For book lovers, is it a vacation if there are no books?
MSC Seascape passengers won't have to travel far to read. They'll find an exhibition of 18 Read with Jenna books, sponsored by MSC Cruises, hand-selected as “beach-worthy reads.”
“I’m so excited to bring Read with Jenna to MSC Seascape! Guests will be able to view 18 of my favorite flips, selected from six years of my book club, “Read with Jenna,” Jenna says.
“They're all ready to be your next beach read! Young readers can check out my Read with Jenna Jr.: Choiceswith a choice of books for elementary to high school age. For me, reading is the best relaxation, so enjoy it!
Keep reading the books and what Jenna had to say about them.
Amazingly Vibrant Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
What Jenna said: “Not since Life of Pi have I seen a book with such creativity and such a strong voice. This novel is filled with love, humor, joy and healing.”
What we're talking about: In a city in the Pacific Northwest, an intelligent octopus befriends an elderly woman who tends an aquarium at night.
When he was chosen: May 2022
Read more about Amazingly Vibrant Creatures
“Summer Sisters” by Judy Blume
What Jenna said: “It's the perfect, perfect beach read, but that doesn't mean it's an easy read. It's a great read and will make you think about growing up and that friend you adored but maybe didn't know was good for you.”
What we're talking about: Two teenage girls begin an intense friendship that unfolds on Martha's Vineyard. The consequences of this last for many years.
When he was chosen: August 2023
“The Wedding People” by Alison Espach
What Jenna said: “It's about where we are, when we're in the middle of our lives, and expectations versus reality. It's about love and friendship and how to find that love when you least expect it.”
What we're talking about: A single woman in a luxury hotel in Rhode Island is caught up in her wedding weekend.
When he was chosen: August 2024
Read more about “Wedding People”“
“All the Colors of Darkness” by Chris Whitaker
What Jenna said: “I read it over a year ago, but it has stayed with me in such a beautiful way.”
What we're talking about: In this epic saga, two childhood friends bond even as their lives diverge in unexpected ways.
When he was chosen: July 2024
Read more about “All the Colors of Darkness”
What Jenna said: “Kristin Hannah is a wonderful writer. I loved her 2015 book The Nightingale.”
What we're talking about: A master of historical fiction chronicles one woman's experiences during the Dust Bowl.
When he was chosen: February 2021
Read more about The Four Winds
“To Mom” by Jessica George.
What Jenna said: “I simply could not believe the author’s talent and the range of emotions that I experienced while reading it. On one page I cried, and on the other I laughed hysterically.”
What we're talking about: A later coming-of-age story about a woman who moves away from her parents' home and begins to live for herself.
When he was chosen: February 2023
“Monasteries” by Katie Hayes
What Jenna said: “It’s as gothic and mysterious as it gets.”
What we're talking about: A mystery and love triangle unfolds at The Cloisters, a medieval art museum in New York City.
When he was chosen: November 2022
“Nothing to See Here” by Kevin Wilson
What Jenna said: “I don’t think any book about parenting has touched me as much as Nothing to See Here.”
What we're talking about: Two longtime estranged friends come together to deal with one of their children's unique and fantastic problems: they catch fire.
When he was chosen: November 2019
Read more about “Nothing to see here”
“Heartwood” Amity Gage
What Jenna said: “From the very first page I was hooked.”
What we're talking about: When a nurse goes missing while hiking the Appalachian Trail, two women try to find her: one is a state supervisor, the other is an armchair detective at a nursing home.
When he was chosen: April 2025
“Black Cake” by Charmaine Wilkerson
What Jenna said: “There’s something almost mysterious about it. I was on the edge of my seat. I wanted to know what was going to happen and who the characters were.”
What we're talking about: Dying, Eleanor Bennett leaves her children a recipe black cake and family secret.
When he was chosen: February 2022
“The Great Divide” by Cristina Enriquez
What Jenna said: “You'll love these characters – they're epic and beautiful. They have so many different storylines that come together in the end, and it's one of my favorite ways to read a story and fall in love with it.”
What we're talking about: Lives intertwined during the construction of the Panama Canal.
When he was chosen: March 2024
Read more about the Great Divide
“Buckeye” by Patrick Ryan
What Jenna said: “I read it once, and then, even though it has 500 pages, I want to read it again.”
What we're talking about: Two Ohio families bound by one decision are traced through decades, world wars and historical movements.
When he was chosen: September 2025
“Turnout” Megan Abbott
What Jenna said: “I love how Megan Abbott looks at the dark side of things we all remember, like ballet lessons as a child.”
What we're talking about: Twin sisters who grow up under the domineering presence of their ballet teacher mother.
When he was chosen: August 2021
“Cursed Daughters” by Oyinkan Braithwaite
What Jenna said: “Sometimes it’s very funny and sometimes it’s very poignant. You’ll have to take a pen and underline like I did.”
What we're talking about: A family of Lagos women who believe they are cursed and will never be able to keep a man.
When he was chosen: November 2025
“All the Adults Are Here” by Emma Straub
What Jenna said: “One of the most beautiful books about motherhood and what we pass on to those who come after us and what we inherit. A book about strength and goodness.”
What we're talking about: A mother and her three adult children adapt to changing family dynamics and the cycle of time while learning much about the past.
When he was chosen: May 2020
Read more about “Everyone is grown up here”
“Real Americans” by Rachel Hong
What Jenna said: “This is a story about family and what we carry with us, what we pass on, secrets and how they can divide us and then bring us back together. You will love, love, love this book.”
What we're talking about: Three generations of a Chinese-American family intertwine, plus one slightly magical twist.
When he was chosen: May 2024
Read more about “Real Americans”“
Malibu Rising, Taylor Jenkins Reed
What Jenna said: “I felt like “Malibu Rising” was an incredibly fun read that anyone would want to throw in their beach bag.”
What we're talking about: Four famous siblings throw a summer party in 1983.
When he was chosen: June 2021
Read more about Malibu Sunrise“
“An Irish Farewell” by Heather Aimee O'Neill
What Jenna said: “We learn about the tragedy that rocks these sisters, but it is also full of love, hope and humor.”
What we're talking about: Three sisters return to their childhood home for Thanksgiving after a tragic loss.
When he was chosen: October 2025
