A summer holiday is the perfect time to get stuck into a good book. Reading is the perfect way to pass the time during a long flight and the best thing to do while lazing in the sunshine.
We’ve put together a list of our all-time favourite books to give you some reading inspiration for your next holiday. Whether you’re an e-reader or a paperback flicker, make sure you’ve got a few of these on your summer reading list!
Elle says: Dark Places
by Gillian Flynn
Jenny says: The Girl on the Train
by Paula Hawkins
For me, summer reading is all about the easy beach reads. I’m usually looking for a heartwarming memoir, entertaining chick lit, or a good thriller with lots of twists. This one falls into the latter.
The Girl on the Train started a little slow, but I nearly finished it in a day because the second half kept me up all night! The story is told from three different perspectives, all of which you aren’t quite sure whether to trust. Rachel, aka the girl on the train, is a down and out alcoholic who becomes overly interested in a couple she’s never spoken to during her morning commutes. When the wife of this couple goes missing, Rachel becomes an important part of the police investigation.
Mystery, suspense, and drunken blackouts ensue. The characters are all hot messes and some of the details are a bit unsettling, but I’m telling you it will hook you! If you’re looking for a fast-paced book to enjoy by the pool give this one a go.
Anne says: First They Killed My Father
by Loung Ung
Amy says: A Thousand Splendid Suns
by Khaled Hosseini
A Thousand Splendid Suns is an important and hard-hitting book, which doesn’t shy away from suffering or brutality. But the momentum of the narrative and three-dimensional, believable characters will mean you won’t be able to put it down.
It tells the powerful and haunting story of Mariam and Laila, two women brought together by suffering in Afghanistan. Mariam has been married off to a man she doesn’t love by her absent father. As her husband, Rasheed, becomes more violent and oppressive and Mariam is unable to have children, young Laila becomes his second wife after a tragedy befalls her family.
But this book doesn’t wallow in its harrowing subject matter. Ultimately, it’s a positive and redemptive story about the powerful, conquering relationship between Mariam and Laila, as it simultaneously attempts to illuminate the plight of those women in similar circumstances.
If you’re looking for a weightier beach read and you liked Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, you’ll love this.
Monica says: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
I never usually read a book more than once so the fact I’ve read The Night Circus three times should tell you a lot. It’s magical realism at it’s very finest with a tale of illusionists, magicians and a travelling night circus. It’s dark and it’s captivating and is a place for dreamers to get lost in a labyrinth of mystery.
The tale begins with rival magicians who each train up a young magician and agree to a challenge to see who was the best trainer. The only problem is, there will only be one survivor from this challenge. The competitors are unaware that their lives are at stake and the plot twists as they fall in love. The Night Circus becomes the fascinating setting for magical duals and an unexpected love story.
Char says: Big Little Lies
by Liane Moriarty
I recently shunned reading my book on hypnobirthing (yes, that’s a thing!) in favour of Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies. It’s such an addictive page-turner that will have you itching to read just one more chapter (and another and another!). It has a gripping plot from the start, with little twists and turns throughout.
The book centres on a group of mothers and their young children in Australia. Don’t worry, it gets more exciting than that! Someone loses their life and the plot follows the events that led to such a tragic ending for one character. Don’t just take my word for it. This title is a #1 New York Times bestseller and featured in the #TravelBookChat that is run on Twitter by The Travel Hack and Girl Tweets World.
It’s always find it hard to find a comfortable position on a sun-lounger with a book in your hand, but this easy read will have you relaxing in no time at all.
Hayley says: Notes From A Small Island
by Bill Bryson
Claire says: Shantaram
by Gregory David Roberts
“It took me a long time and most of the world to learn what I know about love and fate and the choices we make, but the heart of it came to me in an instant, while I was chained to a wall and being tortured.” So begins Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.
In the 80s, Roberts, an armed robber and heroin addict, escaped from an Australian prison to India. Shantaram is his story, told within 900 pages of jaw-dropping beauty.
We follow Roberts into the colourful heart of the Bombay slums, where he establishes a free health clinic, then the dark world of the Bombay mafia, and finally into Afghanistan where he joins the Mujahedeen.
Tender, vivid and gritty in equal measures, I think everyone should read this giant of book. And I cannot wait for the sequel, The Mountain Shadow, to come into my life later this year.
I loved Dark Places but I haven’t read anything else on this list, although I’ve read other books by some of the authors and I own some of these books — just need to get around to it! Thanks for sharing
xo, endlesspostcards.com
Bill Bryson is one of my favourite author for books bout travelling as well. Especially “A walk in the woods” has inspired me.
I have 1000 Splendid Suns on my bookshelf. Definitely need to pick it up and actually read it!!!
Good list! 🙂
http://aworldlyaddiction.com/
I love Dark Places, Gillian Flynn’s books are addictive!
Lots of love,
Angie
SilverSpoon London
A Thousand Splendid Suns is one of my favourite reads – Khaled Hosseini is a genius! 🙂 It’s definitely a perfect holiday read though, as Amy said, very hard-hitting X
http://www.farawaylucy.com
Agreed! Khaled Hosseini is an amazing writer. I bawled my eyes out reading this book!
This is great list! I enjoyed Shantaram, The Girl on the Train, and A Thousand Splendid Suns, so I’m excited to read Notes from a Small Island. Just added it to my Amazon wishlist. Thanks for recommendations!
Great list!
I literally just borrowed (aka stole) Girl on a Train from my mother. I have heard SO much about it, I can’t wait to dive in!
Sarah Lynn
http://www.wanderbeforewhat.com
I hope you like it!!!
Oh ladies…it’s a good job I got an Amazon voucher for my birthday as there are some awesome sounding books on here. I’m off to download Dark Places and a Thousand Special Suns right now!!
The Girl on the Train – YES. Soooo good. I would also recommend “Luckiest Girl Alive” by Jessica Knoll and “The Language of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. I could not put either of those down!
Happy summer reading!
Jessica
http://www.thebellevoyage.com
Thanks for your suggestions Jessica! I’m adding those to my Amazon Wishlist 🙂
Fabulous titles to enable the reader to ‘travel’. Thanks for sharing. Very much looking forward to the sequel to Shantaram – The Mountain Shadow – out in October…
Thanks a lot for the post. I liked books so much and it’s really sometimes so difficult to find book in which you could fully immerse
I will try to read some books from your list.
As for me, I recommend all books Khaled Hosseini
Shantaram is one of my favourites. I just read Mrs. Hemingway (Naomi Wood) – which I’d definitely recommend! Lots of scandal and perspectives!
Love the fact that The Night Circus is on this list! Not enough people have read it! 1000 Splendid Suns is on my summer reading list, but may have to check out some of the others now too. Personally I would recommend Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as a perfect holiday read.
This was really handy. I’ve been looking for some good reads for my upcoming travels. Shantaram was awesome, so I have high hopes for the rest.
Great list – thanks so much for sharing! I’ve only read ‘Girl on a Train’ from this list (I need a slap I know!)… but Shantaram has been on my list for SUCH a long time – ever since I was gifted it in a hostel in Sydney. This has given me the kick up the bum I needed to tackle it in all it’s 900 page glory. Thanks!
Gabby
Unfortunately, I was not born to read books 🙁 However the cover and name of “A Thousand Splendid Suns” attracted me to read. I wish I will have time to read that.