2025 Romance Beach Reads That Will Totally Take Over Your Summer

Let’s talk about beach reads for a second.

Not the kind people use as a punchline when they’re trying to say a book is “fluffy” or “not real literature.” The kind that ends up sunscreen-streaked and a little warped from the humidity, because you actually read it on a plane, by the pool, in the parking lot of Target while waiting to pick up snacks for said pool day.

That’s the energy I want going into my 2025 romance beach reads list.

Books that keep you company in your tote bag. That don’t judge when you drop them on your towel and go take a nap instead. That might be a little messy. A little chaotic. But always deliver on vibe.

This summer, I invited Victoria from BiblioLifestyle to join me for a chat on the podcast, and together we unpacked not just what we’re reading, but what even makes a beach read, well… a beach read.

(Spoiler: it’s not a genre. It’s a feeling.)

Prefer to watch instead?

This post contains affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.

Victoria’s 2025 Romance Beach Reads

Victoria certainly brought some fun books to bring to the pool with you. Five 2025 romance beach reads that bring the heat, the heart, and the kind of story you want to dish about with your friends after.

Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood

Let’s just say this: people have feelings about this one. Big ones. But sometimes, the books everyone’s yelling about are the ones I’m most curious to read. And Problematic Summer Romance leans into that chaos in the best way.

Set on the Sicilian coast, it features Maya (a side character from Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood) finally going after the man she’s had a thing for…her brother’s best friend. Cue age gap drama, wedding week tension, and flashbacks that unravel what brought them to this moment.

Hazelwood handles the subject matter with more sensitivity than some give her credit for. If you’re not bothered by an age gap romance and you’re into vacation settings + banter + a little feminist bite, this one’s worth the buzz.

Grab Summer Romance on Amazon

Want more romance books set in Italy? I have a whole list for you to choose from!

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

Former tween TV star turned film producer? Check. Script that hits a little too close to home? Yep. A pop star ex-crush who shows up with opinions and sparks? Absolutely.

Monaghan delivers one of those sun-drenched romances that makes you feel like you’re watching a movie unfold in your hands. This one has summer festivals, a little career chaos, and all the “how did we end up here?” energy you could want from a second chance that’s not quite a second chance.

Bonus points for the messy celebrity backdrop. Because nothing says beach read quite like famous people with unresolved feelings.

Grab It’s a Love Story on Amazon

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews

If your idea of a summer escape involves corsets, finishing schools, and class tension (hi, it’s me), then this one’s for you.

Set in Victorian England, our heroine is a proper young lady by day and secretly fighting the patriarchy by night. When she teams up with a gruff stranger from the London slums to expose a corrupt politician, things get…complicated. And deliciously slow burn.

Matthews knows how to blend historical accuracy with feminist heroines and romantic tension that feels earned. This one’s part intrigue, part enemies-to-lovers, and all atmosphere.

Grab Rules for Ruin on Amazon

Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

Want a trilogy that ends on a high note? This one’s your go-to.

Along Came Amor closes out Daria’s latest series with a divorced schoolteacher, a hotel mogul she wasn’t supposed to fall for, and a wedding weekend that brings it all crashing back. The “one night that turns into more” trope gets a fresh, summery spin here, and the family dynamics? Impeccable.

Even better, if you haven’t started the series, book one features a celebrity romance that’s equally bingeable. Start anywhere. You’ll end up reading them all.

Grab Along Came Amor on Amazon

Fan Favorite by Adrienne Gunn

Okay, if you’re a reality TV gremlin, this book will feel like coming home.

Fresh off a breakup, our heroine discovers her high school love is now the star of a reality dating show. And somehow she ends up on the cast. (Blame it on the tweets and the wine.)

This one is pure entertainment, with a showrunner love interest, pop culture Easter eggs, and the perfect blend of heart and hilarious chaos. It feels like binging an entire season of The Bachelorette, but with better writing and actual emotional payoff.

Grab Fan Favorite on Amazon

So what makes a beach read?

It’s not about a location. It’s not about heat levels. It’s not even about whether it ends in a wedding.

It’s about the kind of story you want to escape into. Something that holds your attention even when life is loud. Something that fits in your bag and your mood. Something that maybe, even just for a few hours, feels like a vacation.

These 2025 romance beach reads? They’re giving all of that.

Need more summer reads?

Head to our Summer Books list for a whole shelf’s worth of recommendations.

Now tell me, what’s your perfect beach read vibe this year? Leave a comment or DM me on Instagram. I want to know what you’re packing in your tote.

Pin It for Later