Picture it in your mind: the perfect summer day. Your children play quietly in the pool at your feet, glistening with aqua blue as the sun reflects off the water. Shadows of little waves dance across your face. In your hand is a cold beverage, sweating against your palm. You smell sunscreen touched with coconut, a hot dog sizzling on a grill somewhere, and the sharp hint of chlorine. With a smile, you reach down into your brightly-hued beach bag and pull out…

Your perfect summer read. YES. It’s a romance, a thriller or a mystery. You’re happy to have your hands on it — it’s a popular pick with tons of good reviews.  On the back of the book is an Anythink sticker. In fact, it’s one of many summer reads that you’ve picked up from the library just this week

With a half-smile on your face, you open your book. You’re ready to lose yourself.

Sound like fun?  Anythink is here with recommendations for the perfect summer book. They’re light, they’re fun and they will give you plenty to dish about with your friends.

“Birds of California” by Katie Cotugno

After years of tabloid infamy and a very public breakdown, grown-up child star Fiona St. James finally has her life back on track. The last thing she needs is her former on-screen brother, Sam Fox, resurfacing in her life to propose a revival of their show, “Birds of California.” When Fiona reluctantly agrees to meet with Sam, both are surprised to feel a powerful spark between them.

“The Hacienda” by Isabel Canas

Beatriz’s family lost everything in the Mexican War of Independence, so when wealthy and handsome Don Rodolfo Solórzano asks for her hand, she doesn’t think twice about saying yes. But there’s something sinister lurking in her new husband’s countryside estate.

“Counterfeit” by Kirstin Chen

Ava Wong is a successful lawyer with a picture-perfect family, but behind the scenes, her marriage — and life — are falling apart. Enter Winnie Fang, Ava’s college roommate, with a proposition for Ava: help manage her wildly successful counterfeit luxury purse business.

“Disorientation” by Elaine Hsieh Chou

29-year-old Ingrid Yang is nearing the end of her Ph.D. dissertation on the poet Xiao-Wen Chou when an unexpected discovery in her university’s archives upends her entire life.

“The Paris Apartment” by Lucy Foley

After losing her bartender job in Brighton, England, Jess doesn’t so much ask to crash at her older brother Ben’s Paris apartment as inform him when to expect her arrival. But when she arrives, Ben is nowhere to be found, and Jess begins to suspect that the other residents in the building know more about his disappearance than they’re letting on.

“Portrait of a Thief” by Grace D. Li

Perfect son, star pupil, occasional artist — Harvard senior Will Chen is the ideal 22-year-old. But after accepting a shady job offer from a mysterious Chinese patron, Will finds himself adding another title to his list of identifiers: heist leader. The mission? Stealing five priceless sculptures originally looted from Beijing and returning them to their country of origin.

“Six Days in Rome” by Francesca Giacco

In this sensual novel of rage, heartbreak and desire, a young artist named Emilia travels to Rome to reckon with the end of a relationship. When an encounter with an American ex-pat sparks a new connection, Emilia begins to see herself in a new light — both as a woman and as an artist.

“The Maid” by Nita Prose

Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Molly's orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find the handsome man dead in his bed.

“You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty” by Akwaeke Emezi

Feyi Adekola wants to learn how to be alive again. It's been five years since the accident that killed the love of her life. Feyi isn't ready for anything serious, but a steamy encounter at a rooftop party cascades into a whirlwind summer she could never have imagined.

“Just Like Home” by Sarah Gailey

Gailey is back with a scary tale of the daughter of a famous serial killer who returns to the home where he committed his crimes to care for her mother. Just like Home is a dark gothic thriller for fans of The Haunting of Hill House.

“Count Your Lucky Stars” by Alexandria Bellefleur

In this LGBTQ friends-to-lovers rom-com from one of the summer’s hot new authors, Margot Cooper doesn’t do relationships. But when she comes face-to-face with Olivia Grant — her childhood friend, her first love, her first…well, everything — she’s not so sure about that stance. Will history repeat itself or should she count her lucky stars that she gets a second chance with her first love?

“The Love of My Life” by Rosie Walsh

What happens when you learn your wife’s entire life is a lie? Let main character Emma explain. But first, she’ll have to tell you about the other love of her life. Rosie Walsh’s heartbreaking love story-meets-gripping thriller is sure to be to be the talk of your book club.

Check out these books and more with your Anythink account. Comment your thoughts and share your favorite summer reads below!