Welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by the fabulous folks over at The Broke and the Bookish!
In celebration of summer and sun and flip-flops, this week’s topic is:
Top Ten Books I’d Recommend As Good Beach Reads
Of course, I live in a completely land-locked state, so I’m going to have to think of these as pool reads instead of beach reads, but the concept is the same. Minus the sand and the salt.
Also, please forgive me for being a bit dense, but I’ve never understood the concept of “beach reads.” I will personally just take whatever book I’m currently reading to the beach and continue reading it. My reading environment plays a very small role in my reading selection.
So, that said, I tried to think of books that I enjoyed, and that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen reading in public, in a bathing suit. Because being in a bathing suit in public…that’s enough. I also tried to pick books that wouldn’t evoke any serious freak-outs, like ugly-crying. You could possibly do a dignified single-tear-trickle with a couple of these, but that’s not so bad in public.
I’m kind of all over the place with this list, genre-wise. We’re going to assume that’s okay.
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Gifted by Liz Long
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
The Selection by Kiera Cass
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Do you have books you designate as “beach reads?” And what does that mean? Please help me clear up this mystery.
I think everyone is going to have a slightly different definition of “beach reads” which is going to make this week’s top ten even more interesting!
I tend to think of beach reads as light hearted books that don’t take a lot of concentration. Where it won’t matter if I throw it down to splash in the water for a bit and then pick it right back up without missing a beat. Also, for some reason I really enjoy reading love stories when I’m at the beach, maybe it’s the romantic setting?
Then again, maybe it’s best to keep in mind that I haven’t been to the beach in almost 6 years, so my definition may be a bit outdated. Regardless, I liked your list and this time I’ve actually read about half of them! “The False Prince” is definitely on my TBR list, so I’ll get to that soonish.
Sarah @ Breaking the Binding recently posted..Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I’d Recommend As Good Beach Reads
I kind of suspected that was the definition, but the problem is, I don’t really read books that fit that description very well! Oh well, hopefully I won’t be fired from TTT for my poor grasp of this topic.
TheHouseworkCanWait recently posted..Review: A Spy Like Me by Laura Pauling
“Because being in a bathing suit…that’s enough.” That’s pretty much exactly how I feel about it. That being said, I’ll totally only bring books that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to read (for example, certain vampire or “shade-y” books will never be in my hands, but especially not where people can see me).
I feel super stoked to stand with all those titles!! Thanks for including Gifted. It’s definitely a light, fun beach read, I think too! 🙂
Liz Long recently posted..YA Indie Carnival: Round Robin Fiction!
Although you know every other 20-40-something woman on the beach will be holding one of the “shade-y” books! NOT ME THOUGH. Nope, I’d so much rather be seen with your book 🙂
TheHouseworkCanWait recently posted..Review: A Spy Like Me by Laura Pauling
Confession: I haven’t read ANY of these, though many of them are on my TBR. Suppose I should probably remedy that!
Jen @ Almost Grown-up recently posted..Top Ten Tuesday: Summer Beach Reads
I forgive you. There’s lots of books in the world. But you should definitely read them! Start with The Princess Bride and Hourglass 🙂
haha so true. Wouldn’t want to be ugly-crying at the beach or pool lol The Selection is definitely a good pick because it’s so light. I loved Hourglass and Water for Elephants! Still need to read The Host lol. My Top Ten Tuesday
Melissa @ Harley Bear Book Blog recently posted..Weekly Event: Top Ten Tuesday #7
Selection is probably my pick that’s the most like other people’s “beach reads” list. My list is just incredibly random. It made sense at the time 🙂
TheHouseworkCanWait recently posted..Review: A Spy Like Me by Laura Pauling
The Host is such a good book. (A top favorite of mine). Still dying for its sequel!! When that one comes out it’ll make the list too I bet =)
My Top Ten Tuesday
Kristan @ Lost Amongst the Shelves
No joke! HELLO, Stephenie Meyer? Remember “The Soul?” Remember how you said you’d write it? Remember how you NEVER DID? What’s up with that?
Glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t totally understand the “beach reads” concept.Great list, though!
Shoeless recently posted..Top Ten Books I’d Recommend As Good Beach Reads
It’s a weird concept! I don’t understand why my reading tastes would change based on my location! Oh well 🙂
TheHouseworkCanWait recently posted..Review: A Spy Like Me by Laura Pauling
The Host appeals to me a lot, and i’ve never been interested in Meyer’s books before so i think i’ll get this one.
