Holiday reads 2024: the best books for summer

On the remote Isle of St Kilda, Jayne Ferguson’s life is defined by two burdens: her second sight – which reveals the deaths of those around her – and her tumultuous marriage to a handsome but cruel husband. When a senseless death shakes the island, Jayne’s already strained marriage deteriorates further, and she finds comfort in an unlikely friendship. As the island faces forced evacuation, tensions erupt, culminating in a murder Jayne had foreseen and her closest friends are drawn into the heart of the mystery. After leaving St Kilda, Jayne hopes the past is behind her, but disturbing dreams reveal that the island's secrets are far from over. The Midnight Secret is the fourth and final book in Karen Swan's Wild Isles series.

Stella Baldwin’s world has recently fallen apart; left at the altar and humiliated online, she’s trying to piece her life back together. Meanwhile, Formula 1 driver Thomas Maxwell-Brown is struggling with career pressure and his newfound reputation as the most hated man on the grid. When their paths cross in Las Vegas, a spontaneous marriage of convenience seems like the perfect solution. But as they navigate their new reality, sparks fly, and the line between convenience and something deeper begins to blur.

Belladonna Blackthorn is stuck in a rut – burnt out from managing her beloved London bookshop and hiding her magical abilities from everyone around her. Then, her thirtieth birthday brings an unexpected summons from her coven, along with a trial that could strip her of her magic forever. With only the month of October to fix things, Belle must race against time to prove herself worthy of her witchcraft. And she'll need all the help she can get, whether she wants it or not. Rewitched is a heartwarming, cosy fantasy about reclaiming your power and rediscovering your inner spark. 

With the release of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, this summer is the perfect occasion to discover (or rediscover) Bridget’s first diary. Filled with sharp wit and candid self-reflection, we join Bridget as she stumbles through the chaotic world of modern relationships and her ongoing quest for self-improvement. Torn between the charming but unreliable Daniel Cleaver and the steady, dependable Mark Darcy, Bridget faces the ups and downs of her thirties with a bottle of Chardonnay and a close-knit group of friends to lean on.

Aiden Valentine has lost his faith in love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when Lucie Stone calls in, seeking dating tips for her single mother and the interview unexpectedly goes viral, both Aiden and Lucie are thrust into the spotlight. Lucie has a successful career and a wonderful family, but the sudden attention on her love-life forces her to question her own happiness. As sparks fly between Aiden and Lucie off-air, she’s faced with the difficult decision of whether to embrace the media's picture-perfect love story or pursue something real with the man sitting next to her.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil follows three women across different centuries, bound by their hunger for freedom and desire. In 1521, Maria, betrothed to a Viscount, craves more than the confines of noble life. In 2019, Alice runs from her past in Scotland to Boston, hoping for reinvention. And in 1827 London, Charlotte struggles with the intoxicating yet toxic pull of forbidden love. As their paths intertwine, the cast of complex, angsty characters, makes V.E. Schwab's new genre-defying book a hauntingly addictive read.

Wren Embervale has spent years as a vengeful assassin, seeking justice for the death of her friends. But when a mysterious new poison is unleashed on a king, she’s forced to confront a past she’s tried to bury. Tasked with finding a cure, Wren is sent to the ancient alchemy academy of Drevenor, where she must survive a series of deadly trials known as the Gauntlet. However, the greatest threat isn’t the trials – it’s Torj Elderbrock, the silver-haired war hero assigned to protect her; a man who despises her for assassinating his last charge. As tensions between them rise, Wren’s mission becomes more than just about poison and revenge.

Careless People pulls back the curtain on one of the most powerful companies of our time: Facebook. A young diplomat from New Zealand, Sarah Wynn-Williams believed in its potential to change the world for the better. But as she ascended the company’s ranks, she discovered a vastly different reality – one in equal parts absurd, maddening, and jaw-droppingly revealing. From wild schemes hatched on private jets to narrowly avoiding prison abroad, her memoir is both darkly funny and deeply unsettling.But Careless People isn’t just a story about tech – it’s a warning about what happens when responsibility is outsourced and ambition goes unchecked.

The first in Elizabeth Jane Howard’s beloved Cazalet Chronicles, The Light Years introduces the sprawling Cazalet family as they gather at their country home in Sussex during the late 1930s. With the shadow of war beginning to fall, Howard quietly captures the rhythms of daily life. At the centre are the three Cazalet brothers — Hugh, still recovering from injuries sustained in the Great War; Edward, charming but restless; and Rupert, a struggling painter with a difficult new wife. The Light Years is a richly observed, character-driven novel that set the stage for one of the great family sagas of the twentieth century.

