The Next Best Book Club discussion

Hey everyone,

I'm feeling the itch to pretend it's summer via reading since summer can't come fast enough. I'm wondering if anyone knows of decent books that take place in a beach town or in/around beaches. I don't like romance novels or anything YA, but that's mainly what I've been finding. I like more serious literature type stuff. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks folks!

The Waves, by by Virginia Woolf ?

Definitely literary, not sure if actually in a beach town or not.


Clammed Up, by Barbara Ross ?

Not literary, but not romance or ya either :D. Fun, easy beach read mystery, set dually in coastal Maine, and a Maine Island

Coincidentally the book Maine also has a summer shore background and if you haven't read it I highly recommend it. It's about three generations of one family that return to their summer cottage every year and is told with different POVs.

That looks like a great book, Karen. Added it to my tbr, thx :)

I have a great recommendation for you. Last Summer by Evan Hunter. Might be a little hard to find, but worth it. It's NOT romance or YA, and it will kick you in the teeth.

Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings is a good read. Definitely not serious, though. Kind of Douglas Adams-style humor. Takes place in Hawaii.

Anything Douglas Adams-style goes straight on my tbr :D
Evan Hunter book looks pretty good too.

Fun thread!

If you want serious literature you might want to try The Awakening by Kate Chopin (set in a resort community near New Orleans).

Tracy Chevalier's Remarkable Creatures also takes place in a beach town, but isn't a "beach book" romance.

I also enjoyed A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams ... set in 1938 when a major hurricane decimated the east coast.

Book Concierge wrote: "... I also enjoyed A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams ... set in 1938 when a major hurricane decimated the east coast."

My mother was born that September, in NYC. I've been meaning to read that book for awhile. Maybe this summer :)

Thank you everybody for the suggestions! I'm looking forward to having a look at these!

Anything by Elin Hilderbrand which takes place on Nantucket.

Also some of Luanne Rice's books like Beach Girls or Safe Haven. Rice is one of my fave authors.

This book is kinda dark and weird but sooooo good: The Town That Forgot How to Breathe it's set near the water... a fishing town... take a peek.. it might not be exactly what you are looking for, but you might enjoy it nonetheless.

Lori wrote: "This book is kinda dark and weird but sooooo good: The Town That Forgot How to Breathe it's set near the water... a fishing town... take a peek.. it might not be exactly what you are ..."

I've actually read it and totally loved it!

How could I forget to recommend this one -

On the Beach by Nevil Shute takes place in Sydney Australia.

Just about anything by Nicholas Sparks

You might like A Tale for the Time Being which is a strange, weird story but very engaging and well written.