5 beach reads worthy of neglecting your family (kidding!)

I’ve got a stack of beach reads ready to be devoured during the remaining weeks of summer. Here are my top five books that will make you laugh, cry, and neglect your children.

Important safety note: Always keep an eye on the kids, especially on the beach, or otherwise near water. But if there’s a dad, partner, grandparent, quirky aunt, older sibling, or any other responsible adult available to watch your little ones, please feel free to lose yourself in one of the following five books.

The Rock Star in Seat 3A by Jill Kargman I fully admit that I’m recently obsessed with Jill Kargman and Odd Mom Out on Bravo. The writing is so phenomenal that it’s almost ridiculous. It was only after totally fanning out over the show did I learn that Jill is a best selling author. Count me in! This is my first of her long list of novels and certainly won’t be my last. Her newest, Sprinkle Glitter on my Grave: Observations, Rants, and Other Uplifting Thoughts About Life (killer title!) will be released in early September.

The Rock Star in Seat 3A by Jill Kargman (aka Odd Mom Out)

Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner. I almost feel guilty for putting a Jennifer Weiner book second. I adore her. I think I’ve been quoted as saying I want to be here when I grow up…which is kind of a joke because we’re not that far apart in age, but also kind of true. Regardless, I’ve loved absolutely everything I’ve read by her with my favorite being her last book, All Fall Down. That’s why I can’t wait to tear into her latest! It’s literally in my beach bag.

Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin. We’ve all read Something Borrowed and Something Blue. We saw the Something Borrowed movie with its perfect casting and still pine for the sequel. I know it’s not just me! Since then there’s been several more novels with Emily’s last, The One & Only truly showcasing the evolution of her writing. It was complex with intricately laid details that hit me in the feels hard. I can’t wait to get my hands on First Comes Love because I’m hungry for more!

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

Pour Me Some Wine: A Toast to the Mama Sisterhood by Trina Epps and Leah Speer. Girl, we’re all in this motherhood journey together. Leah Speer is a local Myrtle Beach mom who, with her co-author Trina Epp, put together a collection of mom stories ranging from hilarious to touching. Each tale is paired with a complimentary wine. Say what? Yep! Wine pairings! Pour me in. baby. I don’t condone drinking wine on the beach, so maybe save this one for the balcony of your hotel or beach house.

Pour Me Some Wine: A Toast to the Mama Sisterhood by Trina Epp and (local author) Leah Speer

All Summer Long by Dorothea Benton Frank. A Charleston writer, Dorothea Benton Frank’s newest novel is set in the lowcountry. It’s a tale of north versus south and everything about it, including the gorgeous cover, that scream “READ ME ON THE BEACH!” to me. Done, Ms. Dorothea Benton Frank. Done!

All Summer Long by Dorothea Benton Frank

What’s on your summer reading list?

Featured photo: LWYang/Flickr

Want to read more? Check out the latest on the Myrtle Beach for Families blog.