What are some of the summery reads you may want to throw in your beach bag this year?

If you loved Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, you will be delighted to hear Ann Brashares is revisiting her characters 10 years down the track. The summary of Sisterhood Everlasting says: "Tibby, Lena, Carmen and Bridget have grown up, starting their lives on their own. And though the jeans they shared are long gone, the sisterhood is everlasting. Despite having jobs and men that they love, each knows that something is missing: the closeness that once sustained them. Carmen is a successful actress in New York, engaged to be married, but misses her friends. Lena finds solace in her art, teaching in Rhode Island but still thinks of Kostos and the road she didn't take. Bridget lives with her long-time boyfriend, Eric, in San Francisco, and though a part of her wants to settle down, a bigger part can't seem to shed her old restlessness. Then Tibby reaches out to bridge the distance, sending the others plane tickets for a reunion that they all breathlessly await. And indeed, it will change their lives forever - but in ways that none of them could ever have expected."

The Beach Cafe, the latest novel by Lucy Diamond, is about a woman who is left the legacy of a cafe. The summary says: "Evie Flynn has always been the black sheep of her family - a dreamer and a drifter, unlike her over-achieving elder sisters. She's tried making a name for herself as an actress, a photographer and a singer, but nothing has ever worked out. Now she's stuck in temp hell, with a sensible, pension-planning boyfriend. Somehow life seems to be passing her by. Then her beloved aunt Jo dies suddenly in a car crash, leaving Evie an unusual legacy - her precious beach cafe in Cornwall. Determined to make a success of something for the first time in her life, Evie heads off to Cornwall to get the cafe and her life back on track - and gets more than she bargained for, both in work and in love..."

Mary Kay Andrews' latest novel Summer Rental is about three lifelong friends who plan a month-long summer getaway to a beach house in North Carolina. The summary says: "Ellis, Julia and Dorie, best friends since Catholic grade school, now find themselves, in their mid-30s, at the crossroads of life and love. Ellis, recently fired from a job she gave everything to, is rudderless and now beginning to question the choices she's made over the past decade of her life. Julia - whose caustic wit covers up her wounds - has a man who loves her and is offering her the world, but she can't hide from how deeply insecure she feels about her looks, her brains, her life. And Dorie has just been shockingly betrayed by the man she loved and trusted the most in the world - though this is just the tip of the iceberg of her problems and secrets. A month in North Carolina's Outer Banks is just what each of them needs. Ty Bazemore is their landlord, though he's hanging on to the rambling old beach house by a thin thread. After an inauspicious first meeting with Ellis, the two find themselves disturbingly attracted to one another, even as Ty is about to lose everything he's ever cared about. Maryn Shackleford is a stranger, and a woman on the run. Maryn needs just a few things in life: no questions, a good hiding place, and a new identity. Ellis, Julia and Dorie can provide what Maryn wants; can they also provide what she needs? Five people questioning everything they ever thought they knew about life. Five people on a journey that will uncover their secrets and point them on the path to forgiveness. Five people who each need a sea change, and one month in a summer rental that might just give it to them."

Summer and the City, Candace Bushnell's sequel to The Carrie Diaries (the prequel to the hit TV series Sex and the City), follows Carrie Bradshaw as she hits the bright lights of New York for the first time. The summary says: "Summer is a magical time in New York City and Carrie is in love with all of it - the crazy characters in her neighbourhood, the vintage clothing boutiques, the wild club scene, and the mysterious new guys who have entered her life. She's finally in a real writing class, taking her first steps towards fulfilling her dream. And then there's the fact that she gets to live in Samantha Jones' apartment. Carrie learns to navigate her way around the Big Apple, going from being a country "sparrow" as Samantha likes to call her, to the person she always wanted to be. But as Carrie continues to evolve, she knows she must balance this exciting new life and her writing aspirations with the big decision that awaits at the end of the summer."

Seven Days One Summer, by UK journalist Kate Morris, is about eight old friends who reunite for a week in the sun. The summary says: "When her old flame Sam rings up one day and invites her on a villa holiday in Italy, Jen is completely thrown off balance. Sam, as she cannot help but recall, was the best kiss of her life. With her husband Marcus constantly travelling the world for work, and seven-year-old Alfie still in the marital bed, the joys of marriage and motherhood are thin on the ground for Jen these days. What could be more appealing than being with old friends and recapturing a little bit of their youth? Two months later, Jen and Marcus arrive at the stunning Villa La Silerchie. There to greet them are Jen's best friend Tara and her new husband Dave, a struggling writer; there's also vain, neurotic Miranda and her fiance Toby; Jack, a handsome and successful actor, recently separated; and Sam - funny, laid-back, sexy Sam. Everything's set for the holiday of a lifetime; but as the week progresses, and tensions rise in the August heat, relationships unravel, old rivalries re-emerge, and uncomfortable truths have to be faced."

