At the beach you do not want to have to think too much about what you're reading. If the book is long and involved, with hundreds of family members with hard-to-remember names (I'm talking to you "Dr. Zhivago" and "100 Years of Solitude"), just leave it at home. You want fluffy, you want silly, you want racy. Yes, you do, admit it - no one is watching you.

These books are ideal beach reading for girlfriend getaways, as you can read them in an afternoon, then trade with your friends. There will be some chick lit, yes, and some oldies-but-goodies.

1) Bridget Jones' Diary (Helen Fielding): We dare you not to laugh out loud at this loveable British hot mess and her daily musings. The movie was funny, but the book is side-splittingly hilarious.

2) Hollywood Wives (Jackie Collins): Oh yes. Ms. Jackie Collins has her finger on the pulse of Hollywood's debauchery, and invites you into the insane world of excessive wealth, power, and deceit. And you can just be glad it's not your life. (many apologies to any actual Hollywood wives, because it might be your life...)

3) I Am America, And So Can You! (Stephen Colbert): This is an election year, after all, and no one does pretend-politics better than Stephen Colbert. This truly is one of the funniest books I've ever read, and it's formatted for the ADD-generation (i.e. no overly long chapters, and there are stickers!).

4) Scruples (Judith Krantz): An oldie, for sure - written in 1978 - but packed with page-turning plots, blindingly wealthy characters, and a LOT of Naughty, with a capital "N".

5) Can you keep a secret? (Sophie Kinsella): From the author of the "Shopaholic" series - this is a particularly entertaining read, about a girl who only has a bit more together than Bridget Jones.

6) Secrets of a Former Fat Girl: How to Lose Two, Four (or More!) Dress Sizes--And Find Yourself Along the Way (Lisa Delaney): The reviews of this are excellent, and finally someone actually addresses the internal emotional struggles that go along with trying to lose weight. It's rarely just about eating less and exercising more.

7) Mr. Maybe (Jane Green): You should really just buy this one for the cover alone.

8) Are you there vodka? It's me, Chelsea. (Chelsea Handler): Chelsea is totally our kind of girl. She is not afraid to be a little bawdy and a lot hilarious, and we've all turned to vodka to answer our prayers, from time to time.

9) The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germophobia, and Laser Hair Removal (Laurie Notaro): Having been a victim of the laser hair removal, myself, I feel a particular affinity for our Idiot Girl. It would not surprise me to hear that laser hair removal was utilized in the Guantanamo Bay torture fiasco.

10) Starring Sally J Freedman As Herself (Judy Blume): No, this isn't one of Judy Blume's adult novels. It's one of the classics, and it is SO summer!

Don't forget your sunscreen, and don't get sand in the popsicles.