Authentic Summer Beach List, It’s Not What You May Have Guessed

Tell me what you read and I’ll tell you who you are.

No, I’m not a fortune teller but like the saying goes about friends, books say a lot about who we are and what kind of mood we are in or perhaps how much thought we took when packing. I, for one spend more time picking books for my trip than clothes. It’s a beach, I’ll bring a bathing suit but what books am I going to read?! At least 3-4 for a week with some backups, just in case. Recently, on a Caribbean vacation at an upscale International resort I conducted a small survey and even though I couldn’t bring the gorgeous beach home, I will share the surprising results with you, my reader friends.

Most books being read are not on the current bestseller or summer lists. Out of 55 people surveyed only 4 were on Kindles, everyone else, still an old fashioned actual book! Two repeats in the whole bunch with Mary Higgins Clark in French and 3 books in German, one a top seller in Germany and not available in the US for another year. And most interesting, participants were extremely nervous when approached and I am not that scary in a bikini! Readers were more embarrassed than secretive. If what they were reading seemed frivolous or too “fun” they felt the need to explain, as if this is not the “real” book I’m reading, that’s in the room, this one here with the heartthrob on the cover is just to pass the time. Oh, the vampires? Someone left that at my house. A little easier for e-readers, they hide behind their Kindle rather than showing the world their true covers.

Reading is very personal. Even though I share with the world on a regular basis my current read (though I did somewhat hesitate with Fifty Shades), most people became very nervous, men and women alike. And, I must say to the joy of my heart, there were equal parts men reading, which I adore, as I keep prodding my husband that reading is sexy!

So here it is, my list of 55 books people were actually physically reading on a beach, during summer. For some, vacation may be the only time they read a book all year and others, like myself, just the start to a huge reading list summer! Perhaps I need to further my research. Yes, I must go back right away. There are so many questions unanswered.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Agatha Raisin by M.C. Beaton

The Science of Fear by Daniel Gardner

The Book of Secrets by Tom Harper

The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson

One Thing by Gary Keller

Now You See Her by James Patterson *Kindle

The One and Only by Emily Giffin

Paper Towns by John Green

The Fixed Trilogy by Laurelin Paige *Kindle

Capital Crimes by Stuart Woods *Kindle

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding (2)

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

Born of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander M.D. (2)

The Pilgrimage by Paul Coelho

Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark (French)

Voll Speed by Moritz Matthies (German)

1491 by Charles Mann

A Walk on the Beach by Joan Anderson

Delikatesa by David Foenkinos (Albanian)

The Kingmakers Daughter by Phillipa Gregory

Revelations by Elaine Pagels

Die Trying by Lee Child

He’s Back by Timur Vermes (German) *Kindle

The Twelve by Justin Cronin

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Inferno by Dan Brown

A Feast for Crows by George Martin

11/22/63: A Novel by Stephen King

The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

Power by Joyce Meyer

The Dance by Oriah

Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen

Follow Me by David Platt

The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe

Love You More by Lisa Gardner

Hawaiian Escape by Debbie Flint

How to Be Good by Nick Hornby

Shut Up, You’re Welcome by Annie Choi

Drinking and Dating by Brandi Glanville

The Strain by Guillermo DelToro & Chuck Hogan

Shadow Secret by Nora Roberts

The Impressionist by Hari Kunzru

The Birthing House by Christopher Ransom

Fly Away by Kristin Hannah

The Cutting Room by Louise Welsh

Das Falsche In Mir by Christa Bernuth (German)

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff

Lucky Us by Amy Bloom

Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch