Most genre descriptors make logical sense—fantasy has magic, science fiction has advanced technology, mysteries have, well, a mystery. Look underneath the bigger genre umbrellas and you’ll find smaller, more specific ones, like epic fantasy, space operas, and domestic thrillers. 

But some genre descriptors don’t seem to describe much of anything. A “beach read”? What is that supposed to mean? People bring their usual taste in books on vacation, don’t they? Is it meant to mean any book released in the summer? Or do publishers pick certain kinds of books to be on the stands when people are going to the airport for a vacation? 

Unlike some of the more obvious genre categories, what defines a beach read isn’t set in stone. There are a variety of ways a book might qualify as a beach read, which means there are plenty of ways for you, as an author, to set out to write one. 

It’s Set . . . at the Beach! 

Elin Hilderbrand is widely considered to be the queen of the beach read. An alumna of the legendary Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Hilderbrand is famous for books set in the beach town of Nantucket. Her books often center on romantic relationships, family tensions, business struggles and successes, and, of course, the beach. 

Even if you’ve never read Hilderbrand’s books, you’d probably be able to clock one of her titles by the cover image alone—something like Adirondack chairs by the water or flip flops on the sand. Her books are beach reads in the obvious sense of being set at the beach, but the beach setting is also deeply important to her characters. Nantucket, you could say, is its own character. 

Realistic fiction is obviously easy to set at the beach, and you’ll get bonus points if your setting is a small beach town with beloved characters and charming houses. Lots of cozy mystery series focus on beach towns, making them the perfect beach mysteries. 

It’s Lighthearted . . . Mostly

The other way in which Hilderbrand’s books are the quintessential beach read is that the conflicts are light. That isn’t to say that they aren’t serious—Hilderbrand’s close examination of interpersonal relationships and women’s struggles to fulfill their romantic desires are as finely drawn as any of her fellow graduates of the Iowa program.

But Hilderbrand’s books aren’t frightening or disturbing. There are no serial killers stalking the streets of Hilderbrand’s Nantucket, and she stays so far away from touching on real world political events that some have criticized her for it. Hilderbrand can take her reader through a whole roller coaster of emotions, but not the kind where you’d need to watch some videos of puppies as a palate cleanser afterward. 

As with Hilderbrand’s example, realistic fiction is pretty easy to keep relatively breezy, assuming you aren’t writing true crime (though dedicated true crime fans would happily take those titles seaside!).

But any genre of fiction can skew lighter if you want it to, even horror. Think of the fun of old slasher movies that feature fun jump scares and campy villains over gore and despair. 

It’s Immersive

Ask a beach reader what they look for when they’re picking out titles for their trip, and they might have a lot of preferences. But “can’t put it down” is probably at the top of every list. 

No one wants to read a book they won’t like. But when packing for a vacation, many readers really want something they know they’ll enjoy. And while we’ve covered the enjoyment of subject matter no darker than PG-13 and the nice effect of a beachy setting, your beach read still cannot do without a plot that grabs readers. 

As a writer, you know there’s nothing like the feeling of losing time as you only move to turn the pages of an especially enthralling book. Your readers want the same thing. And at the beach, they really want it to be a story that will drag them in and never let go.

Hilderbrand is again the master here. Say what you want about love triangles and forbidden romances, but there’s a reason they’ve become cliches: they’re a surefire way to keep readers staying up late to find out what happens next. 

Think about what people do at the beach. They swim, snack, nap, and what else? Sit on the beach! Often for hours on end, while children are playing or drinks are being brought to them poolside. For most harried adults, time in a beautiful place with nothing to do is the ideal vacation. And what better time to put down your phone and pick up a book? 

Entertain Your Readers

Literary fiction with winding prose has its place. So do tough stories about upsetting issues.

But if your goal as a writer is to produce a book that will curl at the edges from contact with saltwater and have sand stuck in the binding, then all you have to do is give your readers the gift of entertainment. 

Chelsea Ennen is a writer living in Brooklyn with her husband and her dog. When not writing or reading, she is a fiber and textile artist who sews, knits, crochets, weaves, and spins.