The Jellyfish Are Biting And So Are My Book Ideas

Earlier this summer, we pulled into the parking lot, waiting for our turn to pay, park our car, and find a spot on the beach. We had big plans for the day: the bright sun beating down, just a few clouds, and hours ahead of us lying on the sand. The goal was simple—relax to the roaring waves, read a bit, chat, and maybe splurge on some water ice.

The park attendant stepped out of her booth to break the news. “The jellies are out in force. There’s no getting in the water today.” For the uninitiated, jellyfish are translucent, squishy umbrellas with a bunch of stinging tentacles—not exactly what you want floating past your ankles. We told the attendant that was fine—we were happy to just lie out on the sand. But her phrase stayed with me: “The jellies are out in force.”

I imagined a passing whale giving Jaws and his brethren the bad news. Go home shark. Find another happy hunting ground. The jellyfish have dibs on the beach today.

With my behind planted firmly in the sand — I wasn’t about to get in the water — my mind wandered freely from the beach and the jellyfish to “Beach Reads”—those light, engaging books like romance, mystery, or thrillers meant for casual vacation reading. They require little mental effort and offer pure escapism. Of course, I’m thinking of books like Peter Benchley’s Jaws, John Grisham’s The Firm, and any of Elin Hilderbrand’s books located in fun summer locales.

Yes, I know that’s a huge leap, but when unexpected inspiration strikes you gotta run with it. In her own small way, the parking attendant kicked off an ocean wave of wild book ideas:

1. Sci-Fi Thriller: Run for Your Life

If the jellyfish are outnumbering the humans, that can’t be good. Naturally, my brain jumped straight to the apocalyptic: The Day the Jellyfish Took Over the World. Combine that with the scorching heat, and suddenly you have a story where an endless heatwave creates a whole new kind of zombie apocalypse.

Walking Dead meets Jaws meets The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau. Let’s just say, I’m never getting in the water again.

2. Rom-Com: When Harry Met Sally on the Beach

It wasn’t just doom and gloom, though. The jellies spawned other ideas too.

Every great romance needs a meet-cute—that funny, charming, or unusual first meeting between two future lovers. The beach is a goldmine for them. Kicking sand onto someone’s towel, tangling kite strings, or fighting over the last spot in the shade.

The beach is full of potential run ins. “Harry, meet Sally. Sally meet Harry and watch you don’t step on his sand castle.” The stories practically write themselves!

3. Mob Comedy: The Godfather Goes Down the Shore

Picture Tony Soprano trying to take a week off at the shore. A mob boss trying to run a crime syndicate while wearing flip-flops, defending his beach umbrella from tourists, and hiding from the beach badge checkers?

Or maybe Michael Corleone stopping by the mom and pop candy, fudge, and salt water taffy stand to make the owner an offer he can’t refuse. “Leave the gun, take the cannoli and taffy.”

It’s storytelling gold! Or in this case, sugar!

4. Cozy Mystery: Murder at the Water Ice Stand

The local boardwalk mainstay, Gus’s Famous Italian Ice, becomes a crime scene when the town’s notorious real estate developer is found poisoned—by a lethal dose of poison hemlock mixed directly into the mango flavor.

The prime suspect? The beloved 70-year-old shop owner who was about to be priced out of her lease. It’s up to her granddaughter to churn through the local suspects before the killer melts into the crowd.

Turns out creativity really is everywhere—even when you’re stuck on dry land!

---

Swimming With The Jellies! 🪼

Now it’s your turn: Has a random comment from a stranger or a ruined plan ever sparked a fun idea for you? I’d love to hear about it!