Good Material by Dolly Alderton
Sandbridge Beach, Virginia Beach
This romantic comedy follows a struggling comedian who is blindsided when his girlfriend ends their relationship. Read about his attempts to cope with the breakup, while navigating the challenges of dating, as the waves crash on Sandbridge Beach. (Fig Tree, 2023)
Arcadia by Tom Stoppard
Shearando Lake, Lyndhurst
Float between two time periods in one of Stoppard’s most revered works as the relationships between past and present, order and disorder, certainty and uncertainty are explored. Scenic
Shearando Lake makes the perfect backdrop for reading this very British stage play. (Faber & Faber, 1993)
This is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter
Claytor Lake Park, Dublin
Up your camping game—and scare yourself silly in this spooky state park—with a thriller by bestselling crime writer Karin Slaughter: A mysterious family, eight suspicious guests, and one death all collide at a vast, mountaintop property.
(William Morrow, 2024)
Modern Love, edited by Daniel Jones
Belle Isle, Richmond
What better place to read about love than in bustling River City? This collection, compiled by Daniel Jones, longtime editor of The New York Times’ “Modern Love” column, explores love, heartbreak, and digital-age romance through diverse voices. (Crown, 2019)
Blush by Jamie Brenner
Algonkian Regional Park, Sterling
While lounging in Loudoun County, home to more than 50 wineries, what could be better than a book following three generations of women trying to save their winery—and their relationships?
(G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2021)
This article originally appeared in the August 2025 issue.
