Best Beach Reads: New York Family's Top Ten Must-Reads for Summer

The perfect accessory this season is not a new pair of Ray Ban aviators. This summer, it isn't about the fashions you're sporting, but rather the book you're holding. And with the beach-ridden days slowly fading, your sun-kissed nose should be buried in this season's greatest reads. From thrilling adventures to cold-blooded murder mysteries, from stories of diaper rash to love advice, these books will keep you blissfully submerged shoulder-deep in literature. FOR MYSTERY MANIACS 1. [Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn](http://www.amazon.com/Gone-Girl-Novel-Gillian-Flynn/dp/030758836X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343238896&sr=1-1&keywords=gone+girl) New York Times bestselling author Gillian Flynn has cooked up a truly delectable summer treat that will keep your sunglass-covered eyes glued to each page and your beachy locks standing on end. Her suspense-filled, psychological thriller is told from alternating points of view between a recent widower and his deceased wife, herself. The novel is chock-full of dark and twisted secrets, with each revelation leading to a sinister twist in the shocking plot that will literally leave your jaw dragging on the floor. FOR HOPELESS ROMANTICS 2. [Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter](http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Ruins-Novel-Jess-Walter/dp/0061928127/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343238991&sr=1-1&keywords=Beautiful+Ruins+by+Jess+Walter) The sun-drenched shorelines and sparkling waves of Europe are now only one bookstore trek away. With Walter's newest summer novel, you can escape to your dream vacation getaway without splurging on the pricey plane ride. Prepare to get your fix for summer romance as you cozy up with this fascinating find. Beautiful Ruins intimately examines the tangled lives of twelve flawed yet unforgettable people in a story that combines adventure, loss, and of course, love. FOR MOMMIES EVERYWHERE 3. [Confessions of a Scary Mommy: An Honest and Irreverent Look at Motherhood ? The Good, the Bad, and the Scary by Jill Smokler](http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Scary-Mommy-Irreverent-Motherhood/dp/1451673779/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343239012&sr=1-1&keywords=Confessions+of+a+Scary+Mommy%3A+An+Honest+and+Irreverent+Look+at+Motherhood+-+The+Good%2C+the+Bad%2C+and+the+Scary) In this collection of original essays, author-blogger Jill Smokler provides the perfect antidote for anxious mothers: a taste of brutal honesty accompanied by a large helping of hysterics. With each chapter opening with the most memorable and humorous confessions from Smokler's popular online Confessional, this unique guide covers all ends of the parenting spectrum, from PTA fundraisers to husbands. This book will not only leave mothers nodding their heads in agreement, but will cause everyone to buckle over in knowing fits of laughter. 4. [Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple](http://www.amazon.com/Whered-You-Go-Bernadette-Novel/dp/0316204277/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343239191&sr=1-1&keywords=Where%C2%92d+You+Go%2C+Bernadette+by+Maria+Semple) Making for one of the most hysterical beach reads of the summer, Semple's novel explores the endearing topic of mother-daughter relationships with a light and bubbly tone that makes for a perfect day in the sun. Sempel examines the messy complexities of family dysfunction in a high-energy and hilarious read that will leave you thumbing eagerly in anticipation for the next page corner. FOR ANSWERS TO YOUR MOST POIGNANT QUESTIONS 5. [Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice On Love and Life From Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed](http://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Beautiful-Things-Advice-Sugar/dp/0307949338/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343239253&sr=1-1&keywords=Tiny+Beautiful+Things%3A+Advice+On+Love+and+Life+From+Dear+Sugar) Though she writes about "tiny, beautiful things," Sugar, the once-anonymous online columnist now revealed as Cheryl Strayed, offers advice that truly goes the distance. Her words help heal the deepest woes, numbing the aching pains of divorce and loss; yet she also lends an ear for our happier moments, such as the day we land that deserved promotion or score that apartment with a view. Strayed not only addresses the questions that are asked, but manages to answer those that remain unspoken-even the ones we are too embarrassed to mention. To read the full list at New York Family Magazine [click here. ](http://www.newyorkfamily.com/best-beach-reads/)