Can’t wait for the next great summer read? Neither can our friends at Books and Books in Westhampton Beach. They’ve given us must-read lists for kids books, books about the Hamptons, books for guys and more, and now here are five new releases—two of which just came out today!—they are particularly excited for you to pack in your beach bag.
Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante
This electrifying literary thriller is beautifully written and impossible to put down. Narrator Dr. Jennifer White, her mind being devoured by dementia, struggles to remember the extent of her involvement in her best friend’s murder. Donna Leon says that “LaPlante’s characters are completely convincing, the plotting masterful.” A remarkable debut that examines the deception and frailty of memory. Release Date: July 5
Everything Beautiful Began After by Simon Van Booy
Simon Van Booy is the writer of two collections of short stories, and Everything Beautiful Began After is his first novel. It will not disappoint readers of his previous works and it will delight those who are new to his work. This book follows three characters, Rebecca, George, and Henry, whose lives are thrown together after a series of chance meetings in Athens. Andre Dubus III says that Van Booy’s language “is so evocative and original your breath literally catches in your chest.” Release Date: July 5
The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan
One of the most original, audacious and terrifying novels in years, this is a definitive new version of the werewolf legend—mesmerizing and incredibly sexy. Jake, the narrator, is a werewolf for the 21st century—a man whose deeds can only be described as monstrous but who is in some magical way deeply human. The frank tone and dark wit of this book will leave you eager for more. Release Date: July 12
Precious Objects: A Story of Family, Diamonds, and a Way of Life by Alicia Oltuski
In Precious Objects, twenty-six-year-old journalist Alicia Oltuski, the daughter and granddaughter of diamond dealers, seamlessly blends family narrative with literary reportage to reveal the fascinating secrets of the diamond industry and its madcap characters. You’ll get an illuminating look at the history, business, and society behind one of the world’s most coveted natural resources. Gary Shteyngart, author of Super Sad True Love Story, calls it a “piercing, intensely readable book.” Release Date: July 19
Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva
Set against the disparate worlds of art and intelligence, Portrait of a Spy moves swiftly from the corridors of power in Washington to the glamorous auction houses of New York and London to the unforgiving landscape of the Saudi desert. Featuring a climax that will leave readers haunted long after they turn the final page, this deeply entertaining story is also a breathtaking portrait of courage in the face of unspeakable evil—and Daniel Silva’s most extraordinary novel to date. Release Date: July 19
