4 Inspiring Audiobooks for Your Next “Beach Read”

While vacation trends may come and go, Americans' love for the beach is everlasting.

In a Talker Research travel survey earlier this year, 64% of respondents said beaches topped the list of their most desired destinations. This is in line with most adult travelers’ preference for outdoorsy experiences that let them bask in the sun.

Interestingly, among the most popular activities that people like to do on the beach is get lost in a good book. In fact, CNN even explains that this pastime has birthed an unofficial category of content called “beach reads.” That said, if you're the kind of reader who prefers not to brush sand off their pages or risk getting their copies wet, an immersive audiobook may be a better fit for you. With this audio-led format, you can sunbathe, hike, grill, wade, and do many more of your favorite seaside activities while listening to your latest beach read.

Below, you'll find out more about why audiobooks and the beach are a match made in summer heaven and which inspiring titles are perfect for your next sun-soaked escape.

Why audiobooks?

The biggest advantage that audiobooks have over physical books is their convenience. When browsing the digital library Everand, you can find hundreds of audiobooks across different genres, including travel, memoirs, and New York Times bestsellers. As such, you can enjoy access to countless titles from a single platform from virtually anywhere. Since audiobooks are also available for download, you can even prepare the titles you want ahead of time, so you don’t have to worry about the internet at the beach. This is perfect if you’re eyeing a particularly remote coast.

Aside from this, audiobooks let you fully immerse in both the content and your surroundings. In most platforms, either the author or professional voice talents narrate each title, breathing life into the passages. Alternatively, even in free digital content providers like LibriVox, volunteers carefully record different texts in multiple languages to better express the stories and sentiments of each title. With this, you can better understand what you’re reading without having to look away from the beautiful beaches surrounding you.

Beach-worthy audiobooks you’ll love

One Summer in Santorini

If you’re in the mood for romance, One Summer in Santorini by Sandy Barker is one title you’ll enjoy. The novel is set on the Greek island of Santorini, which is known as a romantic getaway with its colorful buildings, blue waters, and exquisite wines. While trying to rekindle her first love, which is travel, protagonist Sarah unexpectedly meets two men who may just convince her to fall in love with one of them instead of the feta. With a runtime of just under 10 hours, you can finish this title in a single beach day and find yourself encouraged to follow in Sarah’s footsteps toward self-discovery and love. 

All Hands on Deck: A Modern-Day High Seas Adventure to the Far Side of the World

The open water’s ability to be both awe- and fear-inspiring is perfectly captured in All Hands on Deck. A memoir with a runtime of around 10 hours, this title follows 30 would-be sailors tasked with sailing an eighteenth-century warship six thousand miles to a Hollywood set where it would be used. Penned by Will Sofrin, who was part of the crew, this title takes listeners on an adrenaline-pumping and history-laden adventure that saw the men overcoming personal fears and the high seas.

Pipe Dreams: A Surfer's Journey

If you’re drawn to the beach for its water sports, then this title by 11-time World Surf League champion Kelly Slater is a must-listen. From his youth in Cocoa Beach to conquering the silver screen waves on the hit show Baywatch, Slater has lived a life on the water like few others have. Throughout the eight-hour runtime, Kelly gives listeners an intimate understanding of the trials, tribulations, and lessons that have shaped him. Soon to be adapted into a reality TV show for ABC, this title will help you positively rethink your passions and personal limits.

World Travel: An Irreverent Guide

Written by the late great Anthony Bourdain, World Travel is a comedic yet insightful global guide with a runtime of over 12 hours. Instead of the usual stifling prose of many travel guides, this one features Bourdain’s signature sardonic wit. With information culled from his many decades of travel, this title will offer you frank yet fun advice on many of the author’s favorite destinations. One of the destinations he covers in the book is the seaside town of Colombo in Sri Lanka, so you can expect to gain beach-specific knowledge after giving this a listen.