Walk into any big box store or small-town indie book shop from May to the last embers of August, and you’ll find displays dedicated to the Beach Read, Reader. But what the sand castle IS a Beach Read? 🏖️📖
Well, the designator was first used as a marketing tool by publishers in the early 90s. However, it’s now become so commonplace that, come May, the “Beach Read” is featured on the new release lists of every magazine and book site.
Beach Reads are usually bingeable escapist fiction in one of 2 genre categories, Romance and Thriller.
For Romance, they can be anything from cute and quirky light RomComs to Second-chance Romances. Some are even stories about the power of sisterhood or light Murder Mysteries.
When it comes to Thrillers, most readers tend to gravitate toward Tom Clancy and John Grisham or those with a similar writing style.
Though it’s true that Romance and Thrillers have traditionally been the main choices for Beach Reads, yours don’t have to be either, Reader.
In fact, according to Reddit, Book Riot, and numerous other sources…
Here’s the 4 things that make the ultimate Beach Read:
1) Carefree Fun in the Sun
A Beach Read should be fun and uplifting, providing you a respite from the seriousness of life you must return to once your vacation is over.
Relevant genres: Inspirational Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Slice-of-life Fiction, Historical Fiction (as long as it’s not too dark)
2) Bingeable Read
Beach Reads should be all-consuming page-turners you absolutely devour. The sort of thing that—if it were a streaming show—you might burn through half a season before realizing you’d spent an entire Sunday lying on your couch. 🛋️
Relevant genres: Thrillers (Espionage, Legal & Political), Romantic Light Novels or Danmei (as long as it’s not too dark), Murder Mysteries, Vacation Mysteries
3) A Light & Fluffy Distraction
They should never be described as “dense.” A Beach Read should require minimal mental effort to consume, making them ideal vacation reads. The sort of thing you could enjoy while dogs bark on a scorching hot day, kids screech and splash in a pool, and fireworks explode in the near distance.
Relevant genres: Romantic Light Novels or Danmei, RomComs, Slice-of-life Fiction, Cozy Fantasy, Cozy Murder Mysteries, Vacation Mysteries
4) Summertime Vibes
Trips to the beach, stories set at the seashore, and tropical island adventures. If a trip somewhere exciting is nowhere in sight, a Beach Read might be the perfect summer escape substitute.
Relevant genres: Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Slice-of-life Fiction, Vacation Mysteries
So, Reader, if you’ve always wanted to write the summer’s hottest book, now you know how. 😉 Well, until next time, this is your friendly neighborhood storytelling Kat wishing you a wonderfully creative weekend.
Your cohort in storytelling,
Kat Vancil
🐱
PS 👉 Have any books you’re excited to read this summer, Reader? Hit REPLY and share.
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