Ten Books to Read in Summer

2 Jul

Summer is here and if you’re a seasonal reader you might be wondering what to read during these long, lazy days (I wish!). I’ve put together a summer wish list for myself and also added in a few books that I’ve already read and loved that I think you might enjoy, too. I’ve tried to include a bit of everything - from literary fiction to contemporary crime, from heartwarming romance to a classic children’s book, to cosy mystery and poetry! Hopefully you’ll find something here that you’ll want to add to your own summer wish list.

The Fortnight in September by R.C. Sherriff

This has been on my wish list for absolutely ages. I’ve heard so much about it. Yes, it’s set in September, which strictly speaking is autumn, but as it’s about a family’s summer holiday I decided it deserved its place and was more suitable for a summer than an autumnal list.

The Fortnight in September chronicles one family’s seaside holiday. Though they visit every year, the joy of the familiar is not without its challenges. R. C. Sherriff's writing is full of minute detail, capturing the sounds, smells and sights of everyday life for ordinary people.

Every year the Stevens family pack their things and enjoy two weeks’ holiday in Bognor Regis. Their journey starts at home in Dulwich, where everyone takes pride in fine-tuning holiday preparations, from marshalling helpful neighbours to carefully boarding the emptiest train carriage.

The family always stay in “Seaview”, an increasingly shabby boarding house, complete with ageing landlady Mrs Huggett. Whilst Mr Stevens hopes nothing has changed, and his wife hides her fear of the sea, their two teenage children Dick and Mary steal away in search of adventure and romance.

From the reviews I’ve seen online, this book is a “quiet” book, which is simply about an ordinary family undertaking their usual annual holiday. I don’t think there’s any major drama or mystery or anything like that (though I may be wrong!) and since it was published in 1931 I expect it’s a great snapshot of British culture almost a century ago and a glimpse into a way of life long gone. I can’t wait to read it, especially as I have the gorgeous paperback from Persephone Books.

The Cove by LJ Ross

This is one I’ve been meaning to read for ages. I was lucky enough to meet LJ Ross at a literary festival a few years ago, and I bought a copy of The Bay and got it signed by her. It was only when I got home that I realised The Bay was part of a series and that The Cove was book one of that series. I couldn’t read The Bay without reading The Cove, and I’ve just never got around to doing that. This summer I’m determined to put that right. This series sounds as fantastic as her DCI Ryan Northumbria books!

THE PERFECT ESCAPE...

Gabrielle Adams has it all – brains, beauty, a handsome fiancé, and a dream job in publishing. Until, one day, everything changes.

'The Tube Killer’ takes his victims when they least expect it: standing on the edge of a busy London Underground platform, as they wait for a train to arrive through the murky underground tunnels of London.

Gabrielle soon learns that being a survivor is harder than being a victim, and she struggles to return to her old life. Desperate to break free from the endless nightmares, she snatches up an opportunity to run a tiny bookshop in a picturesque cove in rural Cornwall.

She thinks she’s found the perfect escape, but has she swapped one nightmare for another?

Suspense and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced thriller, set amidst the spectacular Cornish landscape.

Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome

This one is a timeless classic, and I’m quite ashamed that I haven’t read it yet - particularly as it’s reasonably short. It’s definitely on my wish list for this summer and I’m looking forward to finally diving in! (So to speak.)

A Timeless Tale of Friendship and Hilarity

Three Men in a Boat is a delightful and enduring comedic masterpiece by Jerome K. Jerome, chronicling the misadventures of three friends—J., George, and Harris—and their faithful dog, Montmorency, as they embark on a boating holiday along the River Thames. Originally intended as a travel guide, the book is packed with humor, witty observations, and timeless charm.

Hoping to escape the stress of their daily lives, the trio decides to take a leisurely journey down the Thames. What follows is a series of humorous mishaps, from disastrous attempts at cooking to comical encounters with locks and fellow travelers. As they navigate the river, the narrative blends the picturesque beauty of the English countryside with the characters’ hilarious escapades and philosophical musings.

Why Read Three Men in a Boat?

Classic British Humor: Jerome’s sharp wit and satirical take on human nature make this a timeless read.
Universal Themes: Friendship, adventure, and the joy of simple pleasures resonate across generations.
Historical Charm: A glimpse into Victorian-era leisure culture and life along the Thames.

