New England Summer Book Recs

and other must haves for your next trip to the coast

If there’s anything I’m notorious for among people who know me, it’s that I cannot stand to be hot. I’d like my whole life to be experienced in max blast AC, thank you very much. You’ll be hard pressed to convince me to leave my house during the summer, especially to spend time outside. I have to be coaxed out with a few key requirements before I will agree to sun exposure and a chance of sweating. Namely a picturesque body of water, a summery book, a cold beverage, seafood nearby, and an escape route back to the AC the moment I’m ready. When these conditions are met, I could spend days on end reading by the ocean or in the pool, happily soaking up the sun and yes, even being hot. In fact, come July I start to constantly crave it.

I was born in Massachusetts, and even though my parents moved us to Georgia when I was still a baby, I’ve spent large chunks of time in New England throughout almost every year of my life. Some of my earliest memories are of beach trips to tiny northeastern states- collecting seashells while holding my grandfather’s hand in Cape Cod, watching in horror as my parents submerged lobsters in a pot for dinner in Newport, RI, playing tirelessly in the waves with my younger cousins in Salisbury, MA. It’s probably because of those moments that I have a fond, romanticized view of New England beach towns and a tendency to devour books with these coastal settings, why I wait all year for lobster rolls and briny east coast oysters with horseradish and vinegary mignonette, why I buy hydrangeas for my kitchen any time I see them in a store.

As I’m currently planning my next rendezvous to the shore, I thought I would share some books best read by the water, along with a few other tips and sentiments suited for summer. In this post you’ll find my favorite beachside sandwich spot in New York City, the one item I will not go to the beach without, and my favorite summertime reads that will transport you to a beach even if there isn’t one at your disposal. Happy reading and beaching!

You Might Want These…

Before I get into books, let’s talk about what to pack in your beach bag. As you may have gleaned from the opening paragraph, I’m a woman who cannot stand to be uncomfortable or inconvenienced. I deeply resonate with that one Kim Cattrall quote - “I don’t want to be in a situation for even an hour where I’m not enjoying myself”. A large reason I used to avoid the beach was because of this - the sand, the heat, laying uncomfortably on a damp towel in said sand, the lack of a bathroom. But I think I’ve managed to overcome many of these prickly little obstacles. You will still, however, have to find a bathroom without me.

I really want to stay away from unnecessary product recommendations and rampant consumerism here on this platform, so when I recommend a product please just know that I LOVE IT. This “BeachBack” inflatable situation is singlehandedly the best thing I have bought this calendar year and perhaps beyond. It revolutionized my beach experience and allowed me to actually be comfortable and read a book without dropping it on my face or squinting directly into the sun. There are multiple, easily inflated sections so you can decide how steep the incline is, it folds down into the size of a paperback, AND it’s made out of this super soft microfiber fabric. You may be able to sense my intense joy below.

My other (less groundbreaking) necessity is a continuous spray water bottle to cool yourself down periodically. This particular type of bottle actually uses very little water, and after copiously spraying myself all day I had hardly put a dent in it. I’m not always interested in getting up and trekking down to the water, submerging myself, subjecting myself to sand and saltiness - so this is a big help. Highly recommend for any other fussy beach goers. Add in a handheld fan and you’re in business, baby.

Books to bring: J Courtney Sullivan

Last July I spent a week at that same stretch of Salisbury beach from my childhood reading through J Courtney Sullivan’s backlog. One of my most anticipated reads this summer is her new release, The Cliffs, which I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of. Even so, I haven’t cracked it open yet - I’m waiting for the perfect sandy, sunny moment to dive in. Does anyone else save special books for special moments? I can’t fathom reading this one in New York City. I need waves in sight and white wine in hand. Sullivan’s books, while beachy, are not “beach reads” necessarily - and that works perfectly for me. I like a little messiness and a little depth in my books, no matter the time of year or setting. Her books weave in concepts that tend to draw me in - multigenerational family dramas + traumas, stories told over time, lobster rolls.

Last summer in Salisbury, MA

MAINE

“For the Kellehers, Maine is a place where children run in packs, showers are taken outdoors, and old Irish songs are sung around a piano. As three generations of Kelleher women arrive at the family's beach house, each brings her own hopes and fears. Maggie is thirty-two and pregnant, waiting for the perfect moment to tell her imperfect boyfriend the news; Ann Marie, a Kelleher by marriage, is channeling her domestic frustration into a dollhouse obsession and an ill-advised crush; Kathleen, the black sheep, never wanted to set foot in the cottage again; and Alice, the matriarch at the center of it all, would trade every floorboard for a chance to undo the events of one night, long ago.”

SAINTS FOR ALL OCCASIONS

“Nora and Theresa Flynn are twenty-one and seventeen when they leave their small village in Ireland and journey to America. Fifty years later, Nora is the matriarch of a big Catholic family with four grown children. Estranged from her sister, Theresa is a cloistered nun, living in an abbey in rural Vermont. Until, after decades of silence, a sudden death forces Nora and Theresa to confront the choices they made so long ago.”

THE CLIFFS (in my suitcase + TBR)

“On a secluded bluff overlooking the ocean sits a Victorian house, lavender with gingerbread trim, a home that contains a century's worth of secrets. By the time Jane Flanagan discovers the house as a teenager, it has long been abandoned. Twenty years later, now a Harvard archivist, she returns home to Maine following a terrible mistake that threatens both her career and her marriage. Jane is horrified to find the Victorian is now barely recognizable. The new owner, Genevieve, a summer person from Beacon Hill, has gutted it. She hires Jane to research the history of the place and the women who lived there. The story Jane uncovers--of lovers lost at sea, romantic longing, shattering loss, artistic awakening, historical artifacts stolen and sold, and the long shadow of colonialism--is even older than Maine itself.”

