Just Dipping Your Toe Into Jane Green Books? Here Are Her 10 Best Beach Reads

Bookends is one of Green's earlier novels, and compared to some of the other books on this list, it could be seen as lacking in depth. But there's nothing wrong with a book simply being fun and romantic. This is a story that's all about the messiness of adult friendships, centering on Cath, who is about fulfill her dream of opening a book store. Her friends, with their big, dramatic lives, keep Cath in an insular orbit that her new business venture is forcing her to break out of — in a way that's good for her and a delight for the reader, especially if you have a thing for sexy real estate agents.

There's a twist in Family Pictures that's almost impossible not to reveal when relaying the plot. Without giving too much away, just know that this is a redemption story about two women whose capacity for forgiveness and fortitude to move forward is the only thing that can keep their families afloat. Green does a superb job at not making the hook of the novel too salacious; this is a tale of two families rocked by a secret, but it's how they deal with that secret that makes this book sing.

Tempting Fate is tantalizing. There's just no other way to put it. It's the story of a perfectly happy woman in her 40s finding herself drawn to a younger man. The attraction between them could destroy her family, but it's too powerful to ignore. And, most interesting of all, it's almost entirely an emotional affair, which leads to plenty of questions about what exactly makes for a happy marriage and a satisfying relationship.

Diving into the complicated bonds between women is Green's sweet spot, and she uses her gifts to examine one of the most uneasy relationships of them all in The Other Woman: the relationship between a woman and her mother-in-law. Having lost her own mother at a young age, Ellie hopes that she'll be instantly bonded to her mother-in-law, Linda. However, it soon becomes clear that Linda's love for her son is fierce and, yes, overbearing. Seeing these two women learn how to navigate their new roles in each other's lives is not only relatable, it's also an incredibly hopeful story for anyone looking to understand their own mother-in-law a little bit better.

The Sunshine Sisters paints a beautifully detailed portrait of the complex relationships that exist between mothers and daughters, as well as among sisters. When their famous mother reveals she's dying, the Sunshine — Nell, Meredith, and Lizzy — return home to fulfill her dying wishes. However, nothing comes easy for these four women, whose lives are hopelessly tangled together even though they've spent years trying to see each other as little as possible. Still, the longer they stay together, the more they realize just how often they've been settling in their own lives when they should have been demanding so much more happiness for themselves.

Whether you're part of a blended family or not, you'll feel for Andi, Another Piece of My Heart's heroine. The 37-year-old gets everything she's ever wanted when she marries a man with two daughters, but her ready-made family is anything but perfect. Her struggle to find a place in her new home and connect with her stepdaughters gives this story an emotional wallop that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

If your copy of The Fault in Our Stars is hopelessly dog-eared, then it's time to give Promises to Keep a go. Yes, this book is a certified weepie, but it's so full of love that you won't mind the fact that it's making you sob. The story centers on a woman named Callie, who has a beautiful life, finding out she has cancer (again). While Callie is the glue that holds her family and friends together, over the course of a year, they all set their own problems aside to rally around the woman who brings so much joy and support to their lives.

Green's books are known for being fun, light reads, but don't underestimate her ability to crush your heart. Summer Secrets is a heavier story about a young journalist struggling with alcoholism who makes a terrible mistake in her 20s that leaves her estranged from her family. By the time she reaches her 40s, she's a mother recovering from her addiction and trying to make amends for the things she did in her past — and that includes returning home to face her family. The story is full of moving moments of forgiveness and recovery that might just leave you reaching for the tissues.

Fans of The Holiday, this one's for you. Green's Swapping Lives finds a Connecticut wife and mother and a London magazine editor trading places for one month. Each of them is just dissatisfied enough with their own existences to try someone else's on for size. Despite both of them having lovely lives, going along with them as they immerse themselves in new environments proves to be a fun and occasionally poignant take on the old grass is always greener adage. This is the author at her frothy best; the stakes are relatively low, but the characters and their journeys (and the loving description of a gorgeous Connecticut home) make this book a pleasant, breezy read.

Most of Green's protagonists are in their 30s or 40s, but The Beach House stars a skinny dipping, eccentric 65-year-old named Nan who may be the author's best creation. Nan lost her husband some time ago, and she's determined to live her life to the fullest no matter what her neighbors think. When she finds her money dwindling, she decides to open her beachfront home to renters during the Summer. Soon, her house is full of people who become a warm found family and remind Nan that while her independence is great, there's something to be said for being surrounded by friends.