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, a good book is the most important item to keep in your beach-bound raffia bag. Below, Vogue Scandinavia's editors have curated a captivating collection of carefully chosen books to ensure languid – yet literary– days of seaside bliss.
Beyond the realm of fashion, we embrace the power of books to transport and transform. Our handpicked selection of literary gems regale tales of love, self-discovery, and societal challenges, bound to ignite your imagination as you bask in the sun. From thrilling mysteries to poignant and thought-provoking novels – these beach reads offer pure escapism.
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, Print 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 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, Fashion News & 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."
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."
Maria Kruse, Layout Designer
Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan
"If you have a very short vacation (like some Vogue staff) this is your perfect read. A short, classic story, with dreamy Riviera scenery – it will also look great on your bookshelf and have you immediately curating your own perfect French-Riviera capsule wardrobe."
Rebecka Thorén, 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..."
Zamzam Ibrahim Wasuge, Social Media Manager
When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger
"I love a 'no thoughts, just vibes' book when I'm at the beach, and this one is just my type of lighthearted fun."
Roeland Vanheesbeke, Designer
On The Road by Jack Kerouac
"This is a book that I've read through different stages in life, and will now read it again as a reminder to cherish the fleeting moments in between and to embrace the unknown."
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, Digital Marketing Manager
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, Junior Fashion Editor
Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin
"A captivating and very well-written book that show us beauty beyond how we are used to experiencing it. Beauty in vulnerability, in silence, in life after death, and in the past. This book is perfect for calm days in the countryside."
Elin Fransson, Sales & Partnerships Manager
The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
"I always reread The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer when I'm on vacation. It takes me a while to get through because I highlight nearly every word and sentence. Every page is so profound and full of wisdom. I love curling up on a sun bed or at my family's countryside house, getting lost in the book with my pen. You should see it – it's literally falling apart. I absolutely love it, a must-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
Pat in the City by Patricia Fields
“Since I devoured legendary stylist Patricia Field’s memoir Pat in the City, the book has circulated among my entire friendship group, and everyone agrees that it’s one of those reads you simply can’t put down. Imagine New York City in the Studio 54 era, everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the iconic styling in Sex and the City and Emily in Paris, plus more on fashion, costume design and Field’s vibrant life, all told in a playful, no-holds-barred narrative. The cherry on top of this wild ride? The pictures, some plucked from Field’s own personal archives, sprinkled across the pages.”
Billie Miro Breskin, Editorial Intern
Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney
"As the title suggests, Sally Rooney’s debut novel is grounded in the power of communication, making for a read that’s as engrossing as it is thought-provoking. The precise, raw narration will wash over you, immersing you in this story that travels from Dublin to a French countryside villa and back."