Summertime is finally here, and that means ice-cold Aperol spritzes, flirty little sundresses, and lazy afternoons spent laying out at the beach or nearest park. And one of the best parts about summer is that it's the perfect time to fall in love with a new book or author. Whether it's by the ocean, at the lakeside, or even just on your fire escape, we've rounded up the best books for laid-back summer days. 

 

Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend (and the rest of the Neapolitan novels)

From one of Italy's most acclaimed authors comes this tale of love, female friendship, and growing up, set in 1950's and 60's Naples. If that's not enough to get you hooked, consider that My Brilliant Friend and the rest of the novels in the series (there's four altogether) have all made it on the New York Times' bestseller list. The story is intriguing enough that you'll be hard-pressed to put it down, but light enough to make it the perfect beach read. 

 

Donna Tartt, The Goldfinch

If you're looking for something a little more substantial to liven up your summer afternoons, Donna Tartt's latest novel is for you. The story switches between New York, Las Vegas, and Amsterdam over a period of years, and focuses on Theo, who loses his mother at a young age and comes to possess a rare painting called, you guessed it, The Goldfinch. Mysterious and mind-boggling all at once, this book will take you more than an afternoon to finish-- but it'll be so worth it once you do. 

 

Stephanie Danler, Sweetbitter

This coming-of-age story is a heady mix of food, wine, and sex, all set against the backdrop of New York City in 2006. Sweetbitter centers on Tess, a twenty-something who's new to the city and just starting work as a backwaiter at a prestigious Union Square restaurant. Based on the author's own experiences working at Union Square Cafe, Sweetbitter is for anyone who's ever lived, worked, or loved in New York. 

 

Patti Smith, Just Kids

New York in the 70's has been portrayed many times, but never quite so vividly as in this memoir from Patti Smith. The prose is beautifully lyrical, reading like poetry or even song lyrics. And the story is just as inspiring, telling the experiences of Patti Smith as she moves to the city, falls in love with Robert Mapplethorpe, and mixes with a wild cast of characters-- everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Andy Warhol is included. Pick up Just Kids if you've always wanted to know what the city was like in the 70's. 

Make sure to pick up one of these stellar reads the next time you're looking to liven up a summer afternoon. After all, what's better than a good book, a cool drink, and a hot, hot summer day?