book suggestions?

futuremrshp

Ladies, I'm headed off to our honeymoon in a couple of days (we got married a month ago and delayed the honeymoon.  I'm really happy we did--- something fun to look forward to! )  We're headed to Aruba--- any good (or even awful) beach-y books you all suggest .. was thinking of just downloading them on the iPad or going to the library if I have a quick second?    Thanks in advance!

WinstonsGirl

I've enjoyed Beth Harbison for easy chick lit reads.  I've also read most of Marian Keyes and Lousie Bagshawe, a British writer.   Her books from around Sparkles, I think.  But they're all easy reads.  Oh, and Meg Cabot did some ok adult books about 7-10 years ago.  I'm assuming you're read the Outlander series?? 

If you're looking for something less "Beachy", I love Ken Follett

novella1186

Louise Erdrich is my favorite writer. She's so so so so so amazing. Any of her books are good, and they're so easy to get really wrapped up in. 

Summer Crossing by Truman Capote (another AMAZING writer) is a quick, easy read but also brilliant. 

Swamplandia! by Karen Russell is great 

The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff, also great 

City of Thieves by David Benioff (tragic and funny at the same time)

World War Z (by Max Brooks) was fun/entertaining to read, even though I'm not a huge fan of that genre, and it was WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better than the movie (and way different) 

Beat the Reaper by John Bazell is another entertaining, quick easy read but I must warn you it's pretty... violent. 

thisismynickname2

For beach reads, try Jen Lancaster, Stacey Ballis, and Sarah Pekkanen's books. Actually SP's book "The Best of Us" is excellent and takes place at an island resort.

thespeshulestsnowflake

The Selection series by Keira Cass is great and easy reads. The books: The Selection, The Elite, The One, The Heir

Also the 7 Deadly Wonders series by Matthew Reilly is a fun Indiana Jonesian series. The books: 7 Deadly Wonders, 6 Sacred Stones, 5 Greatest Warriors. (The numbers go backwards)

stefuhknee

Last 2 books I've read:

Annihilation  (Book 1 of the Southern Reach Trilogy)- It's got a weird sci-fi, dystopia aspect to it but I thought it was a good read. It does kind of leave you hanging though.

Bliss House by Laura Benedict- I could not put this book down! It's got suspense, mystery and a little paranormal activity and it's an easy quick read. 

I've also heard great things about The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins but I haven't been able to read it, I'm like in # 547580 place for a copy at the library.

Not sure, if these would be considered "beachy" either but I really enjoyed them. Have a great trip!

julieanne912

I don't read a lot, but I wanted to second Marian Keyes.  When I do read, it's when I'm on vacation, and I always read her latest. 

teddygirl9

I read the wayward pines series on my last vacation, I quite liked it. They are/did make it into a tv show as well, so I like to read before I start watching.

randomslove

I wouldn't consider anything I read "beach-y" but I love reading on the beach, so...

The Road-- Cormac McCarthy-- I read this one on a plane and it certainly did the trick. Easy to follow, but it gets heavy as far as subject matter. Dystopian Sci-fi.

Stardust-- Neil Gaiman-- Romantic, but not over-the-top romance, and adventure. Actually, I'd recommend almost anything by Gaiman. Fantasy.

Little Fuzzy-- H. Beam Piper-- This is a bit of a wildcard. It reads like a children's sci-fi novel written for adults. No sex, no real cursing, light violence. However, it's a somewhat "light" read and brings up some interesting questions. Sci-fi.

Dune-- Frank Herbert-- Not a light book at all, but I suppose it may be beachy? Sci-fi.

I'm also a fan of re-reading favorites that I haven't touched in ages. Loved Harry Potter, but it's been ten years since you picked one up? Re-read the series.

I hope these helped.

anjemon

My favorite writers are Jennifer Crusie and Ilona Andrews.

Just about everything by Jennifer Crusie is super fun, fast, and witty. She writes contemporaryromance and they're super great. My favorite is Bet Me, but anything she wrote will be great.

Ilona Andrews write urban fantasy, so they might not be considered beachy at all. But they're very fun books and I always get excited when a new one comes out.

Other than that, I'd want to know more what you read and what you consider beachy

peachy13

I just read a few books that weren't exactly beach reading, but I couldn't put them down: Girl on the Train, Lianne Moriarty's books (Big Little Lies, What Alice Forgot, the Husband's Secret), Dark Places, Sharp Objects, Reconstructing Amelia, John Grisham classics (The Firm, Pelican's Brief)

For lighter material, I recommend: Flirting with Felicity, Jemima J, the Selection series (someone mentioned these above), and other series like Divergent, Maze Runner, Harry Potter

arrippa

For a beach read, I love Elizabeth Adler books. Especially the detective series that takes place in cities all over the world.

TrixieJess

What genre or types of authors do you like?

