One of the great pleasures of summertime is the chance to catch up on the books you may have missed during the rest of the year. Finding the right reading material can help you make the most of fun in the sun this summer and can help you stay current with the latest and greatest in modern literature. Here are five summertime reads that can add intrigue and adventure to your trips to the beach and other vacation activities.

Me Before You

by Jojo Moyes

A love story with a twist, “Me Before You” has achieved top ranking on the New York Times Bestseller List and is one of the most acclaimed works of fiction among critics this year. The book has already made it to the big screen and has engendered a fair amount of opposition among advocates for disabled people. This is due to its frank and sometimes controversial look at the challenges faced, and the decisions made, by those dealing with long-term medical issues that affect mobility.

The Girl on the Train

by Paula Hawkins

Another entry on the New York Times Bestseller List and our list of great beach reads, “The Girl on the Train” offers plenty of thrills and chills for readers interested in the suspense genre. Told from three perspectives that may or may not be trustworthy, the story is reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” and evokes the same voyeuristic impulses while establishing a sense of claustrophobia for both the characters and the readers. What starts out as a mystery becomes an exploration of the relationships between partners and the common threads that bind people together, creating a narrative that will haunt readers long after the book is done.

The Goldfinch

by Donna Tartt

Winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, “The Goldfinch” is a coming-of-age story that explores the aftermath of a tragic attack that costs a young boy his mother and shapes the course of the rest of his life. Filled with intricate twists and turns, “The Goldfinch” offers an evocative glimpse into the world of a damaged but still hopeful man as he struggles to navigate the challenges of an unusual life against the backdrop of the international art world and the black market that flourishes behind the scenes. Equal parts drama and suspense, “The Goldfinch” is the rare prestige title that also offers solid entertainment value for its readers.

Before the Fall

by Noah Hawley

After a devastating private plane crash that takes the lives of nine people, only two survivors remain to pick up the pieces and try to move on. The author, Noah Hawley, is perhaps best known as the creator and writer for the FX television series Fargo and creates a world of privilege and danger for the failed painter and the four-year-old who survived the jet crash. Published in hardcover in 2016, “Before the Fall” has already been purchased by Sony Pictures. Noah Hawley has been tapped to write the screenplay for the upcoming movie, which should be released sometime in the next few years. Until you can see it on the big screen, Before the Fall is a great book to take on your next vacation.

End of Watch: A Novel

by Stephen King

The highly anticipated final chapter in the Bill Hodges trilogy arrived on bookstore shelves on June 7, 2016. Stephen King has long been one of the most reliable sources for thrills and chills in the fiction marketplace. This latest addition to King’s extensive catalog of novels pits Bill Hodges and partner Holly Gibney against a supernatural killer in a desperate race against the clock to save their friends and themselves. For readers who crave a real scare, “End of Watch” can deliver the ideal distraction on the beach, on the sofa or anywhere your vacation plans take you this summer.

For students planning to go back to school in the fall, these five works of modern literature can provide a welcome escape from everyday responsibilities and worries. By taking a relaxing break this summer with these great books for the beach, you can return to your university studies refreshed and ready to succeed in your upcoming academic pursuits.

You might also like: 5 Great Travel Books for 2016