Ahhh….summer. The smell of fresh cut grass, tomato sandwiches followed by cantaloupe so sweet and juicy it drips down your chin. As the temperatures go higher, we all seem to go slower. The perfect time to chillax in our favorite spot-an Adirondack chair on the back deck, poolside in a chaise lounge or a towel sprawled across the sand. The sound of chirping birds, kids screaming with delight or waves thrusting themselves onshore serenading us.

Having this uninterrupted time to indulge in a good book, undisturbed, in no hurry seems a luxury these days for many of us. This coveted pause in life is treat, my favorite time to read. For me, a good beach read is one that I feel I get to know the characters intimately. Perhaps they take me to a time, a place or situation I’ve never experienced. It’s a book that makes me not want to leave the beach even though the sun is starting to set. It’s a book that makes me feel an emotion, be it laugh, cry or occasionally fear.

The hallmark sign of a great beach read is, of course, when we share it with a friend after we’ve finished it.

What makes a great beach read for you?

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