The Sexiest Summer Ever.

We put a banner on this issue of Cosmo announcing "Take It to the Beach," because we know we're as much of a beach read as a hot new book by John Grisham or Jennifer Crusie. But watch out: This July issue is so loaded with stuff, you may end up with a sunburn if you're not careful about how long you're out reading. Inside, you'll find everything from your summer fashion essentials and seductive beauty tips to 30 killer opening lines to use on that adorable guy two beach chairs down. There's also a saucy excerpt from In Fidelity, by M.J. Rose (page 224), guaranteed to be a best-seller this season. On a more serious note, we feature an astonishingly revealing article on personal safely, "How to Know When You're in Danger" (page 182), by Gavin de Becker, the nation's leading expert on violence.

One of my favorite articles in this issue is "What's Sexy From A to Z" (page 178). It's not only guaranteed to inspire you but could also lead to the perfect beach-blanket game: Co around in a circle and name something you consider sexy, starting with A. The first person who's stumped has to confess her fantasy hookup to the group. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

"Ogling cute guys' amazing abs makes me sooo hot!"

--Rita, 25

"Nothing is sexier than wearing an itty-bitty bikini--and I certainly can't complain about those approving glances."

--Mary, 22

"One of ...