Recommend your must-read beach books

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is 10:37 - for the PP going to the spa (jealous!), here's some more favorite Chick Lit. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (probably a big duh since everyone has read it) and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer. Guernsey is set on Guernsey Island during WWII and it is all letters and it is adorable and sweet and fairly predictable but a pleasure to read, too. Like another PP, I also have enjoyed Emily Giffin's books (the first two anyway) which are pretty well done chick lit.

More substantive than chick lit but still qualifies as good beach reading is anything by Julia Glass - relatively easy reading but fabulous families and characters and stories. I've read all of her books except the brand new one and have thoroughly enjoyed them all.

Also, OP, if you haven't read the Stieg Larson books and you like mysteries, those are total page turners and perfect beach reading. I don't entirely get the worldwide hype but I definitely read them quickly. And they're cheap on the Nook!

I second these recommendations -- I can't stand 'chick lit' or trashy beach novels and I resisted reading The Help but once I got it on my Kindle I couldn't put it down. I also like Julia Glass and the Guernsey book was good. Again, not great literature but enjoyable and well enough written that you won't pull your hair out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Marian Keyes is good for chick lit. Sophie Kinsella also rights under the name of Madeline Wickham and some of those books are fun (fluff, but fun!) I also highly recommend the Sunday Philosophers Club series by Alexander McCall Smith (can't remember the exact title, it is something like that). If you like books set in France, try Diane Johnson's Le Divorce, and Joanne Harris (Chocolat and its sequel are good, but I've pretty much liked all her books). Nick Hornby (I'd go with About a Boy or High Fidelity maybe). For something a little meatier, try Zadie Smith's White Teeth or Richard Russo (really liked Empire Falls and Nobody's Fool). Or you can go old school with a little Nancy Mitford or even Edith Wharton. Finally, gotta recommend I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.

Le Divorce -- that's a great book and Diane Johnson is no slouch -- she's a prize-winning writer. These are all great recommendations.

[Anonymous]

Alexander McCall Smith also has the Ladies Detective series, which is my idea of a beach read. Philosophers Club is not as good, but still okay.