15 Quick Beach Reads Practically Written For Weekend Getaways

When it comes to beach reads, my reading preferences — gigantic, epic, heavy novels — are often at odds with the reality of my surroundings. Namely, even if I want to read a book that begins with a family tree and follows 23 characters' intertwining lives, I don't particularly want to lug a lofty hardcover book to the beach. Practically speaking, it's better to have a slim book I can slip in among the towel and sunglasses I tote along on a beach day.

So, in the spirit of three-day weekends and not bringing home half-read books with sand stuck in the spine, we've gathered a list of fast reads that hover around 300 pages or less. We've mixed old classics and personal favorites with buzzy new releases.

Here are short(er) books that make for compelling vacation reads, ordered from shortest to longest.