The Assistants
A novel reminiscent of "The Devil Meets Prada" and "Ocean's Eleven," "The Assistants" follows the story of a 30-year-old executive assistant to a media tycoon. When she's mistakenly given a reimbursement check for $19K (chump change to her boss), she decides to pay off her college debt rather than report the error. When other assistants discover her sudden loan forgiveness, they want in on it, too.
To buy: "The Assistants," $18
The Children
Though they appear polite and respectable on the exterior, the Whitmans are a family with hidden resentments, primarily in part to the late patriarch. When the stepbrother brings home his fiancé for the summer, the Whitman family's darker side begins to surface and unfortunate revelations begin to slip and show.
To buy: "The Children," $18
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper
As Arthur Pepper comes to terms with his new life as a widower, he learns that routine is the best medicine for grief. But when he discovers a gold charm bracelet on the 1-year anniversary of his wife's death, it takes him on a journey around the world, uncovering revelations about his wife's secret life before they met.
To buy: "The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper," $18
The Girls
Set in the late 1960s, a lonely, introverted teen is drawn to a group of girls whose carefree spirit enthralls her. The more attached she becomes, the more desperate she yearns to be accepted—unaware that she's falling deeper under the spell of their charismatic leader and the infamous cult he's created.
To buy: "The Girls: A Novel," $17
The Last Painting of Sara de Vos
In 1631, the final landscape painting completed by art pioneer Sara de Vos comes from an image she can't shake: a winter landscape, in which a young girl stares at a group of skaters on the frozen river below. Three hundred years later, young art student Ellie Shipley forges Sara's painting. Though their stories are set centuries and continents apart, the parallels between the two women is striking.
To buy: "The Last Painting of Sara de Vos," $14
The Nest
As four siblings get closer to receiving their inheritance (or "the nest," as they call it), each one has a secret desperate need for it—from borrowing against their homes to their kids' gargantuan college tuitions. But when the oldest is able to claim the majority due to an accident he's caused, the others are suddenly forced to learn how to live without a safety net and how much they must depend on each other, no matter how dysfunctional their family may be.
To buy: "The Nest," $16
Wild Mama
This mom's take on motherhood will inspire you to strap on your camping pack, tap into your adventurous spirit and bid the all-inclusive resorts bye-bye. Follow her journey as she decides she doesn't need to sacrifice wanderlust for domesticity and teaches her kids to do the same.
To buy: "Wild Mama: One Woman's Quest to Live Her Best Life, Escape Traditional Parenthoodand Travel the World," $14
Miller's Valley
This novel is a lesson in how where you grew up, and the people in it, will shape your life forever no matter how much distance you try to put between you. Mimi Miller is on the precipice of such a discovery as she learns the risks of passion, loyalty and love.
To buy: "Millers Valley," $14
Rich and Pretty
With New York City as the backdrop to this post coming-of-age story, fans of "Sex and the City_"_ will especially revel in "Rich and Pretty." As two childhood best friends transition into their adult lives, they struggle with whether their friendship can withstand the different paths they've chosen.
To buy: "Rich and Pretty," $20
Spark Joy
For those who want to feel productive, even when lounging on the beach, "Spark Joy" is the ideal "Martha Stewart" beach read. The follow-up to last year's hit "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up," its illustrated tutorials will help bring even more joy to your life by way of organized drawers and closets.
To buy: "SparkJoy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up," $12
Lilac Girls
Set at the start of World War II, "Lilac Girls" follows the lives of three unsung heroines: a New York socialite, a Polish teenager and a young German doctor. Inspired by real-life people and events, their woven stories highlight the struggles, contributions and bravery of women during such an unsettling time in history.
To buy: "Lilac Girls," $14
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Whether you're a parent or a budding CEO, the secret to success is a special blend of "grit." Author Angela Duckworth analyzes traits of leaders who emerge from difficult circumstances (from West Point to inner city schools to national spelling bees) and creates a fascinating outline for how grit can be both learned and mastered.
To buy: "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance," $17
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Besides being a can't-put-it-down read, the latest addition to the Harry Potter collection provides a summertime bonding activity with the kids. Read a few chapters on the beach and then discuss over lunch.
To buy: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," $18
Here's to Us
Imagine having to spend the weekend with not one but two of your romantic rivals? As three women are forced to honor their late ex-husband's wishes by gathering at his Nantucket summer cottage, the drama that ensues will easily rival any season of "Real Housewives."
To buy: "Here's to Us," $17
Eligible
In this modern twist of "Pride and Prejudice," Liz is a magazine writer who lives in New York City with her older sister Jane, a yoga instructor. When a family crisis beckons them back home to Cincinnati, they meet a handsome, eligible doctor (and recent TV reality star) Chip and his seemingly less-charming neurosurgeon friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy.
To buy: "Eligible," $16
