IT’S officially summer, and you deserve to relax with a good book. Consider this the start of your ultimate summer reading list: There are dysfunctional family dramas, bravely moving memoirs, and plenty of queer fiction to go around, including a queer historical murder mystery set in Harlem in the 1920s. Pull up a beach chair, gather your book club, and dive headfirst into these new books. 1. “Somebody’s Daughter” by Ashley C. Ford Ashley C. Ford is one of our favorite voices on the Internet. Now, she’s one of our favorite voices on our bookshelf. Her powerful memoir is about growing up with an incarcerated father, the people who have hurt her, and her search for unconditional love. Ford’s ability to be brutally honest with herself is stunning. 2. “The Other Black Girl” by Zakiya Dalila Harris This twisty novel is described as “‘Get Out’ meets ‘The Stepford Wives.’” Nella, the only Black employee at a publishing company, is thrilled when another Black woman gets hired. But then, someone starts leaving mysterious notes on her desk warning her to quit. Clear your schedule, because this clever story will pull you in and not let go. 3. “With Teeth” by Kristen Arnett Sammie and Monika have a strained marriage. Monika is the breadwinner, while Sammie stays home to care for their difficult son, Samson. We see their complicated life unfold over the years, mostly from Sammie’s point of view, but sometimes through the eyes of outsiders. “With Teeth” is an introspective, challenging, and deliciously unsettling novel about parenthood and queerness. 4. “House of Sticks” by Ly Tran When Ly Tran was a toddler, her family immigrated from Vietnam to Queens. Her deeply compelling memoir tells the story of growing up torn between two worlds: that of her hardworking Buddhist parents with sky-high expectations and the one she wants to discover for herself in the U.S. 5. “Dead Dead Girls” by Nekesa Afia Know what your summer needs? A queer historical murder mystery set in Harlem in the 1920s. Follow Louise Lloyd, aka the Harlem Hero, aka your new favorite leading lady, as she tries to catch a killer. 6. “Malibu Rising” by Taylor Jenkins Reid Taylor Jenkins Reid sure knows how to tell a story. Set in 1983, “Malibu Rising” is about the rich and famous Riva family on the day of their annual end-of-summer party. Secrets will be revealed, lies will be exposed, and feelings will come out. 7. “The Ugly Cry” by Danielle Henderson Danielle’s mother abandoned her when she was 10. She went to live with her grandparents and spent her teen years as a Black girl in a predominantly white town. Her moving memoir tells the story of her search for love and identity. Henderson has an enviably clear sense of who she is, where she came from, and the people who helped and hurt her along the way — and it’s a pleasure to read her story. 8. “The Brittanys” by Brittany Ackerman There are five Brittanys at school: Rosenberg, Gottlieb, Tomassi, Jensen and the narrator. This is the story of their clique. The Brittanys will take you right back to life in the early 2000s with Tiffany necklaces and Victoria’s Secret everything. It reads like a diary, plus includes italicized footnotes from the narrator today reflecting back on what became of everyone. 9. “What a Happy Family” by Saumya Dave On the outside, the Joshi family looks like the perfect Indian American family. But on the inside, they’re far from it. They’re just like us, struggling with everything from mental health to trauma. “What a Happy Family” is the perfect family drama with a lively cast of characters. 10. “Rock the Boat” by Beck Dorey-Stein When Kate loses her perfect boyfriend, perfect apartment, and perfect job, she retreats to her hometown in New Jersey with her tail between her legs. She reunites with her former best friends, Ziggy and Miles, and attempts to figure out who she really is and what she actually wants from life. It’ll hit you right in the feelings. (SD-Agencies) | 