Summer is the perfect time to fall back in love with books. Whether you used to devour novels late into the night but have got out of the habit, have a towering to-be-read pile or simply want to carve out a little more time for yourself, our Summer Page-turner Challenge is designed to make reading feel like a pleasure again – not another task on the list.
This challenge is for anyone who wants to rediscover the quiet thrill of getting lost in a story, learning something new or finding comfort in a beautifully written sentence. There are no strict rules, no pressure to race through books and no guilt if life gets busy. Instead, it’s a gentle invitation to make space for reading in your life.
"There are so many beneficial things about reading – entertainment, education, the cultivation of empathy," says Jojo Moyes, who is a National Year of Reading 2026 ambassador. "But the mental health benefits are also enormous. How many times have you found yourself scrolling through your phone and then realised you’ve lost an hour and feel a little 'icky'? A book will never make you feel like this. In fact, if you can spend an hour or two lost in its pages, you’ll look up from your story, a bit discombobulated, and feel like your head has had a little holiday. Despite the endless demands on our attention, immersing yourself in a novel is one of the best things you can do for yourself."
'Despite the endless demands on our attention, immersing yourself in a novel is one of the best things you can do for yourself.’ Jojo Moyes
As an incentive to join our challenge, we’re offering anyone who reads any four books from our themed reading lists below)a chance to be entered in a draw to win a Good Housekeeping beauty bag worth over £200. Think of it as a reading challenge for adults – because why should kids have all the fun? All the books are easy to read, accessible and guaranteed page-turners.
So, find a sunny spot, pour yourself something cool and open the first page. Your reading summer starts here…
How to enter
Read four books from our Summer Page-turner Challenge reading list below to enter our giveaway. Closing date: 6 September 2026*.
What to read next
The books...
Books with a beat
If you love music, these novels set in the world of rock and pop are for you.
Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley: A will-they-won’t-they love story about a musician and songwriter, full of references to great songs.
River Of Stars by Georgina Moore: With a setting inspired by Eel Pie Island in the Thames, this family saga is totally enchanting.
Rare Singles by Benjamin Myers: Ageing rocker Bucky Bronco is the loveable main character of this funny novel.
The Idea Of You by Robinne Lee: A sexy story about a romance between a 20-year-old pop star and a 39-year-old mum.
Diva by Daisy Goodwin: This fictionalised life of opera singer Maria Callas is full of drama.
Birding by Rose Ruane: Former teen pop star Lydia and shy Joyce couldn’t be more different – but when their lives collide, it’s cataclysmic.
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett: This beautifully written novel centres on a group of party guests, including an opera singer, taken hostage by terrorists.
Daisy Jones And The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid: The troubled history of a fictional rock band is told through interviews with its members.
A Visit From The Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan: A genre-defying collection of narratives, all from characters connected to the music industry, that come together as something totally new and exciting.
Maybe I'm Amazed by John Harris: Told through 10 of Harris’s son James’s favourite songs, this heartfelt memoir about how music helped James with his autism is a delight.
Based on true events
More interested in real life than fiction? Try these books based on historical events.
Story Of A Murder by Hallie Rubenhold: Historical true crime account that looks at the events leading up to the infamous Crippen murder from the perspectives of the three women at the centre of it all.
The Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn: A woman fakes her own death after the sinking of the Titanic in this gripping historical novel.
Three Sisters by Heather Morris: Auschwitz is the setting of this heartbreaking story of survival and hope.
The Household by Stacey Halls: An absorbing historical read set in Charles Dickens’ home for fallen women.
Small Island by Andrea Levy: A powerful story about four people’s experiences of leaving Jamaica for the UK in the 40s.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon: A gripping historical mystery based on Martha Ballard, a real 18th-century midwife in Maine.
A Terrible Kindness by Jo Browning Wroe: Based on the real-life tragedy of Aberfan, this heart-wrenching novel is the story of newly-qualified embalmer William who rushes to volunteer his services.
Room by Emma Donoghue: Keep the tissues close for this heartbreaking story about a woman held captive with her five-year-old son in a single room for seven years, inspired by the 2008 Fritzl case in Austria.
Under Water by Tara Menon: After the death of her mum, Marissa finds comfort in new friend Arielle and a fresh start in Thailand. Then, on Boxing Day 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami hits, separating the two…
Giver Of Stars by Jojo Moyes: This moving story about a gutsy gang of horseback librarians who distribute books to the poor is based on real women.
Read around the world
Not going away this summer? Escape into one of these sun-drenched stories instead.
Welcome To Glorious Tuga by Francesca Segal: A slice of sunshine in book form about a newly qualified vet who moves to a Caribbean island for work.
Dead Heat by Sabine Durrant: This slow-burn thriller has White Lotus vibes, thanks to the luxe setting on Greece’s Mani Peninsula and the obnoxious characters.
The Women by Kristin Hannah: An emotional read about a young nurse during the Vietnam war.
One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware: If you love TV reality shows, you’ll enjoy this pacy page-turner about a group of contestants stranded on a paradise island.
