Beach Reads

By Cindy Bilbao

Sailing Lessons

By Hannah McKinnon

The Bailey girls haven’t seen their father in 23 years. Their lives on Cape Cod have moved on successfully without him, but when they suddenly receive a letter from him saying he’s coming for a visit, it stirs up emotions that have been carefully tucked away.

The sisters have very relatable challenges that they each must confront with the help of their loving mother. Cape Cod itself plays a large role in the details of each of their lives, and it is a pleasure to read how the story plays out within the beauty of the beaches surrounding Chatham and the harbor.

This provocative and engrossing book challenges the reader to ponder their own ideas of forgiveness and the importance of family.

New England Sea Glass: A Vibrant History

By Roxie J. Zwicker

Coastal New England in the United States is known as a great place to beachcomb for sea glass. Perhaps nobody knows this better than avid beachcomber Roxie Zwicker, who has written a book about this historic region.

Roxie knew that when she was finding beach glass and sea pottery while living in Maine, she was collecting pieces of history. Wanting to discover the stories gleaned from the colorful glass, she set out to learn as much about local maritime history as possible, including the storms and shipwrecks from as far back as the seventeenth century. In this book, she’s included some of the interesting stories she’s learned, and even the chilling folklore about the many ghosts that reputedly still roam certain areas of the region.

Broken down by states, this book brings the reader along on tour of each coastal area, sharing why there is sea glass to be found there. In the end, you’ll have an understanding of the artifacts that were once part of the evolution of New England’s coastal cities, and how they have slipped below the ocean’s waves. Beachcombers, history buffs, and travelers will want to add this book to their travel luggage and head to New England!

For more books for reference, inspiration, and reading, visit Cindy’s list of the Best Beachcombing Books, Best New Beachcombing Books, and her list of favorite Children’s Beach Books.

Read more beach book recommendations from Cindy Bilbao.

For quick links to many of the books that Beachcombing has reviewed and products we recommend, please visit our Amazon shop.

Quick note: Please support your local bookstore, beach shop, and authors by purchasing these books in their stores. We sometimes provide links on the Beachcombing website to make it easy to find or purchase products, some of which are on Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases made when you click and make purchases on Amazon, but the cost does not change for you. Please feel free to purchase items wherever it works best for you and supports local and small businesses.

Top: Beach grass background (Annette Belnap/Shutterstock.com).

Bottom: New England sea glass collection (Roxie Zwicker).

This article appeared in Beachcombing Magazine Volume 47 March/April 2025.