Romance Beach Reads to Pack This Summer: Tropes, History & 2025 Book Recs

In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, we talk about what even is a beach read in 2025? I’m joined by Victoria from BiblioLifestyle, and we’re diving into the surprisingly rich history of beach reads, from their early 1900s roots to the Instagrammable versions we see today.

We’re also unpacking what makes a perfect beach read (hint: it’s totally different for everyone), and of course, we’re sharing 5 fresh romance recommendations that are perfect for your summer reading list.

📚 Books Mentioned:

• Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood

• It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

• Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews

• Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

• Fan Favorite by Adrienne Gunn

📖 Links & Resources:

• New Yorker Article – “The Invention of the Beach Read”

• Summer Reading Guide 2025

• Victoria’s Blog

🔗 Related Blog Posts from Under the Covers:

• 2025 Kindle Unlimited Romance Beach Reads

• Queer Summer 2025 Romance Books

📺 What to Watch Next:

• Mid-Year Romance Check-In with Guest Reviewer Jen

• July 2025 Romance New Releases to Add to Your TBR

🎧 Don't forget to follow the show and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode, it helps more romance readers find us!

✨ If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! It helps more romance readers find us, and I always love hearing what books you’re excited about. See you next time! 💕

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