Readworthy by BookBub
This Month’s Best New Beach Reads
With summer just around the corner, we’ve rounded up the perfect books to pack in your beach bag! There’s something for every type of reader, whether you’re in the mood for a twisty thriller, a searing family drama, or an unforgettable memoir.
 
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Book cover for Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister
‘Tense, twisty, and an emotional gut punch… A one-sitting read’ (Karin Slaughter)
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • May’s Read with Jenna pick comes highly recommended by Freida McFadden, Lisa Jewell, and Liane Moriarty
  • Simone wakes in the Texas desert to find her teenage daughter kidnapped — and a voice on the phone demanding she do the unthinkable…
  • “A knockout” (Booklist starred review) from a New York Times bestselling author and Reese’s Book Club alum
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Media mentions for Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllisterMEDIA MENTIONS:TODAY Book Club/Read with Jenna, People, The Times, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Booklist
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Book cover for Ironwood by Michael Connelly
On sunny Catalina Island, murder and mystery await…
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • Race through the latest electrifying thriller from a #1 New York Times bestselling author hailed as “one of the best crime writers in the business” (Associated Press)
  • As Detective Stillwell is drawn into a missing person case from four years ago, he turns to LAPD’s Detective Renée Ballard for help — and they find themselves on the trail of an elusive criminal
  • “Crackling dialogue, complex investigations, tricky relationships, escalating suspense, and dogged and inspired sleuthing… Connelly is at his most polished and incisive” (Booklist starred review)
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Media mentions for Ironwood by Michael ConnellyMEDIA MENTIONS:Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Booklist
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Book cover for The Last Mandarin by Mellissa Fung and Louise Penny
An estranged mother-daughter duo race across the world to prevent catastrophe
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • Cowritten by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Armand Gamache series and an award-winning journalist
  • As alarm bells go off simultaneously around the world, the clock starts ticking down — and Vivien and Alice Li must decode an ancient legend to stop a deadly attack
  • “The tight plotting, recognizable world, and complex character relationships make this thriller chillingly relevant and wholly engrossing” (BookPage)
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Media mentions for The Last Mandarin by Mellissa Fung and Louise PennyMEDIA MENTIONS:People, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Booklist, BookPage
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Book cover for June Baby by Shannon Garvey
Take it from Elin Hilderbrand: June Baby is ‘the book of the summer!’
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • In the wake of tragedy and shocking revelations, Ruth must reexamine what she thought she knew about her past — and decide her future
  • Will transport readers to a lush island off the coast of New England
  • “Absorbing and moving, I loved every second of my time with Ruth on the island” (New York Times bestselling author Sarah Blake)
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Media mentions for June Baby by Shannon GarveyMEDIA MENTIONS:TODAY Show, People, Parade, The Boston Globe, Booklist
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Book cover for The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff
Fans of Little Fires Everywhere will be riveted by this buzzy page-turner
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • One of the must-read books of summer 2026, according to Oprah Daily
  • April and Leo’s marriage is on the brink of collapse — and then their house catches fire. In the aftermath, they must navigate guilt, painful memories, and long-hidden secrets
  • “A masterpiece — deep, riveting, and heartfelt” (Emma Grey, author of Pictures of You)
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Media mentions for The Burning Side by Sarah DamoffMEDIA MENTIONS:Book of the Month, Oprah Daily, Indie Next List, Publishers Weekly
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Book cover for Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About by Isabel Klee
Don’t miss this #1 New York Times bestselling memoir with a screen adaptation on the way!
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • As Isabel Klee searched for love and purpose in New York City, she discovered her life’s true passion: rehabilitating rescue dogs and helping them find their forever homes
  • If you’ve ever loved a furry friend, you’ll be moved by this candid and heartfelt read
  • Publishers Weekly declares, “Readers will be charmed”
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Media mentions for Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About by Isabel KleeMEDIA MENTIONS:NPR, People, Elle, Parade, Rolling Stone, Publishers Weekly
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Book cover for The Shippers by Katherine Center
All aboard a cruise ship destination wedding in this ‘charming escapist romp’ (Booklist)
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • The New York Times bestselling author of The Bodyguard and The Rom-Commers delivers another surefire hit
  • To get over her fixation on her first crush, JoJo hatches a plan to woo him. But involving Cooper, the man who broke her heart, could have unintended consequences…
  • “The characters’ sparkling banter effortlessly captures their long-standing intimacy. It’s a joy to watch their friends-to-lovers journey unfold” (Publishers Weekly starred review)
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Media mentions for The Shippers by Katherine CenterMEDIA MENTIONS:Book of the Month, TODAY Show, People, Smart Bitches Trashy Books, Indie Next List, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Booklist
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Book cover for The Oracle’s Daughter by Harrison Hill
This harrowing portrait of a religious cult has ‘the propulsive feel of a novel’ (The New York Times)
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • Learn about the rise and fall of the Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps through the stories of its cruel leader, an early member, and the founder’s daughter
  • “Troubling, uplifting, heartbreaking, unforgettable… A masterwork of narrative nonfiction” (Pulitzer Prize–winning author Ron Suskind)
  • “A story about the terror of losing the self — but it’s also, gratifyingly, a story about finding the way back to it” (NPR)
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Media mentions for The Oracle’s Daughter by Harrison HillMEDIA MENTIONS:NPR, The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, Oprah Daily, People, Town & Country, The Guardian, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Literary Hub
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AmazonOther formats and retailers
Book cover for The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline
‘An unforgettable page-turner’ (Adriana Trigiani) from a historical fiction powerhouse
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • In 19th-century North Carolina, sisters Sarah and Adelaide marry world-famous conjoined twins from Siam
  • The beloved author of Orphan Train delivers a mesmerizing tale inspired by her