Latest / The Read Carpet Report / The Best Beach Books of 2026

Transcript

The Best Beach Books of 2026 · The Read Carpet Report

• In-person participant 1: Welcome to the Red Carpet Report, your backstage pass for celebrity book clubs, ⁓ adaptations, and new book releases. ⁓ I'm Kirsten. And ⁓ your hosts. season, and we are very ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: Welcome to the Red Carpet Report, your backstage pass for celebrity book clubs, book adaptations, and new book releases. I'm Jackie. And I'm Kirsten. And we're your hosts. Today's episode is a deep dive into beach read season. And we are very excited because this is our favorite time of year. We have been doing ultimate beach reads for a long time. ⁓ And ⁓ love rollout year. we've been doing Beach Read since 2017. Yes. ⁓ And we've perfected it the years. Yes. ⁓ We used to do one massive list of books that were backless and frontlist and like all the different things. In-person participant 1: Yes. And we've perfected it over the years. Yes. We used to do one massive list of books Kirsten Baritz: And now we do it in three rollouts over the course of the summer. We launch it for the first time in April. We update it Memorial Day and then we update it again July 4th. and that way the books that are on the list you can buy. So we're not really recommending books that are coming out in July and August ⁓ April, because that's not helpful to you. we've our second rollout, so we're gonna really deep dive the that we have chosen this year. ⁓ But before we do that, we do have a little bit of red carpet rundown news. ⁓ my gosh, that was a tongue twister, don't ask me why, but I did it. I stuck the landing. In-person participant 1: Down news. ⁓ my gosh, that was a tongue twister. Don't ask me why. Wow. You did that so well. the first one is a series that you really love. It's Sweet Magnolias, season five. Kirsten Baritz: could love this TV adaptation anymore. It comes out ⁓ June 11th. It is based ⁓ on a series of books Cheryl Woods. Cheryl thank you. and it stars. ⁓ In-person participant 1: I could not love this TV adaptation anymore. It comes out June 11th. It is based on a series of books by Cheryl Woods. Cheryl Woods, thank you. Kirsten Baritz: Some amazing people, but the highlight for me is Joanna Garcia Fisher, who is also has herself a book club, which we are gonna celebrity deep dive into her someday because she picks great fiction. it's the story of these three best friends and their lives in this cute little southern town. It feels very Gilmore girls, ⁓ okay, about parenting and about And I actually have never read the book series. In-person participant 1: And it stars some amazing people, but the highlight for me is Joanna Garcia Fisher, who is also has herself a book club, which we are gonna celebrity deep dive into her someday because she picks great fiction. it's the story of these three best friends and their lives in this cute little southern town. It feels very Gilmore girls, okay, it's about parenting it's motherhood, and I actually have never read. Kirsten Baritz: But my understanding is a lot of the plot lines from the book series ⁓ make it through. just love it. It's I think I only watched the first season. In-person participant 1: series. okay. ⁓ I think I only watched the first season and I don't know why. I for it. I think I might just have to binge. ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: I live for it. I think I might just have to binge. I am planning to download the entire season and watch it on the plane. ⁓ that's such a good idea. That's my I'm I'm really like counting down the days until this. In-person participant 1: ⁓ that's such a good idea. ⁓ that's smart. Okay. ⁓ And the second one that we have ⁓ is Meet in Margins. it's by Melissa Ferguson. Now I haven't this. Kirsten Baritz: Meet Me in the Margins, and it's by Melissa Ferguson. Right. Now I haven't read this one. ⁓ it's about publishing, it's about authors, so it's a romance book about books, which we've talked about. it's one of her older ones, but I have read a lot of her more recent ones. In fact, one of them is on Beach Reads for this year, but we're not talking about it today. and she writes sweet ⁓ So is is closed door. Ends with a kiss kind of romance, but you get the butterflies while you're reading them. And her stories are just always so unique and so different. She has a lot of them that are about authors. Actually, the majority of them are about authors that I can think of. and this one is gonna premiere on Great American Family ⁓ Merritt Patterson as the lead, who I love from my Hallmark Christmas channel. Watching. Nice. How do you feel about the two different In-person participant 1: Wheat romance. So it is it is closed door, ends with a kiss kind of romance, but you get the butterflies. Love those. And her stories are just always so unique and so different. She has a lot of and this one is gonna premiere on Great American Family with Merritt lead. ⁓ nice I love from my Hallmark ⁓ ⁓ Nice, nice. ⁓ do you feel about the two different ⁓ I'm a I'm a Hallmark girl. Okay. Kirsten Baritz: I'm a I'm a homework girl through and through. Always will be. I don't like that people split up between the two channels. In-person participant 1: The two channels I know. I was gonna ask you how how you feel about that. Is that okay? It was devastating. Kirsten Baritz: It was it was devastating news to me. But Lacey Shaber stayed and I love Lacey. In-person participant 1: I love her. I love her from way back when. Yeah, from Meme Girls. No. Kirsten Baritz: Yeah, from Mean Girls. What's before me girls? What was that TV show? In-person participant 1: What was that TV show where there were like multiple kids in the family? This is ahead of your time. There was like five? Yeah. She was a party at five? Yes. This was like way before Mean Girls. Kirsten Baritz: Party of five? Yeah. She was in Party of Five? Yes. This was like way before. No way. I know her from Mean Girls and all of the many Hallmark Christmas movies that I watch, which is a lot of them. I get my checklist out every year. I follow the app, I click off all the new releases. I'm really into it. So ⁓ I I don't mess with Great American Family usually. Because again, Hallmark releases a lot. I gotta I can't take on both channels. But I will flip over to Great American Family for this one. Especially considering the number of Christmas books that you read. