Beach Books to make you appreciate good friends

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The summer is time for hanging with friends, IRL (in real life) or those of the literary variety. I’m talking beach days, barbecues, block parties, all that good stuff. And as easy breezy as that sounds, friendship is something we have to work at. We can read about romance or get lost in the next big family drama, but the dynamics that happen between friends are often downplayed compared to other types of bonds.

This list of books explores different relationships between groups of people trying to get through life together. It can be hard to explain all the ins and outs of what being a friend can look like, but these authors make the case for why friendship is actually the most important relationship in our lives.

What It’s About: Ama Tanner, in her 70s and owner of a beautiful 30-year-old cottage on Oak Bluffs, has decided to move to the south of France with an old flame. Located in the Black beach community of Martha’s Vineyard, Chateau Laveau has hosted the creme de la creme of guests, which includes Ama’s three successful goddaughters who’ve been visiting together since childhood. Ama wants to leave Chateau Laveau to one of them before she departs. The four of them go on an emotional journey, grappling with secrets unknown to one another, before reaching a decision.

Why You Should Read It: Can’t get out to Martha’s Vineyard this summer? Use this book as your soap opera-esque filler. It’s giving you drama, romance, secrets — all the makings of a good book. Plus, Hostin writes in a way that lets readers know how much is at stake: lots of tension and money. Think of it as "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," Vineyard edition.

What It’s About: Joy and Annie have to rent out a room in their home to make ends meet. Enter Theo, the handsome, charming man who catches the eye of Joy. As her adoration grows deeper over time, Theo introduces his girlfriend Celine into the mix. That complicates things for Joy, who can’t seem to get out of the personal romantic hellscape of her own making. Meanwhile, Annie is having trouble with her boyfriend as she tries to get him to commit to their relationship and garner his approval.

Why You Should Read It: Massachusetts writer Casale explores the dynamics of female friendship in an earnest, but comical way. If you're looking for an examination of the things women do to appease the men in their lives, you might want to pick this up. In the end, you may learn how to reclaim control of your own life.

What It’s About: Nonconformist artist Mia and strict rule follower Elena cross paths when Mia rents a home from Elena in the suburbs of Cleveland. They quickly fall into an odd dynamic, which may look like friendship on the surface, but turns out to be a battle of contentious lifestyles that manifest in the form of caring for their daughters. Add in the fact that this story includes an adoption of a baby that divides their small town and you’ve got biiiig drama.

Why You Should Read It: Have you already watched the Hulu adaptation of this book starring Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon? Probably. Should you still read it? Absolutely. Cambridge writer Ng has a way of storytelling that highlights tense moments in seemingly mundane interactions between people. Ultimately, we get to witness one woman try to connect with the other in hopes of building and sustaining a friendship. Plus, who doesn’t love a compare-contrast diagram for books versus big screen adaptions?