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Looking for that perfect dark book for the beach? Look no further. I’ve compiled a list of the best summer reads for all sorts of reasons.
For the Horror Lover….
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
What’s a better start to this list than a good old-fashioned horror book? Summer is the best time to dive into your scariest books. The sun stays out longer and what’s so frightening about the beach – maybe a shark eating you. But the thing that makes The Souther Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires so spine-tingle is not the traditional horror elements thrown in (there are a ton) but Hendrix’s play with the psyche. Trust me, you might not be able to look at your partner the same way again, let alone your new next-door neighbor.
We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix
As you could probably tell, I’m a huge Hendrix fan. He’s a good middle ground for those that don’t want the all-out horror. And I think We Sold Our Souls is the perfect summer read. Why? Because there’s a road trip in it and it features the good old fashion summer concert series. This concert might just be all about stealing your soul though. Kris finds out the reason that her lifelong music career was ruined, sending her on a wild ride to get her soul back. Be warned, this book comes swinging right out of the gate. I would tighten your seat belt when reading.
Books for the Darker Taste…
Sadie by Courtney Summers
Another great book that features a road trip. But this isn’t any old road trip for Sadie. She’s trying to figure out what happened to her sister, and in doing so, becomes a missing person herself, leading one man to start a podcast in hopes of finding her. So strap in, take a sip of her Icee, and let the miles roll out.
Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
Hench is the perfect book to remind you what you’re leaving behind at the office. All those spreadsheets. The office-wide meetings. What a blast. But with that data crunching comes the realization that superheroes might just be the biggest cost to society. Maybe they’re saving the planet, but they’re also putting innocent people in the hospital… including Anna. With its laugh-out-loud comedy, Hench will make you appreciate your summer holiday even more.
The How and the Why by Cynthia Hand
Dark books aren’t just about the scary. They’re also about the sad things in life. This book is for when you need to cry your own ocean… Told from both sides of adoption, The How and the Why follows the preteen mother who gave her up her daughter for adoption and the daughter that went up for adoption. Just make sure you bring those tissues to the beach with you. Or better yet, just hope right into the water when you’re done.
For the Sci-fi Lover…
Contagion by Erin Bowman
Don’t worry. This isn’t some covid style story. If you love movies like Alien, then you’ll love Contagion. After receiving an SOS call, a skeleton crew can’t find anyone. The planet is dead. There are just a few spooky shadows to contend with. Oh… and let us not forget the warning they received to leave when they arrived. Cool. It’s the perfect setup to make you forget that iced drink you ordered. Be warned, you might want to stay away from researching anything about aliens after.
A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
If you love sci-fi but don’t want all the spooky vibes, this is the book for you. A Long Way to a Small and Angry Planet reads like Firefly but with the found family vibes from Ted Lasso. Featuring a day in the life style of story, this motley crew is trying to eeck out a living by punching wrap wholes. Their newest job has them punching a hole to a planet without a lot of interactions with the rest of the galaxy. They also just seem a little, well… angry. Filled with so much heart and humor, this might be the best book to sandwich between the two Hendrix books listed above.
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
This book may be as old as time but I will never stop recommending it. A different kind of book, you’ll be turning the pages faster than the afternoon showers rolling in. It starts with a planet invasion and ends with a… well, a plague. But that’s not a good enough reason not to curl up and dive between the dossier-style writing.
And Lastly, for the Fantasy Lover…
Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett
Sorry friends, I only have one fantasy recommendation but this one checks all the boxes. An original magic system. Diverse cast. Twists and turns. Plus a talking inanimate object. What else could you want? And if you love this one, there are two more where it came from (so I’m really recommending three fantasy books). It’s the perfect book to use as an excuse when people want you to go outside and enjoy the weather.
Happy Reading.
Kait
