Beach reads inspired by Maine
Sustainable Bookshelf Volume VII
Willard Beach in South Portland, Maine. Photo: Raine Raynor
Compiled and edited by Raine Raynor
SUMMER IN MAINE means long days lazing by the water—with something good to read, of course. Not sure what to pack? We asked our friends at local bookstores Longfellow Books in Portland and Royal River Books in Yarmouth for their favorite beach reads with local flavor. The following range from escapist feel-good reads to dark mysteries and compelling memoirs, all by authors who have found inspiration from time well spent in Maine. Pour yourself a lemonade and settle in for a page-turner you’re sure to love!
LB: recommended by Longfellow Books | RRB: recommended by Royal River Books
Spark your imagination
The Moorings of Mackerel Sky
By MZ
This enchanting story is set in the fictional Maine coastal town of Mackerel Sky, a town said to have been founded when Captain Burrbank spotted Nimuë the mermaid off the coast and could not return to the sea, instead staying on the shore waiting to catch another glimpse of the beautiful mermaid. The legend of the mermaid hangs over the town even three centuries later and influences the lives of its inhabitants. Magic weaves through every page of MZ’s debut novel, which deals with love, loss, grief and found family. –LB
The Great Transition
By Nick Fuller Googins
This debut novel by Maine native Nick Fuller Googins considers the climate apocalypse from either end: In the near future, Emi Vargas’s parents are widely known as the people who helped save the world. Thirty years ago, Emi’s parents, Larch and Kristina, were members of an activist group called the Great Transition, which worked to mitigate the effects of natural disasters and other climate catastrophes, and helped build a new, more equitable society. But this new paradise isn’t what it seems: When a number of climate criminals are murdered, Kristina becomes a suspect, then disappears, only adding to the impression of her guilt. –LB
Breezy beach reads
Evvie Drake Starts Over
By Linda Holmes
This heartfelt novel begins as the story of a recent widow hiding out on the coast of Maine and then transitions into a funny and romantic adventure. When a baseball player experiencing some career troubles moves into an apartment at the back of Eveleth “Evvie” Drake’s house, an unexpected friendship soon blossoms into something more. –RRB
Happy Place
By Emily Henry
Just released in paperback, Happy Place tells the story of a group of friends gathering in Maine at a cottage each summer to reconnect and escape. Harriet and Wyn, the longtime it couple among their friend group, have broken up… and not told their friends. This summer, they make a pact to pretend to still be together for one last week before the cottage is sold. Cue the humor, secrets, and romance! –RRB
Vacationland
By Meg Mitchell Moore
Louisa arrives at her parents’ house in Owl’s Head, Maine in this tale of well-drawn characters facing family secrets and loss. With three kids in tow, an impending book deadline and her husband staying behind in Brooklyn to work, Louisa hopes that summer in the Midcoast will be the breath of fresh air she needs. Kristie, too, is looking for a new start in Owls’ Head as she grapples with her mother’s recent death while trying to escape bill collectors. Over the summer, the two women’s lives intersect and betrayals come to light in this family drama. –RRB
Character-driven fiction
Writers & Lovers
By Lily King
Portland-based author Lily King has crafted an intelligent story of a young writer dealing with her mother’s recent death, the end of a love affair and career challenges. Grace from Longfellow Books says, “I tore through this book in two days and the entire time felt like I was reading something that had been made for me—every reference was somehow relevant in my life, something that carries weight for me.” –LB & RRB
Fire Exit
By Morgan Talty
Morgan Talty can’t miss. Following the runaway success of his debut story collection, Night of the Living Rez, Talty’s latest novel overlooks the river across from Maine’s Penobscot Reservation. It’s a stunning portrayal of small-town Maine and the complexities of family relationships, exploring the ways we share blood, the ways we spill blood, and the ways that both can bring us closer together. –LB
Fellowship Point
By Alice Elliot Dark
For those interested in a longer and slower paced book, Fellowship Point is Alice Elliott Dark’s deep and atmospheric tale of two lifelong best friends from Philadelphia who have been coming to the Maine Coast with their families for generations. Questions of who controls the land, legacy and class struggles complicate the story. –RRB
Mystery & crime
The Spy Coast (The Martini Club #1)
By Tess Gerritsen
Maggie Bird used to be a spy… until events forced her into early retirement. These days she’s trying (unsuccessfully) to live a quiet life on her chicken farm in Maine. When a body shows up in Maggie’s driveway, the former globetrotting spy enlists the help of the Martini Club—a group of friends who all happen to be CIA retirees—to help figure out who is after her and why. The second book in this series from Camden-based Tess Gerritsen is expected to release in 2025. –RRB
The Poacher’s Son (Mike Bowditch #1)
By Paul Doiron
The first in Paul Doiron’s suspenseful mystery series, The Poacher’s Son is a whodunnit that will immerse you deep in the remote Maine woods. When a local cop is found murdered, game warden Mike Bowditch must work to clear the name of his estranged father—a man with his share of vices who happens to be the prime suspect. –RRB
The Midcoast
By Adam White
This tense character-driven tale of secrets among lobstering families is set in author Adam White’s hometown of Damariscotta. English teacher Andrew has moved back home to the Maine coast and reconnected with Ed and Steph Thatch—who have seemingly found success and wealth since the three were teenagers. When police raid the Thatches’ estate, Andrew must reevaluate what he thought he knew about Damariscotta as secrets and corruption come to light. –RRB
The Last House Guest
By Megan Miranda
In Littleport, Maine, the year-round locals don’t mix with the wealthy vacationers—except for Avery Greer and visitor Sadie Loman. The girls become inseparable over a decade of summers spent together until the year that Sadie is found dead, ruled by suicide. The next summer, with suspicion on her, Avery is determined to find out what really happened to her best friend. –RRB
Memoirs
Maine, a Love Story
By Blue Butterfield
You may know Blue Butterfield from her evocative woodblock prints, and now you can experience her artwork alongside intimate essays in this love letter to her home state. Her heartfelt reflections on the simple joys of living here in Maine are accompanied by the beautiful woodcut artwork for which her cards and calendars have long been known. –LB
Vacationland: True Stories From Painful Beaches
By John Hodgman
This collection of short stories and essays include many which are laugh-out-loud funny and take place in Maine. Writer and comedian John Hodgman shares a sincere account of middle age life in these stories spanning his youth in western Massachusetts to more recent years summering in Maine. –RRB
On the cover: Sebago Lake is a giant among Maine’s lakes and the deepest, too. With coves and forested inlets and opportunities to sail, angle, swim and camp, the lakes region is a favorite for summer adventures.