Best Beach Reads 2026: 10 New Books You Won’t Be Able to Put Down This Summer

Summer is officially here, and with the warmer weather comes a new installment of books perfect for the beach. From swoonworthy romances to historical fiction tales infused with magical elements, these reads will have you sitting on the beach, at the pool or at the lake long after the sun sets. To learn the best new beach reads for 2026, keep reading.

10 best beach reads for 2026 

Set in locales all over the world, from Greece to North Carolina, Paris and beyond, here are the best new beach reads for 2026.

‘Just Friends’ by Haley Pham  

This novel by debut author Haley Pham features second-chance romances and idyllic settings. Blair and Declan were best friends growing up, but after an impulsive kiss, everything changed. Now, years later, Blair’s back in her coastal hometown of Seabrook to help her mother take care of her great-aunt and working at a coffee shop managed by Declan. As they reconnect, sparks fly. 

What readers are saying: “For anyone who loves real, sweet, genuine romance that isn’t just spicy, this is for you. I laughed, and boy did I swoooooon in other parts! Absolutely adored every page, and desperately wanted to step inside Blair’s town and world.” 

‘Rules for the Summer’ by Meghan Quinn 

From bestselling author Meghan Quinn comes another steamy romance that’s perfect for the beach. Renley Gossage has one shot to make her mark in Cape Meril. She’s already begun restoring her family’s candy shop and is determined to prove she’s nothing like the previous owner: her father. Theo Williams never planned on ending up in Cape Meril, but after a drunken night results in a botched online engagement announcement, everything changed. Now Theo is living right next door to Renley, and neither of them can deny the sizzling attraction between them. 

What readers are saying:  “Rules for the Summer by Meghan Quinn was the perfect mix of hilarious, emotional and ridiculously swoony. Meghan never misses when it comes to romantic comedy, and this book had me smiling from beginning to end.” 

‘June Baby’ by Shannon Garvey

From Jenna Bush Hager’s new imprint Thousand Voices comes a sweeping coming-of-age tale that’s sure to enthrall. When she was 17, Ruth lost her mother to cancer, which caused her dad to ship her off to Block Island with nothing but the name Diana Beckett written on the back of a receipt. Diana, as it turns out, was a renowned photographer who took Ruth in and showed her what it was like to fall in love with a place. Ruth also fell in love with Charlie, Diana’s nephew. Now, 10 years later, Ruth spends her summers working on the island, but when tragedy strikes again, she’s left with no choice but to reach out to Charlie. And if that weren’t enough, Diana left Ruth a box filled with secrets that makes Ruth question if the Diana she knew was the Diana the world knew. What follows is a journey of truth, love, and starting over.

What readers are saying: “I’m picky about my beach reads. I need a good location. I need smart characters. And I need the writing to be very, very good. This book reminded me at different moments of all of my favorite novels: emotionally observant, intimate, with a deeply relatable main character in whom I became wholly invested.”

‘The House of Hidden Letters’ by Izzy Broom 

Travel to Greece within the pages of this dazzling novel that’s perfect for Elin Hilderbrand fans. After winning a run-down Greek cottage in a lottery, Skye MacKinnon immediately jumps on a plane from England to check out her new home. Instantly, she feels like she belongs there and even befriends other lottery winners—the first residents in these houses since the 1940s. But while renovating her cottage with her handsome contractor Andreas, Skye discovers a hidden cache of letters that unveil the secrets of what really happened here decades ago. A perfect blend of mystery, romance and Mediterranean sunshine.

What readers are saying: “An all-around fantastic escape read I can recommend for those who want a dual-timeline historical fiction split between modern-day and WWII-era on a gorgeous Greek isle.” 

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‘Summer State of Mind’ by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey brings back beloved characters from her 2021 book Under the Southern Sky while introducing new ones in this delightful tale filled with found family, Southern charm and unforgettable characters.  After fleeing to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, for a fresh start, burnt-out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens finds herself in an unexpected crisis when handsome baseball coach Mason Thaysden discovers an abandoned baby in the trash can outside of his school. As they care for the child together, Daisy and Mason grow closer—even as their pasts threaten to complicate everything.

What readers are saying: “This novel grabbed me from page one and wouldn’t let go. I laughed, I cried, and at times I was angry, but the ending will leave you smiling and maybe some happy tears. I highly recommend this novel and if you’re able to read poolside with a nice fruity drink or with your toes dug in the sand it might just make the emotional parts a little easier to bear.” 

