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Whether you’re curled up with a glass of white wine in a linen button-down or just dreaming of salty breezes and seaside cafes, these books will transport you straight into your Coastal Grandma fantasy. Here are some standout reads to match the aesthetic; vibes include sea captains, weathered beach houses, bittersweet romance, and a whole lot of heart.
Scroll to see all the books you should read if you're in your Coastal Grandmother era this summer!
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It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
Waterfront cafes, a grumpy yet gorgeous sea captain, and twinkling marinas in the small fishing town of Westport? Where do I sign up? If you’re interested in setting foot inside this cozy, coastal town, pick up It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey. As a nominee for the 2021 Goodreads Choice Award, readers couldn’t get enough of the sizzling romance between Brenden, the seemingly stand-offish sea captain, and Piper, the “cancelled” influencer from LA, who’s escaping the big city in order to lay low and learn some values after a lifetime of too much partying.
What makes this book extra special is that Tessa Bailey loosely based Piper’s story arc and persona on Alexis Rose in Schitt’s Creek. We love that journey for her!
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Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Set in the fictionalized seaside manor of Manderlay, the classic literary novel Rebecca tells the tale of what happens to a woman when she’s deemed “too much.” Too beautiful, too intelligent, too charismatic. It’s a brilliant yet chilling piece of literature with a gorgeous beachy backdrop and seaside views. But be warned: this isn’t exactly what we’d call a light and breezy beach read. Despite its cozy, coastal, and almost Victorian aesthetic, Daphne du Maurier’s novel has a rather Gothic twist. If you love this interesting mix of “cozy goth” aesthetic and want to brush up on your feminist literature, be sure to check this book out.
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Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman
Elio and Oliver are the leading love interests in André Aciman’s daring book, Call Me By Your Name. Yet one of the unspoken romances throughout the novel is the relationship readers have with the location, poetically labeled as “somewhere in Northern Italy.” Although Acciman purposefully doesn’t give a name to the town Elio and Oliver bike around in, it’s certainly a coastal dreamland. Gushing Italian sunsets, apricot trees, lakes where Monet once came to paint… If you want to spend some time inside the coastal town of Italy, yet can’t afford the flight just yet, no sweat. Call Me By Your Name will take you there as soon as you open the first page.
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People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
If you’re looking for a lighter beach read yet with just enough drama to keep it interesting, check out People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. A friends-to-lovers romance set alongside the ocean? Don’t mind if I do! While this fun little book explores coastal landscapes, it also lands you in several cities throughout the US alongside the leading love interests. So when you finish reading, you’ll feel like you’ve just travelled the country!
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Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
The highly praised HBO series starring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon is based on this incredible novel by Liane Moriarty. I love all the characters in this book, especially Madeline. But my favorite character of all is the location. Set in a fictitious Australian town, this book is bursting with oceanside cafes, nautical aesthetics, and dreamy beaches. If you thought the HBO series’ setting was impressive, wait till you crack open this book!
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When We Believed In Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal
When We Believed In Mermaids is a gut-wrenching, award-winning novel about sisterhood and all the heartache/beauty that comes with it. This #coastalfiction novel has a gorgeous oceanside backdrop, yet even more beautiful is the love these women have for one another. No wonder it’s a bestseller!
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The Body by Stephen King
Stephen King may be known for writing scary novels, yet the only thing “scary” about The Body by Stephen King is how underrated it is. Set in the coastal town of Portland, Maine, during the 1950s, this book explores themes of friendship, love, and what it means to feel like an outsider in an era where you’re expected to blend into the mold. If this sounds at all familiar, it’s because this is the book that the movie Stand by Me is directly based on! If you’re a huge fan of that movie (and if you have a beating heart, you’re a fan), then I highly recommend you read the novella as well.
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The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
The Last Song is one of Nicholas Sparks’ most coastal novels to date. The moment you open this book, you’ll feel just as though you’ve landed upon the white sand beaches of this small town, filled with the sound of crying seagulls, foghorns in the distance, and ocean waves fizzling at your feet. Its setting and heartfelt storyline will pull at your heartstrings.
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Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
Wide Sargasso Sea is a gorgeous work of literature written by Jean Rhys in the 1960s. It takes place in Jamaica and is filled with colorful, sensory details that’ll make you feel as though you’ve escaped your current setting and have entered the charming atmosphere of the island, filled with the lush scent of blossoms and salty ocean breeze.
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The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton
The lead protagonist may be suffering from the heartache of a recent divorce, yet there’s nothing to cry about when it comes to her stunning seaside views! This novel perfectly captures the Coastal Grandma aesthetic, and I personally couldn’t put it down!
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