We have been having fun with Top Ten Tuesday, so we decided we will do one every week. This bookish meme was hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, and has been going since June 2010! Since January 2018 Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week’s topic is Beach/Beachy Reads. For me a good beach read is a thriller or a mystery haha. There is just something about reading a book about a dark topic while sunbathing! So I picked 10 books from my TBR that I think will fit this vibe for me. Let’s dive in!

1. The Cousins – Karin McManus

This one is perfect for a beach read! It’s a mystery/thriller and it is set on an island during summer. I don’t think I could picture a more fitting description for a beach read haha. At some point I did read the first chapters and I hope to read the rest of it soonish.

2. The Agathas – Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson

This is another YA mystery/thriller and it’s the start of a series. I’m pretty sure Candyce has read this one and enjoyed it. So that makes me even more excited to dive. I like that the main characters in this book want to learn from Agatha Christie books and I’m curious to see how that will work out in the story.

3. Sawkill Girls – Claire Legrand

This is a YA horror book and I have to admit I’m scared to start this one haha. I don’t really like horror stories, as I scare easily. Reading this one at a beach would be one of just a few settings I think I’d be able to actually read it.

4. This Mortal Coil – Emily Suvada

I have had this one of my TBR for years and I’m still really curious. It’s a dystopian story and in this day and age I would say that’s pretty dark because it may hit too close to home. When it first released I remember the reviews being all over the place so I have no idea what to expect.

5. A Stranger in the House – Shari Lapena

I have heard amazing things about Shari Lapena and I’m really excited to read this book. After this one I also have The Couple Next Door to read, so I hope I enjoy Shari Lapena’s writing. A friend of mine loved both of these so I have high hopes!

6. Alice – Christina Henry

This is another horror story, it’s a dark retelling of Alice in Wonderland. Even though I don’t like horror books, I’m really curious about this one. I also own the sequel and Lost Boy, a Captain Hook retelling. Hopefully I enjoy this one, because I have more to get to haha. It would be such a waste if I end up hating this or not being able to finish it because it’s a horror book haha.

7. Black-Eyed Susans – Julia Hearberlin

This was an impulsive buy for sure and I don’t think I would have bought this one now. But since I already own it, I do hope to read it. The synopsis does sound interesting enough, I hope it delivers what it promises.

8. Cop Town – Karin Slaughter

I think this might be the only Karin Slaughter book I haven’t read yet, apart from her 2025 release. As a massive Karin Slaughter fan I can’t believe I own one of her books and I haven’t read it yet. I believe I actually won this one through a Goodreads raffle haha.

9. Empire of the Vampire – Jay Kristoff

I love Jay Kristoff’s books and I’m so excited about his vampire series. This one is especially daunting to me because it’s so big. Reading it at the beach would be nice, you could easily read for hours on end. And since this is about a world where the sun hasn’t come up in 27 years and vampires rule, sounds like a beach read to me haha.

10. Escaping from Houdini – Kerri Maniscalco

This takes place at sea, so I would once again say it perfectly fits that beach vibe. Especially since it’s a YA thriller! Although I have read the first 2 books in the series and didn’t think they were that thrilling. I just adored the title of this one and the final book in the series (Capturing the Devil), so I just hope I’ll like these better than the first 2.

These were 10 books on my TBR I think would make perfect beach reads. What kind of books do you like to read at the beach? And have you read any of the books on my list? I would love to hear from you!