The Book Lover's Briefing: Beach Reads
Don't forget to wear sunscreen!
A Note From Zibby
I used to spend a lot of time worrying about my body and how I looked in a bathing suit. I first wrote about this at age 16 for Seventeen magazine and am still thinking about it. The other day on an airplane, I had an epiphany of sorts. The actual size of my clothes is just utterly, 100% insignificant, and yet for so long it took up so much space in my mind, like a giant billboard flashing the number. What a waste. It’s not that I finally have a “Baywatch” bod. Not in this lifetime. But I’ve accepted who I am and what I look like, give or take some occasional closet-floor breakdowns. Here are my reflections on this season of life.
Everything In Our Beach Bags
Zibby shared all of her must-haves at the beach here to make your day in the sand an absolute breeze—from her go-to sunscreen and favorite sunglasses, to the best beach towels.
Internationally bestselling UK author Alexandra Potter has perfected the unexpected friendship arc in So, I Met This Guy . . . and One Good Thing. She shares all about her two (!!) novels releasing this year in an exclusive publishing feature, and we share how we ended up publishing her work in the U.S.! Read here.
Booksellers at Zibby’s Bookshop shared their recommendations for what to read at the beach—whether you’re looking for a sporty romance, a mind-melting thriller, or an escapist family drama, they’ve got you covered.
If you’re looking for the buzziest books of the season, Zibby’s Summer Reads list is the perfect resource—organized by publication dates and prominent themes, you're sure to find something you'll love.
Order your very own Summer Reads mini tote!
Click here Download and print this Summer Reading Bingo Card for a fun summer reading challenge!
What to Listen to on Your Way to the Ocean
Zibby has interviewed many authors with buzzy summer books, from the bestselling author of The Help and The Calamity Club, Kathryn Stockett, to Jenny Jackson, author of the July Read with Jenna pick, The Shampoo Effect. Subscribe to the podcast to stay in-the-know even if you don’t have time to read.
“I don’t always remember what I wrote. That’s how far away I am, how out of body I am. I’ll go back and read something I wrote just three days ago, and I have no memory of writing it and no idea where I was headed. The characters speak up and put me back on track.”
— Kathryn Stockett, author of The Calamity Club
Listen to the episode here!
News from the Bookshop
Want to know what books people are buying for their beach days? Check out Zibby’s Bookshop bestsellers from the past week:
We have so many exciting upcoming events coming up at the store this month including with Peloton’s Hannah Corbin, Reese’s Book Club alum Marissa Stapley, influencer/comedian Laura Clery, and more. To see all the events coming up this month, click here. We’re also the bookseller at a private event for Kathryn below if you’d like to join!
Your Favorite Beach Read Authors on Their Latest Chapters
A few of your favorite beach read authors each shared thoughts on Totally Booked with Zibby about which chapter of life they find themselves in. Read what they had to say here. What chapters are you between? Tell your own story as part of the Between Chapters project—fun community reading in the lead up to publication of Zibby’s new book, Between Chapters. Find out more here.
Opening Chapter with Authors Jo Piazza, Sara Goodman Confino, and Soon Wiley
These quotes excerpted from Totally Booked with Zibby interviews are part of the Between Chapters project, inspired by the book. What chapters are you between? How did you get from one chapter to ano…
Thank you for reading, and we’ll see you next week!