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And I know you already have like twenty on your list. ⁓ I do. I downloaded a lot already for this year. Yeah. ⁓ Okay. It's the best time year. My second favorite time of year. B tree season is number one. Christmas season is number two. In-person participant 1: American Family usually again Hallmark releases a lot. I gotta I can't take on both channels. I will American Family for this one. Especially considering the number of Christmas books that you read. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And I know you already have like twenty on your list. No idea. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I know. it's a good thing that they like are on opposite ends and gives you some time to like recoup. A little bit. Yeah. Kirsten Baritz: Some time to like recoup. A little bit, but by August, you and I are both normally like starting out our Christmas book journey. In-person participant 1: Let's now do a deep dive into Beach Reads. So you and I read a lot ⁓ to these choices. So we figured out this morning that the two of us, we've read about 170 books this year. Yep, so far. And from we are picking the best. Kirsten Baritz: Let's now do deep dive into Beach Reads. So you and I read a lot to make these choices. So we figured out this morning that between the two of us, we've read about a hundred and seventy books this year. Yep, so far. And from those, we are picking the best. In-person participant 1: Beach reads for the year. So that are coming out. Kirsten Baritz: Beach reads for the year. So right, that are coming out this year. And that doesn't include, because we're always a few months ahead, that doesn't include our November and December books that we've already read that came out in this not every book a best of the year is going to be on beach reads. And we should we should point that out because in order for it to be on beach reads, it has to have a few criteria, right? So a lot of times it has to be set in the well. In-person participant 1: not every that's a best of the year ⁓ is going be on beach reads. And we should we should point that out because in order for it to be on beach reads, it has to have a few criteria, right? So a lot of times it has to be set in the well, a hundred percent of the time it has to be set in the summer season. ⁓ So I've some amazing thrillers that were set in the middle of winter. That's not a beach read. No, Kirsten Baritz: A hundred percent of the time it has to be set in the summer season. So I've read some amazing thrillers that were set in the middle of winter. That's not a bee tree. No, it is not. some of them can have heavier topics, right? They can, but we are not gonna have you sobbing on the beach because I am scarred by ⁓ before you. Right. And what happened to me on the beach when I was sobbing hysterically, snotty nose and all, and like family and friends are coming over to be like, Are you okay? And I'm like, just let me read my book. In-person participant 1: Some of them can have heavier topics, right? Kirsten Baritz: We don't want that for you. If you cry on the beach, you're now getting sand stuck in the That's true. That's true. You can't you're gonna In-person participant 1: But it's not even that. If you cry on the beach, you're now getting sand stuck to your face. You can't you're gonna like blow your nose, there's sand on your face. Now there's like a whole entire sand snot situation. That is not no, no. Kirsten Baritz: Yeah, yeah, you don't wanna mess with that either. No, The other thing about the beach or the pool or whatever is generally if you're going to these activities, you're going with other people, right? You're gonna stop and get yourself a snack, you're gonna ⁓ take dip in the water, you're gonna chat with your neighbor, maybe play a game of Scrabble. So no book on this list is gonna be so complicated that you need a reading guide and to be annotating it because you have to be able to put it down and pick it. Yes, it's gonna be ⁓ a In-person participant 1: Take a dip in the water, you're gonna chat with your neighbor, maybe play a game of scrabble. So no book on this list is gonna be so complicated that you need to provide and to be Yes, it's gonna be a quick, quick moving book so that you can put it down, but you're gonna remember exactly what was happening when you pick it back up. let's go with our first category, which is fiction. Okay, so we had already talked about yesteryear and go gentle. ⁓ Those were book club picks. We've already spoken about them. So let's talk about something different. What's your fiction pick? Kirsten Baritz: My fiction pick is American Fantasy by Emma Straub. And this is a funny one because it's perfect for millennial women. It's about a group of women on a cruise ship who have booked the cruise to be with their favorite boy band from their youth. So picture a Backstreet Boys in InSync. They're there on the boat. They're performing all these different things. They're at all these different events. And it's just a bunch of fangirls on a boat for three days. It's fun, it's silly. It's In-person participant 1: To be with their favorite boy band from their youth. So picture of Bath Street Boys in InSync. They're there on the boat, they're performing all these different things, they're at all these different events, and it's just a bunch of fangirls on a boat for three days. Which is amazing. It's silly. It's there's actually deeper things than you would think. there's themes about your lost youth and your potential, where, you know, where are you going when you're defined in this certain box and now you have to break out. Kirsten Baritz: There's actually deeper things than you would think. themes about your lost youth and your potential, where you know, where are you going when you're defined in this certain box and now you have to break out of the box? There's relationship drama and you know, identity crises ⁓ it's just really fun. And one of the boy bands is a narrator. So awesome. In-person participant 1: There's relationship drama and, you know, identity crises and it's just really fun. And one of the boy bands a narrator. So Awesome. Okay, my was Villa Coco, and it's by ⁓ Sean Greer. ⁓ And Pulitzer Prize winning mothers. I know. usually when you hear Pulitzer Prize winning, you're like, ⁓ I can't read this. this had me up from the first page. Kirsten Baritz: my pick was Villa Coco, and