If you’re the kind of person who packs as many books as clothes for a boat trip, you’re in good company. Whether you are anchored in a quiet cove or dreaming of one from your couch, these summer reads will float your imagination far beyond the dock. From sailing memoirs to coastal dramas and octopus friendships (yes, really), here are 15 Boat Reads for your Summer on the Water: 15 boat-soaked stories worth diving into.
Discover the perfect 15 Boat Reads for your Summer on the Water with this curated list of salty stories and maritime musings for when you’re craving a little dockside drama or deep-sea introspection.
1. Sailing to Capri by Elizabeth Adler
Yachts, murder, and Mediterranean glamour? Yes, please. A group of jet-setters sails from Italy’s Amalfi Coast to the island of Capri, uncovering secrets and romance along the way. Think: Agatha Christie meets Below Deck.
2. The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch
Set on England’s rugged northern coast, this novel follows a retired theater director who retreats to a seaside cottage to write his memoir—only to spiral into obsession. It is moody, philosophical, and full of crashing waves (both literal and emotional).
3. A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffett
Yes, that Jimmy! A cowboy-turned-lighthouse-keeper sails through the Caribbean with a colourful cast of characters. Expect tropical misadventures, hammock wisdom, and a storyline that pairs perfectly with a blender drink.
4. Salt of a Sailor by Annie Dike
Annie goes from courtroom to catamaran in this laugh-out-loud memoir about learning to sail. Set mostly along Florida’s Gulf Coast, it’s a no-holds-barred account of rookie mistakes, boatyard chaos, and finding freedom afloat.
5. Red Sky in Mourning by Tami Oldham Ashcraft
The story of Tami Oldham Ashcraft’s 41-day journey to safety, which she survived through fortitude and sheer strength of character. Interspersed with flashbacks to her romance with her doomed fiancé Richard, this survival story offers an inspiring reminder that even in our darkest moments, we are never truly alone.
6. Get Real, Get Gone by Rick Page
Part manifesto, part how-to, this is for anyone dreaming of ditching land life for open seas. No sugar-coating here—Rick’s writing is salty, sharp, and full of practical tips for becoming a modern-day sea gypsy.
7. Alone Together: Sailing Solo to Hawaii and Beyond by Christian Williams
With quiet prose and big waves, this memoir covers one man’s solo passage from California to Hawaii. It’s meditative, poetic, and utterly captivating—perfect for quiet evenings at anchor. These are the thoughts that your brain creates without access to television or social media!
8. The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
Ten passengers survive a yacht explosion and climb into a lifeboat… with a man who claims to be God. Set adrift in the Atlantic, this fable-like novel dives deep into faith, hope, and what it means to be saved.
9. The Ocean in Winter by Elizabeth de Veer
Set in a small Massachusetts coastal town, this emotional novel follows three sisters reconciling grief, secrets, and their complicated family past. Less about boats, more about the sea as a force of healing and mystery.
10. Sea Bean by Sally Huband
A beautiful blend of memoir and nature writing, set in the wild Shetland Islands. Sally walks the beaches searching for sea beans (tiny ocean-traveling seeds), and finds unexpected meaning in solitude and ocean rhythms.
11. The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard
While not strictly nautical, this story opens with a family reunion gone wrong at a waterside hotel in Chicago. It’s emotional, gripping, and has just enough water-adjacent drama to make the list.
12. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Set in a small Pacific Northwest town (yay!), this novel features an unlikely friendship between a lonely widow and a giant Pacific octopus at the local aquarium. Gentle, quirky, and full of ocean love.
13. The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
After losing everything, a couple walks the South West Coast Path in England, sleeping wild and rediscovering life. It’s technically a walking story, but the sea is a constant companion, making it deeply oceanic in spirit.
14. Floating by Joe Minihane
Burned out and anxious, Joe takes to the water to wild swim across Britain. A memoir of healing, cold water immersion, and finding your rhythm in the current. You’ll want a thick towel and a hot toddy after reading.
15. Perfect by Rachel Joyce
A quiet novel with tidal emotional undertones, following two boys in 1972 who believe they can stop time. While not boat-focused, the English coastal atmosphere plays a dreamy supporting role.
Bonus Pick: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman
A whimsical story about a quirky grandmother, a precocious granddaughter, and a fantastical world that’s somehow nautical and Nordic all at once. It’s more ferryboats than yachts, but the spirit of adventure sails strong.
Whether you’re tied up at the marina or drifting in a quiet anchorage, there’s nothing like a good book to pair with the sound of lapping waves. These stories will take you from the Caribbean to the Shetlands, from solo crossings to seaside towns—all without leaving your deck chair. So stock your shelves (or your Kindle), pour something cold, and let the reading voyage begin.
