As nice as it would be to pretend that summer is longer than three measly months, it is in fact, coming to an end. And with it goes the ability to truly enjoy a beach read, well, on the beach. Whether you’re a fan of mystery, sci-fi or even a good rom com, here is a list of recent releases that should be on your radar as we soak up the last bits of summer, before the school year completely hijacks our free time and makes running away to make believe worlds a little harder.

Book Lovers By Emily Henry:

Emily Henry does it again. It’s a rom com that sort of makes you question rom coms. 

Book Lovers is Emily Henry’s newest release, and suffice to say, it’s a success. Nora Stephens is the classic villain. Dubbed “The Shark”, she’s a literary agent who’s supposedly coldhearted and completely focused on her clients. She abides by checklists and sleeps next to her phone; ringer turned up. But when her little sister asks to get away, what can Nora say but yes? The continuous small town run-ins with her nemesis, Charlie Lastra, may look like a budding romance, but since it’s already known this coldhearted agent isn’t anyone’s idea of a heroine, we know she won’t get her happy ending. Right? Reading about Nora felt like looking in the mirror, and all of her personal struggles felt absurdly relatable. Feeling inadequate? Check. Imposter syndrome? Check. Feeling lost? Check. It’s chick-lit, but not really.

Project Hail Mary By Andy Weir:

By the same author who penned The Martian, Project Hail Mary has the same magic, but with stakes that are somehow even higher. The book follows Ryland Grace, who wakes up with amnesia on a spaceship millions of miles from Earth to find his two other crew members dead. Ryland’s mission is a last-ditch effort by every space agency to save Earth before it perishes. While not knowing his name is a problem, now he’s got to single-handedly try and save Earth… But is he really alone? All of Andy Weir’s characters have some type of dry humor and Ryland is no different. He’s an entertaining character to read, and the action scenes are well written. Once this book gets its hooks in you, it’s hard to put down. Make sure the edge of your seat is comfortable, because you’ll be spending a lot of time on it. 

The Maid By Nita Prose:

While this book isn’t a true Agatha Christie whodunit—it’s too mundane for that—it can be classified as a well-written murder mystery. The Maid by Nita Prose follows Molly, a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. When Molly finds one of the hotels most distinguished guests murdered, she becomes a pawn in a scheme much larger than herself. Molly is someone who struggles reading social cues and can often misinterpret others’ intentions, so after losing her Gran, she is left to navigate the world by herself. While, yes, this book is a mystery, that’s not the main point of the story. With ‘ah ha’ moments that are much quieter than those of a classic murder mystery, it’s really about people who are often discarded and invisible getting a chance to be in the spotlight.