Shane @ Itching for Books recently posted..Blurb: The Reckoning by Alma Katsu
It’s totally different from Twilight, and much better written, in my opinion. I’d recommend it!
Oh man… Idk about Before I Fall. I think if I read it on the beach I’ll just cry. Either way, awesome list! 😀
Drop by my Top 10?
Fara @ Tumbling In Books recently posted..Author Interview + Giveaway with Kenechi Udogu
Different books always provoke different reactions! I didn’t cry with BIF; it just made me very thoughtful. And thoughtful + beach worked in my brain 🙂
I see a few of my FAVORITE books here — like The Princess Bride – I love that book so much! I also really love The Help, The Host and Before I Fall.
AND OMG I AM DYING TO READ THE FALSE PRINCE! Like that book will be coming up soon for a read.
And for my criteria for the list, I chose books that would make me laugh, are swoony or are lighter in tone. Nothing where I would sob.
April Books & Wine recently posted..Summertime And The Reading Is Breezy
It’s such a fabulous book! If I were a teacher, I’d put it on my required reading list, for sure. The storytelling is just amazing.
uh-oh… I think we have a problem Houston…. lol 😀 I cried BIG TIME while reading The Host…so :'( also… I’ve been told that Lauren Oliver’s book is kind of sad… heheheh but!!!!!!!! I want to read The Selection and Hourglass T_T
Love your list!
Alba @BookPics recently posted..-review- Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown
It is sad, but didn’t make me cry. Others cried a lot though. Different people will have different reactions! Selection and Hourglass won’t make you cry though 🙂
I love your take on “beach reads” – I’ve often wondered about what that exactly means myself! Like you, I’m going to read the book I’m already into, no matter where I am. With the exception of the ones that make me “ugly cry” – again, like you said! Thanks for sharing your list – I found a couple to add to my TBR list. We seem to have some books read/TBR in common! 🙂
Yes, ugly crying while in a bathing suit in public = NO. So I will never bring Book Thief to the beach. Ever.
I really like your take on what a beach read is. I’ve only read two of the books on your list and they are Before I Fall and The Time Travelers Wife. Definitely love those two books!
Tabitha @ Tabitha’s Book Blog recently posted..Top Ten Books I’d Recommend As Good Beach Reads
Those books are fabulous! Yeah, I’m always the weird one at the beach reading sci-fi, so I think my definition of a beach read is skewed. Whatever, I’m at the beach, I’ll read what I want!
The Selection made my list too! I actually haven’t read some of these others, AWESOME! 😀
Gretchen @ My Life is a Notebook recently posted..Top Ten Books I’d Recommend As Good Beach Reads
I loved The Host and I really want to read The Selection.
WOO for The Host! So many people don’t like it, but I loved it. And the Selection is all sorts of good fluffy fun!
I LOVE your list! So many good books! Hourglass (just read it and loved it), Water for Elephants, and The Princess Bride (best book ever!) – sigh. Great choices! Thanks for sharing!
Lauren @ Story Bound recently posted..Top Ten Tuesday: Beach Reads
Go read Timepiece! It’s even better than Hourglass!
TheHouseworkCanWait recently posted..Review: A Spy Like Me by Laura Pauling
I don’t read what is called “beach reads” either so I just chose books that I do like to read. To me they are “beach reads”. I have not read any of the books you picked but I have wanted to The Host and Hourglass. They sound like they would be good reads.
Nancy @ The Avid Readr recently posted..Top Ten Tuesday #13
They are good! (Obviously, otherwise I’m not sure why I would have picked them!) Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I’m with you about not getting the concept of beach reads. I’d take The Brothers Karamazov to the pool if that’s what I was in the middle of reading. Be that as it may, I have read The Help, The Time Travelers Wife, and Water for Elephants. All are excellent and I would recommend them wherever you may be reading. Another one to try is Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.
Donna recently posted..Don Quixote de la Mancha – A Review
Ha! You’d probably be the only one there reading The Brothers Karamazov, and more power to you! I’ll have to check out Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell!
TheHouseworkCanWait recently posted..Review: A Spy Like Me by Laura Pauling
Great choices! The Help and Water for Elephants are especially fantastic.
Angela @ AJ Arndt Books Blog recently posted..Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Beach Reads
Hourglass and The Selection are on my TBR list. Good list! Check out my Top 10 Beach Reads.
Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know recently posted..The Golden Lily – Review