Groundswell is Katie Lee's debut novel about a young divorcee on a journey of self-discovery after the break-up of her marriage to an older movie star, who then finds healing - and love - through surfing. The summary says: "Sometimes the biggest ripples come from the smallest events. Like the day that Emma Guthrie walks into world-famous movie star Garrett Walker's trailer. When she steps through the door, she's a novice PA who's just dropped out of college after losing her scholarship. When she walks out, she's on her way to becoming Mrs. Emma Walker - wife of an A-list actor. Soon, Emma has made the transition from nobody to red-carpet royalty, trading jeans and flip-flops for closets full of Chanel and Birkin bags, swishing past velvet ropes to attend every lavish party and charity gala on both coasts. With her husband's encouragement, Emma pens a screenplay based on her life, Fame Tax, which becomes a blockbuster sensation. Through it all, Garrett is her ally and her mentor . . . until their relationship is thrown into question by an incriminating text message that Emma discovers on Garrett's phone the night of the Met Costume Institute Gala. Devastated by her husband's infidelity and hounded mercilessly by the paparazzi, Emma must flee New York City to get away from it all and clear her head. Her destination? A sleepy coastal town in Mexico where no one recognises her and there is nothing but unspoiled beaches for miles. Here, she meets Ben, a gorgeous, California-born surf instructor, who teaches her about the healing powers of surfing, shows her the joys of the simple life, and ultimately opens her up to the possibility of love." Lee is the ex-wife of singer Billy Joel. The New York-based foodie is best known for her TV appearances on shows such as Top Chef and her The Comfort Table cookbooks.

Amid all the hoopla about celebrities using super-injunctions to keep their affairs out of the public eye, Tasmina Perry's latest novel, Private Lives, is set around a media law firm riddled with secrets, scandals and danger. The summary says: "Anna Kennedy loves her career. A young associate with a top media law firm, she's the lawyer to the stars, hiding their sins from the hungry media. When Anna fails to prevent a damaging story being printed about heart-throb movie star Sam Charles she finds herself fighting to save not only his reputation but also her own. But Anna is about to uncover a scandal more explosive than even Sam's infidelities. A party girl is already dead and those responsible are prepared to silence anyone who stands in their way. Not least a pretty young lawyer who knows too much." Private Lives is out in August.

Elin Hilderbrand was inspired by the Bernie Madoff financial scandal for her latest novel Silver Girl - once again set on Nantucket. The summary says: "Meredith Martin Delinn just lost everything: her friends, her homes, her social standing - because her husband Freddy cheated rich investors out of billions of dollars. Desperate and facing homelessness, Meredith receives a call from her old best friend, Constance Flute. Connie's had recent worries of her own, and the two depart for a summer on Nantucket in an attempt to heal. But the island can't offer complete escape, and they're plagued by new and old troubles alike. When Connie's brother Toby - Meredith's high school boyfriend - arrives, Meredith must reconcile the differences between the life she is leading and the life she could have had."

Ten Beach Road is set in Florida where author Wendy Wax grew up. The summary says "Madeline, Avery, and Nikki are strangers to each other but they have one thing in common. They each wake up one morning to discover their life savings have vanished, along with their trusted financial manager - leaving them with nothing but co-ownership of a ramshackle beachfront house. Throwing their lots in together, they take on the challenge of restoring the historic property. But just as they begin to reinvent themselves and discover the power of friendship, secrets threaten to tear down their trust - and destroy their lives a second time."

Belinda Jones is heading back to the Pacific coast for her 2011 release, California Dreamers, which is about a make-up artist who gets a job on a movie set. The summary says: "Ever wished you could make-over your life? Make-up artist Stella is an expert at helping other people change their images, but when it comes to transforming herself, she doesn't even know where to start. So when her new friend, glamorous Hollywood actress Marina Ray, summons her to a movie set in California, Stella can't resist the chance to start afresh - it is the land of sunshine and opportunity after all! But are they really friends or does Marina have an ulterior motive? What is the secret that both women are hiding about the nautical (but nice) men in their lives? And what will it take to really make both of their California dreams come true?" California Dreamers is out in July.

