Steamy Beach Reads and Their Tropical Cocktail Matchups

Book Lists
Written By Frances Ramsey
Summer Romance Reads and Cocktail Pairings

Sip & Swoon: Perfect Cocktail Pairings for Your Summer Romance

Because the only thing better than a beach read is one with a tiki drink in hand.

This post contains cocktail recipes intended for readers 21 years of age and older. Please drink responsibly. If you choose to consume alcohol, do so in moderation and in accordance with your local laws. For non-drinkers, pregnancy-safe, and family-friendly options, mocktail alternatives are also provided.

Is there anything better than sinking your toes into warm sand, flipping open a fresh romance novel, and taking a sip of something cold, fruity, and fabulous? Whether you're lounging poolside, hiding from the kids in the backyard, or daydreaming of the ocean from your porch swing, summer is the perfect excuse to mix a dreamy book with a dreamy drink.

Every summer, there’s one ritual I look forward to just as much as the beach reads: the cocktails. Not just any cocktails—tropical, over-the-top, orchid-garnished, umbrella-stirred masterpieces crafted by my husband, who (fun fact) doesn’t cook at all but has become our resident mixologist.

His obsession started during the COVID lockdown. Like many of us, he needed a creative outlet—so he dove headfirst into the world of tiki cocktails, specialty rums, and mid-century bar culture. Suddenly our kitchen was filled with homemade syrups, bitters, and the sound of a cocktail shaker. He was crafting complex tropical drinks like a pro, and I wasn’t mad about it.

When travel opened up again, I surprised him with a birthday trip to Hawaii, and it became the ultimate inspiration. We spent our days poolside—he with a beautifully garnished Mai Tai in hand, me with a steamy romance novel I couldn’t put down. It was sunshine, escapism, and love stories in every form.

Now, every summer, he breaks out his curated collection of tiki mugs, checks his stash of rare rums, and whips up something delicious—always with a pineapple frond or orchid flower on top. And every time, I’m transported right back to those Hawaiian beaches… especially when I’m pairing one of his drinks with a swoony summer romance book.

So, whether you’re on an actual vacation or just claiming five quiet minutes in your backyard while the kids splash in the blow up pool, I’ve got the perfect book and beachy drink pairings for you. From fruity mocktails for moms to tropical cocktails worth Instagramming, here’s how to turn your summer reading into a full-on vibe.

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work.

It’s a Love Story

by Annabel Monaghan

It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan is the perfect blend of witty, heartfelt, and slow-burn romance that feels like a lazy, golden-hour afternoon. It deserves a cocktail that’s just as breezy and emotionally satisfying.

Perfect Drink Pairing: Peach Basil Sangria

Why this works: Just like this book’s warm, nostalgic, slow-burn second-chance romance, this drink is effortlessly romantic, subtly sweet, and made to be savored. Juicy peach, herbaceous basil, and crisp white wine create the perfect sip for a love story that’s both soul-stirring and satisfying. Whether you’re poolside, porch-swinging, or nestled into your favorite reading chair, this combo is a mood.

Pair this book + drink combo if you:

  • Crave long-lost love reignited with heart-tugging flashbacks and whip-smart banter

  • Are a fan of stories with emotional growth, tenderness, and understated swoon

  • Love your summer reads like your sangria: slow steeped, a little fruity, and totally refreshing

  • Want to feel softly wrecked and fully healed by the final page

Cocktail Version:

  • 1 bottle chilled white wine (Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)

  • 1/4 cup peach schnapps

  • 1–2 ripe peaches, thinly sliced

  • A handful of fresh basil leaves

  • Top with club soda right before serving

  • Serve over ice with a peach or basil garnish

Mocktail Version:

Till Summer Do Us Part

by Meghan Quinn

Till Summer Do Us Part is a fake marriage, workplace comedy, and laugh-out-loud romance. It’s a zany, upbeat fake-dating rom-com with high-energy banter and forced proximity in a summer camp setting. You’ll want to pair it with a drink that’s playful, bright, and just a little chaotic (in the best way).

Perfect Pairing: Sparkling Watermelon Margarita (or Faux-rita)

Why it works: Just like Scottie’s accidental descent into marriage camp madness, this drink is refreshing, over-the-top, and a little bit wild. Watermelon is flirty and fun, lime brings that zippy improv energy, and the bubbles? They’re for all the fake-dating-fueled chaos that bubbles over into real feelings.

