The end of May means the beginning of summer (which officially starts on June 21, but who's counting), so that means it’s time to break out the bug spray, grill, and sunscreen.

It’s also time to figure out what your next pool or beach read is, so we’ve compiled five recently released reads by authors with ties to Boston + Massachusetts to get you started.

“Nine Lives” by Peter Swanson | Nine strangers find their names on a mysterious list in the mail — and must work to uncover the sender as they’re picked off one by one.
“The Family Plot” by Megan Collins | Dahlia’s true-crime obsessed family must put their hobby to real use when her brother’s body is found.
“Herrick's End” by T.M. Blanchet | When down-on-his-luck Ollie finds his friend Nell has gone missing, he must travel out of Boston’s North End to a magical underground world beneath the city.
“Instructions for Dancing” by Nicola Yoon | Evie is falling for her ballroom dance competition partner, despite her ability to see how any relationship will end. City Editor Sara loved the audiobook version.
“The Cost of Knowing” by Brittney Morris | Sixteen-year-old Alex must grapple with violence against young Black men when he has a vision of his brother’s imminent death.

Need more recommendations? Stop by Brattle Book Shop or one of these independent bookstores to get expert advice from local booksellers. 📚