What do I ACTUALLY read at the beach?

Summertime has many traditions, including book bloggers making lists of the best beach reads of the season. There are many different kinds of books that people tend to classify as “beach reads,” from sunny contemporaries to steamy romance and even gripping thrillers.

But what do people actually read at the beach? Not what they intend to read, but what they actually end up putting in their beach bags as they trek to the sand and sun?

Today, I’m going to share some examples of books that I’ve actually read at the beach–with photographic proof!


The Stand by Stephen King. Fortunately, last summer I was able to go to the beach quite often. Each time I went, I brought my mom’s old copy of The Stand to try to get through it before the warm weather turned cold… but I only got about a third of the way through. Nevertheless, it made for a very engaging, suspenseful beach read!

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. A few summers ago I toted this tome to the beach on numerous occasions… and even had a feathered friend interested in joining in!

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. There I was, reading The Woman in White in preparation for studying abroad. I couldn’t put this gripping mystery down!

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. This was such a lovely book to read by the water!! The writing is so lyrical and flowing, just like the lake.


So, what’s the verdict? It seems like I tend to read longer books when I’m at the beach, especially classics or suspenseful books. When I’m reading by the water I want a book that will keep me engaged, thinking, and excited to read more.

I hope you enjoyed this little look into what I actually like to read at the beach! What do you like to read at the beach? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

22 responses to “What do I ACTUALLY read at the beach?”

  1. I love this! Whenever I’m at the beach, I always say I’m going to read but get distracted. But when I go on cruises, I love to sit on the deck with an ebook that I would normally never pick such as a romance novel.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oooh I’ve never been on a cruise–reading on one sounds so nice! I’m the same way when I go to the beach… very little reading ACTUALLY happens haha 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. I LOVE the beach, and I almost always bring a book with me, but i never actually do a lot of reafing! I definitely have to make it more of a priority the next time I go (hopefully soon, if covid things improve) because it’s so peaceful. I just love reading outside in general!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Same, reading outside is the best! ❤ I also have that problem–I always just end up talking with whoever I go to the beach with instead of actually reading!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Omg that picture with the seagull is so cute!! 🥰

    Honestly, I haven’t been to the beach in years 😓 first because our town currently don’t have beaches.. so we need to go to a town over if we even wanna get to one (roughly an hour to possibly two); which is quite depressing as the town I come from as like three!!
    And then second because I don’t tolerate the heat very well …you’re making me absolutely wishing I could go read on the beach right about now!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Haha thank you!! 🙂 Oh no, hope you are able to go to a beach soon!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I loved reading this!! I haven’t been to the beach in quite a while but I always love to read classics on the beach- I don’t know why, but I love the idea of reading a classic in the sun with the ocean as background noise.💛

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    1. Reading a classic on the beach sounds absolutely perfect! ❤

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  5. I loved seeing this! Tbh I always gush on and on about “beach reads” but basically never read at the beach… whoops I can’t go to the beach and sit there, I have to get up and splash in the water haha. These pics are so aesthetic though now I am filled with renewed determination to read there ❤

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    1. Thank you!! ❤ I'm the same way haha, I always have such good intentions of reading but then I read a few pages and end up just talking or swimming the rest of the time!

      Like

  6. When I’m at the beach, I like to read lighter stuff that I can fly through! I’ll normally pickup a romance or MG, something that’s quick so I can get through it fast haha 🙂

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    1. That sounds like a great plan!!

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Fun list! I usually talk about light fluffy books being beach reads, but I don’t actually spend much time at the beach at all, so I don’t really have beach reads. I’m just not a big fan of sand…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Haha I feel that! I’m much more a fan of reading at a lake than the ocean… too much salt!!

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      1. Oh yes, that too! Between the salt and the sand and the cold water, I don’t tend to go in the water much even when I do get to the beach.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. […] What do I ACTUALLY read at the beach? […]

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  9. Dedra @ A Book Wanderer Avatar
    Dedra @ A Book Wanderer

    I’m drooling over your pictures. I miss the beach so much! I tend to read a variety of things. Some of my most memorable beach reads were The Ruins and We Were Liars. I hope you get back to the beach soon!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I miss the beach too!! Oooh We Were Liars is such a great beach read!! Hope you get back to the beach soon as well! 🙂

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  10. This is such a creative post idea!! I am always so scared to bring my book to the beach in case I get sand everywhere. But love that you can always read more when you’re there xx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much!! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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