Pair this book + drink combo if you:

  • Live for fake marriage chaos, outrageous one-liners, and forced proximity hijinks

  • Love rom-coms with big personalities, even bigger heart, and the kind of banter that makes you snort-laugh

  • Crave a book that feels like a bachelorette party weekend wrapped in a love story

  • Want a fizzy, flirty escape with major summer wedding energy—best enjoyed with a juicy, sparkling sip in hand

🍹 Cocktail Version:

Shake tequila, watermelon, lime, and triple sec over ice. Strain into a glass with a Tajín (or salt) rim and top with sparkling water.

🧊 Mocktail Version:

It’s the perfect drink to sip while watching Scottie and Wilder pretend to be married under the suspicious eyes of Chad, Brad, and the boss’s husband-therapist.

Only Lovers in the Building

by Nadine Gonzalez

Only Lovers in the Building by Nadine Gonzalez is a witty, sun-soaked romantic comedy set in a glamorous Art Deco Miami Beach building, blending bookish chemistry, reluctant attraction, and a slow-burning podcast-fueled love story. With its warm, breezy setting and themes of reinvention, book-nerd banter, and just a touch of chaos, this book calls for a retro-glam cocktail with a flirty twist.

Perfect Pairing: Passion Fruit Paloma (or Mock-oma)

Why it works: Like the shimmering South Beach setting, this cocktail is tropical, tangy, and sophisticated. The passion fruit mirrors the book's simmering sexual tension and vibrant Miami vibe, while the grapefruit soda keeps things light, sparkling, and just a little tart—like Lily and Ben’s perfectly timed banter. It’s effortlessly cool with a kick, much like the podcast premise and the slow-burn between two reluctant romantics who read love stories for a living (but can’t quite admit they’re living one).

Pair this book + drink combo if you:

  • Adore a sun-drenched, character-driven romance with a dash of humor and a vibrant setting

  • Love found family tropes, slow-burn chemistry, and main characters who bond over books and banter

  • Are looking for a story that blends tropical heat, emotional depth, and a little bit of creative chaos

  • Want to sip something tart, tangy, and tropical while diving into the Miami art deco scene

🍸 Cocktail Version:

  • 1.5 oz tequila blanco

  • 1 oz passion fruit juice (or purée)

  • 0.5 oz fresh lime juice

  • Top with grapefruit soda (Whole Foods or Fever-Tree recommended)

  • Garnish: Lime wheel + edible flower or grapefruit twist

Shake the tequila, passion fruit, and lime juice with ice. Pour into a tall glass and top with grapefruit soda for a fizzy finish.

🧊 Mocktail Version:

  • 1 oz passion fruit juice

  • 1 oz lime juice

  • Top with sparkling grapefruit soda or pink lemonade + soda water

  • Garnish the same way—it’s Miami, after all

This is the kind of drink you imagine sipping poolside while pretending not to stare at your book buddy who might just be your future podcast co-host/love interest.

Say You'll Remember Me

by Abby Jimenez

Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez, is an emotionally rich romance with a mix of humor, heat, heartbreak, and hope. With a swoony but flawed veterinarian, a heroine juggling intense family responsibilities, and a one-night-perfect-then-pulled-apart connection, this calls for a cocktail that feels like summer nostalgia in a glass—bittersweet, beautiful, and full of emotional complexity.

Perfect Pairing: Coconut Pineapple Mojito (or Faux-jito)

Why it works: This drink is sweet, refreshing, and a little soulful—just like Samantha and Xavier’s story. The coconut and pineapple bring in a lush, summery vibe (reminiscent of that one perfect night they shared), while the mint and lime add a layer of fresh brightness and emotional complexity. It's comforting but crisp—ideal for a beach read with depth.

Pair this book + drink combo if you:

  • Crave emotional depth, second chances, and romance that feels soul-deep

  • Are a fan of grumpy-sunshine energy with heartfelt vulnerability and a swoony, golden-hearted hero

  • Love a story with real-life stakes, a touch of angst, and healing through love

  • Want a drink that’s cool, refreshing, and laced with sweetness and complexity—just like Xavier and Samantha’s unforgettable connection

🍹 Cocktail Version:

Muddle mint with lime juice. Shake the rum, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice with ice, then pour over the muddled mint. Top with soda water and garnish generously.

🧊 Mocktail Version:

This is the kind of drink that feels like a memory you want to bottle—sweet, lingering, and a little impossible to forget. Just like their love story.

