When your mind needs a vacation from your vacation
Explore our sea shelves for stunning beach and island themed titles, as well as great classics and new arrivals.
Our Top Reads
Beach
Beach Read by Emily Henry
A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.
Under the Gulf Coast Sun by Skip Rhudy *Local Author*
Kassie Hernandez visits Port Aransas, Texas in 1978 before heading to college determined that nothing will stop her from one day working at NASA.
There she meets surfer Connor O’Reilly, and they can’t keep their hands off each other. The inexperienced couple navigates their feelings and passions, struggle through conflict and jealousy against a backdrop of wild parties, epic surf sessions, and family dynamics that have formed their most sensitive vulnerabilities.
Beath by Beach Read by Eva Gates
Librarian Lucy’s new historic house comes with a lot of baggage and family secrets. Can she put them to rest or will a killer bring Lucy’s family to their downfall, in the 9th Lighthouse Library mystery.
#BookTok
Little Life, A by Hanya Yanagihara
When four classmates from a small Massachusetts college move to New York to make their way, they're broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition.
Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, The by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?
Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.
Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.
Mystery/Thriller
Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan
Rise and shine. The Evans women have some undead to kill.
It’s 1999 in Southeast Texas and the Evans women, owners of the only funeral parlor in town, are keeping steady with…normal business. The dead die, you bury them. End of story. But when town gossip Mina Jean Murphy’s body is brought in for a regular burial and she rises from the dead instead, it’s clear that the Strigoi―the original vampire―are back. And the Evans women are the ones who need to fight back to protect their town.
Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons, A by Kate Khavari
Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh is determined to blaze a new trail at the University College London, but with her colleagues’ beliefs about women’s academic inabilities and not-so-subtle hints that her deceased father’s reputation paved her way into the botany department, she feels stymied at every turn.
While at a school dinner party, she expects to engage in conversations about the university's expedition to the Amazon, not for Mrs. Henry to be poisoned by an unknown toxin...
Magpie by Elizabeth Day
She has almost everything. The rest she’ll take.
Single White Female meets The Perfect Nanny in this taut, psychological suspense novel about a perfect couple and their seemingly perfect roommate—that is until she threatens to destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to create.
A tense and twisting novel about mothers and children, envy and possession, and the dangers of getting everything you’ve ever dreamed of.
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Fearless by Lauren Roberts
Paedyn and Kai are reunited but face a terrible decision in this thrilling conclusion to the New York Times bestselling romantic fantasy trilogy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and The Red Queen.
Paedyn Gray and Kai Azer return to the Kingdom of Ilya…
And Paedyn has a life-altering choice to make. Whatever she decides will determine her fate—and the fate of those around her—forever.
In the ultimate battle of love and loyalty, who wins?
If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura
Our narrator’s days are numbered. Estranged from his family, living alone with only his cat Cabbage for company, he was unprepared for the doctor’s diagnosis that he has only months to live. But before he can set about tackling his bucket list, the Devil appears with a special offer: in exchange for making one thing in the world disappear, he can have one extra day of life. And so begins a very bizarre week . . .
Sirens, The by Emilia Hart
A story of sisters separated by hundreds of years but bound together in more ways than they can imagine.
A breathtaking tale of female resilience, The Sirens is an extraordinary novel that captures the sheer power of sisterhood and the indefinable magic of the sea.
Romance
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve
Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
There might be no such thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. After one incredible and seemingly endless date, Samantha is forced to admit the truth that any kind of relationship would be impossible. Samantha begs Xavier to forget her. To remember their night together as a perfect moment. Only no amount of distance or time is nearly enough to forget that something between them. And the only thing better than one single perfect memory is to make a life worth remembering
Summer in the City by Alex Aster
Twenty-seven-year-old screenwriter Elle has the chance of a lifetime to write a big-budget movie set in New York City. The only problem? She’s had writer’s block for months.
In a desperate attempt at inspiration, Elle ends up back in the city she swore she would never return to, in an apartment she could never afford. It’s the perfect place to write her screenplay…until she realizes her new neighbor is her stairwell hookup from two years ago....
Historical Fiction
Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon
Set against the backdrop of the Peloponnesian War, this novel deftly blends ancient history with contemporary wit and verve.
The story follows a pair of unlikely heroes, Lampo and Gelon, as they navigate the complexities of war, friendship, and the power of storytelling.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
In this unforgettable portrait of human frailty and resilience, Kristin Hannah reveals the indomitable character of the modern American pioneer and the spirit of a vanishing Alaska―a place of incomparable beauty and danger. The Great Alone is a daring, beautiful, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss, the fight for survival, and the wildness that lives in both man and nature.
Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
'It's time we name our kingdom!' he shouted over the wind. 'I say we call this place Happy Land. If this ain't the land of happy people, then where is it? Why not create our heaven right here on earth?'
