The History of the Beach Read, From 19th-Century 'Moral Debasement' to BookTok

The popularity of "beach reads" or summer novels can be traced back to the mid-19th century in the United States. As travel and tourism grew in the country, publishers saw an opportunity to capitalize on this new leisure activity. Despite initial skepticism from clerics and critics who viewed novel-reading as morally degrading, light summer reading eventually became a respectable pastime.

Magazines such as the Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, and the Century helped popularize these novels by promoting them as appropriate entertainment for resorts and long train rides. Authors, especially women, found success in writing about resort settings and activities, catering to the rising middle-class. Stephen Crane, Laura Jean Libbey, and Marion Harland are among the notable writers who embraced this genre.

While many summer novels enjoyed brief popularity, some, like Blanche Willis Howard's One Summer, continued to be reprinted well into the 20th century. Today, the tradition of summer reading persists, fueled by recommendations from social media platforms like BookTok and Bookstagram.