Beach Reads 2023 Novels & Stories

“I’d like to know how that works.” “I heard that.” He brushed his lips across my temple. “Come on. I’ll introduce you to our models.” I slipped my sandals off before stepping onto the white sand. The beach was surrounded by rocks and ran straight out into crystal-clear turquoise water. This place was like a little slice of paradise—the places you see as backdrop for shoots like these and wonder if they’re real. “Gina, this is Reah.” He motioned to a gorgeous dark-haired girl. She gave me a wan smile and George turns my attention to her companion. “And this is Derrick.”

June 18th Vanessa’s POV The day was bright enough to sting my eyes when we stepped onto the beach. The salt-heavy wind curled through my hair, tugging at the hem of my sundress as Liam dashed ahead with Gwen and James, their laughter carrying across the sand like a melody I hadn’t heard in too long. Mandi walked beside me, balancing a cooler on her hip, her husband trailing with folded beach chairs. The tide glittered in the distance, rolling waves flashing like polished glass. I felt the corners of my lips lift, hesitant but real.

The july morning could not be more beautiful as Riven looked out into the water. The sea was like a mirror, already there was heat shimmer rising from the pebbles of the beach. Riven pulled on a pair of beach shorts as his girlfriend, Wrenda donned a pair of her bikini bottoms. They both walked out of the back door onto the beach and down to the sea for a refreshing dip. He lagged behind slightly so he could cunningly be able to see her perfect bottom wiggle in her bikini briefs.

I go out the door and the cold hits me and I walk. The beach is dark and the water is loud and I walk until my feet find the wet sand and I stop and let the cold come up between my toes. The waves come in slow and the wind is low and I stand there and breathe and think about nothing, which means I think about everything. The whole vacation so far, this morning, the beach, the disaster that was this night. Amelia kissing Cain. My throat tightened.

The colour left her face. During the weekend, Nobody decided. It just became true. The first Friday, Emma drove to the beach house. The beach house in October was a different thing entirely from the beach house in June. No heat shimmer off the deck. No Lily in a swimsuit draped across the outdoor furniture. Just grey-green water and low clouds and the particular smell of salt and approaching rain, and Marcus at the kitchen window watching her pull into the drive with an expression that said he had been watching for headlights longer than he intended to admit.

The july morning could not be more beautiful as Riven looked out into the water. The sea was like a mirror, already there was heat shimmer rising from the pebbles of the beach. Riven pulled on a pair of beach shorts as his girlfriend, Wrenda donned a pair of her bikini bottoms. They both walked out of the back door onto the beach and down to the sea for a refreshing dip. He lagged behind slightly so he could cunningly be able to see her perfect bottom wiggle in her bikini briefs.

Tossing my shirt onto the lounger, I all but tripped over my flip flops trying to follow her. ***Sarah POV*** The sand was warm between my toes as I ran towards the water. I’d never been to the beach before and seeing the ocean up this close was something I had always wanted. I stopped at the edge of the water, letting the waves splash up over my toes. It wasn't as cold as I'd thought it would be. “Sarah?” Dom asked, and I looked over my shoulder at him. “Never have I ever been to the beach.” I giggled and he grabbed my hand.

I knew it was time for me to go to wherever the dead were meant to go, whether that was heaven, hell, or eternal nothingness. But before I left, I wanted to see Ron one last time. When I found him, he was on a small Greek island, renting a seaside house. Every morning, he sat on the terrace watching the ocean. In the afternoon, he went into town to buy bread. At night, he drank until he fell asleep. He had aged a lot. His hair had begun to turn white. His eyes were always red. That evening at dusk, he was drunk again, slumped over the table, clutching a photo frame holding our engagement photo. I did not know where he found it. One corner was burned, but I could still see my face.

Chapter 1: Heatwave at the Beach The summer heatwave had turned the beach into a paradise of golden sand, crashing waves, and half-naked bodies. I was spending the day with friends, aslounging on my towel in a tiny red bikini that barely covered anything. My skin was already glistening with sunscreen and sweat. That’s when I noticed him again. The new lifeguard — tall, tanned, muscular, probably in his late 30s, with short dark hair, sharp eyes hidden behind sunglasses, and a body that looked like it was carved for rescue work. His name tag read “Rhett.”

He needs to rest a lot, I don’t want him to push himself that much. “Oh by the way, where is the beach we are going to this time?” Judeo asked while taking a sip of some juice. “I am not sure, he gave me the map towards it let me check,” I took out the itinerary that he gave to me. “The clam beach is a private resort that most people that live here have a hard time to buy it because it’s expensive,” I mumbled while reading the paper, “All of the structures there including the hotel, sight-seeing, and the beach are very high class,”