Tourist season in the seaside town of Amity is rudely interrupted by the arrival of a deadly great white shark in this classic tale of suspense. It’s the perfect read for daring beachgoers willing to let their imaginations go wild.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Schoolyard scandal escalates to murder in a beachside suburb outside Sydney, Australia. While mystery propels the book, the humour and family focused plot make this a great fit for readers looking for heartfelt drama in a sunny setting.

The River by Peter Heller

In Peter Heller’s nail-biting new novel, a forest fire near the Maskwa River in northern Canada turns a dream getaway for two college friends into a nightmare, but the fire is only one of the perils they need to navigate.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

In the city state of Singapore, wealthy Nicholas Young brings home his ABC (American-born Chinese) girlfriend to the wedding of the season. For readers looking for a lavish escape, this is the ticket to the Asian jet set.

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

Many reviewers have been obsessed with Helen Hoang since she debuted with The Kiss Quotient last year, and with The Bride Test she once again proves she’s a romcom genius. This is a sweet, feel-good, read-in-one-beach-day romance for the sunbather who just wants to be happy.

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

What happened to iconic (fictional) rock band Daisy Jones & the Six – darlings of the ’70s music scene? The reason behind their mysterious break-up is revealed in the latest page turner by Taylor

Dune by Frank Herbert

On the desert planet Arrakis, Paul Atreides struggles to avenge his noble family in this sci-fi classic that blends political intrigue, environmentalism, and adventure. This is a fantastical escape for readers already lounging on sandy dunes.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Do you like to read creepy books in really sunny places where you don’t have to worry about a serial killer jumping out of the shadows. If so, you will like this thriller about a therapist and his mysterious patient. It’s suspenseful, it’s authentic, and the twist is truly shocking.

The Girl He Used To Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

Annika and Jonathan are each other’s person (in Grey’s Anatomy parlance). So when the quirky librarian and handsome financier reunite in the frozen foods section of a grocery after a 10-year separation, you wonder how their relationship could have gone off the rails. In this unique romcom read, they try to find their way back to each other again.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Missing or murdered? When “cool girl” perfectionist Amy disappears, all eyes turn to her husband, the town’s golden boy, in this riveting psychological thriller. It’s the beach read you can’t put down, a devilish descent into darkness.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

In this twisty mystery from the queen of crime, an eccentric millionaire summons a group of strangers to his private island. And then they begin dying, one by one. Recommended for beachgoers who like a little paranoia with their paradise.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Sally Rooney’s books are like the chocolate-covered espresso beans of literary fiction – stimulating, addictive, easy to consume, with a sweet outer coating and a biting interior. Normal People is a skilled portrait of an on-again, off-again relationship, perfect for those seeking a more serious beach read.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind  by Yuval Noah Harari

Ride the currents of history as the eminent historian questions where we have been and where we are going as a species. This is an engaging exploration of the past for the holidaymaker in search of both relaxation and knowledge.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

No list of beach reads is complete without a romance, and this feel-good novel is a unique take on the genre. Professor Don begins The Wife Project, an evidence-based quest for “the one” that falls apart as soon as he meets Rosie.

Under Red Skies: Karoline Kan comes to terms with China’s conflicted past through family’s story

The Flight Portfolio by Julie Orringer

When you think “beach read” do you think “500+ page second world war saga that will both warm and break your heart”? Same. This is a superb novel about an American journalist who saved Jewish artists from occupied France, and it will keep you busy for many sun-filled days.

The Guest Book by Sarah Blake

The Milton family myth is shattered when its prejudices are exposed in The Guest Book – a lyrical, morally complex family saga by Sarah Blake.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

With infectious wit and charm, Tina Fey tells her life story, from daydreamer to head writer on Saturday Night Live. The memoir is a joyous ode to taking charge, even at the beach. (Those excursions aren’t going to plan themselves.)

Furious Hours by Casey Cep

Assisting with the research for Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood inspired Harper Lee to embark on her own true crime masterpiece. Casey Cep finishes what she started in Furious Hours, which recounts the unusual case that so captivated the author of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

Captain Ahab swears vengeance against the whale that crippled him in this seminal work of American literature. This rousing tale delivers epic adventure on the high seas.