Getting lost in a good beach read: What books are people reading this summer?

Barceloneta is Barcelona's go-to beach. And on hot August days, it is full of people swimming, sunbathing, relaxing, and, of course, reading. 

Some take advantage of this time to learn or practice other languages.

"I'm reading this book (Prêt-à-parler by Maison des langues) to try to learn French because my girlfriend is French and I want to be able to communicate with her family and also to better communicate with her," says Luca, who is visiting Barcelona from the United States. "Right now we speak with each other in Spanish or English, but I think it would be really nice if I could speak in her native language too."

"I'm reading this book (The Prince from Paradise by Hera Lind) that is in German, because I'm practicing the language, and I actually found this book on the street," Julia from Ukraine says. "I have just started reading it, but so far I like it and think it is really interesting, it is about love," she adds. 

Aside from learning new languages, people look to reading to learn other skills too: "I'm reading How to Be a Successful Artist by Magnus Resch because I want to be an artist myself and I am doing some research and studying about the traditional art market," Jane, who is also from Ukraine, mentions to Catalan News. 

Literature classics are still found in between the sand and towels. Julia, who visiting from Italy, is reading Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own. "It is a feminist book which talks about the spaces a woman needs in order to be successful," Julia says. 

Other beachgoers, like Alina from Estonia, enjoy crime novels. She is finishing the last book of Holly Jackson's A Good Girl's Guide to Murder trilogy, As Good as Dead: "So far it is good, I am liking it," she says. 

La Barceloneta is proof that the beach is a good place for readers to get lost in a book this summer.