Albany Public Library discussion

There are seven weekly themes that you can choose to participate in during the summer reading program. The first weekly theme is "Beach Reads," from July 3-9.

What is a beach read? A beach read is a book that isn't too intense, light and fluffy. It is one that, if you are distracted from it, you won't have too much trouble mentally resuming the plot. It is not restricted to one particular genre and can include romance, mystery, adventure, etc.

Share what you read for your beach read and what you thought of it here!

Week 1 - Beach Reads (July 3-9)

1. All the Single Ladies - Dorothea Benton Frank
2. Beachcombers - Nancy Thayer
3. Silver Girl - Elin Hilderbrand
4. Shanghai Girls - Lisa See
5. The Assistants-Camille Perri
6. Outlander Series-Diana Gabaldon
7. Sweetbitter- Stephanie Danler
8. One Plus One - Jojo Moyes
9. The Goldfinch – Donna Tartt
10. Girl With a Pearl Earring - Tracy Chevalier
11. Where’d You Go, Bernadette – Maria Semple
12. Big Stone Gap, #1 in the Big Stone Gap series - Adriana Trigiani
13. The Quilter’s Apprentice, #1 in the Elm Creek Quilts series -
Jennifer Chiaverini
14. Maine: A Novel - J. Courtney Sullivan
15. A Grown Up Kind of Pretty - Joshilyn Jackson
16. Sweetwater Creek - Anne River Siddons
17. The Gilly Salt Sisters – Tiffany Baker
18. The Secret Keeper - Kate Morton
19. We Are Water - Wally Lamb
20. The Invisible Bridge – Julie Orringer

D'oh! I am currently reading (listening to as audiobook) #11. Great book so far! And I've read/listened to #10. Question: what makes a book a "beach read"? Does the "beach read" need to be from this list?

Mirkat wrote: "D'oh! I am currently reading (listening to as audiobook) #11. Great book so far! And I've read/listened to #10. Question: what makes a book a "beach read"? Does the "beach read" need to be from thi..."

Great questions! A beach read is a book that isn't too intense, light and fluffy. It is one that, if you are distracted from it, you won't have too much trouble mentally resuming the plot. It is not restricted to one particular genre and can include romance, mystery, adventure, etc.

The list above contains a sampling of suggestions that we have put together, but you are most certainly welcome to read any book of your choosing!

Okay, thanks....

Also: I think #18 above is probably supposed to be The Forgotten Garden ?

Mirkat wrote: "Okay, thanks....

Also: I think #18 above is probably supposed to be The Forgotten Garden?"

Or The Secret Keeper!

I recently read Modern Lovers by Emma Straub, which I would consider a good "beach read," although I was not on vacation myself when I read it. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My beach read is "The Woman Next door" by Cass Green. Only problem is I keep thinking it would make a good screwball comedy with Lucille Ball. Maybe the last 1/3 will change my mind. So far it's fun.

Those are great suggestions, thanks Judi and Jonathan!
One series I discovered this year that I think would make a great beach read is the Mapp and Lucia books by E.F. Benson. Very, very funny, and fluffy and light.
And if you read them in the omnibus version, it gives you a great arm workout, as well!

Julia wrote: "Week 1 - Beach Reads (July 3-9)

Am I the only woman who hated Outlander? I only read the first one. I kind of want to know what happened in subsequent books, but can only bear to read about a 2 page synopsis. Anyone know of any?

Susan wrote: "Julia wrote: "Week 1 - Beach Reads (July 3-9)

Am I the only woman who hated Outlander? I only read the first one. I kind of want to know what happened in subsequent books, but can only bear to rea..."

Susan, I hated Outlander too! I made it about 200 pages into book 1, then skimmed the rest to see what happened. I was so disappointed. It does look like Wikipedia actually has summaries of all the books- here's the link to book 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonf...

Thanks, Lauren!

Susan wrote: "Julia wrote: "Week 1 - Beach Reads (July 3-9)

Am I the only woman who hated Outlander? I only read the first one. I kind of want to know what happened in subsequent books, but can only bear to rea..."

