As the calendar shifts from April to May, we shift to "beach reads". Beach reads, while often considered romance or women's fiction, can really encompass any genre as they are meant to be engrossing reads that you enjoy while relaxing. And I do have a mystery on the list. Here are a few that I have on my radar for May and June, in case you are packing for an upcoming vacation and want to plan your reading material.
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Chasing the Clouds Away by Debbie Macomber
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| April 2026; Ballantine Books; 979-8217091676 audio, ebook, print (320 pages); women's fiction |
This one comes out on Tuesday, and I'm not going to the beach, but I do plan on reading it while I'm on my trip.
Maisy Gallaher has always dreamt of becoming a nurse, a beacon of hope and healing for those in need. But when her father passed away, she selflessly set aside her aspirations to help her family. Despite knowing it was the right thing to do, she can’t help but wish for the path not taken.
Chase Furst, on the other hand, is primarily focused on his own life and his work as a hardened bank executive and heir to a financial empire. His childhood was marred by his mother’s struggle with addiction, leaving him jaded and emotionally distant.
Then he meets Maisy, a beautiful woman full of optimism and kindness who can see past his defenses. To his surprise and annoyance, Maisy offers to help Chase in a time of need, despite just meeting him. The two butt heads, especially when Maisy declines his offer of payment. Instead, she asks him to pay it forward to someone else—not with money or a quick fix, but through an act of true selflessness. Chase doesn’t know where to begin.
Despite his skepticism, Chase is determined to rise to this challenge. And doing good for others leads Chase back to Maisy, who begins to break down his walls, even as she resists risking her own gentle heart. But the more time they spend together, the more they realize how much they have to learn from each other . . . and how much love could make a difference in their future. (Goodreads)
Buy Chasing the Clouds Away at Amazon
Five-Star Summer by Sarah Morgan
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| May 2026; MIRA; 978-1335013231 audio, ebook, print (368 pages); romance |
Running a five-star Cornish hotel should have been Evie Hamilton’s dream job. But restoring it to its former glory is going to take a miracle. All Evie has is grit, and a hoard of unruly staff who love to speculate about her love life. She needs back-up, and fast.
Enter Abby Jones. Parachuted in by the hotel’s umbrella company for the summer, Abby thinks Evie could be the best friend she never had. But Abby has her own agenda for being in Cornwall. If her real motives are uncovered, their friendship is going to melt away faster than an ice cream in the summer sun.
Yet Abby’s arrival starts a chain reaction. With the help of a charming chef and a gruff pub owner, they begin to embrace their true selves and the bonds that unite them. But it’s not just the hotel’s five-star reputation that needs rebuilding – Evie and Abby will also have to brave tearing down their lives in order to reshape their futures… (Goodreads)
Buy Five-Star Summer at Amazon
The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay
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| May 2026; Berkley; 978-0593955468 audio, ebook, print (368 pages); romantic comedy |
Free-spirited travel influencer Hannah Spencer has spent five years touring the country in her vintage van. An unexpected inheritance from her Pops brings Hannah to Cape Split, North Carolina, where she learns she’s the new owner of a worse-for-wear seaside beach house. Or, rather, fifty percent of one. Turns out Simon O’Malley inherited the other half from his Gramps.
As Simon and Hannah spend the summer tag-teaming repairs on the crumbling cottage, they discover the house was once home to a timeless love story. Soon, they begin to wonder if the house’s romantic past may be a good omen for their future together. But there’s one problem—Simon is set on selling the property at the end of the summer.
Hannah thought one summer at the Split would be enough, except it isn’t like any place she’s ever been, and Simon isn’t like any man she’s ever known—and she’s thinking about putting down some roots. She just needs Simon to see their budding relationship and this newfound community the same way or their first summer share might also be their last. (Goodreads)
Buy The Summer Share at Amazon
Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews
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| June 2026; St. Martin's Press; 978-1250372888 audio, ebook, print (448 pages); women's fiction |
Maeve and Therese Dunigan are sisters—but the two have been estranged for years. They could not be more Maeve, a rule-follower and Therese, a rebel. But when their mother's death brings the family back together, the two find that they have inherited a painting—one that could be worth millions and could save each of them from their respective wolves at the door. The only issue is, the painting might be a fake and the only way the can solve the problem is to find the original. This means a road trip—to Ireland, to their family roots, and to a mysterious crime that occurred years ago. With tensions simmering, the two hit the road and find themselves on twisty lanes, in colorful villages, at local pubs, and with handsome men whose gift of the gab is surpassed only by their charm. Can Maeve and Therese find the real painting, remove a family curse, solve a cold case, and actually survive without killing each other? Join Mary Kay Andrews on a road trip that will entertain you for miles. (Goodreads)
Buy Road Trip at Amazon
Beach Thriller by Jamie Day
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| June 2026; St. Martin's Press; 978-1250358233 audio, ebook, print (368 pages); mystery |
Holly Sinclair, a struggling author, is dead broke. After being evicted from her New York apartment, she returns to her family’s dilapidated beach house in coastal New England with one urgent goal: write a book that sells. Fast.
Reinventing herself won’t be easy, but the old seaside town offers a few unexpected allies. Gail, a driven local Realtor, introduces her to a charming handyman who can help her get back on her feet. Serena, the town psychic, offers encouragement and an unsettling warning about danger ahead. And Jade, a teen runaway, is hiding out in Holly’s attic and desperately needs a safe place to land.
Holly takes Jade in, and soon the girl finds work with the powerful Carmichael family. Their dynasty has faded, but their connection to Holly’s past is darker than she wants to remember. Their secrets could put both women at risk.
Not everyone is glad to see Holly return. Someone in town is watching her every move. The Watcher knows something Holly doesn’t. The past may be a foggy echo, but it’s close enough to come rushing in with the tide. (Goodreads)
Buy Beach Thriller at Amazon
Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.
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