When Ivy’s brother Joseph drowns near their family home, her life is changed forever. At his funeral, she meets both the man she will go on to marry and the woman who will come to define her most intimate, enduring connection. Spanning from the late 1930s through World War II and the twentieth century, the novel follows Ivy across decades as she wrestles with the expectations placed on her and the quieter truths that shape her. Days of Light is a tender, beautifully written meditation on love, loss, and a life lived in pursuit of an answer.

Adeline Copplefield is the picture of Victorian respectability – a society lady offering advice to young wives in her popular column. But Adeline’s entire identity is a fabrication. She is not Mrs. Copplefield. She is not a perfect wife or mother. And she is certainly not the Englishwoman society believes her to be. In present day England, Temi's great-great-great-granddaughter, Landri, discovers her connection to Temi through a long-hidden journal. In A Manual for Good Wives, Lola Jaye waves together a dual historical narrative to tell a story about love, generational trauma, second chances and hope.

In early twentieth century India, Anahita Chavan, from a noble but impoverished family, meets Princess Indira, the privileged daughter of Indian royalty. Their friendship leads Anahita to England, where she meets the Donald Astbury, heir to the complex Astbury family's estate. Eighty years later, American film star Rebecca Bradley arrives at the decaying Astbury Hall to film a role. But shortly after filming begins, Ari Malik, Anahita's great-grandson, arrives and Rebecca and Ari begin to unravel the dark secrets that haunt the Astbury dynasty. From bestselling author Lucinda Riley, The Midnight Rose is a tale of family secrets, sacrifice and the everlasting power of love.

Set against the backdrop of the Antebellum South, Jim, having overheard he is to be sold and separated from his family, flees to Jackson’s Island, until he can forge a path for his escape. Meanwhile, Huck Finn, running from his abusive father, fakes his own death. Together, they embark on a perilous journey down the Mississippi River in search of freedom. Through Percival Everett’s incisive prose, James reimagines Jim’s character – formerly the affable companion of Huckleberry Finn in Mark Twain’s eponymous novel – to reverse racist archetypes and give Jim a character arc of his own.

When she gets a call to say that her elderly grandmother is unwell, journalist Jess takes the first flight from London, her home of twenty years, back to her native Australia to be by her side. Combing through her childhood home as she waits for news, Jess unearths a family secret that leads her to examine everything she knows about herself, her grandmother, and her future. Homecoming is a breathtaking mystery of love, lies and a cold case come back to life from bestseller, Kate Morton.

Set in the fast-paced world of high finance, The 6:20 Man is a heart-racing thriller by David Baldacci. As Travis Devine swaps fighting the Taliban and Al Qaeda for New York's financial district, he is soon embroiled in the greed, power and jealousy that pervades the cut-throat world of investment banking. Every day, Devine puts on his suit and boards the 6.20 a.m. commuter train to Manhattan. But his routine is quickly shattered by an anonymous email declaring that Sarah Ewes, his colleague and friend, has been found dead – and she is just the first victim. Soon, Devine must question who he can trust and who he must fight.

The Seven Sisters, the first book in Lucinda Riley’s internationally bestselling series, introduces readers to the D'Aplièse sisters, six adopted women raised by the man they call Pa Salt. Upon his sudden death, the sisters are each given a clue that leads them on a journey to uncover their true heritage. Maia, the eldest, follows her clue to Brazil, where she uncovers a deeply hidden family secret and begins to put together the pieces of where her story began. This new 10th anniversary edition is complete with a new foreword from Lucinda's son, Harry Whittaker, and additional reading group material.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a beloved blend of science fiction, humour, and absurdity that has captivated readers for decades. When Arthur Dent’s home is demolished to make way for a new intergalactic freeway, his journey through space begins – alongside an unlikely crew of characters including the always-baffled Ford Prefect, the depressed robot Marvin, and Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed, three-armed ex-President of the Galaxy. With its wit, quirky characters, and existential musings, Douglas Adams explores the randomness of the universe, the meaning of life, and the importance of always remembering your towel.

