Holiday reads 2025: the best books for summer

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.

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 . . .

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. 

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 a girl calls in seeking dating tips for her single mother and the interview unexpectedly goes viral, both Aiden and said mother, 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 a media-friendly picture-perfect love story or pursue something real with the man sitting next to her.

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 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.

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.

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.

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. As the island faces forced evacuation, tensions erupt, culminating in another murder – one Jayne had foreseen and one her closest friends are involved in. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

​In the eleventh installment of Ann Cleeves' acclaimed Vera Stanhope series, DI Vera Stanhope is called to investigate the murder of Josh. His body is discovered by a dog walker at Rosebank, a care home for troubled teens, where Josh works. Complicating matters fruther, fourteen-year-old resident Chloe Spence has vanished, making her both a potential suspect and a person at risk. Then another body is found in the shadow of the Three Dark Wives – the ancient standing stones steeped in Northumbrian legend. As folklore and fact begin to collide, Vera knows she has to find Chloe to get to the truth.

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. 

Set against the backdrop of the Antebellum South, the enslaved 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 novel – and gives him a character arc of his own.

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? 

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 reconnects with 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. From Megan Hunter, author of The End We Start From, comes Days of Light – a tender meditation on a life lived in pursuit of an answer.

Translated by Eric Selland

When a lonely postman learns he has only days to live, he’s offered an unusual bargain: for each thing he agrees to remove from the world, he gains one more day of life. As he weighs what the world – and he himself – can live without, everyday objects take on new meaning. And when the proposition turns to his beloved cat, the stakes become even more difficult to bear. Warm and quietly moving, If Cats Disappeared from the World invites us to reflect on what really matters in modern life.

'A subtle, ironic, wise state-of-the-nation novel, sharp enough to draw blood, hidden inside a moving, intimate, sincere and very real love story – or vice versa.' Nick Hornby

When Jess first meets Josh at their Ivy League college she dislikes him immediately: an entitled guy in chinos, ready to take over the world, unable to accept that life might be easier for him because he's white, while Jess is almost always the only Black woman in their class. But as a tempestuous friendship turns into an electrifying romance that shocks them both, Jess begins to question who she is and what she’s really willing to compromise. Can people really ever just agree to disagree? And more to the point, should they? This hugely funny and deeply moving love story offers no easy answers.

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.

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.

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.

From bestselling author Lucinda Riley, The Midnight Rose is a tale of family secrets set across multiple time periods and around the world. 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 . . . 

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.

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.

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?

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 civilisations prepare to clash, humanity hangs in the balance. Who will emerge as the rightful heirs of this new Earth? Children of Time is the first book in Adrian Tchaikovsky's acclaimed space opera series, followed by Children of Ruin and Children of Memory.

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.

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.

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 the platform's 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-dropping. 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.

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, Gagne 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? 

Affairs delves into the emotional complexity of infidelity through both personal stories and groundbreaking research. Drawing on her work as a psychotherapist, Juliet Rosenfeld examines why affairs happen, what they reveal about love, desire, and identity, and how they can upend the lives of those involved. We meet the man who left his wife in the delivery suite to visit his young mistress and the psychologist who put attraction to a patient above career ethics. Rosenfeld manages to consider the psychological impact of betrayal and the tangled motivations behind secrecy without judgement or shame. 

When Isabella Tree and her husband decided to let nature take the lead on their Sussex farm, they began an ambitious rewilding project, also known as the ‘Knepp experiment'. Part memoir, part account of the ecology of our countryside, Wilding tells the remarkable story of how allowing the land to return to its natural rhythms – bringing back free-roaming animals, removing fences, and stepping back from intensive agriculture – transformed a degraded landscape into a thriving ecosystem. 

Written by an anonymous barrister, The Secret Barrister lifts the lid on the inner workings of the British legal system. They reveal a justice system under strain – from crumbling courtrooms and chronic underfunding to the everyday human stories often lost in legal jargon. Drawing on real-life cases, the book exposes the gap between the law as it’s written and as it’s experienced, both by those working within it and by those caught in its machinery. Informative and quietly damning, it’s an urgent call for reform – and a reminder of why justice matters.

Clear and refreshingly practical, Radical Candor is a guide to those bewildered or exhausted by management, written for bosses and those who manage bosses. Drawing on her experience at Google and Apple, Kim Scott shares real-world strategies to build trust, give feedback that actually helps, and create strong, motivated teams. Whether you're managing a small group or leading a company, this is an essential guide to creating an environment where people love both their work and their colleagues and to ultimately become the kind of boss people want to work for. 

Amid the solitude of the Covid-19 lockdowns, Olivia Laing found herself restoring a walled garden in Suffolk, a space that became a personal refuge. In The Garden Against Time, Laing traces the dual nature of gardens – both as symbols of escape and as places shaped by oppression. There are indulgent pleasure gardens funded by the work of the enslaved; but also gardens which offered wartime sanctuaries and queer havens. This is a passionate, epic exploration of the power and possibilities of gardens, written in Olivia Laing's timely and original style.

Attached explores how understanding adult attachment styles can transform the way we connect with others. Drawing on psychological research, Amir Levine and Rachel Heller outline the three main styles – anxious, avoidant, and secure – and how they influence the way we communicate, respond to intimacy, and handle conflict in romantic relationships. Through relatable case studies and practical guidance, the book helps readers identify their own attachment patterns, recognise those in others, and make more informed choices in love.

Solve for Happy is former Google executive Mo Gawdat's groundbreaking approach to happiness. When Gawdat realised he was living a life of dissatisfaction, he applied his analytical skills to unravel the puzzle of enduring hapinness. His research led him to a powerful conclusion: happiness is a state that can be achieved through understanding and choice. It was the tragic death of his son, Ali, that turned this equation into a mission – to help millions of people find lasting happiness. Blending science, philosophy, and personal reflection, Solve for Happy offers a roadmap for navigating life's challenges with a positive and peaceful mindset.