Books To Read By The Beach Novels & Stories

She looked pampered and polished and expensive, like a trophy on display. "There's a book on the nightstand," Lena said quietly as the others began packing up their supplies. "The boss thought you might want something to read while you wait." I walked back to the bedroom on legs that felt like they belonged to someone else. The book was waiting for me on the nightstand, a novel I had never heard of with a cover that showed a woman standing at the edge of a cliff, looking out at a stormy sea. I picked it up and settled into the chair by the window, the silk of my dress rustling against the upholstery.

The tension slowly left her shoulders. As she neared Sea’s Edge, following the guide of her GPS almost religiously, the air grew saltier and the scent of the ocean became more pronounced. Lila felt a thrill of anticipation as she drove down a low hill and caught a glimpse of the sparkling blue sea. The town itself was charming, with quaint cottages, colorful shops and narrow streets lines with the greenest bushes and shrubs. She found the bookshop easily – it was a small, inviting building with a sign that read “Seaside Reads.” Lila parked her car and took a moment to compose herself before stepping out. This was it, her new beginning.

"There's one in Capitol Hill open until eleven. We could just browse. No agenda." "Okay. Pick me up in twenty." The bookstore is quiet. Soft lighting. The smell of coffee and paper. We split up. An unspoken agreement to explore separately. I find him thirty minutes later in the poetry section, reading with complete focus. "Find anything?" I ask. He shows me a collection by Mary Oliver. "I didn't know I liked poetry. But this is—it's beautiful." "Buy it." "I will." We leave with five books between us. None of them self-help or business strategy. Just novels and poetry and a cookbook.