NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – The beach is the perfect place to get caught up on summer reading – and this year, there’s lots of books to choose from.

More: A Guide To NYC’s Free Beaches

For a look at some of the hottest summer reads, The Couch turned to People magazine. Books editor Kim Hubbard has compiled a list of the books to throw in your beach bag or download onto your e-reader.

Her 5 picks:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is a psychological thriller about a marriage gone horribly wrong. The movie – to be produced by Reese Witherspoon – is already in the works.

The Age Of Miracles by former Couch guest Karen Thompson Walker is an apocalyptic fantasy narrated by an 11-year-old girl.

The Rules Of Civility by Amor Towles came out last year but is just now out in paperback. The novel is about an ambitious young woman making her way in 1930s Manhattan.

The Empty Glass is about the mysteries surrounding Marilyn Monroe’s death, and comes out just as we’re marking the anniversary of the tragedy.

Monkey Mind by Daniel Smith is a quirkier pick. The memoir is a poignant, funny take on living with chronic anxiety.

For the entire interview, check out the video below.