Our Top 5 Beach Reads for Summer’s End
As South Africans soak up the last bit of summer, we can highly recommend a visit to the beach one last time before autumn arrives. Instead of just appreciating those sandy scenes, and watching kids play in the waves or families building sandcastles, why not indulge in one of our favourite beach reads?
Lighthearted, funny, suspenseful and unique, these five books on our Best Beach Reads list will be all the entertainment you need whilst relaxing under the African sun.
1. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
An ode to Little Women, this novel by New York Times bestseller, Ann Napolitano, explores complicated family dynamics.
William Waters and Julia Padavano meet in a whirlwind college romance after William flees from his broken family. Julia is a package deal with her three younger sisters: Sylvie, the dreamer who reads books for a living; Cecilia, the carefree artist; and Emeline, the carer of the family. They welcome William into their home, until his past starts to haunt them all.
A family rift threatens a generational bond founded on loyalty and love. Will Julia be able to keep both her family and William, or will she have to choose?
Rated 4.15 stars on Goodreads.
2. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Fredrik Backman constructs a narrative around friendship and forgiveness in his book, Anxious People. Eight extremely anxious strangers become intertwined when a bank robber bursts into an apartment open house for refuge. He ends up taking these eight individuals hostage while media and authorities negotiate release.
Meet a recently retired couple, a wealthy banker, a couple who are soon to be parents, an 87-year-old woman, a real-estate agent, a man locked in the apartment’s bathroom and of course, the failed bank robber.
These nine individuals are, however, not exactly all that they seem to be. Evidently,, they all have to work through emotions that have built up over their lifetimes and accumulated in this moment. Finding allies in the oddest of moments, an unexpected chain of events unravels in a whirlwind of humour, compassion and of course, anxiety.
Rated 4.17 on Goodreads.
3. Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan
First published in French in 1954, this translated novel seems an unlikely contender on our beach reads list. However, it has withstood the test of time, proving its story of a summer in France an evergreen read.
Cecile narrates this novel as a 17-year-old on the brink of womanhood. She is the essence of a free spirited girl embarking on romantic adventures. She does so when visiting France with her father who also finds himself in a messy love triangle.
When Cecile’s late mother’s best friend arrives and starts to intrude upon her newfound freedom, Cecile starts meddling herself, which leads to tragic and unexpected consequences.
Sexual liberation, young love, the act of free will and attempting to control the uncontrollable are tropes in this classic novel. In fact, Vogue describes it as “a beach read if ever there was one.”
Rated 3.72 on Goodreads.
4. Ghosts by Dolly Alderton
Complete with satire and sarcasm, Dolly Alderton’s Ghosts is all about relationships, families, memories and realities.
Nina Dean has just turned 32 and lives in London as a food blogger. She is surrounded by two well-meaning parents, a wide circle of close friends and an ex with whom she still talks to on a daily basis. However, when she meets Max through a dating app, she tries her hand at the courting scene.
But, sooner than later her life slowly starts to crumble. In the book, the modern term ‘ghosted’ is explored, with online stalking being a sure result. Love becomes a haunting phenomenon in this novel where ghosts of the past, present and future continue to control the emotion.
Rated 3.87 on Goodreads.
5. Writers & Lovers by Lily King
A 31-year-old women, Casey Peabody, is determined to be the greatest artist of her time. Her closest friends are on more practical life paths, but that doesn’t stop her from chasing her dreams. On her birthday, she realises she is stuck between two ideals: Youthful idealism and mature practicality.
When she meets (and falls in love with) an older artist and his children, she uses him to view what her life might be like in the future. However, at nearly the same time, she falls in love with another man of the complete opposite caliber. Casey must juggle the last youthful moments of her life with the foreboding future of maturity and inevitable staleness.
Ultimately, humour meets vulnerability in this book, making it a must-read for people in similar positions. One thing is certain: Choosing between love and art is not the be-all and end-all of life.
Rated 4.00 on Goodreads.
So, lay your beach towel on the never ending expanse of sand and listen to the waves crash against the shore while you let your mind wander beyond the world of reality with one of our best beach reads.
