“She need never feel apologetic about wanting to read a book – or be herself – again.”
When it comes to reading, there’s something irresistible about smart trashy books. These are the stories that deliver an addictive mix of guilty pleasure with captivating storytelling, perfect for those times when you want something easy, without scrimping out on the entertainment and substance. Whether it’s fast-paced thrillers, cutesy romances or historical dramas filled with flawed characters, smart trashy books are sorts of reads you can devour in one or two sittings by the beach, but whose themes will linger with you for a while afterwards. Join us today at What We Reading as we pull together some of our favourite smart trashy books to read this year. These stories all promise to pull you in with their juicy plots while keeping you hooked with sharp writing and clever twists, the perfect companions for any beach days, rainy weekends or late-night reading binges!
What Are Smart Trashy Books?
Smart trashy books are the perfect of escapism and intelligence. They combine the fast-paced, drama-filled plots of classic ‘trashy’ reads – think intrigue, suspense and juicy twists – with sharp writing that keeps readers hooked from the first page to the last. While they deliver the same sort of addictive entertainment as guilty pleasure reads, they also offer layers of depth, witty dialogue and well-rounded characters. These types of books may not require an in-depth level of analysis to understand, but they nevertheless have a cleverness that elevates them beyond just pure fluff.
In all, smart trashy books are fun, addictive and just sophisticated enough to keep you thinking after the final page.
Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn
Still one of the most defining smart trashy books, Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl remains as captivating today as it was when it was first published back in 2012. On the day of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne is stunned to find his wife, Amy, has suddenly disappeared.
The police immediately suspect Nick. Amy’s friends reveal that she had been afraid of him and that she kept a number of dark secrets hidden from him. He swears this isn’t the case. When the police examined his computer, they discovered a number of strange and suspicious searches. He claims they weren’t made by him. And then there are the persistent calls left on his phone. What happened to Nick’s beautiful wife?
Check Out The Best Books Like Gone Girl
Anatomy Of A Scandal – Sarah Vaughan
Sophie’s husband, James, is a loving father, a handsome man and a successful public individual. Yet, he finds himself on the stand accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is convinced he is innocent and is desperate to keep her family safe from the lies that threaten to rip them apart. Kate is the lawyer tasked with prosecuting the case and is convinced that James is guilty. But, which of the two women is right?
Despite her privileged upbringing, Sophie knows all too well that her idyllic life isn’t total. She has seen firsthand with James how quickly pleasure can turn into tragedy. Back during their days together at Oxford, Sophie’s tutorial partner, Holly, had left abruptly. What would she think about her husband and his predicament now, if she knew the truth about them?
The Arrangement – Robyn Harding
Natalie is a young student living in New York City. She is struggling to pay her bills, which leads to one of her friends suggesting that she go online and find herself a sugar daddy to pay for their dates and even give her a monthly allowance. Lots of girls do it. All that is required is to look pretty and hang on their every word. Any sexual favours are strictly optional.
Whilst he is over three decades older than her, Gabe is a handsome corporate finance attorney and a suitable candidate for Nat to consider. The only issue? Gabe has a family waiting at home, whom he has no intention of leaving. When he ends things with Nat suddenly, she finds herself drinking heavily and stalking both him and his family. In her smart trashy book, The Arrangement, Robyn Harding spins a tale of how a mutually beneficial arrangement descends into a nightmare of deception, obsession and, eventually, murder.
Verity – Colleen Hoover
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the cusp of financial ruin when she is offered the position of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to finish off the remaining books in a series his injured wife is unable to. Lowen arrives at the Crawford estate, eager to dive into Verity’s notes and outlines, hoping to find the inspiration and guide to getting started. What she doesn’t expect to discover, however, is a series of musings and confessions by Verity, including the apparent truth about what happened the day her daughter died.
Lowen opts to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, aware that its contents would only devastate the grieving father further. However, as her feelings for the man only intensify, she begins to recognise how Jeremy’s reading the words left by his wife might benefit her. After all, no matter how doting a husband he is now, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue loving her.
Check Out The Best Books Like Verity
The Giver Of Stars – Jojo Moyes
Alice Wright marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve hoping to escape her stifling life in England. However, small-town life in rural Kentucky soon proves to be equally claustrophobic, especially when it is spent alongside her overbearing father-in-law. So, when a call goes out for women to deliver books as a part of Eleanor Roosevelt’s travelling library, Alice is quick to sign up.
Led by the smart-talking, self-sufficient Margery, Alice is soon joined by another three singular women who become known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky. What follows is an unforgettable tale of feminine loyalty, humanity and passion, perfect for anyone looking for their next historical smart trashy book. Based on a true story, the women navigate a landscape that is as equally beautiful as it is brutal, committed to their jobs of bringing books to the people who have never had them.
