The best beach listens to kick summer 2021 off right

The best beach listens to kick summer 2021 off right

Let's face it: last summer wasn't up to our usual standard. Instead of chilling on the beach with our best buds and best snacks, we were navigating summer in a pandemic, worrying about our loved ones and the world as we sweated under our masks and stayed six feet apart.

This year, for many of us, holds the promise of summers past. We're gathering again, and thanks to loosened travel restrictions, even traveling to farther-flung beaches—which means bringing along the right books. But what is considered a "beach read," anyway? A breezy, escapist novel? Genre fiction? A marketing ploy? My cohosts Margaret, Melissa, Tricia, and I recently , and while we debated the definition (and our personal picks), one thing we agreed on was that beach listening trumps beach reading. Forget awkward tan lines and lounging positions: just pop on your headphones and try some of the 10 best listens to start summer—and Pride month—right!

Ready for even more beach listening? Check out the full episode of on Audible now.