Ten Books I Think Make Great Beach Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week there is a new topic and this week’s topic is: Ten Books I Think Make Great Beach Reads

1. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion – This is my go-to book for anyone who asks me for a quick, easy, and light read for the summer. Don Tillman is super smart, but doesn’t understand people very well. To find a life partner he begins The Wife Project, and creates a survey intended to find the perfect companion. So when his friend sends Rosie into his office, he can only assume that it’s because she meets the criteria, right?
2. The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson – I read this book on my vacation a couple year ago and very happily got an intense sunburn on the beach while becoming totally engrossed in Allan’s crazy adventures. Similar to how Forrest Gump managed to stumble into history wherever he went, this 100 year old man has been witness to many of the world’s greatest moments without even trying. Now he just wants to celebrate a quiet birthday, but is forced to take matters into his own hands when everyone at the nursing home is determined to make a huge deal out of it.
3. The Vacationers by Emma Straub – Witness the drama of someone else’s family vacation while enjoying your own. The Posts planned their vacation long before the drama unfolded, but secrets are really hard to keep when you put seven people in one house for a few weeks. No one wants to ruin the fun they are supposed to be having, but it’s hard to smile when there are so many things to worry about.
4. Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson – If you don’t laugh out loud reading the inside flap of this book, I don’t know what is wrong with you. Jenny Lawson (aka The Bloggess) has written this amazingly funny (mostly true) memoir that is perfect for a light and silly read while on the beach. Sure, you might get some stares as you giggle your butt off, but who cares? You aren’t going to see these people again any time soon.
5. Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson – If you prefer a darker read but still want it to be something easy and enjoyable, check out this psychological thriller that was made into a movie last year. Christine wakes up next to a man she doesn’t recognize, unsure of how she got there in the first place. When she goes into the bathroom, she is startled to realize she doesn’t even recognize her own face in the mirror. The amnesia that she seems to be suffering from is being treated by a psychiatrist who has given her a dairy to help remember her daily life, but the very first entry tells her that she can’t trust the man she woke up next to, the man who says he is her husband.
6. Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris – Although Charlaine is best known for her True Blood series, this novel and the rest of the series are just as entertaining and weird. Harper Connelly has been able to sense where and how someone has died ever since she was struck by lightening. She uses this power to solve crimes with the help of her too-attractive step-brother. Things get a bit weird later in the series, but this one is definitely an entertaining and quick read for the summer.
7. Library of the Dead by Glenn Cooper – Need intrigue and adventure to keep you entertained? There’s a murderer on the loose who sends his victims a postcard with the exact date and time of their death on it. There is no way to avoid dying; every single time, the postcards have been right. And it’s up to almost-retired detective Will Piper to figure out what the heck is going on. This is a book that I regularly suggest for fans of Dan Brown and the like.
8. Mosquitoland by David Arnold – This YA road-trip/coming of age tale is perfect for anyone who likes John Green’s books. The quirky characters, interesting narrative style, and feel-good nostalgia are the perfect book to keep you entertained without feeling overwhelmed. I really enjoyed jumping between diary entries and the actual story with this book, which isn’t always the case for me.
9. Confessions of a Part-time Sorceress: A Girl’s Guide to the D&D Game by Shelly Mazzanoble – This one is for the nerdy girls on the beach (or more likely hiding from the sun under the shade at a beachside bar) who are interested in learning how to convince the rest of their girl-friends how to have nerdy fun. Full of great ideas, lots of laughs, and makes a great conversation starter. If you aren’t afraid to be known as “that weird girl” on the beach, this might be the read for you.
10. The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World by A.J. Jacobs – If you are interested in learning something on vacation while still getting a laugh, this is the book for you. I love Jacobs’ writing style, which allows you to pick up and put down the book without feeling like you are going to forget everything. Let him do all the hard work of reading the encyclopedia, while you get a tan.

What books would you add to this list? Think I’m totally crazy in my choices? Let me know in the comments!