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I’m a major proponent of using summer vacation to catch up on reading. I’m currently packing for some time down the shore, and I’ve been very excitedly strategizing my reading plan for the week. Do I finally crack open Yesteryear? Reread The Secret History? Perhaps tackle a 1,000-page behemoth?
The possibilities here are endless, and realistically, at what other point in the year is there free time to read without other obligations? If you’re only going to read one book all year, now’s the time. Start the novel that’s been accumulating dust on your shelf, dive into a popular bestseller or crack open a dauntingly large nonfiction book you’ve been eyeballing for far too long. You just need to make sure you’re doing it the right way.
Because it’s not all about the book. It’s about curating a vibe: basking in the sun, listening to the ocean waves crashing against the shore, sipping an ice-cold beer and getting lost in a story. In other words, it’s time to start thinking about beach reading as a holistic experience. You need a comfortable chair you can drift off in, a cooler holding all your drinks and the perfect sunscreen to keep you burn free.
Lucky for you, reading on the beach is my bread and butter. I’m here to help you create an experience that will make you wish for summer year-round.
You’re going to need a sturdy and reliable beach chair — one that you simply won’t feel sick of sitting in for hours on end — and this is the one. It’s comfortable, easy to adjust and even has a pillow to keep your head propped up, which has saved my neck from aching after looking down at a book for too long.
Thank goodness for coolers with wheels. This one is incredibly spacious — not to mention its ability to keep drinks (up to 84 cans!) impeccably cold.
We here at InsideHook love Shibumi. As someone who’s incredibly pale, skips any tanning and goes straight to burns when sitting in the sun, shaded seating is often my first choice. After squinting to look at book pages for several hours, shade is a nice way to switch things up. Your eyes will thank you. It can also fit between 4-8 people and takes only 3-5 minutes to set up.
My fair share of sunburns have led me to EltaMD. The reason I love this is because there’s no white cast. In fact, it’s tinted green, so it naturally corrects any red spots and evens out your skin tone. It’s also SPF 50.
If you’re interested in an e-reader over a paperback, look no further — especially if you feel conflicted over supporting book purchases via Amazon. The Kobo Clara receives rave reviews for being lightweight, having a compact and strong build and its E-Ink display, which gives you a reflection-free reading experience. Be gone, sunlight glares! It’s also waterproof, and it natively supports e-book check-outs from your local public library, if that’s your preference.
Maybe you’re like me and love listening to music while reading, or maybe you prefer an audiobook. Either way, the Airpod Maxes will enhance your listening experience.
What’s reading on the beach without stunting in a fresh new pair of sunnies? Stop your squinting and give your eyes a rest with a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers.
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