One of my favorite parts of summer is catching up on books that I’ve been waiting to read. Reading is one of my favorite past times and I love to get engrossed in a book. I notoriously finish books in a day or two and then have to mourn the characters. Here are some of my favorite beach reads just in time for summer!
Top 5 Beach Reads for the Summer
Book One
- The Tattooist of Auschwitz: In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist). Tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners. Imprisoned for over two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism. But also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive. One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her. A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale Sokolov’s experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust; The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions. I could not put this book down. I started reading it on my flight to Chicago, and it was absolutely a page turner. The conundrum that Lale and Gita face through their experiences in Auschqitz-Birkenau, their feelings of hope, and their love story made this an emotional read. I highly recommend.
Book Two
- The Southern Side of Paradise: With the man of her dreams back in her life and all three of her daughters happy, Ansley Murphy should be content. But she can’t help but feel like it’s all a little too good to be true. Meanwhile, youngest daughter and actress Emerson, who is recently engaged and has just landed the role of a lifetime, seemingly has the world by the tail. Only, something she can’t quite put her finger on is worrying her. And it has nothing to do with her recent health scare. When two new women arrive in Peachtree Bluff—one who has the potential to wreck Ansley’s happiness and one who could tear Emerson’s world apart—everything is put in perspective. And after secrets that were never meant to be told come to light, the powerful bond between the Murphy sisters and their mother comes crumbling down. Testing their devotion to each other and forcing them to evaluate the meaning of family.
- This is the third and last book in the Peachtree Bluff Series. If you haven’t read the first or second book, definitely do it. They’re the perfect beach reads. I couldn’t put any of them down, and most recently read the third book while on the beach in St. Augustine. It’s a charming story, full of twists, laughs, and eye rolls. I highly recommend.
Book Three
- When Life Gives You LuLuLemons: Welcome to Greenwich, Connecticut, where the lawns and the women are perfectly manicured, the Tito’s and sodas are extra strong, and everyone has something to say about the infamous new neighbor. Let’s be clear: Emily Charlton does not do the suburbs. After leaving Miranda Priestly, she’s been working in Hollywood as an image consultant to the stars. But recently, Emily’s lost a few clients. She’s hopeless with social media. The new guard is nipping at her heels. She needs a big opportunity, and she needs it now. When Karolina Hartwell, a gorgeous former supermodel, is arrested for a DUI, her fall from grace is merciless. Her senator-husband leaves her, her Beltway friends disappear, and the tabloids pounce. In Karolina, Emily finds her comeback opportunity. But she quickly learns Greenwich is a world apart and that this comeback needs a team approach. So it is that Emily, the scorned Karolina, and their mutual friend Miriam, a powerful attorney turned stay-at-home suburban mom, band together to not only navigate the social land mines of suburban Greenwich; but win back the hearts of the American public. Along the way, an indispensable ally emerges in one Miranda Priestly. With her signature wit, Lauren Weisberger offers an alluring look into a sexy, over-the-top world. And proves it’s style and substance together that gets the job done. | I LOVED this book. Loved it. Thought the story was so cute, quick read. And while I was able to predict some of the plot, it was still clever and enjoyable. I read this last year on our anniversary trip to Lakeview at Fontana but am planning to re-read this summer at the beach.
Book Four
- The Mother-In-Law: From the moment Lucy met Diana, she was kept at arm’s length. Once Lucy married Ollie, she thought her mother-in-law Diana would come around, but that wasn’t the case at all. But who could fault Diana? She was a pillar of the community, an advocate for social justice, the matriarch of a loving family. Lucy had wanted so much to please her new mother-in-law. Ten years later and not much has changed. But now, Diana has been found dead, leaving a suicide note. But the autopsy reveals evidence of suffocation. And everyone in the family is hiding something… | This is on my list of books to read at Ocracoke this summer, but from every review I read, I’m fairly certain I’ll finish in a day.
Book Five
- The Last Mrs. Parrish: Amber Patterson is fed up. She’s tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves more—a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed goddess Daphne Parrish takes for granted. To everyone in the exclusive town of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut, Daphne—a socialite and philanthropist—and her real-estate mogul husband, Jackson, are a couple straight out of a fairy tale. Amber’s envy could eat her alive . . . if she didn’t have a plan. Amber uses Daphne’s compassion and caring to insinuate herself into the family’s life. The first step in a meticulous scheme to undermine her. Before long, Amber is Daphne’s closest confidante. Traveling to Europe with the Parrishes and their lovely young daughters, and growing closer to Jackson. But a skeleton from her past may undermine everything that Amber has worked towards; and if it is discovered, her well-laid plan may fall to pieces. With shocking turns and dark secrets that will keep you guessing until the very end, The Last Mrs. Parrish is a fresh, juicy, and utterly addictive thriller from a diabolically imaginative talent. | This book was intense. I loved the plot of the story and definitely found it to be a page turner. It was dark, twisted, and also rather empowering as well. I definitely recommend if you like thriller novels!
Next up on my reading list: Becoming and Where the Crawdads Sing. Any other recommendations?
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I loved when life gives you lulu lemons. Great book! I’m adding some of these to my list right now. I’m currently listening to Where the crawdads sing on audible and reading The golden hour.