Problematic Summer Romance

by Ali Hazelwood

Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood is dripping with forbidden tension, witty banter, sun-soaked Sicilian escapism, and steamy older-man-younger-woman energy—all set against the dreamy backdrop of a wedding in Taormina. This kind of book practically begs to be paired with something decadent, flirty, and just a little bit forbidden.

Perfect Pairing: Sicilian Blood Orange Spritz (or No-Guilt Mocktail Spritz)

Why it works: A blood orange spritz is equal parts sultry and refreshing—much like Maya and Conor’s dynamic. The bold citrus mirrors the fire between them, while the spritz format keeps things light and sparkling like the Mediterranean coastline. It’s also distinctly Italian, echoing the setting’s sun-drenched villas, spontaneous hookups, and chaotic wedding drama.

Pair this book + drink combo if you:

  • Are a fan of forbidden romance, age gap tension, and brother’s best friend tropes with irresistible slow-burn heat

  • Love a sassy, brilliant heroine and a brooding love interest who can’t stay away

  • Crave a story set against a gorgeous Mediterranean backdrop with equal parts angst, chemistry, and charm

  • Are looking to sip something citrusy, bittersweet, and bold—like a summer fling that turns into something deeper

🍹 Cocktail Version:

Build in a wine glass over ice. Stir gently and garnish. Bonus points if you sip it barefoot on a balcony.

🧊 Mocktail Version:

This drink is equal parts romance and restraint—a perfect pairing for a story that walks the line between taboo tension and emotional intimacy, all wrapped in a Sicilian summer heatwave.

Summer in the City

by Alex Aster

Summer in the City by Alex Aster is a high-heat, high-rise, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy with a cinematic backdrop, snarky chemistry, and major NYC summer energy. With a screenwriter heroine battling creative block and a billionaire bachelor neighbor turned fake boyfriend, the vibes scream: urban escapism, rooftop rendezvous, and a drink that feels as bold and fizzy as their banter.

Perfect Pairing: Spiked Strawberry Basil Lemonade (or Mocktail Muse Lemonade)

Why it works: This drink is sassy, fresh, and secretly complex—just like Elle and Parker. The strawberry is sweet, the basil is sharp, and the lemon adds just the right amount of tart to match their enemies-to-lovers snark. It’s the kind of thing you'd sip from a plastic cup on a New York rooftop, barefoot and mid-argument-turned-makeout.

Pair this book + drink combo if you:

  • Love enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropes with sizzling chemistry

  • Crave a New York City summer romance full of passion, banter, and creative inspiration

  • Are a fan of stories that blend career ambition with romantic tension and a bit of emotional chaos

  • Want to sip something refreshing, vibrant, and slightly tart—perfect for rooftop daydreaming or a writer’s block breakthrough

🍋 Cocktail Version:

  • 2 oz vodka (or gin for more botanical edge)

  • 1 oz fresh lemon juice

  • 0.75 oz simple syrup (or muddled strawberries + sugar)

  • 2–3 strawberries

  • 2–3 basil leaves

  • Splash of soda water or lemon sparkling water

  • Garnish: Basil sprig + strawberry slice

Muddle strawberries and basil with lemon juice and syrup. Shake with vodka and ice, strain into a glass, and top with soda water.

🍹 Mocktail Version:

  • Muddle 3 strawberries + basil leaves

  • Add 1 oz lemon juice + 0.5 oz honey or simple syrup

  • Shake with ice, top with lemon seltzer

  • Same sassy garnish

It’s bold enough for rooftop drama, light enough for sweltering city nights, and full of twist meets fizz, much like Elle’s screenplay-in-progress and her increasingly real "fake" romance.

The Summer of Broken Rules

by K.L. Walther

The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther is a heartfelt, summery YA romance set against the dreamy backdrop of Martha’s Vineyard. With its beachside wedding, family traditions, lighthearted assassin game, and a slow-burning, swoony connection, this book practically begs for a drink that’s playful, refreshing, and laced with nostalgia and a hint of bittersweet emotion.

Perfect Pairing: Lavender Blueberry Lemonade Spritz (or Mocktail Version)

Why it works: This drink is a soft mix of floral, sweet, and tart, echoing the emotions Meredith navigates—grief, joy, first love, and new beginnings. The blueberry and lavender nod to New England coastal charm, while the lemonade base keeps things classic, fun, and sunshine-ready. A spritz version adds sparkle—just like the giddy, unexpected joy of a summer romance.

