I won’t lie—I love a good hardcover book.
My love for words on paper still has me holding off an e-reader. That, and the fear of sand, surf and sunscreen goobing it up.
Still, lugging a hardcover book to the beach or on vacation can prove cumbersome, so the e-reader is looking better and better. Today, we also celebrate the paperback—the no-muss, no-fuss, throw it in the beach bag and go kind of book.
Here are eight great choices that mix well with a day of fun in the sun—or under a tree in a hammock:
Hitchhiking with Larry David: An Accidental Tourist’s Summer of Self-Discovery in Martha’s Vineyard
Paul Samuel Dolman
Which part of the title grabbed you first? Summer on the Cape or summer with Larry David? In either case, it’s a breezy read with the added bonus of a life lesson or two.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Rachel Joyce
A favorite from last year and now in paperback, Joyce’s tale of a man on an arduous quest to bring comfort to a woman from his past will have you both in tears and cheering by book’s end.
The Lowland
Jhuma Lahiri
A critic’s favorite, Lahiri weaves a tale of two brothers coming of age when politics, education and revolution take them in different directions. This is the “Oooo, she’s one of those smart book people” kind of books.
Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls
David Sedaris
Mix up the smart with the witty and satirical—the always-funny Sedaris’ latest book of essays is also new to paperback and a great selection for when you have chunks of reading time between hitting the waves.
After I Do
Taylor Jenkins Reid
A follow up to “Forever, Interrupted,” Jenkins’ summer entry into chick-lit fare asks the question, “What happens when you take a year off from your vows?”
Game of Thrones
George R. R. Martin
It’s summer. It’s a paperback—and with the show on hiatus, now’s the time to catch up, buy the series and find out what happens next.
The Night Circus
Erin Morgenstern
A mystical summer read now in paperback—a boy and girl, raised to duel in magic, fall in love before their fate is revealed. Wondrous, lovely and a perfect companion on a summer afternoon.
Late, Late at Night
Rick Springfield
Yes, THAT Rick Springfield. While he recently published his first novel, this 2010 memoir fills your kitsch requirement for the summer without dumbing you down—Rolling Stone hails it in the Top 25 rock and roll memoirs of all time.