Blue Skies Ahead by Jessica Redland

This book isn’t actually published until July 27th, but it’s definitely on my wish list. Look at that gorgeous cover! Who could resist? Plus, it’s the start of a brand new series set in Northumberland - one of the most beautiful counties I’ve ever visited.

‘This is an exciting new start for you all. Blue skies are ahead.’

Leaving behind everything she thought she knew, Grace arrives at Hazelwick Farm with her teenage daughter, Maddie, and her mother, Frances, ready to build a new life together.

Grace has dreamt of fresh air, open skies and days filled with taking care of the animals while building a family business together. But starting over isn’t as simple as she hoped.

Maddie has barely spoken to her since the divorce from her father and Grace doesn’t know how to fix what she doesn’t fully understand. Between strained silences at home, and the demands of getting the farm ready to open for business, Grace begins to wonder if she’s made a mistake.

Yet life at Hazelwick Farm has its surprises. Grace keeps crossing paths with handsome tenant, Caleb, whether she means to or not. Could this unexpected connection be the start of something she never saw coming?

Escape to the countryside with a heartwarming, uplifting multigenerational story of family, fresh starts and finding love when you least expect it from multi-million copy bestseller Jessica Redland.

The Feast by Margaret Kennedy

I am so excited about this one! I’ve had the gorgeous paperback edition sitting on my bookshelf for months and I can’t wait to dive in and read it.

Cornwall, Midsummer 1947. Pendizack Manor Hotel is buried in the rubble of a collapsed cliff. Seven guests have perished, but is it murder, and what brought this strange assembly together for a moonlit feast before this Act of God - or Man? Over the week before the landslide, we meet the hotel guests in all their eccentric glory: and as friendships form and romances blossom, sins are revealed, and the cliff cracks widen ..

Doesn’t that sound good? As far as I can gather, the book starts with the devastating landslide and the collapse of the hotel. Then we go back to the week before and meet all the guests and get to know them. All the while, we know that some of them may have perished in the accident - if it was an accident… This sounds very different to me and I can’t wait to read it.

Mrs Lorimer’s Quiet Summer by Molly Clavering

The two were friends and had been for many years before Miss Douglas, a little battered by war experiences, had settled down in Threipford, to Mrs. Lorimer's quiet content. ... Both wrote; each admired the other's work. Lucy possessed what Gray knew she herself would never have, a quality which for want of a better name she called "saleability."

In what is surely Molly Clavering's most autobiographical novel, two middle-aged women writers, close friends and neighbours, offer one another advice and support while navigating life in a lively Border village. Lucy Lorimer, the more successful author, with her four children, in-laws, and grandchildren gathered for a summer reunion, must try to avert disaster in one daughter's marriage, help a daughter-in-law restless with mundane married life after flying planes in the war, and deal with the awkward reappearance of an old flame. Unmarried Grace ('Gray') Douglas, meanwhile, has struggles of her own, but is drawn delightfully into her friend's difficulties.

In real life, Molly Clavering was herself for many years a neighbour and close friend of bestselling author D.E. Stevenson. First published in 1953, Mrs. Lorimer's Quiet Summer is not only an irresistible family story, but undoubtedly provides some indication of the inspiring friendship between these two brilliantly talented women. This new edition includes an introduction by Elizabeth Crawford.

I was drawn to this because I’ve lately become a fan of D.E. Stevenson’s work, so hearing comparisons between them and knowing of their real-life friendship I couldn’t resist. I read it in June and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a quiet, gentle story of a family, a friendship, and one sunny summer where nothing much happens and yet everything changes. I loved it.

A Poem for Every Summer Day Edited by Allie Esiri

Something a bit different now… Poetry. This collection has everything you could want, with so many amazing poets included. From Roger McGough, Bob Dylan and Roald Dahl to Wordsworth, Shakespeare, Tennyson and Coleridge, via Larkin, Stevie Smith, Yeats, Kipling and many, many more. I’ll bet you can’t stick to one poem a day!

Within the pages of Allie Esiri's gorgeous collection, A Poem for Every Summer Day, you will find verse that will transport you to striking summer scenes and inspire adventure. The poems are selected from Allie Esiri’s bestselling poetry anthologies A Poem for Every Day of the Year and A Poem for Every Night of the Year.

Perfect for reading aloud and sharing with all the family, this book dazzles with an array of familiar favourites and remarkable new discoveries. These seasonal poems – together with introductory paragraphs – have a link to the date on which they appear.

Includes poems by Lord Byron, Sylvia Plath, Rudyard Kipling, W. B. Yeats and Langston Hughes who sit alongside Brian Bilston, Michael Rosen, John Agard and Kae Tempest. This soul-enhancing book will keep you company for every day of your life.

Summer Days at Clifftop Cottage by Eliza J Scott

Although this is the second book in the Micklewick Bay series, it can easily be read as a standalone, and it so beautifully evokes the feeling of a long, hot summer in this gorgeous seaside town that I just had to include it!

As summer comes to the tranquil shores of Micklewick Bay, Maggie Marsay is on cloud nine. She can barely keep up with orders for her handmade teddy bears, turning her crafting hobby into a thriving business. And after trying for a baby for some time, she has joyful news to share with her devoted husband Bear who she lives with in an idyllic clifftop cottage alongside their cheeky Labrador.

But an unexpected visitor casts a shadow over Maggie’s sun-drenched bliss. Robyn, a ghost from the past Maggie hasn't seen in twelve long years, arrives on their doorstep. What could have brought Robyn back into Maggie’s life after so long? Is she truly sorry for her past mistakes, or is she up to her old tricks?

Maggie welcomes Robyn into their home, trying her best to forgive and forget. But when Robyn starts to drive a wedge between her and Bear, Maggie’s close-knit group of friends and neighbours rally around. Can they help Maggie weather this storm and find her way back to happily ever after? Or is trouble here to stay?

Five On a Treasure Island by Enid Blyton

Oh, those long lazy days of summer spent in the company of the Famous Five! Am I too old for Enid Blyton? Never! And how much fun it is to relive those glorious days of childhood as you turn the pages of some of her most popular books. I’m pretty sure it was Kirrin Island that gave me my lifelong fascination for islands and castles, not to mention cosy mysteries. I’ll no doubt be reading Five On a Treasure Island again in the next few weeks.

(This text is for the omnibus edition of the first three Famous Five adventures, which is available on Kindle.)

Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog find excitement and adventure wherever they go in Enid Blyton's most popular series.

Five On A Treasure Island
A shipwreck off Kirrin Island! But where is the treasure? The Famous Five are searching for clues - but they're not alone ... Someone else has joined the treasure hunt.

Five Go Adventuring Again
A thief at Kirrin Cottage! Who can it be? The Famous Five think they know - but they need proof! Then they find an old map and an unusual hiding place...

Five Run Away Together
Who's been on George's Island? And what is locked in the mysterious trunk hidden on Kirrin Island? The Famous Five think they're on the trail of smugglers - until they hear a child scream...

This 70th anniversary edition features the Classic editions of the first three Famous Five adventures in one volume and contains the original cover art and inside drawings by Eileen Soper.

Midsummer Mysteries by Agatha Christie

When you’re just in the mood for a collection of short stories to dip in and out of, who better to have with you than Agatha Christie? This is a fantastic collection and just right for those days when you’re too hot or too busy to concentrate on a novel.

An all-new collection of summer-themed mysteries from the master of the genre, just in time for the holiday season.

Summertime – as the temperature rises, so does the potential for evil. From Cornwall to the French Riviera, whether against a background of Delphic temples or English country houses, Agatha Christie’s most famous characters solve even the most devilish of conundrums as the summer sun beats down. Pull up a deckchair and enjoy plot twists and red herrings galore from the bestselling fiction writer of all time.

INCLUDES THE STORIES:
The Blood-Stained Pavement
The Double Clue
A Death on the Nile
Harlequin’s Lane
The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman
Jane in Search of a Job
The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim
The Idol House of Astarte
The Rajah’s Emerald
The Oracle at Delphi
The Adventure of the Sinister Stranger
The Incredible Theft

I hope you find something here that you like the sound of! And just in case you’re STILL wondering what to read, I have four bonus books here for you - all written by me. They each work either as a standalone or first in series, so no need for you to have read anything else before them. You can find out more about them by visiting my books page, or continue scrolling and click the cover images to go straight to purchase.

Whatever catches your eye, happy reading, and have a wonderful summer!

Some Summer Books of My Own!

Sharon Booth

Sharon Booth is a hybrid author who writes both small town and cosy fantasy romantic fiction. She’s a member of the RNA and SoA, and has self-published nearly thirty novels, as well as writing the Tuppenny Bridge series for Storm Publishing and two new series for Boldwood Books.

https://www.sharonboothwriter.com