Summer reads sizzle

The summer of 2008 was all about beach reads. More and more authors are coming out of the woodwork, while established authors strayed away from their series to try their hands at something more sophisticated.

Whether your taste is thrilling and fast-paced or cheesy and romantic, there was a novel on the shelf to fit your needs.

For those of you who wanted action-packed suspense, the book of choice would have definitely been "Change of Heart" by Jodi Picoult. Picoult, by nature, tackles the most controversial issues of our time in a page-turning personal format, leaving the readers questioning their beliefs long after they've finished.

In this particular novel, Picoult chooses the topic of the death penalty as it pertains to religious freedoms that our country is required to uphold.

Shay Bourne is convicted of a double-murder and would rather donate his organs to save a life in need than suffer the legal consequences of hanging.

This novel, which hit the New York Times Best Seller's List in March, leaves you craving for a second part and the answer to the question, "Who was right, and who was wrong?"

While Picoult covers ethical issues, love can never be right or wrong, as proved by Ann Brashares, the author of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" series.

Reaching toward an older crowd, "The Last Summer (of You and Me)" focuses on two sisters, the bond they share and the boy who can break it. Brashares covers the emotion of love lost and love found through the eyes of three different main characters, whose tales overlap to tell one epic love story.

If you didn't manage to get your hands on these novels during the summer, you still have Labor Day weekend to get it all in!