it's by ⁓ Andrew Sean Greer. ⁓ And ⁓ Pulitzer Prize winning author for the of Les. I usually you hear Pulitzer Prize winning, you're like, ⁓ I can't read this. And had cracking up from the first page. In-person participant 1: This guy, he doesn't really know what he's gonna do with himself. He's like an archivist and he takes a job to go and archive things in this woman's house in Italy. And we don't really know what's going on with her. She pulls him to do the most ridiculous tasks. She's basically Kirsten Baritz: This guy, he doesn't really know what he's gonna do with himself. He's like an archivist and he takes a job to go and archive things in this woman's house in Italy. And we don't really know what's going on with her. She pulls him to do the most ridiculous tasks. She's basically Aunt Jan, is what you're saying. ⁓ yes, a hundred percent. She is sh she's Aunt Jan, I I feel like. Okay. In-person participant 1: ⁓ yes, a hundred percent. She is sh she's Aunt Jan, I feel like. And she's amazing. And it's hilarious. And I I loved it. I couldn't put it down. So it has deeper stuff, obviously, but like so well written, easy to read, perfect for the beach. Perfect. the next ⁓ historical fiction. Kirsten Baritz: And she's amazing and it's hilarious. And I I loved it. I couldn't put it down. So it has deeper stuff, obviously, but like so well written, easy to read, perfect for the beach. Perfect. next ⁓ historical fiction. has already been a bookmark pick, so I'm not gonna ⁓ go deep into it, ⁓ it's The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Bloom. ⁓ it's set on a Greek island in its historical time period from World War II to present day and dual timeline, and it's just it's set on a Greek island. So ⁓ pretty much says it all. This one sounded amazing. ⁓ my pick ⁓ Liberty Island by Virginia Hill. So ⁓ In-person participant 1: Right. Pretty much so. This one sounded amazing. my pick is Liberty Island by Virginia Hume. So this is actually going to be something that we talk about in detail next week. So I'm not gonna go into too much detail. It is a historical fiction. It's set in Maine. Done. ⁓ but we're also talking about suffragettes. ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: This is actually going to be something that we talk about in detail next week. So I'm not gonna go into too much detail. It is a historical fiction. It's set in Maine. Enough said. Done. ⁓ but we're also talking about suffragettes. There's so much to this. There's family drama. It's it's such a good read. We'll talk about it all next week. In-person participant 1: There's so much to this. There's family drama. It's it's such a good read. We'll talk about it all next week. Kirsten Baritz: And it's the July Beyond the Bookends book club pick. Yes. ⁓ summer This is a new category that we added, I think last year or the year before, because there are many beach reads that we wanted to include that were specifically about summer ⁓ or about really weather. ⁓ And we didn't to call it In-person participant 1: it's the July Young ⁓ okay, summer fiction. This is a new category that we added, I think last year or the year before, because there are so many beach reads that we wanted to include that were specifically about summer ⁓ or about really warm weather. And we want to call it. Women's fiction. Kirsten Baritz: Women's fiction. Right. We used to call it women's fiction in the past, but we've sort of moved away from that categorization, just like we've all moved away from chiclet. That lovely term. ⁓ so this is really summer fiction. It's generally not as literary as some of the ones that you're gonna find on our regular fiction list. It's gonna be a little lighter, a little breezier, a little bit more of what everyone else would consider like a general beach read. yeah, it's still a very fun, fun category. So what In-person participant 1: We've sort of moved away from that categorization. Yeah. Like we've all moved from chicklet. Yes. Generally not as literary as some of the ones that you're gonna find on the popular fiction list. It's gonna be a But yeah, it's still a very fun, fun category. So what was your first pick? Mine. Kirsten Baritz: Your first pick? is Have a Great Summer by Francesca Cocchi ⁓ I love this one because it's set at the Jersey Shore. And you don't get a whole lot of really sweet summer fiction set at the Jersey Shore. And the best part about this is it's a dual timeline. So it's a second chance romance, and you get to see their romance unfold when they're like 15, 16, 17, and then again when they're in their 30s. I love that. And there's all this ⁓ beach town, gossip, and like cute little beach shack restaurant, and just it just sets the vibes. It sets the vibes. I read it all in one sitting on a Rainy Memorial Day weekend at the shore, and it was everything I wanted it to be. ⁓ that's so good. And the perfect place to read it. The perfect place. It's just it's the vibes. It was an all-immersive, like 40 experience. Yes. And I think there's a lot of beach read fictions that like New England, California. In-person participant 1: I love that. Beach town, gossip, and like cute little beach shack restaurant, and just sets the vibes. It sets the vibes. I read it all in one sitting on a Rainy Memorial Day weekend at the shore, and it was everything I wanted it to be. ⁓ that's so good. And the perfect place to read it too. Perfect place. It's just it was ⁓ it an all-immersive, like 40 experience. Yes, and I think there's a lot of beach reading. Kirsten Baritz: Florida, I wanted something that was set right here in my backyard. And there's not a whole lot of beach fiction set in New Jersey, so In-person participant 1: I wanted something that was set right here in my backyard and there's not a whole lot of beach fiction set in New Jersey. So Love that. I chose one that actually doesn't fit our usual mold of summer fiction. So this is Underwater by Tara Mannon. had to be a summer fiction because it all takes place at the beach near the water in Thailand. But ⁓ we ⁓ just a like warning. It does go into some detail about the earthquake and the tsunami in Thailand. And so was a book. ⁓ It was to be by someone I I trust a lot, And ⁓ it something. So like friendship and family ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: It does go into some detail about the earthquake and the tsunami in Thailand. And so it was a fabulous book. ⁓ was recommended to be by someone