My Top 5 Beach Reads for This Summer

🌞 From sand-between-the-pages fiction to inspiring memoirs, here’s what I’m packing in my beach bag!

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There’s just something magical about reading with the sound of waves in the background, the sun warming your skin, and a cold drink (for me an Alani Nu or a non-alcoholic beer) sweating in your hand. This summer, I’ve got five must-reads that are perfect for beach days, solo mom getaways, or those rare quiet moments after your kid has gone to sleep and you should be asleep too but NEED a minute to yourself (IYKYK).

Here are my top 5 beach reads—emotional, escapist, and exactly what your soul needs!

1. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

Genre: Memoir | Vibe: Wild, wise and weirdly motivating

If you haven’t read Greenlights yet, now’s the time! It’s part life advice, part wild road trip, and all delivered in McConaughey’s signature smooth swagger. I got inspired, and I underlines more quotes than I want to admit. It’s the kind of read that feels like having a deep talk with a charming stranger at sunset.
👉 Grab your copy here (affiliate link)

”Just keep livin’.”

2. ACOTAR Series by Sarah J. Maas

Genre: Fantasy Romance | Vibe: Steamy, magical, and totally bingeable

This is the book that will ruin your sleep schedule. ACOTAR is the start of a fantasy series that mixes fae magic, forbidden romance, and female power. It’s spicy, it’s swoony, and it’s just the escape you need when life feels a little too grounded. Perfect for fans of “I just need one more chapter” nights. I couldn’t put it down myself!
ACOTAR Paperback Box Set!
👉 Go ahead and grab the FULL series in one gorgeous box HERE (affiliate link)
Book 1: A Court of Thorns and Roses:
👉 Start the ACOTAR series here (affiliate link)
Book 2: A Court of Mist and Fury:
👉 Click here for the BEST book of the series (affiliate link)
Book 3: A Court of Wings and Ruin:
👉 For epic battles and big heartbreaks, click here (affiliate link)
Book 4: A Court of Frost and Starlight: (novella)
👉 A cozy winter interlude with all your faves awaits for you here (affiliate link)
Book 5: A Court of Silver Flames:
👉 Click here for Nesta’s fiery redemption arc (affiliate link)

Warning: You WILL fall for fictional men. So hard.

(Scroll all the way to the bottom for links to ACOTAR-related merch and editions! —just a reminder, they are all affiliate links, but come at no extra cost to you!)

3. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

Genre: Self-help | Vibe: Grounding, freeing, and powerful in its simplicity

This quick but impactful read is a reminder we all need: LET THEM. Let them judge you, leave you out, misunderstand you—because what they do isn’t about you. Mel Robbins breaks it down in a way that’s empowering without being preachy. Read it with your morning coffee or on your beach towel between swims. It’s light but life-changing.
👉 Get your copy here (affiliate link)

“Let them do whatever they want. You do what you want.”

4. Swimsuit by James Patterson

Genre: Thriller | Vibe: Fast-paced, intense, and unputdownable

Looking for something darker to balance out the summer sweetness? Swimsuit is a gritty thriller that starts with a missing model in Hawaii and spirals into a twisted chase across the globe. Patterson’s trademark short chapters make this one easy to devour in one beach sitting—if you can handle the heart-pounding suspense. I’m a huge fan of James Patterson’s work and this has to be one of my faves by him (outside of the Women’s Murder Club - more to come on that in a later post).
👉 Find it here (affiliate link)

Read with sunscreen…and maybe one eye open.

5. The Ruins by Scott Smith

Genre: Horror | Vibe: Creepy, tense, and totally haunting

If you’re craving a beach read that’ll make you paranoid about every vine and rustle, this one’s for you. The Ruins follows a group of friends on a Mexican vacation who stumble into an ancient horror that’ll stick with you long after the last page. It’s a slow-burn terror with a satisfying gut punch of dread.
👉 Read if you dare (affiliate link)

Not for the faint of heart. But soooo worth it.

ACOTAR EXTRAS!

A Court of Thorns and Roses Collector’s Edition Hardcover
ACOTAR Hardcover Box Set
The Unofficial Court of Thorns and Roses Cocktail Book
A Feast of Thorns and Roses: The Unofficial Cookbook of A Court of Thorns and Roses
Gray Hardcover Edition of A Court of Thorns and Roses
Gray Hardcover Edition of A Court of Mist and Fury
Gray Hardcover Edition of A Court of Wings and Ruin
Gray Hardcover Edition of A Court of Frost and Starlight
Gray Hardcover Edition of A Court of Silver Flames

✨ Final Thoughts

Whether you’re healing, escaping, or chasing a little adrenaline, these 5(plus) will feed your mind and heart.

Have you read any of these? What’s in YOUR beach bag this summer?

Drop your recs in the comments or tag me on Pinterest @justamomnamedmeg with your summer reading stack!

P.S. Thanks for shopping through my links—it truly helps support my blog and lets me keep sharing cozy content like this! Reach out with your email so I can update my summer booklist and share it with you!

With MUCH love,

Just Meg 😊