The Best Beach Reads for Summer 2026
June 5, 2026
Summer’s here, and so is the annual question: what do you actually pack for the beach? The perfect beach read is propulsive, transporting, and impossible to put down — whether that means swooning romance, a twisty thriller, or a saga you can sink into across a fortnight. Here are the best picks for summer 2026.
The romance heavyweights
Emily Henry The reigning queen of the smart summer romance. If you’re new to her, start with Beach Read (yes, really) or Book Lovers; her latest, Great Big Beautiful Life, is the obvious 2026 holiday companion. Witty, warm, and genuinely well-written. Browse Emily Henry’s books →
Abby Jimenez For romance with real emotional depth and big laughs in equal measure. Perfect when you want to feel everything between dips in the sea. See Abby Jimenez’s books →
The saga you can disappear into
Elin Hilderbrand The undisputed queen of the beach novel — Nantucket settings, tangled families, and summers that go gloriously wrong. If you want one author who is the beach read, it’s her. Browse Elin Hilderbrand →
Taylor Jenkins Reid For something with more heft and a hook that won’t let go. Malibu Rising is the literal summer pick; The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is the one everyone’s still talking about. See Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books →
For the thriller reader
Not everyone wants romance with their sunscreen. For page-turning suspense that’s perfect poolside, reach for a twisty domestic thriller — the kind you finish in a single sun-lounger sitting. Our guide to the best psychological thriller authors is a good place to browse.
For the romantasy crowd
If your idea of a perfect beach is dragons and a slow-burn romance, summer is prime romantasy season. A big, immersive fantasy-romance series is the ultimate holiday binge.
How to pick
The best beach read isn’t the “best book” — it’s the one that matches your holiday. Want to feel swept away? Romance. Want your pulse up? Thriller. Want to vanish for two weeks? A saga or a long series. Pick the feeling first, and the book second.