Play Book Tag discussion
June 2021: Beach Reads
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Announcing the June Tag
I will probably read A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. I'm participating in the 2021 Popsugar Reading Challenge for the first time this year and this one could be used for one of the prompt for a book that many have read that I have not read.
Yay! This fits several books I have lined up to read, mostly mysteries!
I'm going to Japan for my beach read - it has the most miles from Poland for fly the pbt skies! I'll be reading Memoirs of a Geisha
I was sure either the beach or NYC would beat out theology at a moment like this! (maybe last year at this time, we would have been looking for theology, but now it's party time!)
Yay! Still thinking about what I want to read, but got a list of new beach reads in an email today and thought I would share them here:https://offtheshelf.com/2021/05/summe...
This was inevitable. But I still want to go to NYC.
Lots of good choices. I'm going to start out with Notorious Nineteen. Other possibilities are:
Dial A for Aunties
Big Summer
The Kiss Quotient
I really enjoy chick lit and I think it fits beach reads perfectly, so I would say these would be good:
The Nanny Diaries
Bergdorf Blondes
Queen of Babble
Anything by Sophie Kinsella
The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
Hopefully my library will have some of the ones I want to read by the time I get around to them.
I've got My Not So Perfect Life checked out of the library and it's been tagged beach read 44 times so it looks like that's what I'll be reading. I'm not at all surprised that beach reads won by a large margin.
Anita wrote: "Honestly, it wasn't even close. The tag for next month will be:beach reads
Please share your reading plans and recommendations below.
Remember, for the regular monthly reads, the book can be sh..."
I am not surprised that this one won, but thought that New York might be closer behind than it was. Like others, I am just happy it's not Theology.
Anyway, I have four already (one here and three on hold), but once I figure out where I am flying next month I may get another.
I'm so glad this won. I have lots of books that fit the tag but I'm going to take a look at the new ones Booknblues just posted.
Jgrace wrote: "This was inevitable. But I still want to go to NYC."I confess to voting for Beach Reads, because it seemed so right for this time of year and I am retiring June 11 and Beach Reads seems right for that as well.
I had voted for NYC but changed my vote when I realized the book I wanted to read was also a Beach Read. You might be interested in that if you haven't read it, In Five Years.
I loved in five years! It surprised me. I gave it five stars! I think it’s perfect for this tag.
Well, Beach Reads is a perfect fit for the first month of summer! At least in the northern hemisphere :-) SO many books on my TBR will fit this tag. I need to think about what I'm going to read. Maybe a book by Mary Kay Andrews. The only thing that I know is that I will be re-reading Outlander as I start my re-read of the whole series to prep for the 9th book in November.
I have a few that are out from the library that fit the list. Definitely The Guest List and Mother May I. Would love to add Malibu Rising, and the Bookstore on the Beach!
Booknblues wrote: "Jgrace wrote: "This was inevitable. But I still want to go to NYC."I confess to voting for Beach Reads, because it seemed so right for this time of year and I am retiring June 11 and Beach Reads ..."
I'm thinking of The Tenth Island: Finding Joy, Beauty, and Unexpected Love in the Azores.
And as the navy has relocated my son to Hawaii, I need a book in that setting. (I've read Hawaii and Honolulu)
Jgrace wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Jgrace wrote: "This was inevitable. But I still want to go to NYC."I confess to voting for Beach Reads, because it seemed so right for this time of year and I am retiring June ..."
I loved that book when I read it.
I am think I am going to read The Paris Wife-my sister mailed it to me during lockdown and I never got a chance to pick it up. Another option I have isOut of the EasySome recommendations that are on Anita's list:
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood ( I loved this book!)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie
Society
All the Light We Cannot See
Circe
The Red Tent
Bel Canto
What the Wind Knows
Anita wrote: "Honestly, it wasn't even close. The tag for next month will be:beach reads..."
I know everyone is really excited about this, but I don't like the really broad ones. I'm sure it will be easy enough to come up with something, but I'll take a look and do my planning a bit later.