Getting Away by Kate Sawyer: From France to Florida, this is a stunning story of a family revealed through their holidays.
The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King: A magical family drama set in modern-day Massachusetts and 1940s Shanghai.
The Cliffhanger by Emily Freud: A husband-and-wife crime-writing team escape to a house in the South of France to finish their latest thriller, only to find they’re writing their own deadly ending.
They Had It Coming by Nikki Smith: Nothing is as it seems in this sun-soaked thriller set in Bali, where revenge, rather than sunshine and cocktails, is on the agenda.
Ever After by Kate Eberlen: A deliciously romantic story set against beautiful Sicilian vistas.
The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan: A compellingly human drama set in Malaya during the Second World War.
Short and sweet
If you’re struggling to fit in reading time, grab one of these short novels or story collections.
Sandwich by Catherine Newman: Fiftysomething mum and wife Rocky is the relatable hero of this warm and witty novel.
Absolutely & Forever by Rose Tremain: Set in 60s London, this beautifully captures the intense feelings of first love.
So Late In The Day by Claire Keegan: Every word counts in this exquisite short novel about the breakup of a relationship.
Marple: Twelve New Storires by various authors: Kate Mosse and Val McDermid are among the writers celebrating one of the greatest literary sleuths.
Show Don't Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld: A satisfying collection of short stories.
Maggie by Katie Yee: A woman navigates life after finding out about her husband’s affair.
The Last Bench by Carmel Harrington: One of the Reading Agency’s Quick Reads, this thriller about a couple with a missing daughter is made to be binged.
Three Days In June by Anne Tyler: It's the weekend of her daughter's wedding and Gail's life is falling apart.
Orbital by Samantha Harvey: Escape the madness with this otherworldly short novel set aboard a spacecraft.
Heartburn by Nora Ephron: The multi-talented film director, author and journalist based this comic book on the breakdown of her own marriage.
Love and heartbreak
Prepare to fall in love with these romantic stories.
Heart The Lover by Lily King: First love and second chances are explored in this literary novel about a love triangle.
You Are Here by David Nicholls: Charming and funny romance about two life-weary fortysomethings who find friendship – and possibly more – during a coast-to-coast hike.
Ordinary Time by Cathy Rentzenbrink: An underrated gem about a reluctant vicar’s wife who’s at a crossroads in her life.
American Fantasy by Emma Straub: Three women on a 90s boyband reunion cruise find fresh starts in this joy-filled novel.
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell: A slow-burn romance about two childhood best friends who reconnect in their 30s.
The Treasures by Harriet Evans: An epic story of a couple connected by a mysterious house.
The Love Library by Sarra Manning: This 200-year-old library promises a chance to meet your favourite romantic heroes from fiction in real life in this sweet romance.
The Castle Of Stories by Matt Cain: If you're looking for a little sunshine in your life, this queer love story brings joy and escapism.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry: This enemies-to-lovers romance is set on a small island off the coast of Georgia, where a reclusive heiress invites two rival authors to compete to write her biography.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid: An illicit affair between two NASA astronauts set against the backdrop of the space shuttle programme is at the heart of this exquisite love story.
Fast-paced thrillers
If you’ve lost your reading mojo, a fast and furious plot will help you get back into the habit.
The Long Isle by Andrew Raymond: This crime novel set in the Hebrides has a brilliantly feisty female detective as the main character.
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister: An ingenious thriller that unfolds backwards, full of clever reveals that will keep you turning the pages.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides: If you like a shocking twist, this psychological thriller, about a woman who shoots her husband and then never speaks again, is for you.
The Favourites by Layne Fargo: With short chapters and plenty of drama, this love story set in the figure skating world will make you fly through the pages.
We Were Liars by E Lockhart: It might have been written for young adults, but this pacy read has a zinger of a twist that’s guaranteed to shock.
The Compound by Aisling Rawle: The Traitors meets The Hunger Games in this novel set during the filming of a reality TV show where contestants will do anything to win.
59 Minutes by Holly Seddon: Carrie is walking through Waterloo Station on her way home when her phone pings with a warning of an imminent nuclear attack in this thrilling read.
The Twist Of A Knife by Anthony Horowitz: Another clever whodunit from Horowitz, in which he appears himself (as the main suspect!).
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney: An incredibly twisty thriller with echoes of And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.
Death At The White Hart by Chris Chibnall: This pacey debut by the creator of Broadchurch will keep you glued to the page.
ENTER HERE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A GH BEAUTY BAG WORTH £200
Children’s Summer Reading Challenge 2026
Read to the Beat is this year’s theme of The Reading Agency’s annual children’s challenge, set up to keep them reading during the school holidays. For every book a child reads, they get a sticker; read six and they collect a special medal. Find the full list of books at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk, including stories about musicians, characters discovering music, cultural traditions and storytelling through sound. Children can sign up online or at their local library from 20 June in Scotland and 4 July in England and Wales – it’s free to take part.
