SUMMER SIZZLERS
Mystery, drama and plenty of romance — dig in to the season’s trending books
The Party Robyn Harding (Gallery/Scout Press, June 6)
An innocent sweet-sixteen sleepover goes terribly awry when a wealthy San Francisco couple awakes to find their daughter crying and covered in blood. Their community is rocked by the incident, with parents lashing out at each other as they try to protect their own. Shades of “The Dinner” and “Big Little Lies.”
Saints for All Occasions J. Courtney Sullivan (Knopf, out now)
From the bestselling author of “Maine” comes this novel about two young sisters from Ireland, Theresa and Nora, who set off from their small country village in the 1950s for the brave new world of Massachusetts. Fifty years later, Nora has four grown children and Theresa is a nun in a Vermont abbey — and the two siblings are long estranged. A death in the family brings them back together and forces them to confront the past and decisions made a lifetime ago.
Swell Jill Eisenstadt (Lee Boudreaux Books, June 6)
“Swell,” from the author of the acclaimed novel “From Rockaway,” takes us again to Queens, where Sue Glassman’s father-in-law has just bought the family a ramshackle beachfront house in Rockaway. It’s all very well and good until just about every relative plans to move in. Oh, and the house is haunted, too.
The Heirs Susan Rieger (Crown, out now)
Rupert Falkes died six months ago, leaving behind a grieving wife, five adult sons and (whoops!) two more secret sons by a random woman now suing his estate. Understandably, this causes quite the splash, but widowed matriarch Eleanor remains cool and unflappable — and much to everyone’s surprise, she proceeds to embrace the other family.
Mrs. Fletcher Tom Perrotta (Scribner, Aug. 1)
From the bestselling author of “Little Children” comes a novel about Eve Fletcher, a 46-year-old mother whose only son has just left for college. She’s lonely, adrift, and very curious about the anonymous text she receives one day, declaring, “U R my MILF!” Meanwhile, in New England, Eve’s son, aspiring frat boy Brendan, is having a harder time than anticipated settling into his new college campus.
Small Hours Jennifer Kitses (Grand Central Publishing, June 13)
The novel equivalent of a ticking time bomb, “Small Hours” depicts one tense day in the life of Tom and Helen, a couple that has recently moved with their twin toddler daughters from Queens to a bucolic Hudson Valley town 90 minutes outside the city. But all is not what it seems: They couldn’t really afford the move, the bills are piling up, the town isn’t nearly as picturesque as promised and Tom and Helen keep making small, reckless choices that could have big repercussions.
The Windfall Diksha Basu (Crown, June 27)
Life for Mr. and Mrs. Jha will never be quite the same after he comes into a large and unexpected sum of money, prompting a move from their cramped flat in East Delhi to the rich side of town. It’s here that Mr. Jha quickly attempts to fit in as a man of (newfound) status.
Standard Deviation Katherine Heiny (Knopf, out now)
Graham Cavanaugh’s wife laughs easily, talks constantly and is always inviting guests — sometimes even complete strangers — to stay in their NYC apartment. Graham also has an ex-wife named Elspeth, with whom he sometimes has dinner, and a son with special needs who’s really into origami. This novel from the author of “Single, Carefree, Mellow” is filled with observations about marriage and daily life, at turns wry, thoughtful, hilarious and sad but always interesting.