MUSIC 

At Night, Alone.

Mike Posner has jumped back onto the music scene, hoping to make his comeback in the dance genre instead with his previous pop sound. The album dropped on May 6, just in time for his songs to hit the charts at the start of summer. His techno-like beats and smooth voice are sure to help him sell records and earn repeated play on the radio. His song “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” is already chart-topping and perfect for summer activities.

Dangerous Woman

“Dangerous Woman” by Ariana Grande is set to debut on May 20. She has already released a couple of singles such as “Dangerous Woman” and “Be Alright” that are both upbeat and true to the original “Ariana Grande” sound. Her impressive vocal range and soul in each song will help bring an emotional aspect to the album, but is expected to  remain lighthearted due to the upcoming summer season. Being her third studio album, it is predicted that it will feature  a handful of collaborations  with  familiar voices that work well with that of Grande’s. Listeners have seen this happen previously with artists such as Mac Miller, The Weeknd, and Nicki Minaj.

Last Year Was Complicated

As Nick Jonas makes his return to mainstream radio, he has already provided us with many catchy singles. His new album is sure to do the same with memorable song lyrics and smooth vocals. His new songs are predicted to have a similar sound of  recent pop and R&B albums such as ZAYN’s “Mind of Mine.” This can be heard in his single “Close” featuring Tove Lo. Hopefully, we will see similar vocals and hypnotic beats in the  new album, which is expected to be released on June 10. When all is said and done “Last Year Was Complicated” will scream summer relaxation

MOVIES 

Finding Dory (June 27)

With Nemo back home safe, it’s now Dory’s turn to take the big screen. In “Finding Dory,” the widely loved blue fish, voiced by Ellen DeGeneres, goes on a journey in search of the parents she just remembered she had. Nemo, Marlin, and new characters like Bailey the beluga whale (Ty Burrell) join Dory on her challenging swim from Australia to California. With lessons about family, friendship, and accepting flaws, “Finding Dory” is the perfect feel-good movie.

Now You See Me: The Second Act (June 10)

As Danny Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), leader of magic group The Four Horsemen, told us in  “Now You See Me,” the first rule of magic is to always be the smartest in the room. In “Now You See Me: The Second Act,” Danny’s superior intelligence is challenged by Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe), a tech prodigy who is blackmailing The Four Horsemen into carrying out a heist for him. The original cast, including Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Mark Ruffalo and Dave Franco, return for the second, and possibly final act.

Me Before You (June 3)

For a movie that will tug at your heartstrings and have you in search of your own summer romance, “Me Before You” is the perfect choice for the season. Louise Clark (Emilia Clarke) is a quirky young woman who knows two essential truths: she likes her current job and she doesn’t love her boyfriend. When she loses her job, she is thrown into the world of Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a golden boy who lost his will to live after a motorcycle accident. As Lou works as his caretaker, she begins to bring color back into his dull daily routine, and they each begin to change each other’s lives.

Suicide Squad (August 5)

To end the summer with a kick, “Suicide Squad” provides enough action to distract you from any thoughts of school beginning. Think the Justice League, only lacking in morals and a good reputation. The Suicide Squad is a special task force created by U.S. Intelligence officer Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) to be used as a weapon by the government. The group, consisting of the most infamous villains like Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and Deadshot (Will Smith), executes tasks too dangerous for the normal person in exchange for a shortened prison sentence.  However, as they work together toward their freedom, they soon realize that it’s more likely that they’ll die trying.

BOOKS 

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson (May 31):

Known for her chick-lit contemporary novels, Matson tells the story of Andie, a politician’s daughter, and the struggles she faces in her perfectly planned life amidst a political scandal. Though summer is a time for relaxation, Andie’s summer is less than ideal, as her mother has died and she and her father have drifted apart—though the premise seems depressing, this novel is sure to feature mushy moments of friendship and Andie’s inevitable, adorably uplifting summer romance alongside the drama and chaos of everyday teenage life.

Summer Days & Summer Nights by Various Authors (May 17):

This summer anthology consists of 12 love stories written by bestselling young adult authors like Veronica Roth and Cassandra Clare, and was edited by fellow author Stephanie Perkins. This book follows “My True Love Gave to Me,” its winter counterpart. Though the summer heat may make it hard for readers to concentrate, these short stories will have readers “dreaming of sunset strolls.” And hey—if you can’t have it, you might as well read about it and sigh wistfully, right?

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (July 31):

Devoted Harry Potter fans, left devastated after the final installment of the original series, can finally rejoice as Harry makes his debut on stage. Just as “Deathly Hallows” marked the end of an era, “The Cursed Child” represents a new age, as Harry is demoted to role of “overworked father” and his son Albus struggles to live up to his father’s legacy at Hogwarts. The production is currently only scheduled to run in London, but fans worldwide can dive back into the Wizarding World through the script’s print edition.