ETA: So I will go off and pout all by myself! LOL!
LibraryCin wrote: "Anita wrote: "Honestly, it wasn't even close. The tag for next month will be:beach reads..."
I know everyone is really excited about this, but I don't like the really broad ones. I'm sure it wil..."
I agree with you about broad categories, Cin. I'm trying to impose my own restrictions. I don't really want a contemporary romance so I'm going for setting. Something in a coastal city or on an island. I'm even considering To the Lighthouse and I have yet to read The Shipping News
@Robin, I read The Lager Queen of Minnesota and really liked it. Haven't read the others, so I can't comment on them.
Jgrace wrote: "LibraryCin wrote: "Anita wrote: "Honestly, it wasn't even close. The tag for next month will be: beach reads..."I know everyone is really excited about this, but I don't like the really broad on..."
There are a lot of books that were tagged both New York City and Beach Reads. I'm planning to read at least one of them.
I agree that you could create your own narrower definition, based on location, or theme or something else. I seem to finding a lot of world books set on islands (or peninsulas) this year, many of which are more complex or serious than the typical beach read. South East Asia, Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean have a lot of exciting books. Japan and New Zealand have some excellent books too. Come to think of it, Manhattan is an island.
Jgrace wrote: "This was inevitable. But I still want to go to NYC."Check out Laurence Block's burglar mysteries or that coffeehouse mystery series by Cleo Clynne. Both set in NYC, both entertaining light reads, you might find both tags.
Robin P wrote: "I have Beach Read (duh!)
Evvie Drake Starts Over
My Not So Perfect Life
The Lager Queen of Minnesota"
Great options.
The Lager Queen of Minnesota. I adored it. I think it was in my top ten of the year. I didn't even like beer, but it made me want to sample craft beers - which I liked.
Beach Read is much more interesting than most romance books. I liked it a lot. I might read her latest book - People we meet on Vacation.
Evie Starts Over. I liked it even though it's very unrealistic. (I have a hard time with the whole romance genre for that reason.)
Agreed that it is quite broad but excited for some lighter reading. I'm looking at:Beach Read
Malibu Rising
The Little Paris Bookshop
Dial A for Aunties
The Dating Plan
The Road Trip
LibraryCin wrote: "Anita wrote: "Honestly, it wasn't even close. The tag for next month will be:beach reads..."
I know everyone is really excited about this, but I don't like the really broad ones. I'm sure it wil..."
I will pout with you-I was hoping for New York
Jgrace wrote: "LibraryCin wrote: "Anita wrote: "Honestly, it wasn't even close. The tag for next month will be:beach reads..."
I know everyone is really excited about this, but I don't like the really broad on..."
And I always feel like I am cheating, if I don't read something off of the list that Anita provides
Book Concierge wrote: "Also, most of Beatriz Williams books should qualify as beach reads. A Hundred Summers would be perfect, I think!"I set a goal to read 21 books published in 2021, but I'm not sure I even have one yet, so I’ve been looking at lists of new summer releases. ***= level of priority
SUMMER NEW RELEASES. So far I am most excited about books by female authors I've read before. I know these will be page turners for me.
***The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker - sequel to The Golem and the Jinni (also NYC)
***The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers - fourth in the series
**The Songbook of Benny Lament by Amy Harmon. Or one or two of her earlier books.
**Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
*People We Meet on Vacation and/or
*The Soulmate Equation Christina Lauren
*Sorrowland - giveaway- on many lists but sounds dark (I liked The Deep)
House of Sticks - giveaway, not sure
The Paper Palace - giveaway, beachy
OLDER BEACH READS:
***Crazy Rich Asians - Beach reads and NYC, and fly the skies
*Cinder
**A Very Large Expanse of Sea
**When we believed in Mermaids
*The Chaperone - Beach reads and NYC
Beauty queens - is this violent or funny?
Running Barefoot or Faces - Amy Hamon
The Rosie Effect - Beach reads and NYC
Gentleman in Moscow - I was surprised it was on the list.
