Grab your sun hat, don your swimsuit, and let these words transport you to faraway places. Join Vogue Scandinavia as we unveil our top beach reads
Sunscreen aside, the most important beach companion is a good book. Here, the Vogue Scandinavia's team has curated a captivating curation of literary gems to stash in your raffia tote.
The power of storytelling is transportive. From tales of love and self-discovery to gripping mysteries and sharp social commentary, these these thoughtfully selected reads promise to entertain, inspire and keep you company all summer.
Martina Bonnier, Editor in Chief
Yellow Face by R.F. Kuang
"Yellow Face is an excellent satirical read about publishing and social media – and the nuanced experience of racism within those worlds. Quirky, entertaining and thought-provoking, it's one that you'll read quickly."
Allyson Shiffman, Features Editor
Last Night at the Viper Room by Gavin Edwards
"Perhaps this heartbreaking (and enthralling) River Phoenix biography (which also brilliantly details the emergence of the '90s Hollywood heartthrob) is a bit too heartbreaking to be a traditional beach read, but what could be more cinematic than crying at the beach?"
Clare McInerney, Digital Managing Editor
Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay
"The classic Australian film Picnic at Hanging Rock came back onto my radar recently, and with it, the urge to revisit the eery 1960s novel it’s based upon. Telling the story of a disappearance during a school trip into the wilderness, it's a strange and intriguing alternative to a classic mystery novel."
Josefin Forsberg, Senior Beauty Editor
Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh
"If you were to peruse my bookshelves at home you'd find my copy of Vile Bodies to be sun bleached, thumbed and probably with some sand still lodged between its pages. I received my first copy of this dry, satirical depiction of London's 'Bright Young Things' in every kind of capricious escapade when I turned 15. Ever since, it has (alongside Bonjour Tristesse, also mentioned on this list) been tucked into my beach bag every single summer without fault."
Mariann Jacobsson, Chief Commercial Officer
The Women by Kristin Hannah
"An epic tale set against one of history’s darkest chapters. This heart-wrenching and heartwarming page-turner follows the courageous women who served in the US military during the Vietnam War."
Kristian Bengtsson, Head of Video
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
"Rick Rubin is such an interesting person. He doesn't play any instruments and has admitted he knows barely anything about music, but as a producer, he's brought out the best from Jay-Z, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kanye, Adele, Lady Gaga and so many more. The best thing about his book is that you don't need to read it from start to finish – you can pick it up at different parts at any time."
Linn Wigen, Social Media Manager
Naïv. Super. by Erlend Loe
"This has always been a favourite on my bookshelf, one I find myself coming back to every couple of years. A light, reflective read for warm (or rainy) summer days. The language always amazes me: simply yet philosophical and humorous."
Vegard Bang Ritland, Social Media Manager
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.
"A book that tells the tale of Homer’s Iliad from the perspective of Patroclus, and explores the relationship between him and the ever-so-charming Achilles. I love this book for the way it describes and depicts this Ancient Greek epic so beautifully – it left me in tears by the end. I also think that anyone in the LGBTQ+ community – like myself – will find aspects of their journey deeply relatable and moving."
Rebecka Thorén, Head of Production and Executive Assistant to the Editor in Chief
The Paris Secret by Karen Swan
"This is one of my favourite reads that I love to pick up again each summer. It's the story of women who are pilots during World War II, with a wardrobe of Dior gowns in the mix..."
Margarita Sheremet, DoP & Video Editor
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki
"A must-read for anyone who is interested in a deep dive of self-improvement and the origins of the actual 'original' native human mind, removing stress and keeping the calm and quiet."
Maria Ehrnvall, Head of Marketing & Growth
The Åre Murders series by Viveca Sten
"As I go hiking in the Swedish mountains each summer, one of the books in the series The Åre Murders by Viveca Sten always gets me in the right mood. With a busy family life, it's perfectly written to easily jump in and out of. Right now, I have my nose in the latest one, Vilseledaren."
Julia Weingarten, Head of Marketing
The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis
"Set among privileged high school students in early 1980s Los Angeles, "The Shards" is a captivating story – intensified by the presence of a serial killer."
Amelie Langenskiöld, Fashion & Operations Editor
Educated by Tara Westover
"I picked up this book with zero expectations – I am not usually a big fan of autobiographies – but oh, how wrong I was. Tara Westover’s captivating storytelling and extraordinary life journey left me completely awestruck. Raised in a survivalist Mormon family, Tara wrote this memoir to shed light on the realities of living under strict religious principles. Her resilience and achievements are nothing short of remarkable. Buy it, read it – and most importantly, enjoy it."
Henrietta Hegg, Partnership Manager
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton.
"Ghosts is a highly relatable read for so many women – from those in their 20s right through to 40s – exploring friendship, dating, and family. It’s both laugh-out-loud funny and unexpectedly moving – all while being effortlessly easy to read."
Wilma Lundberg, Finance Assistant
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
"This summer, my beach read is Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors. It’s a heartfelt tale of sisterhood, secrets, and second chances, wrapped in beautiful, sun-soaked prose. Perfect for lazy beach days, this book’s warm, intimate story and richly drawn characters make it a delightful escape into the power of family and love. Her gorgeous writing with meticulous attention to detail; characters so real they walk off the page; and, dialogue so believable you forget there’s a page between you and the characters talking."
Linnéa Pesonen, Contributing Writer
Just Kids by Patti Smith
“I love a gripping memoir, and there’s something profoundly evocative and poetic about the way Patti Smith writes in Just Kids. A poignant coming-of-age story of love – documenting her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe – friendship and a lust for life, all set in 1960s and 1970s New York City, this book might not sit at the lightest end of the beach-read spectrum, but I guarantee you’ll be glued to it.”
Madisson Folsted, Editorial Intern
Slow Days, Fast Company by Eve Babitz
"This collection of essays by Eve Babitz captures 1960s LA with just the right mix of fun and intrigue. Her run-ins with the famous and flirtations with men are recounted in a way that leaves you feeling like you’ve just caught up with an old friend – amused, entertained and maybe even a little bit jealous."