When the weather gets warmer, there’s nothing better to do than to get outside and read. And what better way to do this than to take yourself on a bookish picnic? Here, we recommend five books and picnic location pairings to make your reading experience come to life in the great outdoors.
Lakeside Lovers Picnic
If your picnic of choice is by the lake, pack a blanket, some sandwiches, a summery iced tea, sunglasses, and Every Summer After by Carley Fortune. Dip your toes in the lake while you dive into this romance, following Persephone (Percy) Fraser as she is taken back to the lakeside of her childhood and has to face Sam Florek and all of the things she regrets about their relationship that she has been trying to forget after moving away. This romance brings the perfect amount of lakeside nostalgia as it reminisces through all six years of Sam and Percy’s relationship to the moment when it all fell apart, and what Percy hopes can be fixed upon her return.
Magical Meadow Picnic
If you like a classic picnic setting, a perfect meadow at dawn where you can set up your blanket beneath a shady tree and munch on sweet strawberries, then make sure to pack Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen in your picturesque wicker basket. The dew-touched grass will transport you back to 19th-century England with Pride and Prejudice, a story of romance, social conventions, and not letting pride get in the way of love. The story follows the Bennet family, comprised of five unmarried daughters, as they attempt to make a match that will not only benefit their family’s social status, but also one where the possibility of romance can become real. It is a whimsical and beautiful romance classic, perfect for all the classic picnic lovers.
Thrilling Woodland Picnic
If you prefer to picnic in the woods, surrounded by the dark shade of the trees with spots of light shining through the treetops, and the call of birds and rustle of the wind through the leaves, then bring The God of the Woods by Liz Moore on your picnic. Under tree cover, you will find yourself immersed in the mysterious disappearance of thirteen-year-old Barbara Van Laar. When she goes missing from the summer camp that her family owns, the town is thrown into a panic as they search for Barbara and can’t help but remember the mysterious disappearance of her brother fourteen years prior. The blue-collar community begins to question the secrets of the Van Laar family, which employs most of the residents in the area. A bookish picnic in the woods is sure to bring this thriller to life and unearth more than a few dark secrets.
Urban Park Picnic
There is no better place to read Betty Smith’s classic, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, than in an urban park on a lovely day. Pack a comfortable blanket, a sandwich from a local shop, and maybe even find a tree to sit under and relax. The background noises of honking cars and harsh sirens, people talking as they walk past, and busy city-goers milling about create the perfect soundtrack to pair with the coming-of-age story of Francie Nolan as she grows up in poverty and faces hardships and social inequalities with her family. This book is a powerful story of overcoming and understanding that life is not always what you want it to be, but there is still room to dream big. This is a relatable story about the realities of life that pairs perfectly with an urban picnic.
Beach Bum Picnic
Grab a beach chair or towel, a popsicle, your favorite beachy snacks, a sunhat, and a big pair of sunglasses to go dip your painted toenails in the ocean, and let the tide take you away on a picnic with Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This book was meant to be read with the calming crash of the ocean behind you and the scent of salty air. It will transport you to the movie-like Malibu beaches of the 80s, where the dysfunctional Riva family can be found. The story follows the four children of the world-famous singer, Mick Riva, and centers on Nina Riva’s legendary end-of-summer party, where things quickly get out of control and come to a head. It is a vivid and gripping story that is impossible to put down. Pack plenty of snacks for your beach picnic so you can read this book all day long.
Whether you prefer a classic picnic in a pretty meadow, a dark woods retreat, or a day camped out on the beach, there is a perfect bookish picnic waiting for you. We hope you enjoy as much time outside with a book as you can, no matter where you are.
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Find these books and more on our Bookstr Team Recommendations bookshelf on Bookshop.org.
