Reisha Shetty Junior Digital Writer

Packing for a beach destination is one of the easiest things to do. A universal checklist consisting of a cute swimsuit, sunscreen, beach flip-flops, and a playlist perfect for sunbathing is highly recommended. But the one thing you need by your side to truly relax is a good beach read. An ideal beach book is one that’s breezy, light, and preferably a holiday romance, and we’ve narrowed down the ones that make the cut.

So, grab a paperback or just download them all on your Kindle, here are some of the best beach reads you need to bring along on your next tropical holiday.

Beach Read By Emily Henry

This fun, romantic book by Emily Henry is a must-read if you love a good enemies-to-lovers trope. When a romance writer who no longer believes in love runs into a literary writer experiencing a creative block, sparks are bound to fly. And where there are sparks, there’s bound to be fire. The result? The two writers decide to take on a summer-long challenge that will change everything—especially what they believe about happily ever after.

Malibu Rising By Taylor Jenkins Reid

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Malibu Rising revolves around the four famous Riva siblings who are throwing the biggest end-of-the-summer party of 1983. As Nina, Hud, Jay, and Kit prepare for the party, they have their own little secrets that are all coming together on that very night. But who would have ever thought that in just twenty-four hours their life was going to completely change?

People We Meet On Vacation By Emily Henry

Best friends, Poppy and Alex, who live in two completely different parts of the country have one summer tradition that they have been following for almost a decade—they take a week-long vacation together and have the time of their lives. But things changed two years ago, and now they haven’t spoken since their last holiday. When Poppy realised that those holidays were the only time they were truly happy, the two of them got together to go on another holiday and finally mend their broken friendship. Needless to say, this book will leave you feeling warm and happy, making it the perfect carry-on for a relaxing day on the beach.

Every Summer After By Carley Fortune

Taking you down the route of young, nostalgic love, Every Summer After by Carley Fortune revolves around Persephone Fraser, who hasn’t gone back home since everything fell apart. But fate plays a weird game when circumstances bring her back to her hometown, and she runs into ‘the one that got away,’ Sam Florek. Narrated over six years and one long weekend, this story will make you sob and smile, making you truly believe in the power of love.

The Summer I Turned Pretty By Jenny Han

A book filled with love triangles, one-sided love, childhood best friends, and a holiday beach house, The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han is one of the best summer reads of all time. The story revolves around Belly, who is back at the beach house in Cousins, but things are not the same as they were last summer. This time, Belly has come back prettier, catching the attention of both Fisher brothers. As Belly goes through her feelings for her first love Conrad and her best friend Jeremiah, she needs to take a decision that might change her entire life.