Pair this book + drink combo if you:

  • Love coming-of-age summer romances with heart and healing

  • Are a fan of wedding-week hijinks, family traditions, and emotional depth

  • Enjoy a flirtatious alliance-turned-romance set against a picturesque summer backdrop

  • Are looking to sip something floral, fruity, and refreshingly bittersweet—the perfect match for this story of love, loss, and new beginnings

🍹 Cocktail Version:

Shake the syrups, lemon juice, and spirit with ice. Strain into a glass over fresh ice, top with fizz, and enjoy the floral fizz of summer.

🧊 Mocktail Version:

It’s light and emotionally layered, a drink you’d sip barefoot on a wraparound porch, during a beachside wedding game, or watching the sunset as you fall for the groomsman you're definitely not supposed to be flirting with.

That Summer Feeling

by Bridget Morrissey

That Summer Feeling by Bridget Morrissey is a tender, life-affirming sapphic romance about rediscovery, second chances, and falling in love under the stars at adult summer camp. It's filled with campfire nostalgia, sweet slow-burn vibes, and nature-kissed magic, making it a perfect match for a cocktail or mocktail that's both whimsical and earthy—something you’d sip after a canoe race, during a camp dance, or while stargazing with your crush by the lake.

Perfect Pairing: Blackberry Sage Smash (or Starry Night Mocktail)

Why it works: Blackberry and sage bring together wildness and warmth—just like Camp Carl Cove. The deep berry notes represent the sweetness of unexpected romance, while sage offers a grounding, woodsy vibe that evokes mountain air, cabin porches, and emotional clarity. This drink feels a little magical, a little messy, and a lot like falling in love when you least expect it.

Pair this book + drink combo if you:

  • Crave sapphic love stories full of heart, humor, and self-discovery

  • Are a fan of adult summer camp nostalgia, slow-burn chemistry, and second chances at happiness

  • Find magic in moonlit dances, lakeside cabins, and unexpected connections

  • Want something earthy, effervescent, and a little bit wild—like a summer night under the stars

🍸 Cocktail Version:

  • 4–5 fresh blackberries

  • 2 sage leaves

  • 0.75 oz simple syrup or honey

  • 1 oz fresh lemon juice

  • 2 oz gin (or vodka for a cleaner profile)

  • Garnish: sage sprig + blackberry skewer

Muddle blackberries and sage in the shaker. Add lemon juice, syrup, and gin. Shake with ice, strain into a glass over fresh ice, and garnish.

✨ Mocktail Version:

  • Muddle 4–5 blackberries + 2 sage leaves

  • Add 1 oz lemon juice + 0.75 oz honey syrup

  • Shake with ice, strain into a glass, and top with sparkling water or a berry kombucha

  • Garnish the same for all the cottagecore energy

This pairing feels like a campfire kiss in a glass—fresh, unexpected, and full of depth. Perfect for readers who love nature, romance, and a story where healing and love bloom under pine trees and paper lanterns.

Silver Elite

by Dani Francis

If your summer read tastes lean more toward high-stakes danger, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers, psychic powers, and rebellion from within, then Silver Elite by Dani Francis delivers all the gritty dystopian romance you crave. It's intense, gripping, and laced with forbidden attraction, elite training tension, and life-or-death stakes—definitely not your average breezy beach read.

So your drink? It needs to match that moody, mysterious, adrenaline-fueled energy while still being sippable poolside.

Perfect Pairing: Midnight Mule (or Psychic Storm Mocktail)

Why it works: This cocktail takes the classic Moscow Mule and gives it a dark twist with blackberry, activated charcoal, and a dash of lime—the kind of drink you’d sip under cover of night on a secret mission. The mocktail version still brings the drama, but keeps it clean for clear-headed strategy (or younger readers!).

Pair this book + drink combo if you:

  • Crave slow-burn enemies-to-lovers tension with rebellion, betrayal, and impossible choices

  • Love romantic dystopias with telekinetic powers, hidden agendas, and training-camp survival

  • Want a drink that tastes dark, mysterious, and a little dangerous—perfect for a secret rebellion under the stars

  • Love powerful heroines navigating morally gray love interests and even grayer governments

🍸 Midnight Mule (Cocktail Version):

  • 1 oz blackberry syrup or muddled blackberries

  • 2 oz vodka

  • 0.5 oz lime juice

  • Dash of activated charcoal (optional, for that smoky-black color)

  • Top with ginger beer

  • Garnish: mint sprig + blackberries + metal straw (like Wren’s edge)

Shake vodka, lime juice, syrup, and charcoal with ice. Strain into a copper mug or dark rocks glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish.

