{"id":40875,"date":"2022-07-15T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-15T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omio.com\/window-seat\/?p=40875"},"modified":"2022-07-26T13:35:43","modified_gmt":"2022-07-26T13:35:43","slug":"omios-best-beach-reads-of-2022-omio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omio.com\/window-seat\/culture-lifestyle\/beaches\/omios-best-beach-reads-of-2022-omio\/","title":{"rendered":"Editors\u2019 Picks: Best Beach Reads of 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I remember most of my summer beach reads in a way I don\u2019t my winter tomes. There\u2019s something about laying on a sandy beach, umbrella at the ready or on a hammock after lunch that lets you forget your surroundings and immerse yourself in another world. While everyone else is napping, I am usually glued to the pages of a new book, devouring each page. The words seem to resonate with me, probably because I am truly relaxed when I read them. I am certainly not unique in this activity. Beach reads garner a massive chunk of yearly book sales in the publishing industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tradition of marketing specific books for summer or beach reading dates back to the 19th century. Europe and the United States were in the midst of an Industrial Revolution when agrarian economies were being decimated as people flocked to the cities to work in factories for higher wages. While England still had its rigid class system, America was ripe for change. A new middle class emerged, free from the constraints of the aristocracy and with cash to spare. Summer breaks became the norm, and with them, long train rides to new resort hotels that popped up on seasides across England and America in the mid-1800s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publishing capitalized on this growing leisure market by releasing paperback versions of popular books. They were easy to pack and transport and perfect for that long trip or holiday. Train stations sold a selection of these light reads during the season, and nearly 200 years later, not much has changed. You cannot visit a big bookstore without seeing their best summer beach reads section, and websites such as GoodReads do yearly recommendations ahead of the hotter months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Creative Studio at Omio, we are as much avid readers as we are voracious travelers. We have passionate book discussions on a weekly basis. Discover our picks for the best beach reads for 2022, from historical romance to mystery to classic French fare. We also recommend the best beach destinations to read them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seas the day and don\u2019t get tide down this summer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Books Adapted into Movies and Shows<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The plot of \u201cThe Lost Daughter\u201d also takes place during a beach holiday. Credit: Amazon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Santa Maria al Bagno, on the Ionian Coast of Italy, is worth a visit if only to swim in its crystalline waters. Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If a book does well, a streaming platform or movie studio will eventually buy the rights to adapt it. We live in the golden age of television and these adaptations are often better than the book *coughBridgertoncough*. But we\u2019d still recommend giving the book a read-through before watching any adaptation. Then you can debate with all the other stans about the story changes and oooh and ahhh over the casting *coughJonathanBaileyasAnthonyBridgertoncough*. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2018 book \u201cWhere the Crawdad\u2019s Sing\u201d by Delia Owens has inspired what is probably the most anticipated book adaptation of the summer. Divided into two timelines, it explores the story of a young girl growing up in a North Carolina marsh and the murder investigation of a local teen years later. \u201cLuckiest Girl Alive\u201d is another thriller-cum-movie that will star Mila Kunis and has been compared to Gillian Flynn\u2019s \u201cGone Girl\u201d (aka the only book that made me actually scream at its plot twist, causing everyone in the nearby swimming pool to look up at me).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you liked the iconic Neapolitan Novels<\/a> by Elena Ferrante, you will devour \u201cThe Lost Daughter,\u201d one of her earlier books. The feeling of ennui, the undertones of class struggles and themes of guilt and motherhood were perfectly captured on film by the always amazing Olivia Colman. Finally, Apple TV+ struck gold when acquiring the rights to \u201cPachinko,\u201d a triumphant, engrossing and decades-spanning story about multiple generations in a Korean family. Take this one with you if your holiday is longer as it\u2019s a big one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best beach destination to read adaptations<\/strong>: The Ionian coast, where \u201cThe Lost Daughter\u201d takes place. The little-known Santa Maria al Bagno beach resort<\/a> is quiet and its waters are especially breathtaking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When it comes to rest and relaxation, nothing beats a Greek island vacation\u2014with your favorite beach read, natch. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

New and Notable Summer Books for 2022<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a beach reads connoisseur, you\u2019ll surely be familiar with most of our recommendations. For anyone looking for something new to read and who\u2019s already finished the usual bestselling books, this summer’s list of books is sure to please. I\u2019m looking forward to \u201cLessons in Chemistry,\u201d by Bonnie Garmus, a former copywriter who debuted in the literary world at the age of 64! \u201cOrdinary Monsters\u201d by J.M. Miro is a dark epic fantasy novel that will delight those who enjoyed 2016\u2019s \u201cMiss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1960s New York, Victorian London, present-day Beijing and three different timelines in New York City\u2014this year\u2019s beach reads are all about traveling through time. Credit: Amazon
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\u201cPortrait of a Thief,\u201d by Grace D. Li is a mystery that will keep you glued to its pages: a young Chinese-American student sets up a heist to steal five ancient sculptures looted from Beijing centuries ago. The crew he chooses to help him in this quest will have you thinking of Brad Pitt and George Clooney in Ocean\u2019s Eleven<\/em>! Finally, Hana Yanagihara, a former Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler<\/em> editor and the author of the heartbreaking \u201cA Little Life,\u201d is back with \u201cTo Paradise,\u201d another behemoth of a book\u2014it clocks in at 720 pages\u2014that jumps between three timelines. Ideal for the kind of holiday where you\u2019ll do nothing but reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best beach destination to read new summer books<\/strong>: The Algarve<\/a>, Portugal, is all the rage this year, so what better place to enjoy the book trends of the season?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Algarve, in Portugal, boasts some otherworldly landscapes, such as the Benagil Cave, that are ideal for catching up with the latest literature. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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