30 Must-Read Summer Books You Need in Your Beach Bag

Claire Messud, the phenomenal author of The Emperor's Children, once again sets her sights on lifelong friends who have just begun to set out on separate paths in The Burning Girl. As Julia and Cassie move toward adulthood, the two women are faced with challenges that threaten to destroy them – and highlight the lengths we go to in order to save our oldest friends.

Out Aug. 29.