The Silent Patient – Alex Michaelides
Alicia Berenson is a world-renowned artist living in one of the most affluent areas of London. She has a beautiful house and an equally-successful and loving husband, Gabriel. One evening, Gabriel returns home after working late. Alicia shoots him five times in the face and never speaks a single word again. The barbarity and bizarreness of the crime turn it into a media sensation, and Alicia is soon taken to the Grove, a secure forensic unit in the city.
Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time to speak to Alicia. Fascinated by her crime, he accepts a job working at the Grove and becomes determined to get her to talk and unravel the mysteries behind why she decided to shoot her husband. His efforts take him down a twisting path into his own motivations, and a search for the truth that threatens to overwhelm his entire life. One of the best smart trashy books, Alex Michaelides’ The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller nominated for Book of the Year by Barnes & Noble.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Silent Patient
Luckiest Girl Alive – Jessica Knoll
As a teenager at the exclusive Bradley School, Ani FaNelli endured a shocking public humiliation that led to her feeling desperate to reinvent herself. Now, with a glamorous job, an expensive wardrobe and a handsome fiance around her, she’s as close as she’s ever been to a seemingly perfect life. A life she has worked so hard to achieve.
Yet, Ani has a secret. There’s something else buried in her past that continues to haunt her, something private and painful that threatens to boil to the surface and upend everything. Jessica Knoll’s Luckiest Girl Alive is a smart trashy book that explores the pressures women face to ‘have it all’ in contemporary society, introducing a heroine whose sharp edges and razor ambitions have been hiding a shocking truth.
The Idea Of You – Robinne Lee
Solene Marchand is a thirty-nine-year-old art gallery owner in Los Angeles. She is reluctant to take her daughter, Isabelle, to meet her favourite boy band. But, since her divorce was finalised, she’s been more desperate than ever to get closer to her. The last thing Solene expects is to find herself forming a connection with one of the members of the world-famous August Moon. Hayes Campbell is clever and confident and their mutual attraction is instant and immediate. The fact that he is twenty years younger than her does complicate things.
Spanning continents from stadium tours, and art fairs to secluded highways in Miami and Paris, Robinne Lee’s The Idea of You tracks Hayes and Solene’s relationship as it evolves from sordid clandestine romps to a genuine and passionate relationship. One of the best smart trashy books for romance lovers, once this relationship becomes public knowledge, Solene must reckon with how her romantic life has impacted the lives of those she cares for the most.
Necessary People – Anna Pitoniak
Stella and Violet are best friends. Ever since they met each other in college, they knew their roles. Beautiful, privileged and reckless, Stella lives in the spotlight. Hardworking and laser-focused Violet remains in the shadows, always ready to clean up the mess Stella leaves in her wake.
After their graduation, Violet moves to New York and gets a job in cable news. She works her way up from intern to assistant and finally producer, finally carving a life for herself free from Stella’s shadow. In this fast-paced world, Violet thrives and her ambition knows no limit. Yet, Stella soon becomes envious of her friend’s new-found success. In Anna Pitoniak’s Necessary People, Violet and Stella each showcase how far they’re prepared to go to get what they want, even if it means destroying one another along the way.
The Rule – David Jackson
Daniel is looking forward to his birthday. He wants pie and chips, a big chocolate cake and a comic book with his favourite superhero. And, as long as he follows The Rule, nothing bad will happen to ruin that. Yet, Daniel has no idea that he’s about to kill a stranger. Daniel’s parents know that their beloved son didn’t mean to hurt anyone, he just isn’t aware of his own strength.
Daniel’s mother and father know that their vulnerable son will be taken away if anyone discovers what he has done. They dispose of the body and attempt to cover up the evidence of what has happened. But, as forces on both sides of the law begin to converge on them, they realise they have no other choice but to follow this through to the end, even if it means others will have to die in the process. Another one of the most gripping smart trashy books, David Jackson’s The Rule is a hilarious, intense and heartbreaking thriller.
Check Out Our The Rule Book Review
The Assistants – Camille Perri
Tina Fontana is a thirty-year-old executive assistant to Robert Barlow, the CEO of Titan Corp, a global multinational media conglomerate. She excels at her job and is adored by her boss. However, after years of pouring drinks from bottles worth more than her rent, the glamour of her position has worn off. Sadly for her, her student loan debt has not.
When a technical error with Robert’s expense report presents Tina with the perfect opportunity to pay off all of her debts which would be considered little more than loose change for her employer, she finds herself torn. This would be a life-changing moment for her, but she has always prided herself on playing by the rules. As she finds herself grappling with this moral rabbit hole, she is surprised to find other downtrodden employees keen to join in with her plan. One of the best smart trashy books, Camille Perri’s The Assistants is a hilarious and sharp novel about a group of overworked and underappreciated women rebelling against corporate greed.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