I have only read a part of the first Outlander book as well. The graphic novel version was decent, but I highly recommend the television show to see how the story unfolded. From friends who have read the books, the show is pretty faithful to the books.

Hello! I'm planning on using this time to read as many of the books from my "want to read" shelf of Goodreads as I can get through, on theme when possible. The older items that have lingered, but not dropped off my list. I'm planning on taking a stack on vacation (first 2 weeks of July. Laurie

Here are 2 good beach books I'm reading: (1) The Leftovers, by Tom Perrotta and (2) The Arrangement, by Sarah Dunn . . .

Good morning!
I have several books I've started but not finished:
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt (UHLS ebook)
The Rabbit Back Literature Society by Pasi Ilmari Jaaskelainen (UHLS ebook)
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown (UHLS ebook)
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (analog book I own)
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin (analog book I own)
reread of American Gods by Neil Gaiman (ebook I own)

My beach read came in yesterday - chose Summer Sisters by Judy Blume. It's older, but Judy always makes you care about the characters. :)

Okay, finished the book I was already reading and listening to when this party was getting started and can now officially begin my beach read, which will be Beachcombers . Although I can't get credit for it, if anyone is interested in my review of The Woman in Cabin 10 , it can be read here.

I just finished TWO great beach reads: Small Admissions and The Boston Girl.

I'm starting Shanghai Girls today

I had the best of intentions to start reading the debut Chemistry by Weike Wang during my weekend away, but I did not get a chance to even open it! I am planning to start reading it tonight!

Julia wrote: "I had the best of intentions to start reading the debut Chemistry by Weike Wang during my weekend away, but I did not get a chance to even open it! I am planning to start reading it tonight!"
oh, this book sounds really interesting! will probably come away from Summer Reading with more books on my "to read" list than my "read" list.

I've got a J. Courtney book I'm reading for my beach read, Engagements. I'm looking forward to it after finishing Saints for all Occasions.

Susan wrote: "I just finished TWO great beach reads: Small Admissions and The Boston Girl."

Susan, I just added Small Admissions to my to-read list-- looking forward to it! Thanks for the recommendation.

I don't know that this counts as a beach read (def chick lit, but certainly not fluff) - On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins. I just finished it, and I LOVED IT. I loved everything about it. I think the last time I felt this good about a book was the last one I read by her: "If You Only Knew." (and some of the characters from that book are in this newest one.) I absolutely recommend. (minor spoiler alert: one of the main characters is dealing with the sudden loss of a spouse-- at a young age --so heads up for those of you who may want to avoid such a story.)

My beach read is “In the Shadow of Gotham” by Stefanie Pintoff...was looking to read a James Patterson, harking back to my high school days enjoying his books upon the beaches of Cape Cod, when this book jumped out on the book shelf. Historical fiction combined with NYC centric atmosphere, I was sold. Having finished the book, if you like mystery, historical fiction, and true crime type books, you will probably find this an enjoyable, if not slightly predictable read.

Betsy wrote: "I don't know that this counts as a beach read (def chick lit, but certainly not fluff) - On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins. I just finished it, and I LOVED IT. I loved everything about it. I thi..."
Thanks for the suggestion. It is hard to find lighter reads/chick lit that have some substance.

Susan, a book that is on the list of suggested beach reads, above, and which fits the bill for lighter reads with substance? Where'd You Go, Bernadette .

Mirkat wrote: "Susan, a book that is on the list of suggested beach reads, above, and which fits the bill for lighter reads with substance? Where'd You Go, Bernadette." Thanks, Mirkat. I actually read that one this past winter. Wishing to be at the beach, perhaps?

Yeah, I read it before the summer reading started, too. :)

My beach read was "Miss You" by Kate Eberlen. Such a guilty pleasure summer book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend it as a good beach read as long as you don't want to come away with a life lesson. Cute, debut author. I laughed, I cried.