Your long-awaited summer holiday is just around the corner. The accommodation is booked, you’ve planned your itinerary, and you know exactly which outfits to take with you.
But which books will make it to your summer reading list?
With so many titles to choose from, finding the perfect holiday read might feel like another tedious and time-consuming task to add to your to-do list.
So, you might be glad to hear that we’ve done most of the legwork for you. Read on to discover five fun and light-hearted books that are just the ticket for a relaxing summer read.
1. The Lido – Libby Page
This Sunday Times top 10 bestseller is an uplifting and unashamedly feel-good read.
The story unfolds at the local lido in Brixton, London, where 86-year-old widow Rosemary has swum every day since she was a child. It was here Rosemary met and fell in love with her beloved husband, George.
For Rosemary, the lido isn’t just a place to swim, it’s an important link to her past.
When the venue is threatened with closure, struggling young journalist Kate sets out to make it into a story that will transform her career.
Together, Kate and Rosemary strive to bring the local community together to save the lido, while battling to overcome their own personal challenges.
This heart-warming tale of unlikely friendships, community spirit, and romance is a perfect addition to your summer reading list.
2. The Summer Party – Rebecca Heath
This unputdownable psychological thriller is a deliciously glamourous and gripping read. If you love a whodunnit, this one is sure to keep you guessing.
The story follows Lucy Ross as she returns to her grandmother’s estate. The action flits between 2000 and 2020, tantalisingly revealing the truth of what happened in the past layer by layer.
In the summer of 2000, Lucy Ross is 16 years old and living with her grandmother. She’s infatuated by the confident and glamorous Whitman family who live nearby. Until one evening at a party, she sees something she shouldn’t and everything changes.
Meanwhile, in 2020, Lucy is lured back into the Whitmans’ lavish world. When a body washes up on the beach, someone sets out to frame Lucy for the murder.
This addictive thriller will hook you from the beginning and not let you go until the last page.
3. The Beach – Alex Garland
The Beach may not strictly fall into the “fun and light-hearted” category, but it felt remiss not to include this cult classic in our list of holiday reads.
Set on an idyllic island in Thailand, this is a compelling story of paradise found – and lost.
When European backpacker Richard lands in East Asia, he learns about a secluded beach that’s inaccessible to tourists and can only be located by a map – which later falls into his hands.
Richard follows the map and discovers a small community of backpackers who have built a life cut off from the outside world.
Initially, life on the island is idyllic. But events soon take a sinister turn…
4. Funny Story – Emily Henry
A classic romantic comedy with a delightfully original premise, Funny Story is a joyful novel about two people with the wrong thing in common.
Daphne is happily engaged to Peter, while Miles and Petra appear to be the perfect couple.
Until Peter and Petra announce they’re in love.
So follows a story of fake dating hijinks filled with the perfect blend of wit, heartbreak, and passion.
As Miles and Daphne unite in a plot to make their exes squirm, romance blossoms. But how will it all end?
5. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop – Satoshi Yagisawa
This hidden gem is a charming story of love, hope, and the healing power of books.
The titular Morisaki bookshop is located in Jimbocho, a neighbourhood of Tokyo with the highest number of bookstores in the world.
The owner, Satoru has devoted his life to the bookshop and keeps it filled with hundreds of second-hand books.
When Satoru’s niece, Takako comes to live and work at the shop after having her heart broken, the pair form a powerful and moving friendship.
This quirky and nostalgic novel is movingly profound and beautifully written.
If you love this story, you’ll be delighted to hear there is a sequel to pick up when you return from your holiday, More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop.
Get in touch
If you’re feeling rested and energised when you return from holiday, it’s an ideal time to review your financial plan, and we can help.
Please contact us by email at info@lloydosullivan.co.uk or call 020 8941 9779 to see how we can help you.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
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