she hadn’t imagined since the loss of her longtime partner three years prior. Just as she begins to reconnect with her sense of self, a shocking theft triggers long-buried fears from her past. Determined not to let fear define her again, Halley makes a courageous choice, one that will test her strength and change her path.
“With a Vengeance” by Riley Sager
It’s 1954, and Anna Matheson has waited over a decade to even the score. In 1942, six individuals shattered her family and now she’s orchestrated the perfect trap. Posing under a false identity, she gathers them aboard a luxury train bound from Philadelphia to Chicago, intending for this journey to end in justice. But the night takes a sharp turn when one of the passengers turns up dead. Now, with suspicion thick in the air and the clock ticking toward their arrival, Anna must pivot from avenger to investigator. To expose a killer, she has no choice but to protect the very people she brought here to destroy. As secrets unravel and alliances shift, Anna is forced to question how far she’s willing to go and who she can afford to become. A tense, claustrophobic thriller packed with twists, “With a Vengeance” is a razor-sharp tale of betrayal, retribution, and the price of justice when the hunter becomes the hunted.
“Atmosphere” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
From the author of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” and “Daisy Jones & The Six” comes a bold, emotionally charged novel set during the early days of NASA’s Space Shuttle program. This is a story about ambition, connection, and the gravity of love. Joan Goodwin, a reserved astrophysics professor, never dreamed of becoming an astronaut until a NASA call for female scientists in 1980 sets her on a new path. Selected to train at Johnson Space Center, she joins an elite group of candidates, including daring pilots, brilliant engineers, and one magnetic woman who challenges everything Joan thought she knew about herself. As friendships form and tensions rise, Joan discovers passion, purpose, and a love that’s as vast as the stars. But when tragedy strikes during a critical mission in 1984, she must confront just how far she’s willing to go to follow her heart..
“My Name Is Emilia del Valle” by Isabel Allende
From the internationally bestselling author of “A Long Petal of the Sea” and “The Wind Knows My Name” comes a historical novel about identity, resilience, and the power of storytelling. Born in San Francisco in 1866 to an Irish nun and a Chilean aristocrat, Emilia del Valle is raised by a compassionate stepfather and grows up determined to carve her own path. Fiercely intelligent and unafraid to challenge expectations, she begins publishing sensational fiction under a male pseudonym at 17. But Emilia’s hunger for truth soon outgrows the boundaries of fiction. She pivots to journalism, earning a spot at The Daily Examiner, where she’s paired with reporter Eric Whelan. Their partnership is electric, and when conflict erupts in Chile, they both seize the chance to cover the story. For Emilia, it’s more than a career move; it’s a journey into her past and a confrontation with the father she never knew. As revolution brews and danger intensifies, Emilia is pushed to her limits. Amid the chaos of war and the stirrings of love, she must confront who she truly is.
“Problematic Summer Romance” by Ali Hazelwood
From Ali Hazelwood comes a sizzling, sun-drenched love story about complicated feelings, forbidden attraction, and the unexpected ways desire can rewrite the rules. Maya Killgore is 23, a grad student still searching for clarity in her career, her future, and especially her heart. Conor Harkness is 38, wildly successful, maddeningly aloof ... and completely off-limits. He’s her older brother’s best friend, the biotech executive who once didn’t even know her name. Now, she can’t seem to get him out of her head. Their age gap alone should be enough to keep them apart, not to mention the history and power imbalance Conor never stops pointing out. He’s distant, reserved, and insists there’s no future for them. Maya knows she should walk away. But things change under the Sicilian sun. When Maya’s brother hosts his wedding in a villa in Taormina, fate throws her and Conor into unavoidable proximity. Between coastal views, chaotic family drama, and lingering tension that won’t seem to fade, Maya begins to suspect Conor isn’t being entirely honest about what he wants – or how he feels. And maybe, just maybe, a summer that starts with all the wrong reasons might still lead to something right.
