Best Beach Reads This Summer (Picked by People Who Actually Read)
Summer Reading: The Unofficial Permission Slip
There's something about summer that gives people permission to just... read. No self-improvement required. No reason the book has to be on a list. Just a great story, enough sunscreen, and a cold drink nearby.
Our team at Queen Bee Giftery lives for this season. We've rounded up our current favorites — the books we're pressing into customers' hands and recommending to basically everyone we know.
For the Reader Who Wants to Disappear Into Another World
| A richly immersive novel is the ultimate beach read — the kind where you look up and realize an hour has passed. If you ask our booksellers what's currently on our "if you read one thing this summer" shelf, one book that would certainly top the list is The Academy. |  |
For the Reader Who Likes a Little Mystery With Their Sunshine
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Thrillers and mysteries are perennial summer favorites for a reason: they're propulsive. One more chapter. Just one more. You can stay up just another hour, right? To get you started sleuthing we recommend Nine Perfect Strangers. |
For the Reader Who Prefers Real Life (Even on Vacation)
| Not every beach reader wants fiction. If you're the person who reads narrative nonfiction poolside and finds it deeply relaxing, we see you and we support you. Our nonfiction and memoir section — always staffed by opinionated readers — has picks waiting for you. When Breath Becomes Air is a heartbreaking yet insightful look into the life of a neurosurgeon diagnosed with cancer. Short yet poignant, this book is sure to satisfy your curious and empathetic sensitivities. |
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For the Reader Who Wants Something Short and Satisfying
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Short story collections, essay collections, and poetry books are deeply underrated beach reads. Pick it up, read one piece, put it down. Repeat as needed. No commitment, maximum satisfaction. This summer, we recommend Atopia or a collection of poems by Maya Angelou. |
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The Perfect Summer Reading Kit
Come in and let us build you one: a great book, a beautiful bookmark, and maybe a bar of chocolate for good measure. It makes a brilliant gift — or a beautiful treat for yourself. If you can't come to us in-store, find it all at queenbeegiftery.com