The Secret Life of Violet Grant - ? beach reads and nyc?
... Lulu lemons (Devil Wears Prada)- Beach reads and NYC
SHORT and Compact for the beach bag:
Five Six Seven Nate (I started this series for Poll Ballot)
Kim JeYoung born 1982 - too serious?
Another Brooklyn - too serious?
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
*The Summer Book – Tove Jansson
The Shell Collector -Doerr
Other 2021 books from the Best Summer Reads lists:
One Two Three by Laurie Frankl
The Glorious Guiness Girls
Upper Bohemia
*The Invisible Husband of Frick island
*The Lost boys of Montauk - for hubby
*Swimming back to trout river - Asia
*The Last Thing He Told Me - thriller
*The Bombay Prince
I'll be looking for giveaways for these AUGUST releases
Once there were wolves by Charlotte McConaghy (August)
Lightning Strikes by William Kent Krueger (August)
I welcome feedback or warnings! Especially is a book is bad, dumb or too twisted.
Joanne wrote: "Jgrace wrote: "LibraryCin wrote: "Anita wrote: "Honestly, it wasn't even close. The tag for next month will be:beach reads..."
I know everyone is really excited about this, but I don't like the ..."
And I totally ignore those lists, often don't even glance at them. I like to march to the tune of my own drummer, read from my own choices.
The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn would be perfect for those who want to also travel to New York.Second Theresa's recommendation of the Bernie Rhodenbahr mysteries by Lawrence Block and add the Dortmunder series by Donald E Westlake (comic crime capers - # 1 is The Hot Rock
LibraryCin wrote: "Anita wrote: "Honestly, it wasn't even close. The tag for next month will be:beach reads..."
I know everyone is really excited about this, but I don't like the really broad ones. I'm sure it wil..."
You're not alone. I'm right there with you. I like tags to be meaningful, and this one is just too broad for me, but the good news, as you say, is that it will be easy to find something.
Also, most of Beatriz Williams books should qualify as beach reads. A Hundred Summers would be perfect, I think!
NancyJ wrote: "I agree that you could create your own narrower definition, based on location, or theme or something else. ..."Yeah, I was thinking maybe a chick lit book or something. I do tend to enjoy them, but really don't read them often.
Turns out I don't have as much (at least tagged "beach reads" on LT when doing my tagmash) on my tbr as I thought, but there is a definite chick lit, so that's likely the one:
Shopaholic Ties the Knot / Sophie Kinsella
Joanne wrote: "And I always feel like I am cheating, if I don't read something off of the list that Anita provides..."Have to admit I rarely look at those lists, simply because a LibraryThing tagmash is so much quicker! I do sometimes check the lists if I am having trouble finding something, though.
NancyJ wrote: "I set a goal to read 21 books published in 2021, but I'm not sure I even have one yet, so I’ve been looking at lists of new summer releases. ***= level of priority SUMMER NEW RELEASES. So far I a..."
I LOVED The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. And I'm also looking forward to reading Malibu Rising. Promising list!
I am probably gpoing to read Rules of Civility since this will take me to NYC. Here are some recommendations, these were mostly 5 star reads for me.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Circe
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Prodigal Summer
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
I am not 100 percent sure yet, but I think I might read Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen. This author's writing suits my summer mood :)I can highly recommend:
Beach Read
The Summer Book
Beautiful Ruins
They are all lovely books in different ways.
LibraryCin wrote: "Joanne wrote: "And I always feel like I am cheating, if I don't read something off of the list that Anita provides..."Have to admit I rarely look at those lists, simply because a LibraryThing tag..."
Cindy, if you like chick lit, you'll find lots of choices when you look at the tag list. To me, beach reads is practically synonymous with chick lit. Plus a lot of thrillers and best sellers after the first few pages.
I peeked at your GR TBR, and you have quite a few beach reads there, with books by Meg Cabot, Sophie Kinsella, Lisa Jewell. Maisie Dobbs, Before we were yours, Invisible Girl, and the Invited all have beach reads tags. I'm pretty sure all of Marie Benedict's books will have them too.
