We are well into the dog days of summer! And while the days are longer and hotter, my novels of choice this time of year tend to be shorter and rapid in consumption.
Yes, we’re talking beach reads in all their light-hearted glory.
The beach read is so coined as it’s a perfect companion suited for leisurely beach vacations or relaxed summer days. This usually features captivating storytelling, vibrant settings, and relatable characters embarking on delightful adventures or romantic escapades. This means rom-coms fit nicely into this beach-read subgenre.
It’s easy to see why so many of us pick up these books regardless of actually being on vacation! They offer an escape from reality, provide a sense of relaxation, and gift you with a breezy writing style.
And while these stories are chuck full of humorous moments and an uplifting tone, there are certain tropes that––like any genre––are commonly recognized and expected by readers. This means we astute writers strive to twist these expectations in fun and clever ways.
So, kick back in your lounge chair with a daiquiri, and read over this list of beach read tropes. If you’re plotting a beach read of your own, think about how you can include some of these tropes with a fresh approach.
Beach Setting
This one is a bit obvious. “Beach read” had to come from somewhere. But a beach or coastal location often plays a central role in the story (unless you’re Emily Henry writing the book Beach Read that has a surprising lack of beach.)
The sand, sun, and surf provide a picturesque and carefree backdrop for the events of your story to unfurl. While a beach is not required, usually a summer seasonality is included in a beach read. Which lends itself to some summer steam…
Summer Romance
Danny and Sandy said it best with Summer Lovin’. It usually is a blast and happens (so) fast. The story revolves around a passionate and often fleeting romantic relationship that blossoms during the summer months.
This can obviously go one of two ways. The summer ends and the couple part ways with affectionate memories and nothing more. OR they fight for love and make it work despite whatever conflict meets them at the end of summer.
Beach Sports and Activities
With a beachy setting, naturally comes beachy activities. I’m talking surfing, beach volleyball, sailing, snorkeling, sandcastle building, and the like! But other recreational activities can be included.
This is the fun of research. You can create scenes with leisure/sport activities common to your selected setting––or make things up. These activities can easily add a sense of excitement and competition (perhaps between bitter rivals or flirtatious love interests?)
Parties
When thinking of activities and events, nothing is more quintessential to a summertime story than a carefree outdoor-set party. This could be anything from a lively beach bash, Fourth of July barbecues, adventurous bonfires, and other social events where characters gather to have fun, forge new connections, or celebrate.
Coming of Age
A summer vacation is a great opportunity to put protagonists in a new setting that forces them to undergo personal growth, self-discovery, or a transformative experience.
While coming of age is far from exclusive to a beach read, this wanderlusting sense of self-change is perfectly suited for the relaxed backdrop of a summer read. The conflicts may be more internal or lower stakes in a beach read (not much world-saving or enemy-vanquishing here).
Faking it
The fake relationship trope is one of my favorites, and I love when authors incorporate this in clever and comedic ways. The main characters pretend to be in a romantic relationship for various reasons, such as to make someone jealous or to fulfill a specific goal, but end up falling in love for real.
But it doesn’t have to be a fake dating scenario. The protagonist could be faking proficiency for a summer job. Or they have to fake certain attributes about their lives to please their judgmental family.
The characters usually “fake it till they make it” and discover something about themselves that has always lived under the surface, or things crash and burn when the truth gets exposed.
Family Secrets
Summer can really heat things up. And while this is excellent for steaming up a romance, it also works for building family drama. Beach reads often bring families together for extended periods of time––on vacation and in close quarters. When everyone’s business starts to overlap, that’s when the secrets start to ooze.
Friends Reunited
The nice part of stories that take place during summer (or some holiday) means that characters may travel or find themselves in locations outside of their norm. This gives a perfect opportunity for people of the protagonist’s past to crawl out of the woodwork.
Often this reconnection leads to reminiscing, unresolved feelings, and the possibility of rekindled friendships or romance. The situation may push this reunion forward, but it’s the reunion that sets forward the change/growth in the character.
This trope can include both the reveal of long-held secrets or new scandalous scenarios playing out through the course of events.
Fish out of Water
The protagonist or other primary character enters the scene from a different environment or social background. This is the out-of-towner, the loner finding themselves intermingling with a popular clique, the lottery winner at a luxury resort for the first time.
The character easily finds themselves out of their comfort zone. Often, this leads to them growing or changing the attitudes of those around them––maybe even a mixture of both!
Second Chance
At love. At Life. At their career. You name it!
Since personal discovery and a helping of soul-searching are common in these stories, it provides an excellent avenue for protagonists to discover they don’t have to be stuck in their miserable circumstances. They can have a second shot if they go after it.
This will probably lead to the character trying and failing at this second chance, so they might truly succeed during their third or fourth chance. But that tension (and try/fail cycle) is what makes the narrative even more compelling.
Romantic Rivalry
Summer is a perfect time to air out a feud. My favorite type of rivalry will always be a romantic one, and these are often interjected into beach reads. As the summer heat adds tension, the characters find themselves in some sort of competition and more than affections are on the line.
These could be playful scenarios of little consequence (pride over prizes) or the stakes could be higher with rivalries competing for items of true value. It’s when the values of the heart start to shift when bitter rivals become something much more intense.
Small Town Charm
It could be a small beach town or a charming mountain village with a busy summer season. These close-knit communities know each other’s business. The friendly locals or favored regulars add flavor to the story profile and often add extra challenges or moments of humor.
Quirky Side Characters
Whether it’s comedic relief, advice, or charm, the quirky side character is always there to round out the compelling cast and offer some extra zest. I’m a big fan of the quirky character and root for them, sometimes more than the protagonists.
To really sell these side characters make their quirks charming and relatable. Let them be the voice of reason from time to time. And give them their own problems to navigate instead of being there only to support the main character.
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