In the hills of Appalachia, there once existed a land ruled by a king and queen. Inspired by memories of African kingdoms, a community of formerly enslaved men and women grasped freedom on mountain land they owned. But freedom doesn't always last forever . . .
Self-Help
Change the Recipe: Because You Can't Build a Better World Without Breaking
A collection of chef José Andrés' most affecting and powerful life lessons: hard-won wisdom from a man who has dedicated his life to changing the world through the power of food.
Fifth Agreement, The by Don Miguel Ruiz & Don Jose Ruiz
The Four Agreements provides the foundation for breaking thousands of agreements that create needless suffering.
With The Fifth Agreement you recover all the power of your authenticity, which is who you really are when you are born.
Fun Habit, The by Mike Rucker, Ph.D.
This book explains how you can build having fun into an actionable and effortless habit and why doing so will help you become a healthier, more joyful, more productive person.
Non-Fiction
Backyard Bird Chronicles, The by Amy Tan
A gorgeous, witty account of birding, nature, and the beauty around us that hides in plain sight.
Tracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, The Backyard Bird Chronicles maps the passage of time through daily entries, thoughtful questions, and beautiful original sketches. With boundless charm and wit, author Amy Tan charts her foray into birding and the natural wonders of the world.
Ginseng Roots by Craig Thompson
Ginseng Roots follows Thompson and his siblings, who spent the summers of their youth weeding and harvesting rows of coveted American ginseng on rural Wisconsin farms for one dollar an hour. Thompson interweaves this lost youth with the 300-year-old history of the global ginseng trade and the many lives it has tied together—from ginseng hunters in ancient China to industrial farmers and migrant harvesters in the American Midwest to his own family still grappling with the aftershocks of the past.
Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann (Eng & Spa)
A grand tale of human behavior at the extremes told by one of our greatest nonfiction writers. Grann's recreation of the hidden world on a British warship rivals the work of Patrick O'Brian, his portrayal of the castaways' desperate straits stands up to the classics of survival writing such as The Endurance, and his account of the court martial has the savvy of a Scott Turow thriller. As always with Grann's work, the incredible twists of the narrative hold the reader spellbound.
Children's
A to Sea by Kirsti Scott
This softbound book is filled with sea glass art designs created with surf-tumbled pieces of beach glass. Each letter in the alphabet is represented by a sea glass mosaic. The mosaics in the book are animals and images from the shore. Great for new moms, babies, or anyone who loves the beach!
Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson
An absurdly laugh-out-loud funny picture book about the villainy of fish, illustrated by National Book Award-winning creator Dan Santat
Why, dear reader, must you NEVER EVER trust fish?
1) They spend all their time in the water where we can’t see them.
2) Some are as big as a bus—that is not okay.
3) We don't know what they're teaching in their "schools."
4) They are likely plotting our doom.
This nature-guide-gone-wrong is a hilarious, off-the-rails exploration of the seemingly innocent animals
Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
Zuri’s hair has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Zuri knows it’s beautiful. When mommy does Zuri’s hair, she feels like a superhero. But when mommy is away, it’s up to daddy to step in! And even though daddy has a lot to learn, he LOVES his Zuri. And he’ll do anything to make her—and her hair—happy.
Children's Chapter Books
Bad Hair Days by J.M. Forster
For Mallow, every day is a Bad Hair Day.
Wearing a wig means Mallow can hide her hair loss. But now someone’s sending her creepy messages. It’s a race to stop them before everyone discovers her secret.
Losing her hair was hard enough – but will she lose the people she cares about too?
A touching mystery about family, friendships and being different, from the award-winning author of Shadow Jumper.
Perfect for older children and young teens.
Shark Night by R.L. Stine
After an accident with the original diver, Carlo finds himself alone in a giant water tank holding a camera. A twenty-foot-long hammerhead shark is about to be lowered into the tank with him... But Carlo is still paralyzed with fear, and as the shark is lowered into the tank he realizes something isn’t right …
They sent down the WRONG shark!
You Only Live Once by Mark Oshiro
Ben Ripley faces his nemesis, Murray Hill, on the high seas.
Thanks to the evidence Ben uncovered in his investigation of the Croatoan, the CIA has tracked his nemesis, Murray Hill, to Central America, where they believe he is boarding the world’s biggest cruise ship, The Emperor of the Seas, on its maiden voyage around the world.
At first, it sounds exciting to have a mission on the most glamorous ocean liner on earth, but as usual, nothing goes according to plan...
Hundreds of titles available in-store. Stop in and browse the sea shelves.
Not in Port Aransas?
That's okay! Enter the desired title in the search bar below to purchase items online through BOOKSHOP.ORG.
Every purchase financially supports your favorite indie bookstore, Sea Shelves by the Seashore.