Barnes and Noble’s Summer Merch Is Here—and We Found the Perfect Book to Pair With Every Pick
From tote bags to towels, romance novels, cozy reads and cruise ship love stories—your summer just got a whole lot better
Key Takeaways
- Barnes & Noble's summer merch includes towels, mugs and water bottles.
- Each merch pick is paired with a perfect summer beach read to match.
- Picks range from second-chance romances to cruise ship love stories.
Good news, book lovers—Barnes & Noble just made summer shopping so much more fun! The beloved bookstore has rolled out its cutest seasonal merchandise yet, and shelves across the country are filled with charming towels, pretty mugs, colorful water bottles and more. Of course, no trip to Barnes & Noble would be complete without picking up a great read. That’s why we’ve paired every must-have summer merch pick with a must-read beach book. Warning: You’re going to want to grab them all!
The best Barnes & Noble decor and beach reads
From romance to red bags, here are the best Barnes & Noble decor and beach reads.
The Bright Passport Cover & Luggage Tag
Looking to travel this summer? Then pick up this adorable Bright Passport Cover & Luggage Tag for $25. The blue and white striped passport cover is sturdy enough to hold your important travel documents and bright enough that it won’t get lost in your purse or carry-on. And the red luggage tag will make your suitcase stand out as it revolves around the baggage claim carousel!
Perfectly paired beach read: ‘Dolly all the Time’ by Annabel Monaghan
Annabel Monaghan’s newest romance, Dolly all the Time, not only matches the colorful travel vibe, but it’s about a woman spending her summer in a beach town. The plot follows single mom Dolly Brick after she returns to Whitfield, Rhode Island, to help make sure her father and brother don’t lose their house. While there she meets Stewart Whitfield, who offers Dolly the deal of a lifetime: pretend to date him and he will help her family renovate and repair their home.
What readers are saying about Dolly All the Time: “Dolly All the Time is the latest novel from Annabel Monaghan, and it’s another perfect summer read. It’s a romance, but it’s also about a woman who learns to stand up for herself. After a lifetime of taking care of others, she has to learn to let others take care of her. She has to find her own voice, and her own dreams, and her own life. She is smart and strong, and I think there are a lot of women, me included, who learned to be a caretaker of others first and only figured out how to take care of themselves later. Dolly is our hero, our voice, our saint.”
Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Sit back, sip and set sail with this Stainless Steel Water Bottle. Emblazoned with the feel-good reminder to “enjoy the little things,” the $35 totable bottle is a must-have for steamy summer days.
Perfectly paired beach read: ‘American Fantasy’ by Emma Straub
“Enjoy the little things” is practically the theme of Straub’s new book about Annie, a newly divorced empty nester, whose sister talks her into a four-day trip on the American Fantasy cruise ship. Annie surprises herself when she agrees—and when her sister bails and Annie is left taking the trip, which is actually a cruise themed around a famous 1990s boy band, she finds herself slowing down and remembering that the best things in life are those you never planned for.
What readers are saying about American Fantasy: “Once you board the American Fantasy, it’s easy to be swept out to sea with Annie, Boy Talk, and the rest of the gang of complex, quirky characters. The 90s boy band nostalgia here is fierce, making it incredibly easy to connect and vibe with. And the heartfelt dilemmas each character was experiencing and how they used this once-in-a-lifetime, or every summer (depending on who you asked) experience as a form of reflection added incredible emotional depth.”
Bow Tote Bag
What’s red, white and ready for summer? The Bow Tote Bag from Barnes & Noble. And if the gingham design weren’t enough to sell you, the $33 tote also features a bow strap and a tiny heart in the corner that reads “emotionally attached to fictional characters.”
Perfectly paired beach read: ‘The Shippers’ by Katherine Center
Looking for a book to throw in the bag? Consider Katherine Center’s newest book, The Shippers! You’ll definitely get attached to these characters, plus the red, white and pink cover matches the bag’s bright hues! The Shippers follows JoJo Burton, who hasn’t had any luck with love. And her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship seems like the perfect time to find a suitor. All JoJo needs is a wingman to help her. Enter her childhood bestie Cooper Watts. As he pitches in to help JoJo find love, shipboard antics and sparks ensue!
What readers are saying about The Shippers: “This is for the reader who wants something light but not shallow, funny but still emotionally grounded, chaotic but ultimately comforting. If you love friends-to-lovers, forced proximity, fake flirting, and that slow, inevitable realization that the right person has been there all along—you’re going to eat this up.”
Rifle Paper Co. Hydrangea Porcelain Mug
The $22 Rifle Paper Co. Hydrangea Porcelain Mug is beautiful, classy and guaranteed to make you smile even before you fill it with your morning coffee. The gorgeous flowers look like they were picked from a Nantucket garden and the gold handle adds a touch of everyday glam.
Perfectly paired beach read: ‘The Hotel Nantucket’ by Elin Hilderbrand
Lizbet Keaton is determined to make her second act count, so she takes her new job as the general manager of the Hotel Nantucket, a once-great hotel that’s reportedly haunted, seriously. Can she make it as glamorous as it once was? The book is filled with island details you crave: salty breezes, beachy charm and unforgettable local characters. Read it with a cup of coffee in your hand and every sip from those bright blue blooms makes the setting feel even more real.
What readers are saying about The Hotel Nantucket: “I desperately want to have a Nantucket summer. What a setting! Elin is such a master at setting the mood using all the clean lines of Nantucket Island. I loved the vibes, the different stories and how everything tied up together. Such a fresh summer reading. I enjoyed every minute.”
‘Wish You Were Here’ Beach Towel
Pink, pretty and perfect for summer, the Wish You Were Here Beach Towel is a must-pack for a day at the lake, pool, beach or water park!. The $40 oversized pink terrycloth towel is so soft, easy to throw into your bag and guaranteed to make you smile.
Perfectly paired beach read: ‘Meet Me at the Lake’ by Carley Fortune
This towel and Meet Me at the Lake are the same summer vibe: pink, romantic and escapist—and the book is set at a lake! Fern realizes her life at 32 isn’t what she thought it would be. Rather than living in the city, she’s running her mother’s Muskoka lakeside resort—something she vowed never to do. To make matters worse, the place is a mess, her ex-boyfriend is the manager and she can’t stop thinking about Will Baxter—the boy who broke her heart at 22. When she needs a lifeline, she’s surprised to find help from none other than Will. But can Fern trust him again? Spread your towel by the water, crack open this beach read and enjoy!
What readers are saying about Meet Me at the Lake: “This book made my heart ache. The love written in this book was bright, and blinding, but steady, and unyielding. There’s more than just a love story. It’s a story about grief and overcoming circumstances and finding your way back to yourself. The depth inside Carley Fortune’s stories is what sets her apart from all the others. Just… Beautiful.”
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