With temperatures soaring, there’s no better time to seek refuge at the beach, pool, or park with a captivating book in hand. This summer, queer literature enthusiasts have a plethora of titles to choose from, ranging from page-turning romances to steamy thrillers and thought-provoking anthologies.
“A beach read is a mindset,” says Nina Haines, founder of the Sapph-Lit book club. Speaking from her parents’ beach house, where she escaped one of New York’s recent heat waves, Haines explains, “Beach reads are books that make you giddy, excited, and a little bit horny.” Among her favorites are works by authors like Casey McQuiston, known for “Red, White & Royal Blue” and “One Last Stop,” as well as series writers like Ashley Herring Blake and Alexandria Bellefleur.
Ashley Herring Blake’s “Delilah Green Doesn’t Care” is a prime example of a book that fits perfectly into the beach read category. These books, often with “cutesy illustrated covers,” are perfect for throwing into a beach bag, getting a little wet, and passing on to a friend after a quick read. “They’re compulsive, easy-to-read romances you gobble up in one sitting,” Haines adds.
But summer reading isn’t limited to sapphic smut and blockbuster romances. For Jesse Aylen, a New York-based publishing veteran, a great summer read could also be an engaging memoir or a collection of short stories. Aylen prefers books that combine brevity with escapism, offering tantalizing relationships or fantasy trips to other worlds. “People are hot and looking to put their brain somewhere else. Why not on Mars?” Aylen jokes.
Provincetown Bookshop, located in the renowned gay beach destination on Cape Cod, sees a surge in shoppers during the summer months, checking out their beach reads section. Manager Derek McCormack notes that their clientele ranges from vacationers seeking light reads to professors looking for more substantial material. This year’s lineup includes Craig Willse’s “Providence” and the 2022 hit “Our Wives Under the Sea” by Julia Armfield. “A great beach read is propulsive, easy to get lost in, ideally very portable,” McCormack says.
Ultimately, a captivating summer read, whether it’s classic literature or new adult romance, highbrow or lowbrow, is a paperback that’s ready to be devoured, shared, and eventually worn out by sun, sand, and summer cocktails. And a little bit of sex in the narrative certainly doesn’t hurt. “Like what you like and don’t be guilty about it,” Haines quips, emphasizing that reading should be fun and enjoyable.
From thrilling romances to engaging memoirs, the following are some of the top queer beach reads recommended by book lovers and connoisseurs:
- ‘A Good Happy Girl’ by Marissa Higgins
- ‘Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous’ by Mae Marvel
- ‘Giovanni’s Room’ by James Baldwin
- ‘Hot Summer’ by Elle Everhart
- ‘In Tongues’ by Thomas Grattan
- ‘Mrs. S.’ by K. Patrick
- ‘Sluts’ edited by Michelle Tea
- ‘The Future Was Color’ by Patrick Nathan
- ‘What Belongs to You’ by Garth Greenwell
- ‘Women’ by Chloé Caldwell
These selections promise to provide a mix of entertainment, escapism, and meaningful connections, perfect for the lazy, hazy days of summer.