What Type of Summer Beach Read Is For You?

You love a good puzzle. Whatever your day job is, you're likely to be a bit of private detective in your personal life. You want to know the truth, whatever it costs. You are fascinated by other people's motivations. Why do they do the things they do? We're sure you have some theories. You'd love An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, by P.D. James, about a young woman who inherits a struggling detective agency.

You're an adrenaline junkie. But you get your kicks from real life, not from supernatural scares. You're interested in politics, whether they're global events or office intrigues. If you had to choose between the power of flight and the power of invisibility, you'd probably choose invisibility. That way you could be a fly on the wall, anywhere. This summer, you'll enjoy I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes, about the battle between a legendary secret agent and his opponent.

You're a fan of the big, swoony, old-fashioned love affair. You may look as prim and proper as the stereotypical librarian, but underneath that cool exterior you're roiling with passion. In the bedroom, you're sexy, even outrageous. You may be prone to wearing costumes. If you haven't yet read the classic Gone With the Wind, you've got a real treat in store. (Consider purchasing a corset NOW.)

Families. You either love them or hate them. Or, in your case, both. There's nothing more interesting to you than a large, extended family. You're the kind of person who loves to attend family reunions, even when they aren't your own. Think of all the fascinating stories just waiting to be unearthed. While you're waiting for the next wedding (or funeral), settle down with Elizabeth Jane Howard's The Light Years, the first in the author's fascinating Cazalet Chronicles series of books detailing the ups and downs of the Cazalet family, modeled on her own family history.

You've got a taste for the quirky and unusual. Sure, you're interested in romance and adventure, but you long for a release from the ordinary, everyday world as well. You're a fantasist, not a realist. And that's terrific. There are plenty of great books in this category just ready and waiting to transport you to other worlds. Why not start with the latest release in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, Written in My Own Heart's Blood? If you haven't read any of the Outlander books yet, then start with the first one.

Ah, sweet suspense! Oh, the agony of anticipation! Nothing makes you feel more alive than a good scare. Unless, of course, it kills you. Make sure you take your heart medication before you read Shirley Jackson's classic horror novel The Haunting of Hill House. You should probably also clear your schedule for at least a day or two ' you're unlikely to sleep until you're finished this page-turner.