Spring Break Reading Guide

The Bookmark No. 144

I have gotten to that point in the year where I am craving a warm weather vacation. Since it’s going to be a little bit until I’m on the beach, I’m using books to take me to the kids of places I long to go.

When it comes to Spring Break, I am drawn to books that take place in warm settings, are fun, and bingeable. I want to stay up late reading, spend hours on the beach or by the pool, reading in the sunshine thawing out from Winter.

I combed through my favorite reads that capture these vibes from the last couple years. None are new releases so you should be able to find most available at your local library! Introducing, the 2026 Spring Break Reading Guide!

I also rounded up some of my favorite vacation and beach/pool essentials if you’re headed somewhere the requires travel, bathing suits and sunscreen!

Beach Reads: Romances

The Summers Between Us by Noreen Nanja—If you loved Every Summer After by Carley Fortune, you’ll love this book. It’s a second chance romance set in Canadian Lake town!

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams—Another second chance romance about two writers who have taken different paths, but remain each others’ muses.

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune—A best friend’s brother romance that takes place over five years during an annual vacation to Prince Edward Island.

A First Time for Everything By KL Walther—A YA romance about a high school student balancing her first time love woes and not getting along with her brother’s fiancée.

Female Fantasy by Iman Hariri-Kia—A fun, imaginative romance about a writer who searches for the man who inspired her favorite fae romance hero.

The One and Only Vivian Stone by Melissa O’Connor—I love to recommend this book to fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo!

Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn—A sweet, friends to lovers romance set in a lakeside town.

Beach Reads: Thrillers and Mysteries

Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson—YA Thriller set on Martha’s Vineyard that follows a city girl spending the summer at the beach, determined the solve the murder of a boy who shows up on the beach.

Everyone is Lying to You by Jo Piazza—A domestic thriller about the truth behind the perfect looking life of a trad wife influencer.

The Meadowbrook Murders by Jessica Goodman—Life at a competitive boarding school grows contentious after a student winds up murdered.

The Bitter End by Alexa Donne—A group of high school students on a ski trip struggle to survive as one after another, they each go missing.

The Most Famous Girl in the World by Iman Hariri-Kia—If you’ve been chasing the high of the Anna Delvy case, read this entertaining, sexy book.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore—A literary mystery that reopens the case of a missing girl from a camp in the Adirondack Park.

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson—YA Mystery that follows a daughter determined to find the truth about her mother’s abrupt disappearance.

Liar’s Beach by Kate Cotugno—Another YA mystery set on Martha’s Vineyard! In this one, a group of boarding school students have a house party that ends with one student dead in the pool.

Road Trips, Cruises and Vacations

Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler—A starry-eyed romantic and cynical writer end up together on a road trip to deliver the ashes of neighbor to her final resting place.

Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun—A friends to enemies to lovers/second chance romance between two former friends who are tasked with driving their favorite teacher across the country so he can enter hospice in the place he loves most, a seaside cabin in Maine.

Sunk In Love by Heather McBreen—A couple on the brink of separation are forced to pretend they’ve never been happier while on a family cruise.

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson—A second chance romance brings two musicians back together on a reunion cruise full of their fans.

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt—A divorced couple find their way back to each other while dropping their child off at for freshmen year of college.

The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley—The sequel to The Guncle (set in Palm Springs! Another great spring break read!) takes Patrick and his niece and nephew to Italy for a wedding.

Do I Know You? By Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegemund-Broka—A marriage in crisis! A couple checks into a hotel and pretend not to know each other to see if they can reignite their spark.

The Paradise Problem by Christmas Lauren—If you’re looking for a fast paced, sexy, fun, vacation romance, look no further. A marriage of convenience/fake dating romance set on an island.

Spring Break Favorites

Seersucker Bathing Suit | Straw Bucket Hat | Straw Sandals | LL Bean Boat and Tote | Sun Bum Daily Glow | Carry On Luggage | Luka Duffle (Personal Item) | Kindle Case | Pajama Set | Jet Lag Eye Patches |

I’d love to know if you have any recommendations! Feel free to leave favorites in the comments so others can add them to their Spring Break TBR! I can’t wait until I am on the beach.

Until next time,

Phoebe