Although midlife crisis and summer reading may seem incompatible, what better time to reflect on one's path than from a beach chair with the ocean's white noise blocking out distractions (even if the beach chair is in the back yard and the sound of the ocean is being piped through iPod headphones)?

These are some of the most recent titles about midlife crisis. Click on a book's title to go to its Amazon page.

Mad Dash: A Novel

Amazon guest reviewer Nora Roberts says: "Mad Dash mines the treasure trove of consequences, epiphanies and surprises when a long-time married couple experiences mid-life crises simultaneously. The underlying question Gaffney asks through her utterly human characters shines a mirror on anyone who’s ever been in a relationship. How can I love you when you annoy me so much?"

Hardcover: 368 pages
Company: Shaye Areheart Books (2007-08-07) (2007-08-07)
ISBN: 0307382117
List Price: $23.00
Amazon Price: $23.00

Amazon says: "If you are in your thirties or older and have found your marriage or relationship to be in trouble, this may be due to a midlife transition or crisis and you probably don't know where to turn or who to ask for help. You might, if you are lucky, have start..."

Paperback: 166 pages
Company: iUniverse, Inc. (2007-06-20)
ISBN: 0595440878
List Price: $14.95
Amazon Price: $11.46

We say: midlife crisis is incidental, but Fluke is hilarious, so we're keeping it on this list. And it features Hawaii, boats (and submarines), and a fast-paced plot. A perfect introduction to Christopher Moore.

Amazon says: "In his entertaining adventure-in-whale-researching, Fluke, or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings, Nathan Quinn, a prominent marine biologist, has been conducting studies in Hawaii for years trying to unravel the secret of why humpback whales sing. During ..."

Hardcover: 336 pages
Company: William Morrow & Company (2007-06-01) (2003-06-03)
ISBN: 0380978415
List Price: $23.95
Amazon Price: $92.17

We say: A great summer read ... see our review here.

Amazon says: "At forty, Mary South seemed to have it all: a beautiful home in Pennsylvania, a group of close friends, the companionship of two loving Jack Russell terriers and a successful career in book publishing. But shuttling between the conference room at work an..."

Hardcover: 224 pages
Company: HarperCollins (2007-05-22) (2007-05-22)
ISBN: 0060747021
List Price: $23.95
Amazon Price: $11.99

Amazon says: "Even before college, Bitsy Lerner had her whole life figured out: marry, have kids, move to the suburbs, and spend heavenly days packing lunches and driving carpools. At age 43, things have gone exactly as planned. With a solid marriage, two great kids, an..."

Paperback: 320 pages
Company: Three Rivers Press (2007-04-24) (2007-04-24)
ISBN: 1400082242
List Price: $13.95
Amazon Price: $3.40

Amazon says: "Everyone knows that U.S. marriages have a tragic 50 percent failure rate. And second marriages are nearly an exercise in futility, failing a staggering 60 percent of the time. However, a new book has improving these sad statistics squarely in its sights. ..."

Paperback:
Company: StarJunction Books (2007-04-14)
ISBN: 0979095603
List Price: $14.95
Amazon Price: $14.95

We say: read more about Boomer Girl here.

Amazon says: "Women born between 1945 and 1964 account for 27.7 percent of the American population.In a fresh and humorous approach to the graphic novel, Hamilton's heroine rids the world of evil car mechanics, boomerang children, and department store perfume squirters..."

Paperback: 64 pages
Company: Andrews McMeel Publishing (2007-03-01)
ISBN: 0740761706
List Price: $9.95
Amazon Price: $3.02