Zélie Adebola once lived in a world alive with magical forces, where different maji wielded unique powers. But after the king's brutal crackdown, magic was wiped out, leaving her people in despair. Now, Zélie must embark on a daring quest to restore her homeland’s lost abilities, joining forces with a rogue princess and a dangerous prince. As Zélie uncovers the full potential of her own powers, she must navigate both the monarchy’s ruthless forces and her growing feelings for an enemy she cannot afford to trust. Children of Blood and Bone is a high-stakes fantasy that weaves together African culture, mythology, and a richly imagined world teeming with danger.

Adrian Tchaikovksy's critically acclaimed novel Children of Time, is the epic story of humanity's battle for survival on a terraformed planet. Who will inherit this new Earth? The last remnants of the human race left a dying Earth, desperate to find a new home among the stars. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, they discover the greatest treasure of the past age – a world terraformed and prepared for human life. But all is not right in this new Eden. Followed by Children of Ruin and Children of Memory, Adrian Tchaikovsky's space opera series is world-building at its finest. 

Humanity's final hope lies in a terraformed planet, once designed to be a new home for mankind. But when the last remnants of humanity arrive, they find a world ruled not by humans, but by an advanced civilisation of hyper-intelligent spiders – the result of a long-abandoned experiment. As two civilizations prepare to clash, humanity hangs in the balance. Who will emerge as the rightful heirs of this new Earth?

Children of Time spins a breathtaking tale of evolution, survival, and the rise and fall of civilizations. After humanity’s collapse, remnants of its once-mighty empire flee a dying Earth in search of a new home. They arrive at a terraformed planet, designed to nurture human life, but something else now rules – an advanced society of hyper-intelligent spiders, the result of a long-abandoned experiment. As these two species hurtle toward an inevitable clash, the novel explores questions about intelligence, dominance, and coexistence. Continue Adrian Tchaikovsky’s epic of science fiction with Children of Ruin and Children of Memory.

Flora MacQueen has a dream – to leave St Kilda, the small Scottish island she has grown up on, and find adventure. When she meets wealthy businessman James Callaghan and the pair begin a whirlwind romance, Flora feels like her dream might just come true. However, tragedy strikes, and she must put her family first. Will Flora ever make it to her new life, and will her sacrifice be worth it? A tale of new starts, first loves, and second chances that is sure to sweep you away this summer.

Nell’s back. Her life still isn’t going to plan. And she’s still asking the big questions and getting none of the answers. Like, for example: why is falling in love so easy, but staying in love so hard? What do you do when your friendships are put to the ultimate test? In this hilarious, un-put-downable follow-up to the bestselling Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up, now the basis for the major TV series, Not Dead Yet, there are laugh-out-loud lessons to be learned, truths to be told, adventures to go on and joys to discover. But first, Nell has some more confessions . . .

Formula 1 driver Dev Anderson faces a career crisis after a social media scandal angers his team and threatens his sponsorships. Then, he encounters Willow Williams at a Monaco party, the one person who could mend his shattered image. However, she's not just any assistant — she's his best friend's sister, and the person Dev has been unable to forget since they shared a kiss. Willow and Dev are determined to keep things strictly professional, regardless of old feelings and the blazing chemistry between them, but in the glittering and high-stakes world of Formula 1, some lines are meant to be crossed. 

University friends Dora, Penny, Nell, and Moira venture back to a Greek island they once explored years ago, seeking sun, sand, and sea. Yet they are hoping for more than just a nostalgic trip – they're also all looking for something to help them through difficult times in their lives. However, what unfolds in Kyri is far greater than anticipated: an opportunity to reinvent themselves, to contribute meaningfully to a community, to find joy, and perhaps even love. But crucially, they discover the most valuable lesson of all — understanding the true importance of female friendship.

The Love of My Life is a tale of love, deception, and hidden pasts from Rosie Walsh, author of The Man Who Didn't Call. Emma adores her husband Leo and their daughter Ruby. Yet, beneath their seemingly idyllic life, Emma has spun a web of lies. When Emma falls seriously ill, Leo, an obituary writer, uncovers the truth. As he peels back the layers, he discovers that Emma's entire existence is a sham, including her very name. Emma must confront her darkest secrets and prove to Leo that she's the woman he's always believed her to be, all while unravelling the love from her mysterious past life.

As childhood neighbours Theo and Magdalen reunite for a summer wedding in the tiny Italian village they grew up in, neither can deny the connection they feel for each other even after years apart. As the pair reminisce and get to know each other all over again, long-buried secrets threaten to stop their love from blossoming for good. Perfect for the beach, the garden or your sofa, I’ll Look for You, Everywhere is a feel-good romantic novel set in sun-kissed Italy. 