PS: would you prefer I keep in the synopses here in the post, or would you rather click out and read them every time? It makes the post quite long, but I also like having the info accessible. Do we want a quick sentence glimpse instead? Let me know what you think!

Books to Bring: Adrienne Brodeur

Brodeur’s novels have a sensationally strong sense of place that will transport you to Cape Cod (though in the case of Wild Game you may want to stay far away). While Little Monsters is still on my TBR (and in a beach bag covered in sand from a beach day last month during which I never opened the book, too busy enjoying the company of my friends), I have it on good authority that it’s worth reading. You may notice a pattern emerging - these are books with a darker edge, best suited for those who enjoy tense + intense reading experiences, even in peaceful environments. There may be something to this preference that I need to uncover in therapy at a later date, but for now I’ll say it’s due to their propulsive and enthralling nature - which is also true! Even so, I still would say they’re best consumed in a coastal town before heading to a sprawling seafood spread for dinner.

WILD GAME

This book reads like fiction but is in fact a memoir - it is singular and shocking and stunningly written.

“On a hot July night on Cape Cod when Adrienne was fourteen, her mother, Malabar, woke her at midnight with five simple words that would set the course of both of their lives for years to come: Ben Souther just kissed me. Adrienne instantly became her mother's confidante and helpmate, blossoming in the sudden light of her attention, and from then on, Malabar came to rely on her daughter to help orchestrate what would become an epic affair with her husband's closest friend. The affair would have calamitous consequences for everyone involved, impacting Adrienne's life in profound ways, driving her into a precarious marriage of her own, and then into a deep depression. Only years later will she find the strength to embrace her life--and her mother--on her own terms.”

LITTLE MONSTERS (in my suitcase + TBR)

“Ken and Abby Gardner lost their mother when they were small and they have been haunted by her absence ever since. Their father, Adam, a brilliant oceanographer, raised them mostly on his own in his remote home on Cape Cod, where the attachment between Ken and Abby deepened into something complicated--and as adults their relationship is strained. Now, years later, the siblings' lives are still deeply entwined. Set in the fraught summer of 2016, Little Monsters is a "smart, page-flipping novel...[with] shades of Succession" (The Boston Globe) from a writer who knows Cape Cod inside and out--its Edenic lushness and its snakes.”

Books to Bring: Sandwich

I read Catherine Newman’s We All Want Impossible Things last year, which surprised and delighted me with its charm despite being an incredibly sad story. I have heard only good things about Sandwich, and I’m looking forward to diving into this one soon.

SANDWICH (in my suitcase + my TBR)

“For the past two decades, Rocky has looked forward to her family's yearly escape to Cape Cod. Their humble beach-town rental has been the site of sweet memories, sunny days, great meals, and messes of all kinds: emotional, marital, and--thanks to the cottage's ancient plumbing--septic too. This year's vacation, with Rocky sandwiched between her half-grown kids and fully aging parents, promises to be just as delightful as summers past--except, perhaps, for Rocky's hormonal bouts of rage and melancholy. (Hello, menopause!) And when Rocky comes face to face with her family's history and future, she is forced to accept that she can no longer hide her secrets from the people she loves.”

Speaking of Sandwiches…

I am going to share my precious secrets here for those of you who are fellow NYC dwellers. Getting to Rockaway can be a hassle, and after only one instance of taking three different trains to get there and walking way too far in the heat searching for a decent spot, I knew I’d never do that again. So instead, I’ve devised a perfect Rockaway day itinerary.

First, you’ll take the ferry from Pier 11/Wall St. Even if you don’t live close to that station, it’s worth it to take the subway and start your day there - and it’s key to this itinerary. You’ll need to get there pretty early to get a seat on the ferry, but there are lots of coffee shops around. They recently added an option for Rockaway Reserve, which is $10 each way but guarantees you a spot on the boat if you want that reassurance. Getting on early means you get a spot on the top rather than inside, which I recommend for the unbelievable Manhattan skyline views.

When you get to the Rockaway ferry stop, you’ll walk about 5 minutes towards the ocean before hitting Board Walk Bagel & Delicatessen, one of my very favorite places ever. You have to be prepared for chaos - it gets packed in there. But the team has it down to a science, and they will get you right in and right out. Don’t order ahead - you usually end up waiting longer. I recommend their iced coffee, which is out of this world, and a chicken salad sandwich on a toasted bagel. If that’s not your jam, don’t worry - their menu is HUGE.

Once you have your sustenance, walk the remaining couple of minutes to the beach. You’ll be close to the bathrooms, close to coffee shops and restaurants, and there’s always a spot even when it’s crowded. If you feel like having some seafood after you’re done beaching (duh), you can grab oysters and a bev on the roof at the Rockaway Hotel, a gorgeous boutique hotel that is too expensive for me to justify staying overnight a few miles from home but is ideal for dropping by. They also offer day passes to their pool, so you can lounge there if you don’t mind dropping some cash for access to some non-salty water, cocktails at the bar, and the chance you may be able to snag a pool chair.

Board Walk Bagel & Delicatessen // Rockaway Hotel snapshots

Another long one, but thank you if you stuck around this long. Hope you’re on a beach somewhere soon, relaxing on your BeachBack and reading a tense beach book!

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