I I trust a lot, And it it's something. So like friendship family ⁓ In-person participant 1: you know, regrets and and you know, getting over grief and the loss and and but it was so good. Okay, sweet romance. I love this category. But it is hard to fill the sweet romance my friend. It really is. Sometimes I feel like there's a book and the entire thing is sweet and it's fantastic. And you have all the butterflies. And then they throw one scene in there that I'm like, ⁓ good Lord, you did not need to throw that in there. We could have just had a sweet romance. Or close the door or something. Yes. Kirsten Baritz: Okay, sweet romance. I love this category. But it is hard to fill the sweet romance category, my friend. It really is. To throw that in there, we could have just had a sweet romance. Or close the door or something. Yeah. Yeah. yeah, this is a hard category for us to fill every year because a lot of the books nowadays are very, very open door, very steamy. so this is a tough, this is a tough category. Okay. So you had one that you actually In-person participant 1: this is a tough this is a tough category. Okay, so you had one that you absolutely loved. Kirsten Baritz: The Shippers by Catherine Center. Yes. Now I am sensing a little bit of a theme, so I am going on a cruise later in the summer. And clearly that has bled into my reading choices because this is set on a cruise. You'll notice how none of these are about shipwrecks. No, no. They're really fun cruise situations. These are party cruises. We are happy on these cruises. In-person participant 1: Cruise later in the summer, and clearly that has bled into my reading process because this is set on a cruise. You'll notice how none of these are about shipwrecks. No, no. They're fun cruise situations. Yes. These are party cruises. We are happy on the This has been on your mind, I think, for like in the last six months of reading. Kirsten Baritz: I think so. So this one, don't know how to describe it, but Jojo is our main character, and she has been basically left at the altar. ⁓ And a few weeks later has now go to her sister's wedding ⁓ on a cruise ship with all her friends and family. ⁓ And ⁓ she wants to like back the dating horse ⁓ and connect with the person who loved when she was younger, or she had a massive crush on, maybe not love ⁓ her neighborhood crush. And in order to make him jealous and to get him interested, she's gonna fake date her best friend, who's a man. Okay. And I think we know where this is going. It's adorable. There are a lot of funny shenanigans because there's all these pre-wedding events with all these friends and family on the cruise ships. You get the cruise ship dynamic, but then you also get like trivia night with friends and family. I mean, it's just it's a really fun, it's a it's a perfect beach read. In-person participant 1: family and she wants to like get back on the dating horse and connect with the person who she loved when she was younger or she had a missed crush on maybe not love isn't the word ⁓ her neighborhood crush and in order to make him jealous and to get him interested she's gonna fake date her best friend who's a man. Okay. And I think we know where this is going. It's adorable. There are a lot of funny shenanigans because there's all these pre-wedding events with all these friends and family on the cruise. You get the cruise ship dynamics and then you also get like trivial night with friends and family. I mean it's just it's a really fun it's a it's a perfect beat treat. I love her stuff. Her stuff is always a little bit quirky and really, really fun. And there's deep feelings of emotions and you get butterflies and have some kissing but Kirsten Baritz: And there's deep feelings of emotions, and you get those butterflies, and you might have some kissing, but there's never, The feeling that you shouldn't be reading in public. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. ⁓ my choice was a sprinkle of sweet serendipity by Rachel Linden. This cover is ⁓ so happy. It's cutest. It's all bright yellow. She's got In-person participant 1: know. The feeling that you shouldn't be reading this 'cause yeah. Yeah. ⁓ my choice ⁓ A Sprinkle Sweet Serendipity by Rachel Linden. ⁓ The cutest thing. Kirsten Baritz: Blonde hair that's like the same color as the cover, just as full of summer sunshine vibes. Yes, it is. It's summer sunshine. That's what the cover is. I was like, I need to read this. If anything is going to be sweet, it's gonna be this. And there's one kissing scene. So couldn't even be better. in this ⁓ one, in the family will blow out the candles on their birthday, and at some point, one time. ⁓ In-person participant 1: It's summer sunshine. Yes. Yes, it is. It's summer sunshine. That's what the cover is. I was like, I need to read this. If anything is going to be sweet, it's gonna be this. And there's one kissing scene. So couldn't even be better. in this one, ⁓ everyone the family will blow out the candles on their birthday, and at some point, one time, we'll get an image of what their future is. ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: Will get an image of what their future is. Ooh. And so our main character is waiting because she's turning 34. It has not happened yet. She is a single mom. She blows out the candle and sees a vision and is so excited because in the vision, she's going to be together with her celebrity crush, who is ⁓ has a food TV series. Okay. Okay. And In-person participant 1: And so our main character is waiting because she's turning 34. It has not happened yet. She is a single mom. She blows out the candle and sees a vision and is so excited because in the vision, she is going to be together with her celebrity crush, who is ⁓ has a food TV series. Okay. And lo and behold, he comes to the town the next day. it moves forward. She has her first boyfriend or her best friend when she was younger that he had a crush on her. She didn't really feel the same way. So ⁓ it's of like who's she gonna end up with? Is she gonna end up with a best friend? Are they gonna have a relationship? It it was just so adorable. So that's the only moment of magic. Okay. Right? Like nothing else. There's no magical realism other than that she has a vision one time. Kirsten Baritz: Lo and behold, he comes to the town the next day. it forward. She has her first boyfriend or ⁓ her best when she was younger that he had a crush on her. She didn't really feel the same way. So ⁓ it's kind like who's she gonna end up with? Is she gonna end up with a best friend? Are they gonna have a relationship? It it was just so adorable. So that's the only moment of magic. ⁓ Okay. Right, like nothing else, there's no magical realism other than that she has a vision one In-person participant 1: ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: Does this mean get to move into Steamy? yes, yes. It does. Okay. ⁓ So ⁓ you go first with your choice. In-person participant 1: It does. So you go ⁓ first with choice. ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: My steamy choice is Into the Blue by Emma Brody, which we've talked about. ⁓ it was an April celebrity book club pick. I don't need to go too much into depth, but it's a great, it's a great beach read. And mine also talked about. It was my bookmark one week, and it's Carly Fortune, our perfect storm. ⁓ great. ⁓ And funny it's also another one where a woman was laughing. ⁓ In-person participant 1: don't need to go too much into depth, but it's a great, it's a great beat read. And mine we also talked about, it was my bookmark one week, and it's Carly Fortune, our perfect storm. ⁓ great. And funny enough, it's also another one where a woman was ⁓ left not at altar, but two days before her wedding, and now her best friend is taking her. ⁓ on her honeymoon to try and help her get over so Kirsten Baritz: Not at the altar, but two days before her wedding. And now her best friend is taking her on her honeymoon to try and help her get over. So I'm sensing we need like a best friends to lovers list at some point in the future. will link ⁓ of these that we say, like ⁓ we talked about it in another episode. We will put the links in the show notes so that you can head to those episodes to catch out our descriptions and all of that fun stuff. In-person participant 1: I know a hundred percent. will link ⁓ of these Yeah, 100%. one is a fun one. This was hard to do this year. It's And the reason it was hard to do because we had some fantastic thrillers this year, which I'm so happy about. I feel like I was a little bit. Kirsten Baritz: next one is a fun one. This was hard to do this year. thrillers. And the reason it was hard to do because ⁓ we had some fantastic thrillers this year, which I'm so happy about. Yep. I feel like was a little bit. In-person participant 1: It was very clear last year what our thrillers were gonna be because there weren't Kirsten Baritz: It was very clear last year what our thrillers were gonna be. Yeah, there weren't great thrillers last year. There have been a ton of great thrillers this year. we were being very picky about that this one. And our first is one of our favorite people. The Parisian Heist by Joe Piazza. This one I am very biased towards because I actually got to help Joe when she was doing the initial writing stages. So I got to read the unfinished manuscript and give notes. ⁓ In-person participant 1: Yes, so we were being very picky about that this one. And our first is one of our favorite people. ⁓ The High Space Piazza. This one, I am very Man. Which is a fun experience. Yes. ⁓ and so I I got to see the robot. Kirsten Baritz: Which is a really fun experience. and so I I got to see the raw product. And it's a fun one. I'm sure the raw product in and of itself is fantastic. Totally. In-person participant 1: Which I'm shot one. I'm sure the raw product in and of itself is fantastic because Joe is so talented. Kirsten Baritz: She happened to have announced this book at the same time as the Louvreist last summer. I don't know how she does that. ⁓ I don't either, but announced it and I was heading to a wedding back in October. ⁓ And I was like, my god, I can't wait to read it. And she's Do want to read it right now and give me manuscript notes? And I was Yes. And I got to read it on an airplane at the beach at a wedding in Florida. So I happen to know that it truly I've tested it out. It is a beach read. Try ⁓ it and true. and a dual timeline. In-person participant 1: Yes at the Louvre Heist Summer. I don't know how she does that. I don't either. But she announced beach wedding in Florida. So I happen to know that it truly I've tested it out. Tried and true. Kirsten Baritz: In the present day, a young college student who is a struggling artist ⁓ working as a maid for a very wealthy widow ⁓ this art family. They're the big collectors and purveyors, think of like a Sotheby's almost. They're art dealers. she husband died, and she's about to be cut out of the company that she helped build. ⁓ And she wants the female protagonist her friends. In-person participant 1: widow of this art family. They're the big collectors and purveyors, think of like a sub deasel. Okay. husband has died and she's about to be cut out of the company that she helped build. And she wants the female protagonist and her friends to steal a a Vincent mango. Okay. ⁓ And ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: To steal ovens and bango. Okay. ⁓ And ⁓ back in the day. ⁓ We then go into Joe Van Gogh's story. So Joe was married to Vincent's brother, Theo. when Vincent died, Theo tried to get him to be this famous artist, but it's actually Joe's work after Theo died made Vincent a household name. And she's sort of this hero. So we get to go and hear her story about how the painting was formed. The two timelines kind of meet at some Providential moment. So the back the back story is a historical fiction. The forward story is a thriller as they're like trying to pull off these heists. It is, it's a really, really, really fun read. And she In-person participant 1: So the back the backstory is historical fiction. The forward story is a thriller as they're like trying to pull off these heists. It is it's a really, really, really fun. And she announced this before there was the actual theft at the Louvre. I think it was like the same week. I know. I would like her to pick my lottery numbers. That's all I'm saying. Kirsten Baritz: Yeah. I think it was like the same week or something. In-person participant 1: My choice is The Anniversary by Alex Finley. And this one was so good and so unique. There is a killer, and the killer strikes every year on May 1st. story is a man and a woman, how their stories become interconnected. We see them ⁓ every on May 1st for a decade. Kirsten Baritz: Yeah. So we see of the the women ⁓ an attempted target of the Mayday killer. She escaped. ⁓ doesn't