Fun Fantasy: Jasper Fforde - Thursday Next Series (7 book in total, I recommend the first 5).

Dark Fantasy: Neil Gaiman - American Gods; Neverwhere; Good Omens (co-authored with Terry Pratchett)

Chick Lit Fantasy - Kim Harrison - The Hollows Series

     - Patricia Briggs - The Mercedes Thompson Series

ETA: Spelling hard

vikinganna87

Elin Hilderbrand writes light, entertaining beach books that are set on Nantucket, mainly in the summer months: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/88301.Elin_Hilderbrand 

tcnoble

I really liked Girl on the Train, Big Little Lies, and Sharp Objects (by Gillian Flynn)... I read those three on our honeymoon. Right now I'm reading Dark Places by Gillian Flynn... her work is kind of dark but I like it.

anjemon

TrixieJess said:

What genre or types of authors do you like?

Fun Fantasy: Jasper Fforde - Thursday Next Series (7 book in total, I recommend the first 5).

Dark Fantasy: Neil Gaiman - American Gods; Neverwhere; Good Omens (co-authored with Terry Pratchett)

Chick Lit Fantasy - Kim Harrison - The Hollows Series

     - Patricia Briggs - The Mercedes Thompson Series

ETA: Spelling hard

Patricia Briggs was the third person I would have suggested! I love her Mercedes Thompson series, but I love the Alpha and Omega series even more. It's super fun.

IrishPirate60

Janet Evanovich's numbered mysteries. Not because they are mysteries, but Grandma Mazur is such a hoot. I think of them as mind popcorn. I rarely remember the actual case, but keep track of how many cars get blown up, stolen or trashed...

TrixieJess

anjemon said:

TrixieJess said:

What genre or types of authors do you like?

Fun Fantasy: Jasper Fforde - Thursday Next Series (7 book in total, I recommend the first 5).

Dark Fantasy: Neil Gaiman - American Gods; Neverwhere; Good Omens (co-authored with Terry Pratchett)

Chick Lit Fantasy - Kim Harrison - The Hollows Series

     - Patricia Briggs - The Mercedes Thompson Series

ETA: Spelling hard

Patricia Briggs was the third person I would have suggested! I love her Mercedes Thompson series, but I love the Alpha and Omega series even more. It's super fun.

I haven't read the Alpha and Omega series yet. I should grab it from the Library.

anjemon

TrixieJess said:

anjemon said:

TrixieJess said:

What genre or types of authors do you like?

Fun Fantasy: Jasper Fforde - Thursday Next Series (7 book in total, I recommend the first 5).

Dark Fantasy: Neil Gaiman - American Gods; Neverwhere; Good Omens (co-authored with Terry Pratchett)

Chick Lit Fantasy - Kim Harrison - The Hollows Series

     - Patricia Briggs - The Mercedes Thompson Series

ETA: Spelling hard

Patricia Briggs was the third person I would have suggested! I love her Mercedes Thompson series, but I love the Alpha and Omega series even more. It's super fun.

I haven't read the Alpha and Omega series yet. I should grab it from the Library.

You should! Although I would suggest you start with the short story where she debuted the couple. I think you can read the first book without it, but it's better if you have the full story. 

futuremrshp

Wow!  I was having trouble signing on to check to see what everyone said and now I see this!  Wow!  Thank you ladies!  I'm going to go through this now!

futuremrshp

anjemon said:

My favorite writers are Jennifer Crusie and Ilona Andrews.

Just about everything by Jennifer Crusie is super fun, fast, and witty. She writes contemporaryromance and they're super great. My favorite is Bet Me, but anything she wrote will be great.

Ilona Andrews write urban fantasy, so they might not be considered beachy at all. But they're very fun books and I always get excited when a new one comes out.

Other than that, I'd want to know more what you read and what you consider beachy

----- no box---

These sound good!  I guess what I'm considering beachy is something lighthearted/easy read/can probably get through a book in a day or two if you spend a good amount of time on lazing around on the beach.  Kind of cheesy books like stuff by Nicholas Sparks or something... chick lit (Nanny Diaries, etc).  But the books everyone here is suggesting sound like books I need to read ANYWAY... I've been under a rock.  The last book I read was about the war in Iraq.  I do not consider that a beach read.  LOLOL!   Certainly an easy read, but a bit heavy!

KnotAlwaysRight

Tana French for super absorbing and interesting mystery. Her books aren't what I'd call lighthearted, but I've gotten totally sucked into each one and they've been super quick reads.

Little Failure by Gary Shteyngart (Super Sad True Love Story) is poignant but also really funny, and it's a memoir with well-defined chapters so it's easily picked up and put down again without losing a beat.

The Blind Assassin, Margaret Atwood, is another one that's not exactly light but that I think of as beach-friendly because it's just so wonderfully engrossing.

And I totally second (fourth?) Marian Keyes as a more typically "chick-lit" type author who is really enjoyable!