🌩️ Psychic Storm (Mocktail Version):

This drink is bold, brooding, and unexpected—perfect for readers who want their romance with moral gray areas, combat training, and soul-shaking stares from enemies who might not be enemies after all.

Shield of Sparrows

by Devney Perry

If your summer reading vibe leans more toward sweeping fantasy, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers tension, monster-infested realms, and a princess rewriting her destiny, then Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry is your ultimate escape. With vibes reminiscent of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros, it’s the perfect blend of danger, desire, and defiance—and it deserves a drink pairing just as bold and magical.

Perfect Pairing: The Moonlit Mirage (or Royal Nectar Mocktail)

Why it works: This drink is mysterious, ethereal, and powerful—just like the journey of a forgotten princess becoming the warrior she was never meant to be. With flavors like lavender, honey, and lemon, it evokes ancient forests, moonlit magic, and forbidden longing. A hint of edible shimmer adds the illusion of a spell brewing in your cup.

Pair this book + drink combo if you:

  • Crave fantasy romance with slow-burn tension and ancient prophecies

  • Want to get lost in lush world-building and reluctant royalty

  • Sip by moonlight and imagine rewriting fate with fire in your heart and a blade at your hip

Check out the printables page for recipe cards, cocktail display sign and book discussion guide.

🍸 Moonlit Mirage (Cocktail Version):

Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a chilled coupe glass, and prepare to feel like a cursed royal with secrets and steel in her veins.

🧚‍♀️ Royal Nectar (Mocktail Version):

This enchanting mocktail feels like a potion brewed in a hidden glade by someone who’s about to change the fate of kingdoms.

The Love Haters

by Katherine Center

The Love Haters by Katherine Center is a sun-soaked rom-com that practically screams Key West with its Coast Guard hottie, rescue pup, and whirlwind tropical chaos. The perfect cocktail/mocktail pairing for this book? Something as bold, fun, and sweet-tart as the story itself.

Perfect Pairing: The Key West Kiss (or Sunshine Squeeze Mocktail)

Why it works: This pairing channels the cheeky, chaotic energy of a conga line, a steamy tropical setting, and a fake-it-till-you-make-it heroine who learns how to dive into the deep end—figuratively and literally. With rum, citrus, and guava, it’s as flirty and refreshing as a stolen kiss under a hurricane sky.

Pair this book + drink combo if you:

  • Crave a laugh-out-loud love story with heart

  • Love tropical rom-coms featuring rescue dogs and sizzling banter

  • Like your summer romance with a little chaos and courage mixed in

🍸 Key West Kiss (Cocktail Version):

  • 1.5 oz light rum (or coconut rum for a tropical twist)

  • 1 oz guava nectar

  • 0.5 oz lime juice

  • 0.5 oz orange liqueur (like Cointreau or Triple Sec)

  • Splash of club soda for fizz

  • Garnish: lime wheel + edible flower or tiny umbrella

Shake first four ingredients with ice, strain into a highball or tiki glass with fresh ice, and top with soda. This one tastes like trouble in paradise—in the best way.

🍹 Sunshine Squeeze (Mocktail Version):

  • 2 oz guava nectar

  • 1 oz fresh orange juice

  • 0.5 oz lime juice

  • 2 oz sparkling water or lemon-lime soda

  • Garnish: citrus twist and a sugared rim for fun

Vibrant, juicy, and full of vacay vibes, this mocktail lets you sip your way through Katie and Hutch’s Key West misadventures with a smile on your face.

Final Tip: Set the Scene

Create your own reading & sipping station—tiki mug or fancy glass in hand, book in the other, maybe a flower in your hair if you're feeling it. Let the kids run wild while you claim five minutes of vacation in your own backyard.

Whether you're planning your next getaway or just dreaming of ocean breezes, I hope these beach book and cocktail pairings bring a little more joy, romance, and Hawaii-vibes to your summer.

Frances Mom Needs A Chapter Profile Picture


About the Author

I’m a mom of two spirited girls and one oversized Saint Bernard. I have a degree in English from the University of Wisconsin. By day, I work in health care as a Health Literacy expert; by night, I’m off wandering swoony fictional worlds, chasing plot twists and happily-ever-afters. I’ve been in love with the romance genre for as long as I can remember—I've read thousands of love stories and even had my own meet-cute with my library director husband… in a bookstore, of course.

-Frances

Mom Needs A Chapter

Frances Ramsey
Previous

Kiss, Curse, Consume: wicked drinks for romantasy Reads
Next

Inter-cultural Summer Romances with Heart