Termite Parade By Joshua Mohr, out now

Three narrators combine to tell the story of how one violent incident, as well as love and passion and all that, affected their lives.

To Sound in the Know: Mohr also sings in a band called Damn Handsome & the Birthday Suits.

Finny By Justin Kramon, out July 13

This Dickensian tale follows the life of a 14-year-old girl who gets shipped off to boarding school where she encounters characters with names like Menalcus Henckel and Poplan.

To Sound in the Know: Kramon is a graduate of the prestigious Iowa Writer’s Workshop and has written for the amazingly titled quarterly Glimmer Train.

Red Hook Road By Ayelet Waldman, out July 13

Upper-class Manhattan and bluecollar Maine come together in this story of family and tragedy.

To Sound in the Know: Waldman, the author of nine other novels, is famously and obnoxiously married to Michael Chabon. Their children have read more books than you.

Savages: A Novel By Don Winslow, out July 13

Two Laguna Beach pot dealers get tied up with a Mexican drug cartel. Violence, morbid humor ensues.

To Sound in the Know: Oliver Stone has already signed on to direct the film version of this story; here’s hoping he can get Kristin Cavallari to joint the cast.

The Surf Guru By Doug Dorst, out July 15

A short story collection from the man who penned 2008’s highly acclaimed novel Alive in Necropolis.

To Sound in the Know: Dorst’s first novel had two epigraphs, one by Joseph Conrad and the other by Hanson. Yeah, “MmmBop” Hanson.

Talking to Girls about Duran Duran: One Young Man’s Quest for True Love and a Cooler Haircut By Rob Sheffield, out July 15

A music journalist looks back at his adolescent stumblings in the ’80s, when Duran Duran ruled his days and girls eluded him.

To Sound in the Know: The Brooklynbased writer is currently a contributing editor at Rolling Stone, so something went right for him.

Super Sad True Love Story By Gary Shytengart, out July 27

In this satire, a middle-aged Russian- American falls in love with a coquettish Korean-American girl in a dystopian New York where people with enough money live indefinitely.

To Sound in the Know: Shytengart is member of the New Yorker’s much discussed “20 Under 40” list (a part of this novel appeared in an issue of the magazine), which has inspired either admiration or rabid jealousy depending on what kind of person you are.