know why. She doesn't know why she was to live. Something else happens to the ⁓ this guy. He he ends up in jail, comes out. In-person participant 1: And so we see of the the women ⁓ was an attempted target of the Mayday killer. ⁓ She ⁓ She doesn't know why. She doesn't know she was to live. Something else happens to the ⁓ this guy. He ⁓ he ends up in jail, comes out. And then it's how their stories come together over the next 10 years and how they relate to this May Day Killer. And it was fantastic. I listened to it in the car with my husband. He loved it too. It was like quick, fast. It was great. Kirsten Baritz: And then it's how their stories come together over the next 10 years and how they relate to this May Day Killer. ⁓ And it was fantastic. I listened to it in the car with my husband. He loved it too. It was like quick, fast. It was great. ⁓ Alex made our list last year for Parents' Weekend. So I'm surprised that ⁓ their the writing that he puts forth in this is incredible. Although I'm not sure that In-person participant 1: Yes. Although I'm not sure that if Alex is a man or a woman. Really? Mm. He does a very good job writing women. Kirsten Baritz: Alex is a man or a woman. I looked it up, he's a man. Really? Hmm. He does a very good job writing women. there's actually not a lot of men on this list. I think that's Alex and Andrew are so far the only ones on the list. ⁓ We like a female writer. Yeah, it it it's true. In-person participant 1: We'd like a female writer. Yeah, it's it's it's true, and that's fine. I'm happy to highlight female writers. mystery. That is our next category. And there's two great books in this category. yours is the first one. I don't know what it I'm Yes. Kirsten Baritz: mystery. That is our next category. And there's two great books in this category. yours is first one. And I know what it is. I'm so excited about it. ⁓ it's The Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage by MK Oliver. ⁓ And it's Okay. If you like Joe from you, if you like to be in the head of an anti-heroine, this woman is a total ⁓ narcissistic sociopath. And all she wants is to be like the head of like the PTA mom gang, in a wealthy suburb in London. Okay. ⁓ ⁓ gonna do whatever it takes to get there. ⁓ during her daughter's fourth birthday party, someone breaks into her house and she murders that person because she has no problems killing anybody. the PTA ⁓ is very ⁓ Yes. ⁓ And she has to like hide the body. In-person participant 1: the head of like the PTA mom gang in London suburban London. Okay. ⁓ she's gonna do whatever it takes to get there. ⁓ during her daughter's fourth birthday party And she murders that person 'cause she has no problems killing the PTA very important. Yes. Yes. Yes. And so she ⁓ Figure out who it was coming to kill her and why. The entire time she's making these choices and she's just Kirsten Baritz: Figure out who it was that that's coming to kill her and why. The entire time she's making these choices and she's justifying her. And you're just like, What? What? What? She's like blackmailing people, doing this, doing that, and you find out all this really fun stuff. It is a wild ride. It is wildly entertaining. reminds me of a good person, which I read earlier this year that was a literary fiction sort of version of this. And this is the more ⁓ popular fiction kind of take on on this sociopath as as the narrator and I just ⁓ it gets me every time. So mine is also pretty crazy. Okay. This is Safari Burger Party by Rachel Moore. You have been raving to me about this book since you've read it. In-person participant 1: And this is the more ⁓ popular fiction kind of take on on this sociopath the narrator and I just ⁓ it gets me time. So mine is also pretty crazy. Okay. This is Safari Burder Party by Rachel Moore. I'm obsessed with It's so funny. So there's a woman and she's been working for the CEO of this huge company. ⁓ And every year ⁓ she's like looked over ⁓ he goes on big trips to his island where he ⁓ gives out raises and promotions and all this stuff. So this year she decides she is. Getting herself on the plane. She's the one that made the itinerary. She knows everything. She shows up at the airport. She's like, I'm coming. And he's like, great. The next morning, he's dead. Okay. And he's left his will that basically says it's like survival of the fittest. Whoever deserves it is going to be crowned CEO of this company. But so like Lord of the Flies, but like with adults and they're all trying to like kill each other and she's trying to escape and she just wants to get away and she doesn't know who she can trust and who she can. And in the middle, of course, there's a r a romance because Kirsten Baritz: But so like Lord of the Flies, but like with adults and they're all trying to like kill each other and she's trying to escape and she just wants to get away and she doesn't know who she can trust and who she can. And in the middle, of course, there's a r a romance. ⁓ my god, I love this. So it's a rom cozy. Yeah. In-person participant 1: Yeah, well, although it's not so cozy because there are some pretty d bloody descriptions which would be like grotesque except for the fact that it's so completely ridiculous that it's hilarious. So what is this a mystery and not a Kirsten Baritz: there are some pretty d bloody descriptions which would be like grotesque except for the fact that it's so completely ridiculous that it's hilarious. So what makes this a mystery and not a thriller? In-person participant 1: I don't want to tell you why it's a mystery. You have to figure out kind of what the impetus was for all of this. Got it. So the people are killing each other. We know who's who's killing each person. We're really trying to figure out why it is that he did this in his will. What was his purpose? What did he want from the end game? And who who had manipulated this in? Kirsten Baritz: I don't want to tell you why it's a mystery. Okay. You have to figure out kind of what the impetus was for all of this. Got it. So the people are killing each other. We know who's who's killing each person. We're really trying to figure out why it is that he did this in his will, what was his purpose. In-person participant 1: This entire thing and who's gonna get off the island. Got it. I love it. Okay. Very fun. Yeah. Kirsten Baritz: What did he want from the end game and who who had manipulated this in this entire thing? And who's gonna get off