Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Fashion Month
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Nike x Caitlin Clark
    • Dr. Barbara Sturm
    • Tomi Adeyemi
    • Witchy Perfumes
    • Being Black at Bravo
    1. Culture
    2. Books

    What We're Reading: This Summer's Hottest Page Turner

    J. Courtney Sullivan arrives, once again, on the literary scene, but this time, with a perfect (and smart) beach read.

    By Ashley Ross
    Published 8 June 2011 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Main Book Cover
    (Image credit: Archives)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    If you've already read all the books that came up as your answer on our summer beach reads quiz, you're going to need something new to get wrapped up in on your vacation this season. We highly recommend J. Courtney Sullivan's latest, a novel surrounding an Irish Catholic family and its summer beach house — plus all the drama that goes along with it.

    Whether you're lounging in a hammock this summer or are jet setting across the country, this read will transport you to the shores of New England, where salty beach air, chilled white wine and succulent lobster rolls are a daily occurrence.


    Maine

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    Author: J. Courtney Sullivan, author of New York Times bestseller Commencement.

    Genre: Literary beach read

    You may like
    • a gif of book covers of books about vacation homes opposite the marie claire branded buy the book franchise art The Only Thing More Chaotic Than 'Summer House?' These Novels About Vacation Homes
    • a collage of book covers from author elin hilderbrand The 20 Best Books by Elin Hilderbrand, A.K.A. the Queen of Beach Reads
    • the marie claire franchise logo buy the book in a gif of a hand holding book covers of books to read in a heatwave The Next Heatwave Will Be Here Before You Know It—Here's Your Reading List



    What Happens:
     Told from the perspectives of four women from the same family, Maggie, Kathleen and Ann Marie each head to Alice's 60-year-old beach cottage. When family secrets spill, haunted pasts resurface and grudges hold strong, the Kelleher's are forced to face its issues, regardless of how difficult that may be.

    Why Read It: Sullivan's smarts shed light on topics all families deal with, but her tasteful approach on the tough ones (particularly modern-day religious issues) shine through. The cast of quirky characters will have you laughing out loud and aching for their regrets in the same chapter, pining for more pages when it comes to an end.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.



    Details:
     Knopf, June 14, $25.96

    Ashley Ross
    Read more
    a collage of book covers from author elin hilderbrand
    Books The 20 Best Books by Elin Hilderbrand, A.K.A. the Queen of Beach Reads Mentally, we're in Nantucket, reading one of her novels by the sea.
    By Nicole Briese
    the stars of this summer will be different sophie nelisse, Francesca Reale, and Roby Attal sit by a log on a sandy beach posing as they start filming the series
    TV shows Netflix's 'This Summer Will Be Different' Adaptation Is Filming. Here's Everything We Know Another sun-soaked series based on a hit Carley Fortune novel is on the way.
    By Nicole Briese
     
     
    a collage of covers of books coming out in september 2026
    Books 21 Must-Read Books Coming in September 2026 Some of the most highly anticipated books of the year are due out this month.
    By Sophia June
    A six-image collage of a woman wearing colorful, casual vacation outfits, including cargo pants, denim skirts, graphic tops, floral prints, and layered accessories.
    Fashion What a Fashion Editor Wore on a Family Vacation in Maine
    By Julia Gall
     
     
    Latest in Books
    A split image of author Deesha Philyaw's portrait, next to the cover art for her novel 'The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman'
    Books Deesha Philyaw Wrote the Black Church Satire She Needed to Read
    Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames waring a black gown sunglasses and hat as she walks down a street and a man with a bicycle follows her in netflix's east of eden
    TV shows The Major Changes Between Netflix's 'East of Eden' and the Book—Including Cathy's Role
     
     
    A collage of author Tomi Adeyemi, wearing a denim jacket and leather thigh-high boots while perched on a wooden sideboard, next to her 2026 novel 'The Siren,' on a blue and black background.
    Books Tomi Adeyemi Is Ready to Move On
    a split image of author carola lovering wearing a black blouse and posing outside in front of a tree opposite the cover of her thriller novel whiteout
    Books Four Years Ago, a Tragedy Stayed With Me. Then I Wrote a Novel.
     
     
    Latest in News
    Taylor Swift wearing a plaid mini dress
    Celebrity Style Taylor Swift Styles a Perfect-for-Fall Simkhai Dress
    Young Prince William has dark blonde hair and wears a suit, while posing with Queen Elizabeth II on Buckingham Palace balcony
    Royals Prince William Left Royal Staff "Frantic" and "Terrified"
     
     
    Dua Lipa wearing a gold floral vest top and smiling
    Celebrity Style Dua Lipa Swaps Her Schiaparelli Suit for a Statement Tee
    Jennifer Lawrence wearing khaki pants, flip-flops in fall, a white vest and sunglasses
    Celebrity Style Jennifer Lawrence Trials the Khaki Pants Trend
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.