Top Ten Beach Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Well, I'll give this one a shot, even though I don't think I read too many books that I would characterize as beach reads. I mean, I've read a lot of really depressing stuff at the beach. Oh well.

So, like a lot of people, I associate beach reads with contemporary fiction, especially romantic fiction. Looking back through the books I've read, I realize precisely how little contemporary fiction I've read. Prepare yourself for a rather eclectic list. This list will also highlight the fact that I love both YA and adult fiction.

10. A Ring of Endless Light - Madeleine L'Engle
I actually can't really vouch for the quality of this one as an adult, but I loved this book when I was younger. From what I recall, there's a bit of romance, which was swoon-worthy then, but who knows now. More importantly, it's about a girl who discovers she has a kinship with dolphins, which I have always wanted. Don't you want to sit on a deck chair and imagine that's you while you listen to the music of the waves?

9. Paper Towns - John Green
While Paper Towns is not my favorite John Green novel by any means, I do think it would probably be the best beach read. Although it's perhaps slightly sad for the beach, I think the overall tone is more triumphant than some of his others. Plus, it's set in Florida, so obvi. Also, he's one of the few contemporary authors I read. :-p

8. The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear - Walter Moers
This is where my list starts getting really weird. Odds are you might not be familiar with this utterly magical book, and if that's the case, I suggest rectifying that immediately. Moers is an author and an illustrator. The pictures are really what I love the book for, but the story is utterly charming too, although he can go a bit crazy with description sometimes. My vague connection to the beach is that the book cover is yellow, like sand you see, and Bluebear starts out floating on the ocean. So there you go. Also, it's funny, and I love laughing on the beach.

7. The DUFF - Kody Keplinger
Hey look! It's a contemporary YA. Enjoy this, because it's the last one I have for you on this list. That's right I found two (three if that's how you categorize A Ring of Endless Light). I suspect another of Keplinger's books might be a better beach read; I know I'd love to read A Midsummer's Nightmare on my beach trip later this year. However, this is the only one I've read so far, and I don't like to recommend books I haven't read. What makes The DUFF a great beach read: sexytimes. Who doesn't want to read sexy scenes while enjoying the sunshine?

My review.

6. You're (Not) the One - Alexandra Potter
I do have a couple more contemporaries, but these are intended for mature audiences. Can you handle it?  I read and reviewed this one last year, and was totally charmed. The story turns romance plotting on its head in a funny, refreshing way. Again, I love funny reads for the beach. It's a time to be lighthearted and amused, even if I usually don't follow that. Anyway, I don't think you can go wrong with this one.

My review.

5. Welcome to Temptation - Jennifer Crusie
While I don't think I've read this particular one on a beach trip, I do believe I've read a Crusie book on most of my beach trips in recent years. Although I don't read too many romance novels anymore (my heyday was in middle school/high school), I always make an exception for Crusie. If you like romance and aren't reading her, omg do it right now. She has excellent sexytimes, and is also hilarious. I have to recommend Welcome to Temptation, because that one was one of my reads when I went to Florida freshman year (when my mom and I restarted a tradition of going annually). You can't go wrong with most of her books, though.

4. Enchanted, Inc. - Shanna Swendson
This series is my favorite chick lit/romance/urban fantasy. Swendson is not a big name, and a lot of people have never heard of this series. If you haven't, get thee to a book vendor anon! Swendson's books are sweet and funny. They are also magical. The heroine is a rare person upon whom magic cannot work. She gets a job with a magical firm, and has the cutest boss ever. From what I recall, the series is pretty clean, so even if you're not normally a fan of chick lit, I still recommend this. These books are just SO GOOD.

3. Big Trouble - Dave Barry
Obviously, I am hugely creative, because this one is also set in Florida. Everyone admire my ability to choose beach reads because of where they're located! Of course, Big Trouble is also side-splittingly funny. I love Dave Barry's humor, and I think this book is the best of his fiction. If you take this along on your beach trip, be prepared to have people give you the stink-eye for how loud you're laughing in public. I also recommend that you take the movie adaptation along to watch when you're done, because it's awesome.

2. Princess Academy - Shannon Hale
Along with Crusie's book, this is the only other one I've actually read on the beach. Mostly I'm including it for that fact, because, really, it's not an ordinary beach read. However, of the things I've read while at the beach, this one and Crusie are definitely closest to being typical beach reads. I really love Shannon Hale. Her books are amazing. This is the first one I read, and I really didn't have any expectations, because I thought it was middle grade (cover fail) and it sounded lame. SO NOT LAME. Anyway, if you find yourself wanting some fantasy on your trip, you can't go wrong with Shannon Hale's YA fantasy novels. Plus, this one has a sequel coming out in September, so you should prep now!

1. Beauty Queens - Libba Bray
Clearly, the ideal thing to read on the beach is a dystopia. Especially one about beauty queens stuck on an island. There are so many beach scenes in this. Awesome, right? And, you may be thinking, 'But won't I feel ugly wearing a bathing suit while I read about beauty queens?' Don't worry at all. You'll just be glad you don't have an airline meal tray stuck in your head! Seriously, this is my best beach read idea. I wish I had saved this to read until I was on a beach vacation.

My review.