Carley Fortune is no stranger to a great beach read. As the author of two summer romance bestsellers, "Every Summer After" and "Meet Me at the Lake," Fortune knows how to spin a captivating yarn that pairs perfectly with a cocktail, sunscreen, and waterfront views. Her books have sold more than a million copies worldwide.
Carley Fortune's newest novel, "This Summer Will Be Different" — Photo courtesy of Penguin Random House
Her latest novel, "This Summer Will Be Different" (May 2024), is a love story that unfolds in the idyllic coastal setting of Prince Edward Island, where her main character, Lucy, vacations every summer. We asked Fortune to share what's on her reading list this summer. These 10 best beach reads are her top picks.
'Summer Sisters' by Judy Blume
This is a quintessential beach read by a well-loved author — Photo courtesy of Penguin Random House
"I first read this classic story of female friendship, told against the background of summers on Martha’s Vineyard, while I was writing my debut, 'Every Summer After.' It’s got all the elements I love best: nostalgia, heartbreak, and an immersive setting. This is the quintessential beach read — just ask my best friend, Meredith, who rereads it every summer."
Get this beach read: Summer Sisters
'Women of Good Fortune' by Sophie Wan
Add Sophie Wan's debut novel to your summer reading list — Photo courtesy of Graydon House
"I met Sophie Wan when we were on an author panel together. As soon as she described her debut novel, 'Women of Good Fortune,' I knew I had to read it. In fact, I begged her to send me an early copy. In this fresh take on a heist adventure, we get a front-row seat to one of Shanghai’s ritziest weddings and the three women who set out to steal all the gift money. A true romp!"
Get this beach read: Women of Good Fortune
'A Love Song for Ricki Wilde' by Tia Williams
Carley Fortune sings praises for "A Love Song for Ricki Wilde" — Photo courtesy of Hachette Book Group Inc.
"This is the first book I’ll be reading when I have time to kick up my feet and immerse myself in a book without distraction. (Apologies in advance to my children.) Tia Williams’ previous novel, 'Seven Days in June,' is one of my all-time favorite romances, and I’m eager to lose myself in this one. Williams is a master at swoony, emotional stories that hit you straight in the heart."
Get this beach read: A Love Song for Ricki Wilde
'How to End a Love Story' by Yulin Kuang
Despite it's title, you won't want this story to end — Photo courtesy of Avon Books
"I had the opportunity to read an early copy of this book last summer while I was on vacation, and it was a perfect beach read — or in my case, lake read. 'How to End a Love Story' is a debut enemies-to-lovers rom-com about a novelist and a TV screenwriter — that’s written by Yulin Kuang, a novelist, screenwriter, and director. It’s sexy as hell, deeply funny, and it made me cry."
Get this beach read: How to End a Love Story
'A Love Like the Sun' by Riss M. Neilson
A "will they or won't they" storyline makes for a tantalizing beach read — Photo courtesy of Penguin Random House
"Two of my all-time favorite romance tropes are friends to lovers and fake dating. 'A Love Like the Sun' does both beautifully. I was fortunate to be an early reader for this novel that releases in June. In it, childhood best friends Laniah and Isaac pretend to be a couple, so that internet-famous Isaac can use his stardust to promote Laniah’s struggling natural hair store. Bad news for them (and good news for the reader): The scheme makes it a lot harder to avoid the fact that something more than friendship has been simmering under the surface for quite some time."
Get this beach read: A Love Like the Sun
'Come and Get It' by Kiley Reid
Pack this beach read in your carry-on, as it travels well — Photo courtesy of Penguin Random House
"This is another book that is currently sitting on my bedside table. I read Kiley Reid’s debut, 'Such a Fun Age,' years ago and still haven’t stopped thinking about it. 'Come and Get It,' Reid’s sophomore novel, is about a residential assistant at the University of Arkansas, and I can’t wait to see how Reid applies her sharp social commentary to the messy power dynamics of academia. I’ll be packing it in my carry-on."
Get this beach read: Come and Get It
'Six More Months of June' by Daisy Garrison
Author Daisy Garrison debuts with this young adult novel and worthy beach read — Photo courtesy of Flatiron Books
"There’s nothing quite like the last days of high school. The social barriers that define cliques begin to break down, anxiety about college and moving away sets in, and the student body is steeped in a very specific kind of nostalgia. Daisy Garrison captures that time perfectly in her young adult debut, 'Six More Months of June' (which debuts in June). There’s also a 'will-they or won’t they' romance between best friends Mina (the bookish one) and Caplan (the golden boy), which I loved. Obviously."
Get this beach read: Six More Months of June
Who was voted the best?: Best Summer Travel Destination (10Best Readers' Choice Awards 2024)
'A Novel Love Story' by Ashley Poston
Things get very meta in this novel love story — Photo courtesy of Penguin Random House
"No one writes magical love stories like Ashley Poston. Ashley’s previous books featured a ghost ('The Dead Romantics') and time travel ('The Seven Year Slip'), and her next involves a reader who finds herself in the fictional town of her favorite romance series. And while the premises are delightful, it’s Ashley’s stunning prose that ultimately sets her apart."
Get this beach read: A Novel Love Story
'The Other Side of Disappearing' by Kate Clayborn
For those who love a good mystery, this is a great beach read — Photo courtesy of Kensington Books
"I’ve read every single one of Kate’s books, and this might be my favorite. It’s part romance and part mystery and follows a woman who teams up with an investigative podcast crew to track down her mother, who is believed to have run away with a notorious con man. The book is as much about sisterhood and family as it is a love story. Utterly unique."
Get this beach read: The Other Side of Disappearing
Who was voted the best?: Best Beach in Florida (10Best Readers' Choice Awards 2024)
'This Could Be Us' by Kennedy Ryan
The realism of the characters makes this beach read compelling — Photo courtesy of Hachette Book Group Inc.
"Kennedy Ryan writes romances for grown-ups. Her characters are complex and independent and have big lives and responsibilities that make navigating love even more difficult. If you like books where you feel like you’re snooping on real people, this is for you. The second in Ryan’s Skyland series (after the incredible 'Before I Let Go'), it’s about single mom Soledad dealing with parenthood, betrayal, and the allure of forbidden love."
Get this beach read: This Could Be Us