the island? Got it. I love it. Okay, very fun. Yeah. In-person participant 1: Okay. So our next category is this always interesting one because ⁓ most of the fantasies that get are starting August, September, October, right? for the thriller mystery. ⁓ fantasy season around October. So the ones that come out in the summer are often like huge blockbusters. But we do have some really fun ones. What's your first one? Kirsten Baritz: fantasy season around October. Yeah. So the ones that come out in the summer are often like huge blockbusters. but we do have some really fun ones. What's your first one? So mine again was a bookmark, so I'm not gonna spend too much time, but it's the magic and mischief at the Wayside Hotel. Yes. Elizabeth Everett, it's ⁓ magical hotel gets stuck Earth and they have to figure out how to reboot it and send it off. In-person participant 1: Yes. Kirsten Baritz: And they decide to welcome in a human family. And it's, it's just really fun. it's there's a romance, ⁓ it's cozy, it's adorable. it's set in a city, so it's not really, it's kind of seasonless. You can listen to it any time of year or read it any time of year, but it's just charming and lovely. In-person participant 1: It's just really fun. the romance, it's cozy, it's adorable. ⁓ it's set in a city, so it's not really kind of season-less. any time of year or read it any time of year. But it's ⁓ just charming and Okay, my choice ⁓ an unexpected choice. I needed to talk about it because I ⁓ don't necessarily always talk about seconds in a series. This is the rights of the starling by Devney Perry. The first one in this series is Shield of Sparrows. This is the second. And thankfully, she has already announced that she's finished the third book. So we don't know what it's called, but it is already completed. So we're not gonna be in a three or waiting situation. this is actually perfect for fans of Wing. We have dragons, but we have other magical creatures. In this ⁓ one, two stories ⁓ are happening at the same time. You're wondering the stories come together. I'm not gonna tell you that, but we do find out how the stories come together. It was a great second book. Lot of times the second one I'm like Kirsten Baritz: Other magical creatures. In this one, two stories are happening at the same time. You're wondering how the stories come together. I'm not gonna tell you that, but we do find out how the stories come together. It was a great second book. lot of times the second one, I'm like It's the bridge, right? It's normally the bridge book. And you're like, ⁓ I could have taken. In-person participant 1: And you're like, ⁓ I could have taken it, I could have leaven it. Leaving it, leaving it. That's a good word. I I could take it, I could leave it. This one, absolutely not. it's very, very spicy. Okay. Like, don't be listening to this as an audiobook and with your kids in the car, because they will be traumatized for the rest of their life. Kirsten Baritz: Leaving it. We can we can leave it. I I could take it, I could leave it. This one, absolutely not. But it's very, very spicy. Okay. Like, don't be listening to this in the car with your kids. In the car, because they will be traumatized for the rest of their life. In-person participant 1: Okay, so the next one is nonfiction. So for nonfiction, ⁓ set at the beach, ⁓ these books have to be interesting, they have be fast moving, and they can't really be 600 page Okay, so what do have? Kirsten Baritz: Okay, so the next one is nonfiction. So for nonfiction, set at the beach, these books have to be interesting, they have to be fast moving, and they can't really be 600-page memoirs. No. Okay, so what do you have? Well, one I have Strangers by Belle Burton, which ⁓ we've talked about in the past. Again, it's a bookmark. We will link it in the show notes. Lot of controversy around that one now because now people are upset. Maybe she didn't disclose. I don't really buy that argument because she was talking about how she's a descendant of a Vanderbilt. Like we didn't think that there was family money there. Come on. Right. Come on, guys. It was still a great book. ⁓ so that's number one. Number two is a really fun one by Gail Crowler. In-person participant 1: We didn't think there was family money there. Come on. Right. Come on, guys. It was still a great book. so that's number one. Number two is a really fun one by Gail. Kirsten Baritz: And it's called Marilyn and Her Books. And I have long been a fan of Marilyn Monroe. You can't see it, but Jackie Kemon. I have a Marilyn Monroe Barbie doll on my desk. ⁓ I did a beautiful. I did a project about her in seventh grade, and I just find her absolutely fascinating. And she has this reputation for being a dumb blonde. Which she was not. Which she was not. And still to this day, if you want to see trolls on the internet. In-person participant 1: Yes, yes. She's beautiful. What she was not. Kirsten Baritz: Go look at pictures of Marilyn Monroe reading a book and this stuff that people will say underneath about her. It is horrible. And so this book is not so much a history or a biography of her life. It's rather all of the books that she was seen reading or had talked about in various interviews. And it talks about each of those kinds of books and how they shaped her as a person and why she might have been drawn to those kinds of stories. And she was married to a writer, she was a very intelligent woman. In-person participant 1: Right. And so this book is not so much a history. And she was married to a writer. a very intelligent woman. I know. Talk about ⁓ assumptions that people make based on the way that somebody looks. And no one would ever look at a handsome man and say, Well, obviously he hasn't read anything. Right. And she was such a gifted actress. Yes. She played the blonde frequently, but then she had her own production company. Right. Kirsten Baritz: Say, well, obviously he hasn't read anything. Right. And she was such a gifted actress that she played the dumb blonde frequently, but then she had her own production company. I mean, this was a real powerhouse of a lady. ⁓ so it was really fun to see how the books that she read really shaped who she was as a person. So that was my other nonfiction. I love that so much. In-person participant 1: ⁓ I love that so much. I know that. Kirsten Baritz: I know the final category is YA, and I didn't really have a whole lot to contribute to that category, so these are both yours. In-person participant 1: to that category, so these are both yours. Right, which is I mean, I didn't contribute to the nonfiction. Let's I mean there's one on there, but No, but you you your nonfiction is generally not Beach Reef nonfiction. It's i no, it's very much not. It's like Kirsten Baritz: I mean there's one on there, but no, but you you your nonfiction is generally not beach read nonfiction. It's no it's very much not. Right. And my nonfiction generally is a little more in the pop culture fun. Mine are more like medical. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We're not putting Henrietta Lacks on this. No. Less. ⁓ I have and Rivalries by Christy Boyce. ⁓ And this ⁓ one in series. ⁓ In-person participant 1: Yes. Mine are more like medical. Yeah. Yeah. No, no. I have Rolls and Rivalries by Christy Boyce. ⁓ And is ⁓ one a series, ⁓ but haven't read the other ones. You don't need to read the other ones. It's more like a crossover ⁓ situation, it's really adorable. ⁓ It really centered around band, ⁓ the band, ⁓ and ⁓ The color guard, are people with the flags. I learned a lot about that. And Dungeons and Dragons. Okay. It's nerdy bucks, Cash Cold, and I love it. ⁓ it is a percent for ⁓ all those ⁓ non-cheerleader, not is the opposite of the ⁓ off-campus series. ⁓ opposite, but I actually will tell you something. Kirsten Baritz: But I haven't read the other ones. You don't need to read the other ones. It's more like a crossover situation, and it's really adorable. It is really centered around band, the marching band, and and the color guard, are people with the flags. Learned a lot about that. And Dungeons and Dragons. ⁓ Okay. It's nerdy books central and I love it. It is a hundred percent for all those non-hockey, non-cheerleader, not It is the opposite of the off-campus series. In-person participant 1: There was some behavior by some of the boys in this whose behavior is a lot more of a red flag than the off-campus series. So go figure. Off-campus series is very steamy, but there is ⁓ the behavior ⁓ the men that you would think that you would see from a hockey player ⁓ a football player. Kirsten Baritz: There was some behavior by some of the boys ⁓ this whose behavior is a lot more of a red flag than the off-campus series. So go figure. Off-campus series is very steamy, but there is not the behavior ⁓ the men that you would think that you would see from a hockey player or ⁓ football player. ⁓ In-person participant 1: They don't do that. And here there was some behavior that was pr pretty atrocious. So if that is a trigger for someone, it's sweet romance. And really liked it. But there is ⁓ bullying that I mean, unfortunately, it's probably realistic. Yeah. Yeah. ⁓ But that like the one thing about this that I was like, Kirsten Baritz: They don't do that. Yeah. And here there was some behavior that was pretty atrocious. So if that is a trigger for someone, a sweet romance I really liked it. But there is ⁓ bullying that mean, unfortunately, it's probably realistic. Yeah. Yeah. But that was the one thing about this that I was like, ⁓ In-person participant 1: Don't love that behavior. Just so you know. Love the book though. And the other one we've already spoken about. It is the escape game. ⁓ Rosemeyer. Okay. Yeah, it was so cute. Loved it. We've already spoken about it. Yeah. Thriller, mystery in an escape room. Kirsten Baritz: Don't love that behavior. Just so you know. Love the book though. And the other one we've already spoken about. It is the escape game. ⁓ Marissa Meyer. Okay. Yeah, it was so cute. Loved it. We've already spoken to the thriller, mystery in an escape room. So we will in the show notes, not only will we really link this entire list, but we will link Each episode and put in parentheses what the books are so that you know, like, ⁓ I'm gonna run to episode twelve because that's I think three of the books on the list are in episode twelve. Into the blue escape game. Yeah. ⁓ so we will put that kind of in parentheses for you so you know and then so the way this works, there's ten categories. ⁓ July fourth, we will two more picks for each category ⁓ so that you have nice full list of sixty books. ⁓ In-person participant 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah. We have into the blue escape game. Yeah. We will release two more picks for each category so that you have a nice full list of sixty books. Yeah, there's a lot of books. Adding another category. Kirsten Baritz: It's a lot of books. And we've been debating adding another category. Adding a final category and for only the final update, which is maybe to do like series, like pull some of them out that are seconds in series and all these other things, so we can put them in without taking up the other category. So it may end up being a list of 66 books, which is a lot of a lot of fiction. A lot of books. And nonfiction. ⁓ In-person participant 1: Series of things so can put them in without taking up the other category. So it may end up being a list of sixty-six books, which is a lot of a lot of fiction. A lot of books. But it gives you so many, so many choices. And if you look on the website, obviously Kirsten and I have read all of them, but we give a description, we give trigger warnings, we tell you why we liked it. So you can have a look. Mm-hmm. Yep. So Kirsten Baritz: So you can have a look. We give little steamy kisses. Yep. So you can get a really good idea of whether or not this book is for you. And if you go back, let's say you're a big library reader, these books are not gonna be as readily available. Go back to Bee Treads 25, 24, 23. you'll find some excellent picks in the same category, and you'll be able to actually get them from the library. Yeah. In-person participant 1: you can get a really good idea of whether or not this book is for you. Yes, great idea. obviously we're having a bookmark this week because ⁓ I think just ⁓ gave you twenty of them. ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: obviously we're having a bookmark this week because This was a giant bookmark. This episode is a giant bookmark. Gave you like twenty of them. Yeah. In-person participant 1: just a reminder, we are next week and we will be back in two weeks with Books About Maine, which is ⁓ our July 2026 reading challenge. So I hope you enjoy. Kirsten Baritz: So I hope you enjoy. Like, follow, and subscribe. In-person participant 1: And happy reading.