If you’re like us, one of the most important things you’ll pack before you hit the road for your summer vacation is a stack of books (next to your sunscreen, of course!). Having trouble deciding on the perfect book to bring with you? Consider these eight books to bring on your summer vacation!

Summer of ‘69 by Elin Hilderbrand

A beachy historical fiction romance set in downtown Nantucket with a little bit of the Kennedys mixed in? It’s no question that this one is high on the #TBR piles of readers everywhere. The Levin family is heading back to their grandmother’s historic home for the summer but as a tumultuous year takes hold, they find there’s more to worry about than the perfect beach vacation.

The Friends We Keep by Jane Green

Just like she delighted everyone with Summer Secrets and The Sunshine Sisters, Jane Green returns this summer with a novel that delivers a great plot, characters you wish you knew in real life and twisted storylines that go perfectly with a side of sandy beach towels and margaritas. For a fun women’s fiction read, you need to get your hands on The Friends We Keep.

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

Fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid will love this novel. Set in 1940s New York City inside a forgotten playhouse, the story has dual timelines, introducing us to modern day Vivian Morris as she looks back on her life with wistfulness and regret. As a young girl, Vivian was sent away to live with an aunt who ran a theater and soon, Vivian’s life falls into an indulgent lifestyle working as a seamstress. As she talks about the one big mistake that changed her life, she also tells the story of a life well lived. This is a wonderful book about a woman who, despite life-altering mistakes, still had the guts to look back and say “bravo.”

Very Nice by Marcy Dermansky

Very Nice is a book about not so nice things, but when on vacation, why not mix things up a bit and read about money, sex and bad behavior while lying on the beach with a fruity drink in hand? A mother, daughter and professor love triangle meets Whole Foods meets investment banking and together they mix into the perfectly wicked cocktail of a novel.

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The members of the rock band The Six are on the brink of stardom when they meet Daisy Jones in this new read from Taylor Jenkins Reid. The book is set in the 1970s and centers around rock and roll, drugs, secret love affairs and a hunger for taking on the world. Written interview-style, as if it’s a Rolling Stone article, the novel tells the story of the band and a unique connection to the interviewer, making the book move at breakneck speed. Extra tip: Listen to a Fleetwood Mac playlist while reading; it’s the perfect pairing!

Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews

With her career and personal life in shambles, Drue Campbell has no choice but to retreat to the long forgotten beach bungalow of her past. She humbly accepts a job in a law office from her estranged father and can’t believe her life has turned out so differently than she planned. While working at the law firm, she discovers a murder case that catches her attention. It’s the first thing in a long time that makes Drue feel alive again, but trying to solve it and digging up past secrets may also be dangerous enough to threaten it as well.

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

This is a fun love story about two unlikely roommates who find themselves in a unique position. Leon, who works the night shift, needs extra income, so his controlling girlfriend allows him to search for a flatmate. Tiffy, freshly dumped by an awful boyfriend, needs a place to live, so she takes the flatshare, agreeing to vacate the flat in the mornings so Leon can go home to sleep. The plan is that the two will never meet, but, sharing leftovers and leaving sticky notes for each other will lead to a connection that Leon, his girlfriend or Tiffy never expected. This book is so sweet, I just have to recommend it. You’ll be entertained, intrigued and charmed.

Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner

Two sisters, Jo and Bethie, are growing up in the pulse of America’s toughest generations, from the 1950s to present day. Mrs. Everything is an acute, sharp and eclectic story about real women facing problems we can all relate to and social obstacles that need to be talked about. It’s a brave novel that will give you plenty to discuss with your vacation pals.

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