Summer’s slow afternoons and eternal sunshine offer readers the perfect opportunity to crack open a new book.

Whether through time travel, long-buried secrets or love brought back to life, this summer’s book releases are looking back to move forward. These upcoming novels will indulge readers in romance, mystery and speculative fiction from renowned authors returning with ambitious new tales.

Kick up your feet and discover the Daily Bruin’s hand-selected collection of summer stories.

“Big Little Truths” by Liane Moriarty

This summer, many thrillers await bibliophiles – including a sequel to one of the 2010s’ most recognizable titles.

“Big Little Truths” – a follow-up to Liane Moriarty’s hit 2014 novel “Big Little Lies” – will be published Aug. 25. The original story focuses on a homicide investigation rattling a group of five women whose children are all in the same kindergarten class. The bestseller also spawned an Emmy-winning HBO television series starring Reese Witherspoon (Madeline), Nicole Kidman (Celeste), Shailene Woodley (Jane), Zoë Kravitz (Bonnie) and Laura Dern (Renata).

The new book will resume the group’s story a decade later as their children navigate high school and fresh tensions arise. Conflicts hinted at in the press for the novel include complications between Celeste and her mother-in-law and tribulations in Jane’s marriage. Meanwhile, Renata’s life couldn’t be better. Still, the presence of a mysterious stranger at the school suggests each of the women will be forced to confront secrets they’d rather leave behind.

While readers won’t have a television adaptation as they launch into this book, the entertainment value of “Big Little Truths” promises to be big.

– Reid Sperisen

“Time Travel for Beginners” by Jaclyn Moriarty

Everyone wishes they could redo one moment in their life, and Jaclyn Moriarty’s novel brings that very ideal to life this summer.

Moriarty’s new novel, “Time Travel for Beginners,” is set to be released Aug. 4 and follows three characters – Anna, Teddy and Jade – as they encounter the Time Travel Agency in the middle of Sydney, Australia. The Agency offers them the chance to revisit any moment in the past, with a unique twist – there are no consequences in the present. As the three characters deal with their own personal and emotional turmoil, they find themselves on a whirlwind journey that brings these three strangers together.

Critics praised Moriarty’s work for its hilarious yet insightful writing style. “Time Travel for Beginners” poses large questions about what moments truly shape one’s identity and is sure to leave readers pondering their own lives and the moments they too might want to revisit. Moriarty, an Australian writer, is known for writing books that appeal to all ages and, in this latest novel, will undoubtedly explore life’s deeper complexities with grace and care.

Readers will want to time travel into the future to get their hands on this book as soon as they can.

– Vishnu Potharaju

“The Romance Revival” by Christina Lauren

Romance is rising from the dead at the hands of Christina Lauren.

Set to hit shelves on July 14, “The Romance Revival” follows scientist Emery Finch whose demanding, high-profile research is straining her marriage with Luca, a charming landscaper she married after meeting him in Las Vegas three years prior. When a tragic accident takes Luca’s life, Emery uses her own technology in a desperate attempt to bring him back. The procedure is a success, but to Emery’s dismay, Luca awakens with no memory of their time together. As she tries to restore what was lost, Emery must confront the possibility that their love cannot be rebuilt.

This novel will be the newest release from Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, the bestselling author duo behind the fan favorites “The Unhoneymooners” and “The Paradise Problem” who write under the combined pen name Christina Lauren. Known for their syntheses of humor and emotional intensity, the pair has produced 20 New York Times Bestsellers.

Mixing chemistry, grief and a pinch of science fiction, “The Romance Revival” is poised to land on summer-favorite lists.

– Emily Berkowitz