So oftentimes beach
reads are light, fun, and fluffy, but in a good way. Sometimes I just
want to sit by the beach or outside and get lost in a lighthearted
read....nothing too serious. On the other hand, sometimes I get sick of all the overly
saccharine reads and want something with a little more weight and a
little more oomph. Maybe there's a murder? Or an unreliable narrator?
Today I'm sharing beach reads that still have
many of the characteristics of a light novel, while featuring
enough suspense to keep me on the edge of my beach chair.
Cocoa Beach by
Beatriz Williams - Williams always does a good job of weaving history,
romance, and suspense into her historical beach reads. I found this one
to be a bit more suspenseful than her others.
The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews - A summer murder mystery set on a gorgeous North Carolina island.
A Single Breath - There's a ton of family secrets in this one and it kept me on my toes. Plus, look at that gorgeous setting!
The Blue by Lucy Clarke - This book features major drama and thrills aboard a yacht.
On the Island by Tracey Jarvis-Graves - This novel is the ultimate stranded on a tropical island survival story!
Under a Dark Summer Sky
by Vanessa LaFaye - A hurricane is en route to the Florida Keys and of
course it brings many dangers. Plus, it's based on the real-life
hurricane that pounded the Keys in 1935.
With Malice by
Eileen Cook - This is one of the best YA thrillers I've read in quite
awhile. It's about a deadly accident set abroad in Italy and it involves
amnesia, which definitely kept me guessing.
Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman - A psyschological thriller that takes place during a honeymoon.
The Perfect Couple
by Elin Hilderbrand - This isn't Hilderbrand's usual beach read as it
involves a murder! You may be familiar with the Netflix adaptation.
The Last Train to Key West
by Chanel Cleeton - What seems like it should be a good time turns
really stressful as the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 approaches.
Hello, Summer by Mary Kay Andrews - A major dose of a mystery with this beach read that follows a journalist's quest for the truth.
Summer Darlings
by Brooke Lea Foster - The second half of this historical novel has
some major film noir vibes to it, which kept me flipping the pages.
You're Invited by Amanda Jayatissa - A summer wedding in Sri Lanka goes badly... an engaging summer thriller.
The Siren
by Katherine St. John - A juicy summertime escape with a lot of plot
twists and mysteries that takes place on a film set in the Caribbean.
My Summer Darlings by May Cobb - This is a steamy romance that has some Desperate Housewives moments in it and even a murder!
She Started It by Sian Gilbert - A bachelorette party on a beautiful private island in the Bahamas turns bad and I mean really bad!
The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones - A destination wedding in Portugal that's filled with secrets and a whole lot of drama.
Sunburned
by Katherine Wood - A sun-soaked murder mystery that takes readers from
the Florida Everglades to the sunny shores of St. Barth's.
The Amalfi Curse
by Sarah Penner - This is a mystery + a historical fiction that will
transport readers to the tumultuous shores of the Amalfi Coast.
One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware - This thriller is about five couples trapped on a stormy island and there's a killer on the loose.
The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton - This historical fiction includes a page-turning mystery involving a Gothic mansion in Miami.
Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews - This murder mystery is set at a glamorous hotel, the Saint Cecelia, on the coast of Georgia.
We Were Liars by E.L. Lockhart - This YA suspense novel shouldn't be missed and is now a popular TV series.
Happy Wife by Meredith Lavender - A suspenseful, juicy summer read set in a private Florida community.
On The TBR List:
In
the comments below, let me know what you think about the books that
made my list. Have you read any of them? Let me know if you have any
recommendations, too!
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