One of my favorite things about summer is the amount of free time I have to sit back, relax, and read. With so many books out there, it can be hard to figure out the perfect book to read at the beach, but from trash novels to thrillers to classics to young adult novels, hopefully, my recommendations can get you started on your summer reading!

1. V. C. Andrew's Flowers in the Attic

Still just as scandalous by today’s standards as it was when it initially came out in 1979, Flowers in the Attic is the first in a five-part series about the Dollenganger family. When Cathy Dollenganger’s father dies in a car accident, she and her older brother, Christopher, and younger twin siblings, Carrie and Cory, are forced to leave their home with their mother, Corrine, and move into their wealthy grandparent’s home at Foxworth Hall. Corrine explains to her children that she has been estranged from her parents because of something terrible she did when she was eighteen, and the children later find out from their grandmother that Corrine married her half-uncle. The four children are forced to hide in the attic while Corrine attempts to get written back into her father’s will, and their grandmother, Olivia, treats them terribly, threatening to punish them if they are disobedient. Over time, their mother starts to draw away from them and back into her father’s wealthy lifestyle, abandoning her children to the iron rule of her mother. As a result of spending their formidable years locked together in the attic, Cathy and Christopher begin to form a dangerous attraction towards each other that will both shock the reader and keep them wanting more.

2. Stephen King's The Shining

Stephen King is often credited with being one of the greatest thriller novelists of all time, and The Shining does not disappoint. This story is about Jack Torrance, a recovering alcoholic, gets a job as the winter caretaker at the mysterious Overlook Hotel after he loses his teaching job due to his anger issues, and moves there with his wife, Wendy, and his five-year-old son, Danny. It is revealed through the hotel’s history that the previous caretaker murdered his wife and twin daughters and then killed himself due to severe cabin fever. Jack is an aspiring writer and wants to use his time trapped in the hotel to finish his play and reconnect with his wife and son, who are starting to draw away due to Jack’s volatile behavior. Danny also finds out from the hotel’s chef, Dick Halloran, that he has a special ability to read minds and communicate telepathically, which Halloran refers to as “the shining.” As Danny starts to have horrifying visions and psychic encounters, the evil spirit within the Overlook slowly begins to drive Jack insane, increasing his violent outbursts. This story deals with terrifying themes of the supernatural, causing me to have to close it a few times when I read it. Fans of this book should also check out its sequel, Doctor Sleep.

3. F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

What could be a better book for summer reading than a book that takes place during the summer? This classic novel is told from the point of view of Nick Carraway, a Yale graduate and World War I veteran who unwittingly moves into a small bungalow on West Egg, Long Island next to the mysterious Jay Gatsby, a millionaire who throws extravagant parties. Shortly after he moves in, Nick drives across the bay to East Egg to visit his cousin, the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, and her husband, Tom, one of Nick’s old friends from Yale. There, Nick meets a young, careless golfer with questionable morals named Jordan Baker, who secretly informs him that Tom has a mistress in the city. Shortly thereafter, Nick accompanies Tom into the city and meets his mistress, Myrtle, at a small, rather vulgar party at the apartment Tom keeps for his affair. Nick also gets himself invited to a party at Gatsby’s mansion. He soon learns that Gatsby is desperately in love with Daisy and flaunts his obscene wealth as a way to try to impress her, hoping they can rekindle their romance, and through Nick’s eyes, we get to see Gatsby’s world fall apart around him. One of the reasons that I love this book is because it has so many layers, and I get something different out of it each time. It’s also the thinnest book on the list, so I definitely recommend this for someone who does not have a lot of time on their hands.

4. Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief

One of my favorite books from high school, The Book Thief is about a young girl named Liesel Meminger who is adopted by Hans and Rosa Hubermann after her mother is forced to send her away. Set during World War II, Liesel is exposed to the horrors of Nazi occupied Germany, especially when her foster parents take in a young Jewish boy named Max. Hans develops a close relationship with Liesel and secretly teaches her how to read, instilling a love of books in her and causing her to begin stealing forbidden books that the Nazis have tried to destroy. Uniquely narrated by Death, The Book Thief is a poignant tale featuring many themes such as morality, love, and the power of language. Even though it is a thick book, it’s an easy, quick read, and the 2013 movie is a fairly faithful adaptation.