Books to read on escape, or help you escape – San Francisco Chronicle

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On Melissa: Club Monaco Dacko romper, $229, http://www.clubmonaco.com; and...

For those who can escape to a beach or some other retreat this summer, here are a few page-turners to keep your mind from atrophying from too much relaxation. For those who cant get away, Style offers a few beautiful books to make you feel like youre off on a dream vacation.

The beach reads:

Party Girls Die in Pearls: An Oxford Girl Mystery Vogue contributing editor Plum Sykes third novel, Party Girls Die in Pearls is a rollicking romp through 1980s Oxford University with plenty of glamour, gossipy prose and a murder! Sykes heroine, Ursula Flowerbutton, has one of the best character names since Tennessee Williams Blanche DuBois, and her love of Dynasty-era fashion and antics keep the style high and the morals decadently low in this juicy tome. Crisp and quip-filled, perfect with a cup of tea. (Harper Collins, $26.99)

Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan The authors third novel chronicling super-wealthy Chinese and Chinese Americans (following the Crazy Rich Asians and China Rich Girlfriend), Rich People Problems takes us to the deathbed of a wealthy matriarch and lets the sparks fly as her greedy relatives compete for her fortune and any heirloom not nailed down. The novel takes readers from private schools to private islands and shows that no matter the bank balance, everyone has problems. ( Penguin Random House, $14.62)

Apprenticed to Venus: My Secret Life With Anas Nin by Tristine Rainer (Arcade Publishing, 384 pages, $25.99)Imagine being an inexperienced 18-year-old college girl from the San Fernando Valley and suddenly being thrust into the sophisticated big leagues when you find suddenly find yourself suddenly in the orbit of controversial writer and diarist Anas Nin. In Apprenticed to Venus, Tristine Rainer shares her experiences with the author of the erotic bestseller The Delta of Venus and lover of Henry Miller as she came into her own sexuality and womanhood. Nin comes across as a slightly sinister, taboo-breaking Auntie Mame, but undoubtedly one with a lot to teach. (Arcade Publishing, $25.99)

The escape books:

The Seaside House: Living on the Water If you dont have a house on the shore, flipping through Nick Voulgaris IIIs coffee-table tome is the next best thing. Douglas Friedmans photographs bring readers into some of the most jaw-dropping homes on the water, including Martha Stewarts famed Seal Harbor residence (Stewart also wrote the books foreword) and Donna Karans Zen hideaway in the Hamptons, and shows off interiors by noted designers including Steven Gambrel and Ken Fulk. (Rizzoli, $55)

House Style: Five Centuries of Fashion at Chatsworth edited by Hamish Bowles, foreword by the Duke of Devonshire, text by Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell and Charlotte Mosley, introduction by the Countess of Burlington Chatsworth is one of the most famous historic houses in England, and House Style features it magnificently alongside contemporary and historic fashion in an exquisite setting. The Cavendish family and the hereditary dukes of Devonshire have called the Derbyshire site home since Elizabethan times. Editor Hamish Bowles tells the stories of some of its most famous residents, including the scandalous Georgiana, the Dduchess of Devonshire; Kick Kennedy; and Mitford sister Deborah, the duchess of Devonshire who saved the house post-WWII. A lush feast for the eyes for anyone missing Downton Abbey or awaiting the return of The Crown. (Rizzoli, $45)

Ibiza Bohemia Riche but rustic hippie chic is the signature aesthetic of this Mediterranean hot spot that has attracted artists, musicians and decadent partygoers for decades. From the local characters to the scenic cliffs and indoor-outdoor homes that are envy-inducing escapes, Renu Kashyaps Ibiza Bohemia captures a slice of the lifestyle thats inspired numerous brands and resort collections. (Assouline $85)

Tony Bravo is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tbravo@sfchronicle.com

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Books to read on escape, or help you escape - San Francisco Chronicle