10 uplifting beach reads to help you bounce back

I love sinking my teeth into a good family drama, especially in the summer. There’s something about the messiness of these stories that makes them so charming, and the characters so endearing. Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan hits all the marks for a great summer read: a beachfront cottage setting? Check. Generational family drama? Check. Strong family bonds that grow over time? Check.

The story unfolds through the perspectives of three women. Cecelia Lapthorne, widow of the famous artist Cameron Lapthorne, feels suffocated by the life she has built as a supportive wife and needs space to think. Lily is stifled by her parents’ expectations that she become a doctor. Kristen struggles with loneliness in her marriage to a renowned surgeon who can’t seem to find time for his family.

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Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan

The Summer Swap is one of those books where the setting feels like a character itself. Dune Cottage, nestled in the Cape Cod dunes as the name suggests, is a healing place. You’ll enjoy the sea breezes, sunshine streaming through the windows, and the muted seafoam green that colors the story.

In short, The Summer Swap was a breath of fresh air.

If you’re in the mood for a hopeful and uplifting read like The Summer Swap, I’d like to recommend some other books to you. This book reminded me a lot of Liane Moriarty’s Apples Never Fall. In that story, a woman goes missing selectively, leaving her husband and grown children to piece together her disappearance. The feel is similar, with characters realizing their life regrets only when faced with their mother’s absence and the missed chances to say what’s left unsaid.

Interestingly, there are many books about bouncing back from challenges. I didn’t realize this was such a common theme until I did some digging. Here are some titles I found that you might enjoy:

Tourist Season by Brenda Novak

In Brenda Novak’s Tourist Season, Ismay Chalmers plans a relaxing summer at her fiancé’s family beachfront cottage, but a hurricane and unexpected discoveries unsettle her. Finding solace in caretaker Bo’s presence, Ismay’s summer takes an unexpected turn as she navigates secrets and newfound feelings, questioning her relationships and her own desires.

The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner

In Jennifer Weiner’s The Summer Place, Sarah Danhauser navigates unexpected challenges when her stepdaughter, Ruby, hastily plans a wedding at their family beach house on Cape Cod. As tensions and secrets unravel among family members facing personal reckonings, the wedding day becomes a crucible of revelations and transformations, revealing the complexities of love, forgiveness, and the enduring ties that bind. Weiner crafts a poignant and humorous exploration of family dynamics and the enduring power of home amidst life’s unpredictable twists.

The Darlings by Hanna McKinnon

In Hannah Roberts McKinnon’s The Darlings, tensions rise as three generations of women gather at the Darling family’s cherished beach house on Cape Cod for a wedding. Ninety-two-year-old matriarch Tish Darling returns to Riptide, determined to preserve family ties despite long-held secrets and unresolved conflicts. As the wedding preparations unfold, revelations threaten to unravel the family’s carefully guarded history, challenging their identities and bonds in unexpected ways. McKinnon weaves a poignant narrative of familial love, betrayal, and resilience against the backdrop of a storied coastal retreat.

Inheriting Edith by Zoe

 Fisherman

Zoe Fishman’s Inheriting Edith tells the story of Maggie, a single mother who inherits a beach house in Sag Harbor, along with its elderly, difficult resident, Edith. Despite initial doubts, Maggie and Edith form an unexpected bond over a summer, discovering secrets and finding unexpected healing along the way.

Flying Solo by Linda Holmes

Linda Holmes’ Flying Solo follows Laurie Sassalyn as she returns to her Maine hometown after a cancelled wedding, tasked with handling her great-aunt Dot’s estate. As Laurie delves into Dot’s adventurous past and uncovers a mysterious wooden duck and love letter, she embarks on a journey of rediscovery, navigating antiques dealers and rekindling old flames while embracing a newfound independence and uncovering family secrets along the way.

Bookshop of Second Chances by Jacki Fraser

In Jackie Fraser’s The Bookshop of Second Chances, recently separated Thea Mottram escapes her troubles in Sussex by inheriting a Scottish coastal cottage and antique book collection from a distant great uncle. Embracing the quiet town of Baldochrie, Thea finds solace in its cozy charm and quirky locals, except for gruff bookshop owner Edward Maltravers. As she navigates a budding romance and confronts local feuds, Thea discovers that starting anew brings unexpected challenges and the possibility of a different kind of fulfillment.

Summer at Hope Haven by Kristin Harper

In Kristin Harper’s Summer at Hope Haven, a woman confronts her past as she returns to her childhood coastal cottage, greeted by memories and emotions evoked by its weathered facade and familiar surroundings.

Seven days in summer by Marcia Willett

Seven Days in Summer by Marcia Willett explores themes of resilience and relationships against the backdrop of a charming coastal town. As various characters converge at the Beach Hut in Devon, they face personal dilemmas and unexpected connections that challenge their plans and open new possibilities for the future.

Summer Island by Shelley Noble

In Summer Island by Shelley Noble, reporter Phoebe Adams retreats to her family’s New England beach house after losing her job and fiancé, only to face her mother’s divorce and a changing hometown. As unexpected guests arrive and old relationships are rekindled, Phoebe discovers the healing power of family and the strength to embrace an uncertain future.

Fill your beach bag with uplifting reads

Summer is a time for restoring the spirit, and what better way to do that than by reading a book with themes of resilience and bouncing back. I’m the type of reader who likes to indulge all my reading moods, but sometimes I get so carried away with the newest thriller or literary fiction that I forget to uplift myself through reading. I hope these suggestions make their way into your beach bag this summer. Happy reading!