‘Yesteryear’ by Caro Claire Burke 

This bestselling novel follows “trad wife” Natalie Heller Mills—a mother of six and an incredibly successful social media influencer. But when Natalie wakes up one morning to find herself transported back in time to an old-fashioned house with a new family and no electricity, she begins to wonder: What happened? An intriguing blend of historical fiction, magical realism and dark humor that will keep you guessing.

What readers are saying: “Yesteryear completely caught me off guard in the best possible way. What begins as a fascinating look into social media influence, curated perfection, and historical living slowly unfolds into something far deeper and far more emotional than I expected.” 

‘The Jellyfish Problem’ by Tessa Yang 

Fans of Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures will adore this debut novel. Everyone knows Dr. Jo Ness prefers jellyfish to people. The only exception was Aldo, who passed away seven months ago. But after receiving a call from Nadia, who says there’s a giant jellyfish terrorizing her tiny island off the coast of Maine, everything changes. Suddenly, Jo finds herself in Maine, desperate to see this giant creature from the sea. But when she arrives, Nadia is nowhere to be found, and the quirky locals are convinced that a jellyfish named Clementine knows exactly what happened. 

What readers are saying: “The Jellyfish Problem is a fresh, imaginative take on the sea-monster story that balances wonder, mystery, and emotional depth beautifully. What surprised me most was how moving the story became by the end. The blend of humor, melancholy, wonder and suspense kept me fully invested from start to finish. It’s rare to find a novel that feels this original while still being so emotionally accessible. I highly recommend it.” 

‘Let’s Not Go Overboard Here’ by Erica Hendry

Get ready to set sail, because this twisty debut thriller is perfect for the beach and for reality TV fans! Melanie Hoffman is obsessed with pop culture—it’s one of the things that helped her cope with losing her best friend, Ari. But when her obsession spirals out of control, her company forces her to take a mandatory vacation. Unsure where to go, Mel joins her friend Vish on a luxurious yacht trip through Greece. She quickly bonds with fellow passenger Freya and her charming boyfriend Seb. But when Mel overhears a disturbing conversation hinting that Freya might be in danger, she’s not sure what to do. And to make matters worse, no one else on board seems to notice—or care—that Freya has mysteriously vanished. Can Mel uncover the truth before the cruise ends?

What readers are saying: “What I loved most was how effortlessly the book balances humor with meaningful insights about relationships, family, and figuring out who you are when life doesn’t go according to plan. The writing is sharp, engaging, and incredibly relatable. I flew through it because I simply couldn’t wait to see what happened next.” 

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‘The Bookstore Diaries’ by Susan Mallery

Susan Mallery is known for her heartwarming tales set in small towns, and her latest novel is no exception. Jax knows she’s a control freak, but getting the staff at Painted Lady Bookstore—her Victorian mansion-turned-bookshop—to understand that? That’s another story. And if that weren’t enough chaos, her ex just got engaged, her sister Ryleigh is threatening to move away and the handsome contractor Jax hired to capture her sister’s attention only has eyes for her. Now Jax must juggle keeping her sister in town, regaining control of her beloved bookshop and resisting her growing feelings for the contractor—even though falling for him is exactly what her heart wants.

What readers are saying: “This was one of those rare books that pulled me in fast, kept me emotionally invested and left me wanting more. And I have to say, my favorite character was not even human—but I will leave you to discover that on your own. So, if you are looking for a book that feels comforting, dramatic, funny, and impossible to put down, this is it!” 

‘Good at Being Alive’ by Elizabeth O’Roark 

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Travel across Europe in this swoonworthy fake-dating romance. After a train accident kills everyone in her family, Rebecca “Bex” Daniels suddenly finds herself running their struggling travel agency. Just when things couldn’t get worse, Theo Porter shows up with shocking news: The company will go bankrupt unless he and Bex pose as newlyweds on a new reality TV show. Soon they’re sailing across Europe, visiting Capri, Paris and beyond, all while pretending to be madly in love. But what happens when the fake romance starts feeling very, very real? 

What readers are saying: “This was the perfect amount of tension, quick witty banter and spice! I always love Elizabeth O’Roark’s work because of these things and this one was no different!”

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