For us college students, spring break is a sacred time to decompress, ignore any incoming emails and finally enjoy a week without responsibilities. Now, call me crazy, but this blissful stretch of exam and homework-free days is the perfect time to crack open a new book. I’m not talking about textbooks, but beach reads, which are books that you can turn off your brain to read. They can be anything from guilty-pleasure romances to thought-provoking self-help books, as long as they’re page-turners.
To save you some time at the bookstore, The Badger Herald staff has picked out some of our favorite beach reads that are worth picking up over spring break. And in case you were wondering, no, you don’t need to actually read them on a beach — though it can never hurt!
Clare Cowan, ArtsEtc. Editor: “Does Anyone Else Feel This Way?” by Eli Rallo
One of my favorite authors and content creators, Eli Rallo, captures the chaos and comfort of your twenties perfectly in “Does Anyone Else Feel This Way?” The book is a collection of candid, long-form essays centered on the “quarter-life crisis,” but it reads less like a traditional essay collection and more like a stream of heartfelt texts from your best friend. Somehow, every essay feels exactly right for whatever moment you’re in — whether you need a laugh, reassurance or simply to feel less alone. It’s also incredibly easy to pick up and put down, making it the ideal low-pressure, beach-read companion.
Elsa Englebert, ArtsEtc. Associate Editor: “Everything I Know About Love” by Dolly Alderton
In her delectable 2018 memoir, Sunday Times columnist Dolly Alderton serves up a robust helping of cheeky romantic advice served with a dash of dry British humor and topped off with plenty of laugh-out-loud witticisms and touching anecdotes. I absolutely devoured “Everything I Know About Love,” smitten with Alderton’s poignant insights into love and friendship and enraptured by her brutal honesty and hilarious reflections on her sex life. It’s a quick read, but if you’re hungry for seconds, Alderton compiled selections from her advice column into another novel, “Dear Dolly: Collected Wisdom.”
Zoe Klein, Managing Editor: “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah
“The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah is my favorite beach read because it’s the kind of story that completely pulls you in and takes you in. Set during World War II, the book follows two sisters in France who face impossible choices and incredible danger as they try to survive and resist the occupation. Hannah is able to bring the characters and their emotions to life so vividly that it’s hard to stop reading. Even though it is certainly a powerful and sometimes heartbreaking story, it’s also deeply inspiring, making it the perfect book to get lost in on the beach.
Anna Kristoff, Managing Editor: “To Sir Phillip, With Love” by Julia Quinn
Eloise’s season is rumored to be next on “Bridgerton,” so get ready for it with the written works that came before the Netflix hit. In this romantic yet chaotic novel, Eloise leaves London and heads to the countryside to meet Sir Phillip — a man she has only spoken to through letters. She is surprised to be also greeted by his two young children who have already scared off multiple governesses … sound familiar? This book is a certain retelling of the “Sound of Music” but also explores themes of grief and neglectful parenting.
Anna Smith, Editor-in-Chief: “Howl’s Moving Castle” by Diane Wynne Jones
If you enjoy fantasy, danger, conspiracy and, best of all, romance, “Howl’s Moving Castle” is the book for you. Only around 300 pages, it’s the perfect length for lounging around and soaking in the sun. Written by Diane Wynne Jones, the book follows the tail of Sophie as she faces the Witch of the Waste. One day she is cursed by the witch, turning her from a gorgeous gal to a frail, old woman. To reverse the curse, Sophie seeks the help of Howl — the mysterious, charismatic wizard. While the romance between the two is to die for, my favorite part of this book is Sophie’s development from shy and insecure to confident and flourishing. Plus, right after you read the book, you can watch Studio Ghibli’s movie version, which differs from the book’s plot but makes up for it in gorgeous animation and top-tier voice acting.
Julia Vetsch, ArtsEtc. Editor: “Beach Read” by Emily Henry
There’s nothing better than a perfectly romantic Emily Henry novel on the beach. While all of Henry’s books are flawless, her 2020 classic “Beach Read” lives up to its name. This swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers story is tailor-made for the poolside, and it is the perfect balance of lighthearted and actually engaging.
Sophie Wooldridge, ArtsEtc. Associate Editor: “Malibu Rising” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My favorite beach read is “Malibu Rising” by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It’s an exciting historical fiction about four famous children — estranged from their rock star father — who throw a massive end-of-summer party in Malibu in 1983. Though it’s not as strong as Reid’s “Daisy Jones and the Six” or “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,” the plot’s rapid pacing and the coastal setting make it a perfect beach read.
