beach read

American  

[beech reed] / ˈbitʃ ˌrid /

noun

1. a book, usually fiction, that one might enjoy during a vacation or a day at the beach because it is engaging, entertaining, and easy to read.

   We rarely share our beach reads up at the lake house—as a rule, mine are romances and hers are detective stories.

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Etymology

Origin of beach read

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

Unless, of course, they think they want a beach read.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

While not as good as Season 1, it’s still bingeable, ridiculous fun, basically TV’s version of a beach read.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

This Canadian comedy is as if you took an Elin Hilderbrand beach read and mixed in a tiny bit of “Succession.”

From New York Times • Jul. 3, 2023

Or read a wonderful beach read and escape.

From Salon • May 3, 2023

Swimming seems like the most solitary activity imaginable, but in Page’s wistful, enchanting beach read — as in the memoirs above — we see how such collective ablutions form a very special kind of community.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 9, 2022