Spanning several decades, “The Island of Sea Women” by Lisa See begins during a period of Japanese colonialism in Korea in the 1930s and 1940s. It follows best friends Mi-ja and Young-sook, who come from different backgrounds but both live on Jeju Island. They meet when they both begin working in their village as Haenyeo divers, an all-female diving collective that sustainably harvests seafood. As the book continues through World War II, the Korean War, and beyond, their friendship is pushed to a breaking point because of family conflict, fighting empires, and troubles beyond their control. Publisher’s Weekly describes the book as “Exposing the depths of human cruelty and resilience, See’s lush tale is a wonderful ode to a truly singular group of women.” If you’re looking to learn more about a centuries-old sustainable fishing tradition through a powerful historical story of female friendship, forgiveness, and strength, this one’s for you.

After her mother dies, Marissa’s father moves them to Thailand, where he’s determined to finish the marine biology research her mother started. It’s there that she meets Arielle, the daughter of a local resort owner. The girls explore the reefs, forests, and beaches of the island, learning to dive and swim from danger. Until one day, when Arielle is met with a wave she can’t outswim, leaving Marissa to deal with yet another great loss. Fast forward and Marissa is in New York years later. We see her face two fateful days that bring back haunting memories of her past and she must find ways to power through tragedy and find herself again. “Under Water” by Tara Menon was named a most anticipated book of 2026 by Time, NPR, and Oprah Daily, and Kirkus book reviews called it “Stunning and complex; a book that admits no easy answers but also refuses to avoid the hard questions.”

By the same author who wrote “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “The Wager” is an adventurous and intense true story of a British ship that wrecked after leaving England in 1740. The men on the ship were marooned for months on an island off the coast of Patagonia, but they built together a ramshackle ship and landed by some miracle on the coast of Brazil. They were treated as heroes. Months later, another pieced-together ship — with three men from the same wreck — landed on the coast of Chile, revealing that the other men were mutineers. It turns out that on the island when they were all deserted, things turned to anarchy and chaos, leaving men to turn on each other in the wake of it all. This nonfiction book captures it all: the betrayal, the twists, the gritty details. As The New York Times described, it’s “as much a rousing adventure as an exploration of the power of narratives to shape our perception of reality.” 

The debut novel from Shelby Van Pelt follows Tova Sullivan, who picked up a job at the Sowell Bay Aquarium after her husband passed. She mops, cleans, and keeps busy to cope — nothing new for her, since her 18-year-old son Erik vanished on a boat over 30 years ago. While working at the aquarium, she befriends a brilliant giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus. Usually Marcellus doesn’t care too much about the humans at the aquarium — they captured him after all — but he cares for Tova too. He discovered what happened the night her son disappeared, and he must figure out how to tell her, in his own way, before it’s too late. Critics described the bestselling novel as “freshly-imagined,” “memorable,” and “heartwarming.” And the book was recently adapted to the screen as a Netflix film. So if you’re looking for a feel-good story to read before you watch, this might be your perfect next beach read.

Marine biologist and nature writer Rachel Carson wrote “The Sea Around Us” in 1951, and yet, its lessons and insights are still as influential and important as ever. It explores the ocean’s history and power through scientific insight and poetic prose, covering everything from the power of the tides to the history of how the oceans were formed by centuries of nonstop rain. It reminds us of the oceans humbling power but also great inspiration and centrality to human life. While some of the science is dated, it’s still worth the read and there’s much to learn, recent reviewers on Goodreads promise. “The Sea Around Us” won the National Book Award, inspired an Academy Award-winning documentary, and sold over a million copies. And readers share that it’s a nonfiction reading experience like no other — calling it “beautifully gentle,” “captivating,” “approachable,” and “magical.” If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the ocean and our relationship as humans to it, this is a great choice!

What happens when humankind discovers intelligent life in an octopus species with its own language and culture? In this near-future science fiction thriller, the answer is a race to understand them. Marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen joins the team at a tech corporation who has exclusive access to the species so she has the chance to study them. But then outside forces seize the octopuses for themselves. All the while, no one has asked the octopuses what they think or prefer to do. “The Mountain in the Sea” asks us to consider the nature of consciousness and the power — for better or worse — of humankind. Apple Books Review described it as: “Exciting, cerebral, and surprisingly compassionate,” describing it as a fresh take on science fiction. If you’re looking for a high-stakes page-turner for the beach — that also might teach you a thing or two — this is the book for you.

Piper was the it-girl in Hollywood… cool, fashionable, a little irresponsible, until her wealthy stepfather cuts her off and sends her and her sister to a coastal town in Washington to run their late-father’s dive bar and learn how to be responsible. There, she meets Brendan, a hot local fisherman who is convinced she won’t last in town. She keeps bumping into him everywhere, and it’s clear there’s a spark. But they’re so different, and she doesn’t want distractions, especially when her biggest distraction is a handsome sea captain who sails off for weeks at a time. Does she want to go back to LA? Or does she want to stay in the town full of memories and a man who may have caught her heart? “It Happened One Summer” is a spicy seaside romance that went viral on Booktok for its opposites attract, grumpy-sunshine, and fish-out-of-water tropes. Entertainment Weekly called Tessa Bailey “the Michelangelo of dirty talk,” and USA Today called the book a perfect beach read, writing that  “laying out in the sun is a perfect excuse for the blush-inducing scenes scattered throughout.”

How does being near water affect us? That’s the question Dr. Wallace J. Nichols seeks to answer in this book, by asking questions like why are we drawn to water? What does it to to our minds and bodies when we’re near it? He draws upon psychology, neuroscience, personal stories, and research to answer these questions and uncover the benefits of being near, in, on, and under water. He shows how simply being near water can improve performance and professional success, make us feel calmer and more creative, and lower anxiety. Dr. Nichols is a Research Associate at the California Academy of Sciences, Senior Fellow at The Center for the Blue Economy, and a part of numerous related organizations. The Guardian writes of it, “I liked this book for its mad spirit.” And Outside called Dr. Nichols “a visionary.” What better place to read a book about the benefits of being near water than at the beach this summer?

In this children’s book about friendship, a tiny snail and a humpback whale travel the world together. The snail is living her dream of traveling beyond home and out into far-away places. But then the whale swims too close to shore and the little snail has to figure out how to save her friend. The sweet tale is a reminder that friendships and love come in all shapes and sizes, and that even the smallest of creatures can make a huge difference. The illustrations by Axel Scheffler are beautiful and vibrant, too. According to Publisher’s Weekly, “The Snail and the Whale” “provides a resonant environmental message” for children and adults alike. And Kirkus Reviews named it Picture Book of the Century. If you’re looking for a beach read for your little adventurers, this might be the perfect tale.

The co-founder of Fishwife Becca Milstein and recipe creator Vilda Gonzalez wrote a cookbook, filled with tinned fish recipes that are perfect for a beach snack or picnic. A few examples: Baguette with Labneh, Pickled Onion, and Smoked Salmon; Seaweed Snacks with Chili Crisp Salmon, Mayo, Scallions, and Sesame Seeds; and Juicy Summer Tomatoes with Sardines and Caper Aioli. Plus, the book itself is a good read — and it’s beautiful too! Vogue wrote of it, “Fishwife not only offers the flavors of faraway seas but helps foster a deeper appreciation for how the ocean nourishes and inspires.” So if you need a little inspiration for your seaside snacks, pick this up — and maybe bring it along to read and browse too!