Beach Reads 2013

The beach ... aahh ... relaxation.  And there's nothing like sitting in the sand with a good book. Below are some suggestions from the abundance of titles released this summer. Enjoy!

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini. By the author of A Thousand Splendid Suns.  One of this summer's favorites.

Beautiful Day by Elin Hildenbrand. Quintessential family drama emerges during a beach wedding.  Funny ... for fans of women's fiction.

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympics by Daniel Brown. True sports adventure set against the backdrop of Nazi Germany.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. Funny, tongue-in-cheek debut novel about what it means to be amazingly rich -- full of conflicting social expectations and family drama.

The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan. Is a diamond forever?  Four couples are connected by one opulent engagement ring. Well-written, intricate plot.

Ladies' Night by Mary Kay Andrews. The author has been offering hilarious "beach reads" for years.  This title is no exception.

No One Could Have Guessed the Weather by Anne-Marie Casey. What brings you happiness? Join Lucy and three other women in this debut novel as they find fulfillment and peace in the most unexpected places.

Who Owns the Future? by Jaron Lanier.  What does it take for the digital economy to thrive? Is the Internet destroying jobs?  The author's examination has been called "brilliant" and "troubling".

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp by Anton DiSclafani. A beautifully written coming of age story about a young girl during The Great Depression.