11 of the Best Beach Books to Read this Summer

Palm trees, blood-orange sunsets, a love triangle, and . . . sharks? Sure, why not. THE SHARK CLUB is the intoxicating story of a young woman who finds herself torn between her first love and new love, her family and her career as a marine biologist. Oh, and not to mention the illegal shark-finning operation she investigates. This novel is such a fun read.

Heavily apply sunscreen before you start reading this one. Because once you start, you won't want to stop—no matter how hot it gets outside. Set on the shores of Cape Cod, SAILING LESSONS is the heartfelt story of the Bailey sisters' reunion with their long-lost father, suffering from cancer and seeking absolution

QUICKSAND is a fearlessly funny and outrageously inventive novel about two lifelong friends—Liam, a struggling writer and failing cop, and Aldo, an entrepreneur with an uncanny knack for disaster. Inspired by his friend's worsening luck, Liam bases his next novel on Aldo's misfortunes and hopeless quest to win back the love of his life. A perfect paperback to read with your toes in the sand.

It's the summer of 1951, and Miranda Schuyler finds herself catapulted into an unfamiliar world of status and swimming pools after her father dies in WWII and her mother remarries. The summer ends in a catastrophe that shatters the seaside town's tranquility and leaves Miranda banished. Nearly two decades later, she returns on a quest for justice, intent on uncovering every last secret the island harbors. With themes of love, class, power, and redemption, you're not going to want to miss THE SUMMER WIVES.

Sharp, witty, and provocative, MRS. FLETCHER is the suburban drama to read this summer. About a 46-year-old divorcee trying to figure out what comes next, this novel is a timeless examination of sexuality, identity, parenthood, and the big clarifying mistakes people can make when they're no longer sure of who they are or where they belong. Take a break from the sun, and get in bed with MRS. FLETCHER.

I tore through the pages of this psychological thriller, and you will too. ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL STRANGERS is the story of a young woman haunted by a family tragedy and caught up in a dangerous game incited by a secret society at her boarding school. Highly charged and appropriately juicy, this is novel is like Gossip Girl meets THE SECRET HISTORY. Need I say more?

Three generations. Seven days. One big secret. Don your flower crown, plop yourself in an Adirondack chair, and pick up this superb mother-daughter story. THE OPTIMIST'S GUIDE TO LETTING GO is the about three women whose time to reckon with a life-altering secret is running out.

I'm always a little nostalgic for my summer camp days as a kid. This year, I'm taking PERENNIALS to the beach and reliving the fun. This evocative novel is the story of two friends reunited as counselors at their old camp. But their relationship has grown more complicated as they've gotten older, and they've started keeping secrets from each other. As friction builds, a tragic event forces the girls to confront their pasts and the possibilities of their futures.

No lifeguard on duty? No problem. I've got three for you. Timmy, Chowderhead, and Peg are lifeguards who spending their summers drinking and being rowdy. When the three are reunited with their friend Alex, the girl who got away from their working-class town, tensions erupt during the Death Keg, a near-sacred lifeguard ritual involving daring and self-destructive feats.

Summer lovin' happened so fast in PLAYING WITH MATCHES, a romantic comedy about a young matchmaker balancing her messy personal life with the demands of her eccentric clients. It's an addictive story about dating in today's swipe-centric culture and a young woman trying to find her place in the world.