The golden child of his strict Pakistani parents, Yousef has his life planned out for him — medical degree, wife chosen by his family. . . then Yousef meets Jess. A fellow medical student, Jess presents a complication to the plan. Suddenly, Yousef finds himself torn between two worlds — keeping each a secret from the other. Then, as graduation looms, Yousef’s mother informs him that she’s started looking for his wife. How (Not) To Have an Arranged Marriage is a timely, heartfelt novel which looks at all aspects of modern arranged marriages.

Nestled in a quiet backstreet of Kyoto, the Kamogawa Diner, managed by Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare, offers more than just extravagant meals. They've gained fame as 'food detectives,' able to recreate lost dishes from customers' memories, dishes linked to key moments and emotions. Here, a widower seeks a noodle dish reminiscent of his wife's cooking, a tangible memory of love. Others search for flavors of first loves, the stew that once warmed their hearts. The Kamogawa Food Detectives is a celebration of good company and the power of a delicious meal, perfect for fans of the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series.

Paris, 1928. A boy is found, moments from death, and taken in by a kindly family, but he refuses to speak of who he truly is. As he grows into a young man, evil is rising across Europe and he knows me must soon flee again. The Aegean, 2008. Seven sisters are gathered together for the first time, on board the Titan to say a final goodbye to the enigmatic father they loved so dearly. To their surprise, it is the missing sister who Pa Salt has chosen to entrust with the clue to their pasts. But for every truth revealed, another question emerges. Co-authored by her son, Harry Whittaker, Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt draws the Seven Sisters series, Lucinda Riley's multimillion copy sensation, to its stunning, unforgettable conclusion.

At the point of turning thirty, Jessica Jackson has everything in place: a job, a great boyfriend and a snug London flat they share with their cat. Then a sudden diagnosis of breast cancer causes Jess's world to implode. As friends move forward with baby scans and weddings, Jess feels alone and left behind. And then she meets Annabel, a mysterious young woman with incurable cancer. Annabel may not have long left to live, but she wants to show Jess how it's possible to make every day meaningful.

When her heroic events in a horrifying train crash propel her to celebrity status, Janet Brown seizes the chance to escape her lonely existence cleaning offices. However, as the news spreads and more hear of her actions, her secret threatens to reveal itself, and Janet has to face the reality of her tragic past. A gripping story of consequences and the impact of coercive control, If I Let You Go is a moving and gripping novel you won’t be able to put down this summer. 

In 1970s Tallahassee, sorority president Pamela Schumacher encounters a scene of brutal violence. Thus begins her involvement in a crime that grips the nation for decades. Meanwhile, in Seattle, Tina Cannon seeks answers to her best friend Ruth's sudden disappearance. Connecting Ruth's case to the Tallahassee tragedy, Tina journeys to Florida. Inspired by real events, Bright Young Women is a page-turning thriller that gives voice to the victims of America's first celebrity serial killer.

Now an Apple TV+ series starring Jennifer Connelly and Joel Egerton, Dark Matter is a mind-bending thriller about the choices we make, and the paths we don't take. Knocked unconscious by an anonymous attacker, Jason Dessen comes round in a new life. He has a different wife. No son. And he's not a college professor, but a renowned genius who has just achieved the impossible. Is it this world or the other that's the dream? And if his memories of his old life are real, how can he get back to it?

Jane Harper’s thrillers are true page turners, and her new novel, Exiles, is no exception. When investigator Aaron Falk searches for missing woman Kim Gillespie, who vanished without a trace on a busy summer night, he soon realises that the case is not as simple as it may seem. Uncovering secrets that her community doesn’t want to be revealed, Falk has his work cut out to find Gillespie and discover the truth at the heart of the case. 

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are foster sisters. Rescued from their own family tragedies and raised on a picturesque farming estate, they have always been deemed fortunate for their second shot at family life. But beneath their idyllic childhood lies a darker tale. The unexpected discovery of a body under their childhood home thrusts the sisters into an unexpected whirlpool of investigation, not as innocent victims, but as potential murder suspects. With their return to the estate as adults, they must face the haunting skeletons of their past. Full of dark humour and tantalising plot twists, Darling Girls is an unputdownable page-turner.

The grand opening of Island Home – a forgotten island transformed into the height of luxury – is set to be the celebrity event of the decade. But as the first guests arrive, the weekend soon proves deadly – because it turns out that even the most beautiful people can keep the ugliest secrets and, in a world where reputation is everything, they'll do anything to keep it. The Club is an exhilarating, addictive read, telling a story of ambition, excess, and what happens when people who have everything – or nothing – to lose are pushed to their limit.

