I am at the beach and I finished "breaking the Silence" right before we left. I grabbed an older book off my shelf that I would not have to worry about getting wet etc., "Angry Housewives Eating Bonbons". It seems like a decent beach read. Anybody read anything they would recommend for a beach read recently ?

The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman. 

If you haven't delved into the Charlaine Harris series with Sookie Stackhouse, I loved those on the beach.   Starts with Dead until Dark.  I don't usually go for anything like these books, but the humor kept me interested in this series.  I liked the characters so much more than the TV show.  Another paranormal that even a non-paranormal reader would like is World War Z by Max Brooks.  Reads like an oral history and I really was captivated.  Not really about zombies as the people who fought the war.

Another great beach read would be Left Neglected by Lisa Genova. 

If you like romances that are more novels than romances,  The Passions of Emma by Penelope Williamson, or her sister's book,  Beyond Sunrise by Candice Proctor. 

So, I'm curious. What exactly is a "beach read?"

I have a car book and plenty of Must reads and Worth reading but I don't get beach read. Is there criteria?

I was laughing to myself about that question....I think 90 percent of what I read might be called "beach reads," fast-paced, entertaining but not a lot of thought needed.  But lord knows I do not need a beach for that!

Beach reads need to be a book that is engaging in the first few pages, not a tear jerker, easy to stop and pick back up, not too convoluted a plot.   One day, I read Hannibal on the beach.  Perfect type of book.  Pretty fascinating characters, some gore but not too much, no sad, teary parts, had to get to the end to see what happened.  Like that.....

That is kind of what I was asking, what is your idea of a "beach read" ?  To me it is light, funny, fast but something that you do look forward to coming back to.  I once read "Water for Elephants" on a cruise and my husband got mad becasue all I wanted to do was read my book.

I am home from the beach and finished AHEB, it was a perfect beach read.  AND great for the beach because it is so heavily posted, so I didn't worry about getting it wet, or leaving it behind when I was done.  What some people here call "bath tub books".

I think Janet Evanovich books are good "beach reads."

I think Carl Hiaasen's books are good beach reads.  They are humorous and very light - but with enough plot and character depth to keep you coming back.  I'd recommend Stormy Weather or Tourist Season.  I've heard good things about Sick Puppy but I've never read that one.

Jennifer Weiner or Crusie books would be good; Elin Hilderbrand & Laurie Notaro, too. (And might I just add, I am jealous -- no beach around here!)

Pamela – your definition is perfect!  That is what I think of for a beach read.

Catsandroses - Weiner and Hilderbrand definitely.   I will have to try Cruise & Notaro!

If you go with Jennifer Crusie, I  highly recommend "Bet Me"; an excellent beach read, imo!

I know that a lot of people don't like Jodi Picoult, but I thought that House Rules was one of her best and a great beach read.

Also, I just read Wool by Hugh Howey and think that would be a great one.

Kate Atkinson has a series with a main character named Jackson Brodie that I thought was pretty good leisure reading:  starts with Case Histories.  there are four and each one is better than the last one.  ETA:  very modern British reads.  British characters, lingo, locations, food, slang, etc.  I really liked that aspect of these books.

Mary Kay Andrews books --- southern chick lit !