The Strip, by J.J. Salem, continues on from Tan Lines and is set in the decadent world of Las Vegas. The summary says: "For three Las Vegas women, the Strip is an adults-only playground, a neon-splashed boulevard where excitement, seduction, and betrayal never go to sleep.
Kristin Fox - the bestselling writer of controversial and sexy bestsellers who hungers for passion outside the pages of her money-making fiction.
Jennifer Payne - the insightful marriage and family therapist who has an answer for every relationship problem except the one happening in her own bedroom.
Billie Shelton - the casino showroom headliner who has been saved, remade, and quietly shattered by a darkly obsessive Svengali husband.
And they share one magnificent man: Cam Lawford, the ultimate stud-for-hire who has gone from roaring crowds in sports stadiums to willing and generous women in luxury hotels. But who knew the business of sex and satisfaction could be such a dangerous game?" The Strip is out in July.

Tilly Bagshawe's Fame takes readers to the troubled film set of a Wuthering Heights remake. The summary says: "The raw, sexual beauty of Sabrina Leon demands the attention of all who come into contact with her. Plucked from obscurity at the age of 17, she's the new darling of the film scene, bagging lead roles in the hottest blockbusters. But Sabrina Leon has a problem. There's a Youtube sensation on the web that's set to destroy everything she's fought for... Hotshot movie producer Dorian Razmirez has struggles of his own. A bitter feud with rival producer and playboy Harry Greene has resulted in the plug being pulled on every project he goes near. Casting the disgraced Hollywood diva Sabrina Leon in Wuthering Heights is a risk that might cost him what remains of his career. Viorel Hudson, with his jet-black hair, high, slanting cheekbones and smooth, coffee-coloured skin, was always destined for great things. Now he's scored a role that every A-lister in Hollywood auditioned for - Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. He may be at the height of his career but is he ready for his latest role? For a five-million-pound pay cheque, it's a risk he's willing to take. Set against a backdrop of a sumptuous crumbling English country house, the film set of Wuthering Heights is going to be as salacious as the setting is beautiful."

Allie Spencer's third novel Summer Loving is centred around four friends renting a Greek villa for a summer holiday. The summary says: "There comes a point in a girl's life when she just needs to hang out with her girlfriends - preferably in Greece - so they can laugh, reminisce and perhaps indulge in a holiday romance or two. Beth has reached that point, and being a woman who likes to organise things, she arranges the holiday of her dreams for her and her three best friends. However, the bars, clubs and wild nights of their imaginings are a far cry from the slow, quiet pace of life on Liminaki. But if they thought that meant they were in for a peaceful time, they soon discover their mistake. For a start, Ginny drives everyone mad talking about her bleeping wedding. Anna falls hook, line and sinker for the waiter. Beth succumbs to the charms of a handsome sailor. And something is definitely up with Kirsten. And then Beth's boyfriend turns up at a Very Bad Moment... surely things can't get any more complicated?"

The Villa Girls, by Nicky Pellegrino, is the story of four women who decide that they'll meet up every few years for a holiday together somewhere sunny. The summary says: "Despite life taking them in very different directions, their snatched days in the sun in little hidden villas are crucial to them all. Escape, celebration, recovery - over the years the holidays change their lives. Rosie was always the odd one out - initially only invited as the others felt sorry for her, but it seems that in the end, she might be the one whose life is touched the most by her villa days. For it's there that she meets Enzo. The eldest son of an olive oil dynasty in southern Italy, he is being groomed to one day take over as head of the family. Rosie and Enzo have a holiday romance that seems set to become something more serious until she discovers he is not entirely what he seems. Years later they meet again and this time Rosie must decide how much she is prepared to compromise for the sake of love."

Dublin freelance journalist Muriel Bolger has written her first novel, Consequences. The summary says: "Every year, a close-knit group of friends spend two sun-filled weeks in a Spanish villa. For Derek and Sharonne, Conor and Maeve, Rory and Trish, and Liam, it's the perfect way to end the summer and escape their high-pressured lives in Dublin. No children, no responsibilities, and no distractions. This year, however, the group befriends Agneta and Anna Maria, two women holidaying in a neighbouring villa, and a series of events is set in motion that will shake the group to its very core. As the holiday comes to an end and the friends arrive home in Dublin, life appears to go back to normal. But the deceptions that began in Spain refuse to be buried and infidelities and secrets come to the surface As facades crumble, each of the friends discover who they can trust and who, ultimately, will betray them. But will they learn to live with the consequences of their actions?"

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