The Raging Storm is the latest book from thriller aficionado, Ann Cleeves. When enigmatic sailor Jem Rosco arrives in Greystone, Devon, the town are delighted to have a celebrity in their midst. But when he disappears and is later found dead during a storm, DI Matthew Venn faces an uncomfortable case. Having left the Barum Brethren community in Greystone, Venn's judgment is clouded by superstitions and rumors as another body is discovered in Scully Cove. Isolated by the storm, Venn and his team embark on a perilous investigation, unaware that their own lives may be at risk. 

Ten days. Eight suspects. Six cities. Five authors. Three bodies. One trip to die for. Protagonist Eleanor Dash, famous for penning the Vacation Mysteries series, suddenly becomes the chief investigator in a real-life murder mystery during her book tour in the serene Amalfi Coast. With her ex-boyfriend's death, a string of literary rivals come under suspicion, creating an atmosphere thick with uncertainty and dread. Part The White Lotus, part Only Murders in the Building, Catherine Mack's first book in this new series provides a suspenseful adventure that you won’t be able to put down.

The world's population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. A growing number of people can no longer afford to start or raise a family. But for those desperate to experience parenthood, there is an alternative: a monthly subscription fee whereby clients can create a virtual child. To launch this new initiative, the company behind Virtual Children has created a reality TV show. The prize: the right to keep their virtual child or risk it all for the chance of a real baby. This much-anticipated novel from John Marrs is a dark and twisted thriller about the ultimate 'tamagotchi'.

The novel that inspired the new Amazon Prime Original series, Red Queen is the first book in the internationally bestselling thriller series starring Antonia Scott. A Lisbeth Salandar-esque heroine who takes the law into her own hands, Scott’s private existence is disturbed when she hears visitors outside her Madrid apartment. Soon, she realises that she is in more danger than she ever feared. With its sunny Spanish setting and unputdownable plot, Red Queen will transport you, whether you’re travelling or staying at home this summer. 

What actually happened when Eilis returned to New York? Long Island is the long-awaited sequel to Colm Tóibín's prize-winning, bestselling novel Brooklyn. Eilis and Tony have built a secure, happy life; twenty years married and with two children looking towards a good future. But then a man with an Irish accent knocks on their door, and everything changes. Did Eilis make the wrong choice marrying Tony all those years ago? Is it too late now to take a different path? 

Frankie McGrath, a nursing student in 1965 California, has her world transformed when she's told "women can be heroes, too." Joining the Army Nurses Corps to follow her brother to Vietnam, Frankie faces the harsh realities of war and its aftermath. Amidst chaos and heartbreak, she finds strength in female friendship and learns the value of sacrifice and commitment. This emotionally charged novel illuminates the often-forgotten stories of women who bravely served their country. With a memorable heroine, searing insights, and lyrical beauty, The Women is a poignant tale of courage from Kristin Hannah, author of The Nightingale. 

Soon to be a major motion picture, The Nightingale is a multi-million copy bestseller across the world. It is a heart-breakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the endurance of women. This story is about what it was like to be a woman during World War II when women’s stories were all too often forgotten or overlooked . . . Vianne and Isabelle Mauriac are two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals and passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path towards survival, love and freedom in war-torn France.

In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time. This opportunity is not without risks: customers must sit in a particular seat, they cannot leave the café, and finally, they must return to the present before the coffee gets cold . . . Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s beautiful novel has stolen the hearts of readers the world over. Through it, we meet four visitors to the café and ask: what would you change if you could travel back in time?

In Carissa Broadbent's series opener, a human-vampire survival game akin to The Hunger Games, unfolds. Oraya, an adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, battles for more than mere survival in the Kejari, a legendary contest run by the goddess of death. To win, Oraya must ally with perilous Raihn, a deadly vampire and fierce competitor. Despite being an enemy to her father's reign, Oraya is irresistibly drawn to Raihn. In the merciless Kejari, compassion is scarce, and love could prove fatal.

For as long as she can remember, Patric Gagne knew that she wasn’t like other people. Unbothered by how her actions affected those around her, by the time she reached her teenage years, her textbook childhood “bad behaviour” had escalated into petty theft, stalking and worse. In Sociopath, her searingly honest new memoir, Gange explores what it means to be a sociopath, shares her own story of redemption and asks: is there a way for sociopaths to successfully integrate into society?