What comes to mind when you hear the term beach read? A sandy paperback balanced on your lap, waves crashing in the background, and just enough rather mindless plot to keep you turning pages between applications of Supergoop SPF 30? While meet-cute romances, cozy British mysteries, and apocalyptic sci-fi often top the summer reading list, a beach read is really any book you’re excited to read under the sun. Here on the South Fork we’ve got both the perfect setting and the perfect reading list — starting with atmospheric options either written by locals or inspired by our own scenic shores. Here are a dozen compelling picks, fiction and nonfiction alike, that are tailor-made for lazy days at Indian Wells, Peter’s Pond, and beyond.
JAWS BY PETER BENCHLEY (1974)
The ultimate beach thriller may have been originally inspired by shark attacks on the Jersey Shore in 1916 — and set in the fictional vacation village of Amity, inspired by Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard — but Jaws has major Long Island flavor: Its grizzled shark-hunter, Capt. Quint, was modeled after Frank Mundus, the legendary real-life shark-hunter of Montauk. Jaws the book is darker than Spielberg’s blockbuster movie (which, by the way, marks its 50th anniversary this summer!). If you’ve only seen the film, prepare to be freshly spine-tingled by Benchley’s prose. But maybe don’t read this one too close to the water . . .
ELIZABETH OF EAST HAMPTON BY AUDREY BELLEZZA & EMILY HARDING (2024)
While some of the books on this list are from indie publishers or self-published, this modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice is a big seller from Simon and Schuster and has piled up hundreds of very positive reviews on Amazon. Witty and heartwarming, it brings Austen’s timeless story to the East End, with the main character of Elizabeth Bennett recast as a smart, jaded young local fed up with the obnoxious antics of its wealthy summer residents. With beachside cocktail parties replacing Regency balls, this is a fresh spin on a classic romance; it may not be Austen, but it’s full of charm and glamor.
DARK NOON BY TOM CLAVIN (2007)
Clavin is one of the most prolific writers in a landscape peppered with writers — author of several books about baseball, golf, and military history, as well as best-sellers about the Wild West (Dodge City, Tombstone). In this nonfiction page-turner, he recounts the tragic sinking of the Pelican, a Montauk fishing boat that capsized in 1951. The narrative is riveting as it unpacks the human cost of poor regulation and hubris. A sobering, unforgettable read and recommended for those visiting Montauk who’d like some insight into its history.
IT HAPPENS IN THE HAMPTONS BY HOLLY PETERSON (2019)
The epitome of the gossipy, light-as-air summer read from the author of The Manny. This one features Lear Jets, love affairs, country-club snobs, plenty of tawdry behavior, and, naturally, a twist at the end. It follows a single mother who moves to Southampton for a fresh start but gets swept up in a world of secrets and class conflict. This beachy drama mixes romance with intrigue and just a dash of scandal — ideal for fans of Big Little Lies.
TRACK 61 BY EVE KARLIN (2021)
The author, who lives in East Hampton, is not just a novelist but a bookseller at BookHampton! Here, she delivers a gripping piece of historical fiction with her reimagining of the oft-told true-life story of the Nazi saboteurs who came ashore in a German U-boat at the ocean beach at Amagansett on a June night in 1942 and escaped via Long Island Rail Road train. It’s a blend of espionage and romance, set in a deeply researched historical evocation of 1940s New York. Beach readers will enjoy recognizing several familiar locations, from Amagansett to Grand Central Station.
WOMAN WITH EYES CLOSED BY RUE MATTHIESSEN (2025)
Released in June, this new novel is based on a real-life art theft in the Netherlands in 2012 and follows an MI-6 agent hot on the trail of two missing Monets, one Picasso, and a painting titled Woman With Eyes Closed. The chase brings the secret agent to the South Fork, and Matthiessen’s depictions of Sagaponack, where she grew up, are wonderfully true to life. This high-stakes art thriller delivers an entertaining cast of Hamptons characters, from Russian oligarchs to art-world brats. The mob is involved and, oh, there’s a hurricane barreling in. The author’s delivery of suspense, with a sophisticated insider’s view of the social milieu, makes it a top-notch beach read.
THREE ROOMS, SHARED BATH: A LANDLADY IN THE HAMPTONS BY EILEEN OBSER (2021)
The synopsis may touch a nerve with readers who own long-time family houses here: “Diana Long is an attractive middle-aged widow who rents rooms in her East Hampton home, but she is feeling pressured to make changes in her life,” it reads. “She loves the Hamptons, but should she sell the house and move on? Should she stay, perhaps settling for just one tenant or housemate, or only rent seasonally?” Such is the dilemma of a retired librarian named Meg, who plays host to an entertaining round of tenants, from a handsome young architect to a Polish beauty who causes havoc. Three Rooms, Shared Bath is also a love letter to the East End’s literary scene that brings readers inside local events like the East Hampton Libarary’s Author’s Night and the Hampton Classic horse show.
EAST HAMPTON BLUE BY SHELBY RAEBECK (2024)
This recently released novel is the third in a series that also includes Amagansett ’84 and a story collection, Louse Point. The synopsis reads, “Living on Long Island’s fast-developing East End, local builder Michael Dorian is forced to reckon: with his failed marriage and teenage daughter riddled with anxiety; with his ambitious brother/business partner who leads him deep into the maw of ruthless development; with the nature of a hauntingly beautiful place that offers opportunity but no longer feels like home.” The author grew up in Amagansett and lives in Springs. His prose is lyrical and insightful — perfect for fans of character-driven fiction
grounded in real-life tensions.
A SPECK IN THE SEA: A STORY OF SURVIVAL AND RESCUE BY JOHN ALDRIDGE & ANTHONY SOSINSKI (2017)
You’ll be hooked from page one. This is the harrowing true story of a commercial fisherman (Aldridge) who fell off the back of his lobster boat, the Anna Mary, about 40 miles off the tip of Montauk — at night — while his fellow crew member (co-author Sosinski)slept. Aldridge survived through a combination of grit and the savvy of a lifelong waterman; he was eventually rescued by the Coast Guard. A Speck in the Sea has become something of a classic in these parts and is a ripping beach read. You’ll be so engrossed it should come with a sunburn warning.