10 Summer Audiobooks for Beach Readers

Audiobooks are the perfect way to relax in the sun while enjoying an engaging story!

Summer is officially upon us, the perfect season to pull up a chair and curl up with a good book. Whether you’re planning a summer vacation or prefer listening to novels in general, audiobooks can be perfect beach reads! Here are ten beach-read audiobooks to kick off your summer.

Happy Place by Emily Henry, Narrated by Julia Whelan

Harriet and Wyn have been the couple people dream about since meeting at college. The idea of the two being apart seems impossible to their friends — until they officially decide to separate. Joining their companions for their annual Maine summer getaway, Harriet and Wyn still haven’t broken the news. Now the pair have to pretend they have things together in front of people who know them the most.

Honey, Baby, Mine by Laura Dern and Diane Ladd, Narrated by the Authors

This book documents insightful conversations between actresses Laura Dern and Diane Ladd, who had a close relationship. After Diane developed a life-threatening illness, her doctor prescribed long walks to recover her lung capacity. These walks proved challenging, leading Laura to distract her mother with stories and conversations. These talks broke traditional mother–daughter barriers with topics of marriage, sex, ambition, art, divorce, and legacy. These are compiled together in a novel that celebrates family and unconditional love.

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The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese, Narrated by the Author

Written and narrated by the best-selling author of Cutting of Stone, The Covenant of Water takes place in Kerala along South India’s Malabar Coast. Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, it follows the same family across three generations, one that suffers an unusual malady — at least one person dies of drowning in every generation. The Covenant of Water begins at the turn of the century with its central protagonist, Kerala, who experiences miraculous events throughout her life.

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren, Narrated by Jonathan Cole and Cindy Kay

Coming together under the pen name Christina Lauren, Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings tell the story of a romance novelist and documentary filmmaker attempting to keep their chemistry off script. Despite being a successful, best-selling romance author, Felicity “Fizzy” Chen has never been in love herself. Meanwhile, single father and documentary filmmaker Connor Price lives for his work since it keeps him close to his daughter.

However, when his profit-minded boss orders him to develop a reality TV show, a chance encounter with Fizzy gives Connor the perfect solution. There’s just one catch — to be on the show, he has to agree with her list of demands.

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto, Narrated by Eunice Wong

Vera Wong is a lonely senior citizen who lives above her forgotten tea shop in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Most of her days are spent sipping cups of Wulong and sleuthing the internet to see what her Gen Z son is up to. One day, Vera comes downstairs to find a man dead in her tea shop. In his hand is a mysterious flash drive, and despite calling the cops, Vera snatches the evidence to catch the murderer herself. Confident that the killer will return for the flash drive, Vera observes her customers for suspicion. However, as she becomes more attached to specific customers, she realizes being an amateur detective may be much more complicated than it looks.

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano, Narrated by Maura Tierney

William Waters grew up in a tragic home with emotionally neglectful parents. When he meets the lively and ambitious Julia Pavadano, his life changes for the better. Julia becomes his family alongside her biological sisters: Sylvie, Cecelia, and Emeline. William finds solace amongst the Pavadanos and their loving chaos. However, things take a dark turn when a person from William’s past resurfaces, resulting in a rift that will affect upcoming generations. An homage to Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, Hello Beautiful celebrates the power of forgiveness and the unique love of found family.

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Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes, Narrated by Mapuana Makia

Hi’i is a proud member of the Naupaka family, renowned for their immense talents and contributions to hula in their hometown of Hilo, Hawaii. Even so, Hi’i finds herself surrounded by mystery within her family. She’s never met her legendary grandmother, and she’s never known the identity of her biological father. Adding to Hi’i’s trials, unspoken divides begin to develop within her tight-knit community, with some involving her family history. Through it all, Hi’i finds refuge in hula to live up to her family’s legacy and become an honorable community member.

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley, Narrated by the Author

Written by the best-selling author of The Guncle, The Celebrants explores deep relationships between friends and how they can help us overcome life’s most significant challenges. It’s been five years since Jordan Vargas saw his college friends and eight since they all graduated. Coming together for a reunion, the friends face personal trials that make it hard to enjoy each other’s company. They discover that despite being adults, they’re nowhere close to having their lives figured out.

The Great Reclamation by Rachel Heng, Narrated by Windson Liong

Amid twentieth-century coastal Singapore and the waning years of British rule, Ah Boon is born into a fishing village. Despite his location, Ah isn’t interested in fishing and prefers to spend time with his neighbor, Siok Mei. However, Ah discovers he has an incredible gift — he can locate moving, undiscovered islands. As time continues and the two grow into teens, tragic history changes Ah and Siok’s lives. The Japanese army invades, resistance increases, and the future of the fishing town is in jeopardy. Amidst a continually changing nation, the two friends are forced to decide who they want to be and what they are willing to sacrifice.

Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby, Narrated by the Author

Best-selling author Samantha Irby has compiled a collection of hilarious and relatable essays that recollect life’s most chaotic moments. Stories include Irby receiving a plethora of strange emails from Carrie Bradshaw and being turned away from a restaurant for being inappropriately dressed. Spectacularly funny, witty, and poignant, Samantha Irby’s essay collection was well anticipated.

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