Beach book recommendations

[kdibattista]

I am heading to the Outerbanks for a week on July 19th. I am looking for a few good books to bring. I am normally not much of a book reader (usually magazines) but I hear there is really nothing to do there. Any suggestions?

 

[TLinden16]

I recommend anything by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg except for California Angel. She writes crime/mystery books. I've recommended her to lots of people, and everyone has loved her books. She's a real page turner.

I've also been into Dennis Lehane lately. His books tend to be a bit graphic, and violent, but they always have a good storyline. Prayers for Rain is one that I read most recently, and it was very good.

Karen

 

[Liz]

I posted this on another thread, but I just finished reading "Eve's Daughters" by Lynn Austin and it was wonderful!

 

[shortbun]

Last year on my vaca to the Outerbanks I
read Janet Evanavich's Stephanie Plum series.
Starts with "One for the Money" and ends with
"Hard Eight". Light, funny and sexy. If you want
something a little deeper-try Bell Canto, Patron
Saint of Liars or The Magician's Assistant-all by
Ann Patchett. I liked "The Secret Life of Bees" too
but can't recall the author at this time. Another fun
series is Sue Grafton's alphabet series about
Kinsey Milhoan-I just read P but you can read them
in any order; they're all over libraries and bookstores.
Have fun at the outerbanks-I loved my beach vacation
there!
mimi

 

[wovenwonder]

Nora Roberts Chesapeake bay series. Four great books in this series all set by the 'beach' of the chesapeake. A perfect beach read.

 

[Hnymoon@Dixie]

Blume now writes adult books as well as kids books. Its about 2 best friends growing up into adult hood & everything in between! I loved it! Its the only book I ever read twice!

 

[kdibattista]

Thanks for all the quick replies. I think I will be spending this coming weekend at the local Barnes and Noble browsing . Thanks again... they all sound great and I will definitely check them out.

 

[Wagamama]

i second Summer Sisters and Flip Flopped (maybe its Flip Flop) is also a great book. its easy to read and easy to find...it has a picture of flip-flops on the cover

 

[RUDisney]

Last year, I read The Beach House and Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas on the beach. Both are by James Patterson. He also wrote Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls that were made into movies. (I think the director of those movies made a mistake casting Morgan Freeman in the role of Alex Cross since in the books he is described more like Denzel Washington. hubba hubba The books were definitely better than the movies.

This year, I'll be reading his newest book, The Lake House, and I'll be taking other books, too.

Another very light read, but excellent book is The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve.

Red Dragon, by Thomas Harris, is my favorite of all of the Hannibal Lechter books. He's such an intelligent writer.

Happy reading!

 

[Karel]

Since you say you read mostly magazines and you're on vacation, I'm going to recommend some light, fun books. I'm not sure which ones are in paper back and which ones are still in hardback.

Julie and Romeo; Step,Ball, Change by Jeanne Ray

The Nanny Diaries by Emma Mclaughlin

I don't know how she does it by Kate Ready

The Devil wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

(The last three are all work related, over the top characters.)

Anything by Jane Heller - Name Dropping, Lucky Stars, Female Intelligence.

Anything by Fannie Flagg - she wrote Fried Green Tomatoes, her newest is Under the Rainbow.

Must Love Dogs - Claire Cook

If you want some meatier, there's always The Painted House by John Grisham and I'm hearing excellent reviews about The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and the Secret Life of Bees, which I think is by Kidd.

You can always read the whole Harry Potter series. That'll take some time!

 

[kdibattista]

You can always read the whole Harry Potter series. That'll take some time!

I was actually thinking that!!!

 

[ahutton]

Any of the Janet Evanovich books are great beach/vacation reads. I love the quick page turns and the characters are a lot of fun. I also have started reading a ton of Stuart Woods, lots of mystery, action and beautiful places. Karen Kijewski writes a series about a private detective named "Kat" - her name is in the titles and the stories are very good. I also really like Diane Mott Davidson, she writes a series of murder mysteries about a caterer that also has some great recipes...

My favorite book of all time (along the lines of Summer Sisters) was The Saving Graces. Beautiful, funny, touching story.

 

[Harambe]

It is not set at a beach, but Memoirs of a Geisha is a lovely book!

I like books set in exotic places so I like The Poisonwood Bible, and am now reading No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.

I also like reading Stephen King on vacation, because he is so easy to read! I don't go for the fantasy ones, but the scary ones are cool! Try Dreamcatcher - I think it just came out in paperback.

Have a nice vacation!

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Originally posted by ahutton
My favorite book of all time (along the lines of Summer Sisters) was The Saving Graces. Beautiful, funny, touching story. /QUOTE]

If you liked Saving Graces, try Gaffney's Circle of Three. Excellent!

 

[FergieTCat]

Another Janet Evanovich fan here. I read "7" and "8" and then started at the beginning. I'm in the middle of "4" and I am having a blast!

I also recommend "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" by James Patterson. You will not believe how well he writes in a woman's voice. It's one of my favorite books.

 

[nancyj_pa]

I'm reading "Carolina Moon" by Nora Roberts. It just came out in paperback, but it's hard to find so I bought the hardback. I heard lots of good things about it. So far, I'm loving it!

Nora Roberts' books are all great and many have a beach theme.

 

[katerkat]

I like Jeffrey Archers - if you overlook his personal problems.

From Best to Worst (IMHO):
Kane and Abel
The Prodigal Daughter
Honor Among Thieves
The Eleventh Commandment
As the Crow Flies
The Fourth Estate
A Matter of Honor
Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
Shall We Tell the President?
First Among Equals
Sons of Fortune

All his short stories are great --
A Quiver Full of Arrows
To Cut a Long Story Short
A Twist in the Tale
Twelve Red Herrings

 

[Linda/MA]

Last summer at the beach I read the first two Shopaholics books -- Confessions of a Shopaholic and The Shopaholic Takes Manhattan. They are so cute and so much fun. I just got through reading the newest one -- The Shopaholic Ties the Knot. They are by Sophie Kinsella and I guess you would call them "Brit Wit" The Nanny Diaries was also a very good beach read.

 

[dancergirl]

I just got back from the beach!
I read "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks. He is an excellent writter, I would suggest any of his books!!!

I also read "He chose the Nails" by Max Lucado (sp?). Its a very good Christian book.
Have a great time on your vacation!

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Im taking Nicholas Sparks "The Guardian" with us Thurs when DS & I go up to the White Mtns, NH