The Best Summer Beach Reads of 2024
Spray on the sunscreen and relax with one of these beachy book recommendations!
Whether you're on the hunt for a quick read to break into on your morning commute or a long novel to peruse on your holiday getaway, the best books Summer 2024 has to offer will entertain, educate, and envelop you in fictional and historical worlds alike.
This summer sees the release of countless new, highly-anticipated books, including Miranda July's romantic, heartwrenching novel, All Fours, and Emily Nussbaum's exploratory nonfiction book, Cue The Sun! The Invention of Reality TV.
Without further ado, join L'OFFICIEL as we dive into all the best books Summer 2024 has unveiled, with selects ranging from electrifying thrillers to short novellas to sweet summer romances.
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Miss May Does Not Exist, by Carrie Courogen, published only last month, is the jaw-dropping biography of comedy genius Elaine May. The book unpacks May's hectic life full of twists, turns, and disassociation, as one might assume from the ominous title. May directed multiple plays and movies aside from her comedic stardom and lived a life truly worth reading about.
Miss May Does Not Exist, Carrie Courogen, $30, Barnes & Noble
If you're in the mood for a little chaos, corruption, and sex, then Akwaeke Emezi's Little Rot has you covered. The story of five friends who embark on a night of fun in Nigeria and end up in a nail-biting mess of deception and lies. Sometimes, the beach can get a little boring, but not with Little Rot in one hand and a refreshing cocktail in the other. Emezi's debut novel Freshwater was nominated for the Women's Prize for Fiction, marking the first time a non-binary author has been nominated.
Little Rot, Akwaeke Emezi, $27, Bookshop
Witty, tender, and deeply insightful, All Fours follows a 45-year-old woman who suddenly decides to leave her husband and child at home in a cross-country quest to find herself and seek freedom. If you're looking for a captivating, romantic, wildly absurd novel to immerse yourself in over the course of an afternoon or two, opt for Miranda July's latest book.
All Fours, Miranda July, $26, Barnes & Noble
The collected stories of indie movie actress Cookie Mueller, this short story compilation is perfect for a beach getaway. From doing drugs with the Manson family to fun nights with John Waters and Divine, Mueller's life is one to be honored. Unapologetically honest, these stories reveal the multitudes that live within one woman: an artist, a friend, and a savior, all while being a mother.
Walking Through Clear Water in a Pool Painted Black, Cookie Mueller, $17, Bookshop
Gabrielle Zevin's New York Times Best Seller is the perfect light-hearted coming-of-age story for a day out on the beach. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow examines our need for connection and love while introducing characters that feel nostalgic and familiar. And the entire plot surrounds the main characters who create a video game and are launched into stardom. \
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Gabrielle Zevin, $19, Barnes & Noble
An international bestseller and considered one of the best short story compilations of all time, Interpreter of Maladies is a mold-breaking examination of unconventional love. A cast of characters from the continent of Asia who are seeking love in their own way is the perfect group to spend time with during those relaxing beachy days. Imbued with the intricacies of Indian culture only real-life experience can cultivate, Jhumpa Lahiri breathes life into every word.
Interpreter of Maladies, Jhumpa Lahiri, $19, Barnes & Noble
Calling all Bachelor and Survivor fans. In Cue the Sun!, Emily Nussbaum embarks on an exhaustive journey that follows reality TV as an institution all the way back to its roots. From the various Bravo shows to Big Brother to The Apprentice, she explores the history of exploitation and all the most unforgettable pop-culture moments that forged the television genre into the massive industry it is today. Witty, educational, and utterly entertaining, this is among the best books Summer 2024 has unveiled so far and will have you engrossed in its pages whether you're on the train on your way to work or laying out under the warm summer sun.
Cue The Sun! The Invention of Reality TV, Emily Nussbaum, $30, Bookshop
If you're on the hunt for an equally educational and entertaining summer read, opt for Do Something by Guy Trebay. An illuminating memoir of the experience of growing up in the chaotic cosmopolitan environment of New York City in the '70s, the book follows the author's journey as he came of age in the star-studded underground arts subculture that came to dominate the city in later years.
Do Something, Guy Trebay, $29, Barnes & Noble
Beloved British author and journalist is back with another top-notch novel. Infused with her unique sense of humor and singular conception of what romance can look like, the book follows a comedian who grapples with the sudden end of his longtime relationship. If you're on the hunt for a funny, heartwarming story that will surely make your best books Summer 2024 list, pick up Good Material.
Good Material, Dolly Alderton, $26, Bookshop
If you loved Emerald Fennell's 2023 hit film Saltburn and couldn't put down Donna Tartt's famous novel, The Secret History, this one is for you. Henry Henry is a coming-of-age novel that follows a man in his young 20s as he navigates the pressures of his future obligations—taking over his father's role as the Duke of Lancaster—and attempts to find his true self through a series of self-destructive, heart-wrenching mistakes.
Henry Henry, Allen Bratton, $29, Barnes & Noble
If you can't get enough of heart-pounding thrillers and crime-oriented dramas, Nightwatching is among the best books Summer 2024 will have to offer for you. In this thriller, Tracy Sierra opens the book with a terrifying scene—a mother at home alone with her two young children when an intruder breaks in. The mother quickly hides with her children and watches as the man attempts to find them, and finds that her only option is to wait it out in silence.
Nightwatching, Tracy Sierra, $29, Bookshop
Whether you're a longtime fan of Amor Towles, who also authored A Gentleman in Moscow and Rules of Civility, or a new reader looking for an excellent series of short stories to add to your summer reading list, Table for Two: Fictions is a must-read for Summer 2024. With six short stories set in early 2000s New York and one novella set in the Golden Age of Hollywood, readers are in for a series of funny, romantic, and thought-provoking stories that explore what it means to be alive in some of the most complex, dynamic cities in the country.
Table For Two: Fictions, Amor Towles, $29, Bookshop