Shelly wrote: "I am probably gpoing to read Rules of Civility since this will take me to NYC. Here are some recommendations, these were mostly 5 star reads for me.
[book:Where the Crawdads Sing|..."
I wholeheartedly agree with all of your recommendations, and I really liked Rules of Civility too.
ADDED - I just saw that Becky Chambers (author of Long way to a small angry planet) has TWO NEW books coming out. One is a novella. They don't have to be read in order.
NancyJ wrote: "Cindy, if you like chick lit, you'll find lots of choices when you look at the tag list...."Thanks, Nancy! I did my (tagmash) search using beach reads. Probably if I was to tagmash using "chick lit" I'd find more, too.
Suspense/thrillers really don't "seem" like beach reads to me, so I'm unlikely to go with those.
As I look at other books I have planned for June, I think these might also fit:
- My Sister, the Serial Killer (I'm not sure how "light" this is, but I think there is some humour.
- The Silver Linings Playbook (this is my Trim read, and I think it might fit)
Joanne wrote: "I am think I am going to read The Paris Wife-my sister mailed it to me during lockdown and I never got a chance to pick it up. Another option I have isOut of the Easy..."Joanne - Ooh Paris. I just saw this new book and it reminded me of The Paris Wife and Hemingway's book A Moveable Feast. It sounds glamorous and delicious: My Place at the Table: A Recipe for a Delicious Life in Paris
I agree with your recommendations, esp What the Wind Knows. Some of her other books are on the list too, but that's still my favorite. The new book (..Benny Lament) only has 2 beach reads tags so far.
Book Concierge wrote: "The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn would be perfect for those who want to also travel to New York.Second Theresa's recommendation of the Bernie Rhodenbahr myste..."
The Westlakes are marvelous!
LibraryCin wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Cindy, if you like chick lit, you'll find lots of choices when you look at the tag list...."- My Sister, the Serial Killer (I'm not sure how "light" this is, but I think there is some humour.
- The Silver Linings Playbook (this is my Trim read, and I think it might fit)"
They both have the tags! Silver Linings Playbook (4 tags) had some dark humor too. It was a lot of fun to read.
Kimber wrote: "I am not 100 percent sure yet, but I think I might read Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen. This author's writing suits my summer mood :)I can highly recommend:
[book:Beach Read|528..."
I'm glad to hear about The Summer Book. I seem to be really attracted to islands this year.
We should try to have a buddy read for Malibu Rising - probably later in the month since it's a new release.
Jen K wrote: "Agreed that it is quite broad but excited for some lighter reading. I'm looking at:Beach Read
Malibu Rising
The Little Paris Bookshop
[book:Dial A ..."
These all sound good (I really liked Beach Read) . Dial A for Aunties sounds very fun. I think Malibu Rising might make a good buddy read - the author has a lot of fans here.
NancyJ wrote: "ADDED - I just saw that Becky Chambers (author of Long way to a small angry planet) has TWO NEW books coming out..."Thanks for the heads up, Nancy! I wasn't aware the one had come out already - I'm looking forward to these!
Here are some books that I've liked and think of as lighter, summer reading:Good Eggs
The Sweeney Sisters
Miss Benson's Beetle
Esperanza's Box of Saints
The Lager Queen of Minnesota
Instructions for a Heatwave
The Heirs
The Nest
For fantasy fans, this may not be a typical beach read, but it is delightful. Spoonbenders
Happy reading!
Yes, thrilled for this tag! @Cindy - tagmash? what is this and how do I do it!?
Play Book Tag
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beach reads
Please share your reading plans and recommendations below.
Remember, for the regular monthly reads, the book can be shelved as "beach reads" on Goodreads, or be a book that is not yet shelved that way but you feel should be.
One way to find books to read for this tag is to please visit:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
We encourage people to link to additional lists below if they find them.
Happy Reading!!!