Beneath the Book Clubbers, it’s time to choose our final beach read of the season.

By SARA VANDEN BERGE

Beneath the Book Clubbers, it’s time to select our August read!

This is the final “beach read” of the season and I am super excited about these picks.

In September, we will slowly begin moving into cozy, fall-inspired thrillers before jumping into holiday books.

1. The Surf House by Lucy Clarke

An Apple Best Book of the Month, 4.0 on Goodreads

WHAT AMAZON SAYS: “Praised as ‘the queen of the destination thriller' (Claire Douglas), million-copy and internationally bestselling author Lucy Clarke writes intoxicating, unsettling novels of suspense, deception, and the pleasure and danger of travel.

“Her daring new novel, The Surf House, is a sun-soaked thriller set in an expat community of surfers in Morocco where deadly secrets threaten to breach the surface.

“High on the cliffs of Morocco, far from the city lights and the souks, stands The Surf House: a sanctuary for travelers chasing sunshine and waves.

“But the idyll hides a dark mystery. And when Bea washes in, seeking refuge after a dangerous encounter in Marrakesh, she soon gets caught in the current.

“A woman her age - who stayed in the same area, walked the same beaches, met the same guests - disappeared one year earlier, vanishing without a trace.

“Somewhere inside The Surf House lies the truth, but there’ll be a price for uncovering it.

“In this darkly seductive and compulsive tale, The Surf House’s warm and comforting refuge increasingly takes on the paranoid aspect of a house of mirrors.

“As Lucy Clarke’s authoritative voice guides us through its shifting sands, The Surf House reaffirms her as a novelist at the height of her powers and announces her excellence to new readers who have not yet embarked on one of her searing thrillers.”

2. Happy Wife by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores

National bestseller/Read with Jenna Book Club pick as featured on Today 

WHAT AMAZON SAYS: “Nora Davies doesn’t exactly fit in to Winter Park, Florida, where old-guard Floridians mix with the tax-fleeing coastal elite.

“Twenty-eight and barely making ends meet working at a country club, Nora feels like she’s going nowhere fast.

“Enter Will Somerset: a prominent forty-six-year-old lawyer, father to a teenage daughter, and recently divorced. The two set Winter Park’s social scene agog when they fall in love and marry after a whirlwind Cinderella-style courtship.

“But Winter Park is fully upended when Will disappears the morning after a birthday bash Nora throws for him.

“Going back and forth between Nora and Will’s romance and the search in the wake of Will’s mysterious disappearance, Nora must answer the question from all angles: Where. Is. Will?

“Combining breathless suspense, glittering and juicy social dynamics, and an unforgettable cast of characters, Happy Wife is a clever and subversive novel that explores marriage, wealth and the secrets that lurk behind closed doors.”

3. These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean

A New York Times Best Book of July and Best Book of 2025 /A People Magazine Best Summer Read/An Elle Magazine Best Book of Summer/ A USA Today Most Anticipated Read of Summer A Town & Country Best Book of July/A Real Simple Top Pick for Summer Book Clubs/A Woman's World Book Club Pick

WHAT AMAZON SAYS: “Alice Storm hasn't been welcome at her family's magnificent private island off the Rhode Island coast in five years - not since she was cast out and built her life beyond the Storm name, influence and untold billions.

“But the shocking death of her larger-than-life father changes everything.“Alice plans to keep her head down, pay her final respects (such as they are), and leave the minute the funeral is over.

"Unfortunately, her father had other plans. The eccentric, manipulative patriarch left his family a final challenge—an inheritance game designed to upend their world.

“The rules are clear: spend one week on the island, complete their assigned tasks, and receive the inheritance.

“But a whole week on Storm Island is no easy task for Alice. Every corner of the sprawling old house is bursting with chaos: Her older sister's secret love affair.

“Her brother's unyielding arrogance. Her younger sister's constant analysis of the vibes. Her mother's cold judgment. And all under the stern, watchful gaze of Jack Dean, her father's intriguing and too-handsome second-in-command.

“It will be a miracle if Alice manages to escape unscathed.“A smart and tender story about the transformative power of grief, love, and family, this luscious novel explores past secrets, present truths, and futures forged in the wake of wild summer storms.”

So, which book will it be?

We will host our online discussion on Friday, Aug. 29.

Vote now on Beneath the Surface News Facebook page.