Beach Books

Just to clarify, “Chick lit” is a term for books that can substitute the romantic comedy film genre. Written for us ‘girls’, the plots revolve around modern, everyday issues and complications steeped in problematic romances and career, often with characters in their 20s or 30s. These easy, fluffy reads are great to take away on holiday or to the beach – Trash! That’s what they are known as. But living in the real world, reading chick lit, especially in the summer, is sheer escapism. With three children playing on the beach, disturbing me for whatever petty reason, no other kind of book would be possible to read and get through. It’s a mum and me thing to find THE book, talk about it, read it, discuss it and mull over it. And, more often than not, find reasons to compare it to other books and criticise it.

Summer reads are different for everyone, but there’s something about romances that make them great companions on sunny, summer afternoons. Lazing around on a veranda, lying on a sunbed by a pool or on a beautiful beach or even curled up on your bed in a cool air conditioned room when the children have finally given in to sleep, these books provide a great switch off. Maybe it’s because they carry you away on an unrealistic, romantic journey full of promise and exciting expectations of a happy ending. Or perhaps it’s their dashing male characters who possess all the qualities every girl dreams of that make them the best kind of story to get lost in. Whatever it is, romance books and summer reading go together like sea salt and sand, like sunglasses and tan lines, like ice cream and sea front boardwalks — get the picture?

Even if you aren’t in the best of moods, you can’t be angry or sad when you read a gem like ‘I’ve got your number’- a book like that lifts you up in seconds. Chick lit is the only genre that’s easy, light and quick to read and it works every time (well more often than not). They are truly addictive too. A great find was Sophie Kinsella. The way she blends romance with a roller coaster of fun and full on humour are just the right ingredients to give you that ‘feel good’ lift. Books by Jill Mansell, Sophie Kinsella, Milly Johnson, Marian keys, Jane Green… are a few to read if you haven’t already done so.