You may have the sunscreen, bathing suit and towel packed and ready to go, but a trip to the beach isn't complete without the perfect book!  Cosmopolitan's John Searles, author of “Strange But True” and “Boy Still Missing,” recommends these ten books:

A Thousand Splendid Suns
by Khaled Hosseini

Hosseini's first novel, The Kite Runner, spent more than 105 weeks on the Times list and has editions published in thirty-four countries to date.  In his second novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, he takes us back to Afghanistan as he entwines the lives of his characters with the devastating events from the 1970's to the present.  His characters guide us through the communist revolution, the Soviet occupation, the civil war under the mujahideen, the terrifying reign of the Taliban, the American invasion after 9/11, and the reconstruction since that time.  It is a story of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship and an indestructible love.

The Last Summer (of You and Me)
by Ann Brashares

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants author delivers her first novel for adults in this summer read.  It is the story of a beach-community friendship triangle among three young adults.  Brashares takes us the town of Waterby, on Fire Island, and reminds us of the complexities that can arise when female friendship and young love all strike the same small group.  Her plot twists carry us through the sting of friendship, the great ache of loss, and the complicated weight of family loyalty.

Drop Dead Beautiful
by Jackie Collins

This is the 25th novel for bestselling author Jackie Collins.  All 24 of her previous books have been New York Times bestsellers and many have been the basis for film or television miniseries.  Collins is known for giving her readers an unrivaled insiders knowledge of the glamorous lives and loves of the rich and famous.  In her newest novel, out June 26th, she re-introduces her readers to Lucky Santangelo, last seen in 1999's Dangerous Kiss.  Lucky is proof that it's not always easy being rich, gorgeous, successful and a happily married mom, but Mafia princess turned Hollywood producer and real estate mogul again proves she is up to the challenge.

I Love You, Beth Cooper
by Larry Doyle

From the pen of a former Emmy award-winning writer and supervising producer of the "The Simpsons", this book is an account of the 17 hours that take place after Denis Cooverman stands up to give his graduation speech, but instead uses the opportunity to announce his love for Beth Cooper.  Beth, the head cheerleader, has only the vaguest idea who Denis is, but this homage to and deconstruction of classic teen movies reminds us all that we all once knew or were a "Beth" and a "Denis".

A Good and Happy Child
by Justin Evans

Fitted somewhere between horror and psychological drama, Evans' first novel explores the notions of demons - how real they are and how real we are able to make them.  The novel opens in a New York therapist's office, where thirty-year-old George Davies is seeking help for a unique problem: He can't bring himself to hold his newborn son.  Desperate to save his dwindling marriage and redeem himself as a father and a husband, George begins to delve into his childhood memories.  From there readers become immersed in a world of demonology and subsequently themes of religion, psychology, and medieval history.

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