The best beach reads of 2016

June 30, 2016

Looking for a good book? Here are 10 titles we couldn’t put down! Click through to plan your summer reading list, from the cottage to the beach...

<h3>HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD<br>by J.K. Rowling</h3>
<p>Almost 10 years after fans bid farewell to Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, the magical trio are set to make their return. The latest chapter picks up 19 years after Harry defeated Lord Voldemort. The famous wizard is now an overworked employee at the Ministry of Magic and father to three children with wife Ginny Weasley. The story can be seen on the stage at London's Palace Theatre starting July 30 and read in script form on July 31. A definitive edition will be released in early 2017</p>

<h3>THE NEST<br>by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney</h3>
<p>They say money can destroy a family, but perhaps it could heal the dysfunctional Plumbs? It’s a notion worth entertaining until reckless brother Leo gets into a car accident while inebriated, months before he and his three siblings are set to receive a long-awaited inheritance. With the money in jeopardy, the family must come together to re-evaluate their future – and the true cost of happiness.</p>

<h3>THE RAINBOW COMES AND GOES<br>by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt</h3>
<p>In this unique memoir, mother and son share a series of letters they wrote to one another. Over the course of a year, the famed CNN newsman asked his heiress mother about her childhood, many careers and feelings about some of his life choices – resulting in an intimate and revealing exchange.</p>

<h3>ELIGIBLE<br>by Curtis Sittenfeld</h3>
<p>Jane Austen’s literary classic <em>Pride and Prejudice</em> has seen many adaptations over the years – from 1996’s <em>Bridget Jones’s Diary</em> to the parody <em>Pride and Prejudice and Zombies</em> in 2009 (both of which went on to film versions). This one
– surely big-screen worthy, too – is set in contemporary Cincinnati, where unlucky-in-love New Yorker Liz Bennet, a magazine journalist, and her sister Jane, a yoga instructor, return to help out following their father’s heart surgery. There, she meets a snooty neurosurgeon from San Francisco, Mr. Darcy, and strikes up a wickedly witty flirtation and heated affair. This refreshing and original update borrows its name from the irresistible Bachelor-inspired TV series, <em>Eligible</em>, which Mrs. Bennet and everyone else in the book is secretly obsessed with. The novel offers a deliciously modern Austen remake that stands on its own merits.</p>

ELIGIBLE
by Curtis Sittenfeld

Jane Austen’s literary classic Pride and Prejudice has seen many adaptations over the years – from 1996’s Bridget Jones’s Diary to the parody Pride and Prejudice and Zombies in 2009 (both of which went on to film versions). This one
– surely big-screen worthy, too – is set in contemporary Cincinnati, where unlucky-in-love New Yorker Liz Bennet, a magazine journalist, and her sister Jane, a yoga instructor, return to help out following their father’s heart surgery. There, she meets a snooty neurosurgeon from San Francisco, Mr. Darcy, and strikes up a wickedly witty flirtation and heated affair. This refreshing and original update borrows its name from the irresistible Bachelor-inspired TV series, Eligible, which Mrs. Bennet and everyone else in the book is secretly obsessed with. The novel offers a deliciously modern Austen remake that stands on its own merits.

<h3>UNDER THE INFLUENCE<br>by Joyce Maynard</h3>
<p>The author of <em>Labor Day</em> delivers another captivating story about a broken woman who must find her inner strength. After Helen is convicted of a DUI and
loses custody of her son to her ex, she begins to feel
like she’s drowning in a world of unhappiness until she meets Ava and Swift – a wealthy older couple who welcome Helen into their home and seemingly perfect life. The friendship, though, comes at an unexpected cost and will force Helen to decide if she’s prepared to meet the payment.</p>

<h3>YOU’LL GROW OUT OF IT<br>by Jessi Klein</h3>
<p>Spoiler alert: the author –
also <em>Inside Amy Schumer</em>’s
head writer – never grew
out of her “tom manness,”
her term for grown-up
tomboys. With the benefit
of (hilarious) hindsight,
Jessi uses her first collection
of essays to describe her
charming childhood,
“coltish” adolescence and
life as an unapologetic “tom man” who was hopelessly
out of touch with her feminine side. Ultimately, Jessi
takes a witty and relatable look at popular notions of
beauty and conformity.</p>

<h3>THE ASSISTANTS<br>by Camille Perri</h3>
<p>Tina Fontana is
drowning in student loans. After six
years as an executive assistant to
Robert Barlow, the CEO of a
multinational media conglomerate,
she’s nowhere close to paying them
off. Then, suddenly, an error in
expense payments lands her with a
cheque that will cover all her debts
– if she cashes it. Grappling with a
21st century Robin Hood dilemma,
Tina must decide if she’s ready to
rob the rich to help the poor in this
laugh-out-loud, all-too-relatable tale.</p>

<h3>BEFORE THE FALL<br>by Noah Hawley</h3>
<p><em>Fargo</em> showrunner Noah
took the 1996 Coen brothers’ cult classic and
made it addictive TV. Now he has taken the
mystery of a plane crash and turned it into a
scorching page-turner for his fifth novel. Reporters
are quick to applaud the heroism of one of the
survivors, a failed artist, after he saves a fouryear-
old boy in the crash. But was it by chance
that the other passengers, all highly privileged
and powerful, perished? Or is something sinister
to blame? Find out before the thriller hits the big
screen; Noah is penning the screenplay.</p>

<h3>MODERN LOVERS<br>by Emma Straub</h3>
<p>With warmth and insight,
the author behind 2014’s hit <em>The Vacationers</em>
puts the spotlight on the angst of midlife and the
stories of three friends coming to grips with their
future. As 50th birthdays loom and their
respective children are coming of age, Andrew,
Elizabeth and Zoe begin to wonder where the
years have gone. They take an even harder look
at their past when a producer reaches out in
connection to a film being made about their late
pal Lydia, a one-time bandmate whose life took
a tragic turn.</p>

<h3>INVINCIBLE SUMMER<br>by Alice Adams</h3>
<p>In <em>One Day</em>-esque
style, this debut novel takes place
over 20 years, periodically checking
in with university pals Eva, Benedict,
Sylvie and Lucien. They’re as close
as can be when they graduate in
1997. But as time passes, they
grow apart, coping with the
consequences of their decisions
and unaccomplished goals. Though
this journey is emotional at times,
Alice consistently keeps the tone light
and the characters
captivating.</p>

<h3>THE SINGLES GAME<br>by Lauren Weisberger</h3>
<p>She's back! The creative force behind 2003 bestseller <em>The Devil Wears Prada</em> (and its sequel, <em>Revenge Wears Prada</em>) has a new novel that boasts all he glamour you'd hope for - and some sports scenes you might not expect. "I spent a good six to eight months immersing myself in the [tennis] world," Lauren, 39, says of her story, which follows pro player Charlie Silver.</p>