1. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
Journalist Lo Blacklock is given the assignment of a lifetime when she’s sent on an intimate luxury cruise in the North Sea. But her dream-worthy adventure quickly turns into a nightmare when she witnesses a woman being thrown overboard. Filled with page-turning twists and turns, The Woman in Cabin 10 follows is an engrossing mystery thriller that’s made for the beach.
2. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, Abraham Verghese
When Breath Becomes Air is the unforgettable memoir of Paul Kalanithi, a 36-year-old physician who was diagnosed with lung cancer just before completing his training to become a neurosurgeon. Kalanithi’s profound insights on mortality, death, family and medicine will forever change your perspective and appreciation for life.
3. One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul
In One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter, Toronto-based journalist Scaachi Koul offers an intimate and laugh-out-loud perspective on what it’s like to grow up as a foreigner in Canada. Koul’s collection of witty essays on feminism, race and family will draw you in from start to finish.
4. Little Heaven by Nick Cutter
Three mercenaries are hired to check up on a man who was believed to be taken against his will to a backwoods settlement called Little Heaven. They quickly discover that this is no ordinary religious cult and there’s more going on in this strange settlement than meets the eye. Do yourself a favour and don’t read this book at night. (Even Stephen King says Little Heaven “scared the hell out of me.”)
5. Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari with Eric Klinenberg
Hoping your beach vacation will include a whirlwind romance? Take some lessons in love from comedian Aziz Ansari, known for his hilarious insights on today’s dating scene. In Modern Romance, Ansari pairs up with NYU sociologist Eric Klinenberg to probe the mysteries of what it takes to fall (and stay) in love in the 21st century.
6. Yes Please by Amy Poehler
In Yes Please, everyone’s dream celebrity BFF dishes about her successes and failures in comedy, while also sharing juicy behind-the-scenes gossip about the cast and crew of Saturday Night Live. Poehler’s smart and hilarious collection of stories, lists and even haikus makes the perfect poolside entertainment.
Check out these 10 Scandalous Biographies That Are Great Beach Reads!
7. Beach Trip by Cathy Holton
When college girlfriends Mel, Sara, Annie, and Lola decide to reunite 20-some years later for a beach holiday, they bring along plenty of baggage. (Emotional baggage, that is.) Shared secrets and past betrayals come to the surface in Cathy Holton’s engrossing tale of four lifelong friends.
8. Lion (Movie tie-in edition) by Saroo Brierley
At the age of five, Saroo got separated from his family on a train in India. Not knowing the name of his hometown or how to read or write, Saroo was eventually put up for adoption and raised by a couple overseas. Always curious about his origins, Saroo spent years using Google Earth to trace his steps back to his hometown and birth family. Be sure to read this miraculous true story before you see in theatres!
9. The Girl Before by JP Delaney
“Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life.” This seems like a simple (albeit strange) request from a landlord, but for two young women, it has devastating consequences. If you loved The Girl on the Train, you’ll likely devour JP Delaney’s The Girl Before in no time.
10. Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth
This new science-fiction/fantasy series is set on a violent and vengeful planet where every citizen is given a unique power that helps improve their lives and the world’s future. When Akos and Cyra are given gifts that make them vulnerable to others’ control, they set out on a journey to reclaim their fate.