Memorial Day weekend doesn't hit until the end of May, but from the looks of the books set for release this month, island vacations are on everyone's mind. From horrible to hilarious situations, these books (including several big debuts), should give you plenty of options for beach reading.

•'Save the Date' by Jen Doll - May 1

Jen Doll has written for publications such as The Atlantic, Cosmopolitan and The New York Times Book Review. In her nonfiction book debut, she tells stories from the dozens of weddings she has attended since she was a child. This is a funny and feeling examination of love, relationships and weddings. Perhaps a good read to prepare for a summer of bachelorette parties, showers and weddings.

•'The Snow Queen' by Michael Cunningham - May 6

Michael Cunningham, who is best known for The Hours, is releasing a new novel this month. The Snow Queen is the story of two brothers experiencing the loss of love. One copes with religion, the other with drugs. The Hours and By Nightfall have been popular with book clubs, and Snow Queen seems as if it will also appeal to that crowd.

•'An Untamed State' by Roxane Gay - May 6

Roxane Gay's short stories and essays have gained her attention and made her debut novel, An Untamed State, one of the most buzzed about debuts of early 2014. An Untamed State is billed as a page turner that you won't want to put down, but sounds like it is best for those with thicker skin. This is the story of a Haitian-born woman who returns to Haiti with her American husband and baby. She is kidnapped and sexually tortured for almost two weeks. Much of the novel deals with the psychological aftermath and ways her life falls apart after her release.

•'All the Light We Cannot See' by Anthony Doerr - May 6

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is a novel about two lives that converge during World War II. Marie-Laure is a blind French girl who lives with her father and flees occupied Paris. Werner is a smart German orphan boy whose intelligence wins him a place at an academy for Hitler Youth. The novel explores both their childhoods and how their lives eventually intersect.

•'To Rise Again at a Decent Hour' by Joshua Ferris - May 13

Joshua Ferris was named one of the New Yorker's "20 under 40" fiction writers to watch in 2010. His latest novel, To Rise Again at a Decent Hour, is a book about a dentist whose identity is taken when someone sets up a website, facebook page and Twitter account in his name. Ferris' work, including this novel, has received mixed reviews. For those who like stories of existential angst and coping with the modern world, it might be worth checking out.

•'Cutting Teeth' by Julia Fierro - May 13

Another big debut this month: Julia Fierro's Cutting Teeth. This is a novel about a group of 30-something urbanites who spend Labor Day weekend together at a beach house on Long Island. The book is populated with many unlikable characters and does not shy away from graphic sex scenes. It has received mixed reviews but enough praise to make Fierro an author worth watching.

•'Another Great Day at Sea' by Geoff Dyer - May 20

Journalist Geoff Dyer spent two weeks aboard the aircraft carrier the U.S.S. George H.W. Bush and writes about his experiences in Another Great Day at Sea. The nonfiction narrative goes into big and small details about life on the ship -- including meals, an interview with the ship's dentist and a look at the routines. This is not, however, a serious book. Dyer is reflective and picks fun at himself and his experiences during his stay.

•'The Vacationers' by Emma Straub - May 29

The Vacationers starts at the airport and ends with the plane ride home after two weeks of vacation in Mallorca. During that time, the Post family and some close friends work through family secrets, rivalries and tensions. Emma Straub keeps the pages turning in this summery story.