There’s no shortage of things to do on Anna Maria Island. From watersports to exploring the beaches, to educational activities to learn about the island’s rich history and wildlife, a week at our vacation rentals can quickly become full.
But don’t forget to stop and relax on your island vacation. Reading is a way to wind down after a day full of activity on Anna Maria. Whether on the beach or on the deck of your Anna Maria Island pet-friendly rentals, a good book goes well with an iced coffee, a cold beer, or a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
Here are three fun beach reads we recommend for a day at the beach or a breezy evening by the pool. All of these books are written by authors with close ties to Anna Maria Island and will give you a new perspective on this beautiful slice of paradise.
The History Paperback
Every history buff that visits the island should read Tales of Three Cities: From Bean Point to Bridge Street by Carolyne Norwood.
This book offers a unique perspective on Anna Maria Island history from 1940-1970. It is an easy read that follows the iconic lifestyle of the early islanders. Many places mentioned will be familiar to anyone spending time on the island. Liked this one? Try the author’s other book on Anna Maria Island, The Early Days: 1893-1940. These Anna Maria beach novels offer incredibly detailed insight into what it was like to build the first homestead on the island.
The Light Read
Like Moonlight at Low Tide by Nicole Quigley is actually a romance novel written for teens, but is a worthwhile read for adults, as well.
This novel takes place on Anna Maria Island, detailing the life of a teenage girl who moves back to the island after three years away. A book full of family ties, love, tough decisions, and consequences, this novel will both entertain and paint a picture of teenage life on Anna Maria Island. The author grew up on Anna Maria and resides here today. This is one of the best Anna Maria beach novels to read while soaking up the sun in this vacation paradise.
The Chef’s Pick
Another novel, The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry is the first of three books written by Kathleen Flinn documenting different parts of her life in an engaging and relatable way.
Follow the joys and trials of a 30-something who loses her job and moves to Paris to attend to study cooking at the world’s most famous cooking school, Le Cordon Bleu. While searching for a new career, she also strikes up a romance – were better than the city of love? In each of her books, she travels to Anna Maria Island, a destination with which she has a special connection. In fact, Flinn loves Anna Maria so much that she was married on the island, and has stayed at the Sand Castle, a 1920s home now managed by Lizzie Lu’s. All three of her books tell a great story, but also paint yet another picture of Anna Maria Island.
Plan Your Next Trip
For more information on our Anna Maria Island rentals, browse the listings and book right here on our website. Our properties vary in size, amenities, and proximity to the island’s cities and beaches – something for every kind of vacationer.
Our cottages each include an array of fun beach reads to get lost in during an afternoon or over the course of the week. If you do not finish a book that you start while at vacation rentals on Anna Maria Island, feel free to bring it home and finish it up. Our guests often leave books they have finished behind, so you never know what you might find on the shelf. We also try to keep children’s books available for our youngest guests.
