Beach Read Vol. 20

By Claire MiddlemistApril 30, 2025

FROM AROUND THE WEB

The top 10 international airports for food and drink. Secrets of the 1,600-year-old megastructure that has survived the collapse of empires. Are the “fun police” coming to your favorite holiday spots? The elite college students who can’t read books. Jurassic Park IRL: Did scientists just revive an extinct species? Welcome to Miami’s richest road. Bill Murray says he’s not the man he used to be. Why is everyone ‘Sober-ish’ all of a sudden? The mysterious underwater pyramid believed to be 12,000 years old. This superyacht is selling 1-bedroom condos on board for $10 million. What is microcheating? Ohio’s prehistoric ceremonial earthworks open to the public for the first time in a century. Are smartphones destroying our sense of common decency? Waikiki welcomes Hawaii’s first pod-style hotel. Forgers and fraudsters trusted him for decades — but he was an undercover FBI art detective. How creativity became the reigning value of our time. Short Story: The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien.

AS SEEN ON IG

It's FINALLY warming up across the country, festival season just wrapped, and we cannot be more excited for the summer to come. Some exciting things that happened this month were: our launch on Amazon, taking the Baskmobile to Revolve Fest, joining Shopbop for their Miami Popup, and dropping in over 500+ CVS locations with more to come. Oh and if you need a "doctors note" for anything on a nice day, we've got you covered.

SPRING READING LIST

Another round-up from Baskforce member and resident #BookTok queen Nicole Pearce (IG, TikTok). This month she's listing some of her favorite authors and her favorite book(s) by them that she's read.
- Something Wild by Hannah Halpern - Halpern writes about complicated family and romantic relationships in a nuanced way. Her books are heartbreaking but so good.
- Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy - Known for beautiful writing and immersive settings. Her stories are deeply moving.
- The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead - Phenomenal writer whose books will likely become classics. This is Nicole’s favorite so far.
- Misery by Stephen King - Nicole is becoming a huge Stephen King multiverse nerd. Misery is her current favorite (with The Stand as a close second).
- All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker - His characters deeply stay with you. Picking a favorite was hard, but Nicole chose this one.
- A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan - Immersive nonfiction that reads almost like fiction. Nicole learned so much and became obsessed with his storytelling.
- Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn - Nicole's "queen" of thrillers. She craves more books from Gillian Flynn and this is her favorite.
- The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter - Dark, character-driven thrillers. Nicole considers Slaughter a prolific master, and this is her top pick so far.

FOUNDER FAVES

Britt

This non toxic candle from Homecourt smells like I'm in a field of the freshest roses in the world. A MUST BUY! It makes me so happy.
I am a cheese lover. So much so that I follow cheesemongers on Instagram. And one of them gave a 10/10 to a $7 cheese at Trader Joe's called Trader Joe’s Fromage Pavé. I got it, and I looooove it. It's so delicious! It's mild and buttery, soft and spreadable, and, again, only $7.
Whilst cheesing, I often red wine. And Mikey would argue I'm a chronic spiller. If you, like me, tend to spill, then this magic in a bottle gets rid of red & white wine stains from your couch, clothes, counter tops...whatever you spill on - with just a few sprays.
My friend started this fun and vibrant brand inspired by her cuban roots! Super chic and beautiful resort wear pieces. I especially love the Varadero Twist Top. Check it out!

Mikey

I was in LA recently and got to check out some incredible spots on my LA hit list. I'm still thinking about the Okinawa Cold Foam from Malou Coffee in Brentwood - great little spot that just opened. I got it twice in one day, and have been dreaming about it.
Also in LA, I had an incredible lunch at Dudley Market in Venice. The burger and crudo were both delicious, and went down nicely with a glass of orange wine at an outdoor table with a view of the Pacific.
The Paros Shirt from Rails is a great summer/beach option that is comfortable and airy. It's versatile too - which means you can wear it out for your morning coffee run with sandles and shorts, or with jeans or chinos for a night out at The Chicken Box.
I loved "Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN" which tells the story of ESPN from inception as a ragtag cable startup gamble through 2011. It's written like a documentary plays by piecing together over 500 interviews, so the story is told by the people who lived through it. Recommended for the dad/husband/boyfriend who loves sports and/or business. It's the same style and authors behind another book (Powerhouse) that I loved and have recommended which tells the story of the talent agency CAA.