Whether boarding a flight to a tropical dream or lounging poolside with your girls, you want to be prepared. No, we’re not talking sunscreen tips here, or how to select the best vino—although you’ll Beach Reads: The Hottest Books for Summerfind that good stuff here on Brazen Woman, too. The fact is, no summer—or vacay for that matter—is complete without books, and that starts with a strong list of beach reads.

WAIT! Have you read the books on our last book list?

As usual, we’re ahead of you. All you need to do is make sure you’re armed with this hot list when you head on over to the bookstore (or just click the links to find out where to buy). From thrillers by bestselling authors and debuts with lots of heart to ripped-from-the-headlines page-turners, you won’t be disappointed.

Beach Reads: The Hottest Books for Summer

Books for a long flight or a lazy hammock

The Banker’s Wife by Cristina Alger

Beach Reads: The Hottest Books for Summer

The perfect thriller for a brazen woman as Cristina is one of the few women writing in this genre. To quote perennial bestselling author Lee Child, “Immersive, satisfying, tense–and timely: This is probably happening for real right now.” On an early morning in November, a young banker boards a private plane bound for Geneva. The plane disappears and a young widow is left grappling with the secrets he left behind, including an encrypted laptop and a shady client list.

Somebody’s Daughter by David Bell

This is a pulse-pounding novel of psychological suspense where a man must save the life of a little girl who just might be his daughter. Lies that span a decade come bubbling to the surface, putting Michael, his wife, and his whole family in jeopardy. And as the window for a girl’s safe return closes, Michael will have to decide who can be trusted and who is hiding the truth….

Craving the captivating read?

The Cast by Amy Blumenfeld

Beach Reads: The Hottest Books for Summer

Reminiscent of The Big Chill, The Cast is a novel of friendships that evolve with time. Through humor, drama, and the alternating perspectives of five characters, The Cast explores the power of forgiveness, the importance of authenticity, and the immeasurable value of deep, enduring friendships to buoy us when life plays out differently than expected.

My Ex-Life by Stephen McCauley

Beach Reads: The Hottest Books for Summer

How can we not love a book with this premise? The last person he expects to hear from is Julie Fiske. It’s been decades since they’ve spoken, and he’s relieved to hear she’s recovered from her brief, misguided first marriage. To him. NPR says, “McCauley fires off witticisms like a tennis ace practicing serves.”

Need a brazen beach read?

The Summer Sail by Wendy Francis

Beach Reads: The Hottest Books for Summer

A summer cruise with old friends from college. Sounds perfect, right? This is a totally relatable book that has a touch of mystery and has the highs and lows of friendship, sisterhood and lows of friendship, sisterhood and family ties. Add a frozen margarita and you’ve got the ideal beach day!

Books about brazen women

Lady Be Good by Amber Brock

Beach Reads: The Hottest Books for Summer

This book features a brazen woman from the 1950’s who begins waking up to the beauty—and the injustice—of the world beyond her small, privileged corner of Manhattan. And when her well-intended yet manipulative efforts backfire, Kitty is forced to reconsider her choices and her future.

The Intermission by Elyssa Friedland

Beach Reads: The Hottest Books for Summer

Have you ever had a secret so gut-wrenching you couldn’t tell anyone, not even the person who shares your bed? Told from the alternating perspectives of a husband and wife who both have something to hide, this incisive novel pulls back the curtain on a seemingly happy marriage by posing the question: how much do we really know—and how much should we want to know—about the people we love the most?

The Widow of Wall Street by Randy Susan Meyers

Beach Reads: The Hottest Books for Summer

Called a “Must Read Book” by the New York Post, this book takes the reader from penthouse to prison. With tragic consequences rippling well beyond Wall Street, it tells the story of a woman who struggles to survive and redefine her life as her world crumbles.

Andrea Peskind Katz is an avid reader, book reviewer, and founder of the book blog Great Thoughts and The Great Thoughts’ Great Readers Book Salon on Facebook.

 

 

 

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