I can’t think of a better way to spend a summer day than on the beach, sporting a cute bathing suit and Bow Baseball Hat, with a book I simply can’t put down. Sadly, though I wouldn’t trade it for the world, my days on the beaches of Stone Harbor, New Jersey this upcoming August will be spent chasing my 1- and 3-year-old boys around as they try to eat sand and casually steal beach toys from other families’ set-ups.
I do, however, indulge in a chapter of whatever suspense novel I am reading as I drift off to sleep at night. Ever since reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn when it was first published, I have been completely hooked on the psychological thriller genre. After long days filled with boys, bows, and everything in between, I always make time to let myself get lost in a few pages of whatever I am currently reading. This has amounted to A LOT of utterly amazing works of fiction over the years, so I’ve compiled a short list of some favorites for anyone looking for a book recommendation in my favorite genre.
- The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
I love so many of Ruth Ware’s novels, but The Woman in Cabin 10 is definitely my favorite (I wouldn’t recommend reading this one on a cruise ship though!). Her books have all been page-turners, but they’re definitely not the quickest or lightest reads on my list.
- Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
This isn’t the only book of hers I would recommend, but it definitely stands out as my favorite aside from Big Little Lies, which Reese Witherspoon made into an equally good TV series. Nine Perfect Strangers definitely lived up to the high expectations I have of Liane’s books. And I JUST found out Hulu is releasing a miniseries in August based on the book starring Nicole Kidman! Can’t wait to watch that one.
- The Paradise Trilogy by Elin Hilderbrand
I started the first of the Paradise trilogy, “Winter in Paradise”, when I needed a break from some of the really dark and twisted books I had been reading leading up to it. This series was the perfect combination of suspense mixed with lightheartedness and relatability to the characters. I absolutely loved the first and second books in this trilogy and couldn’t wait for the third book to be released. I was slightly disappointed in the third, but I think that had to do with the amount of time that had passed between reading the second and third as well as the very high expectations I had of it. I would absolutely recommend the entire trilogy as excellent beach reads.
- The Guest List by Lucy Foley
This was the first of her books I read, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a book I loved. It is a suspenseful page-turner but not the quickest read. Unfortunately, I haven’t found other books by her that I love nearly as much, but I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who likes this genre.
- Then She Was Gone & Watching You by Lisa Jewell
I absolutely loved Then She Was Gone and Watching You and couldn’t put either of them down. These are my favorites by Lisa Jewell. I’ve read several others by her and have been equally impressed. She has quite a way with twisted family dramas, but these two are the ones I would absolutely recommend. Make sure you have a good block of free time, because you won’t be able to put them down!
I have SO many more books in this genre that I’ll be recommending to you. I’ll try to introduce you to as many authors as I can; I have so many favorites! I’m hoping at least one on this list piques your interest until my next list. If this is your genre, like it is mine, I promise my recommendations won’t let you down. So grab your sunscreen and Bow Baseball Hat, and dive into one of these page-turners. Happy reading!