Not much beats the pure pleasure of whiling away a few hours in the sun with a gripping beach read on a summer’s day. Some might use the term ‘beach read’ to mean something light and slightly formulaic, but to us it just means a book you’d want to take on holiday with you, knowing you can happily get lost in it while sunbathing.
Sometimes you do want something upbeat and sunny to match the weather, but often the most memorable beach reads are meatier novels that don’t match the surroundings at all, but which are perfectly absorbing nonetheless. Whatever you’re in the mood for this summer – fun and frivolous or more thought-provoking – here are nine novels that come highly recommended by our VIP reader panel.
Buy your books from Bookshop.org (via your local bookshop) with a 10% discount using code LOVEBOOKSHOPS.
Good Books July 26 Collection Winner
River Of Stars by Georgina Moore (HQ)
VIPs praised this dual timeline novel, set in the 1960s and the present, for its atmospheric location, based on Eel Pie Island in the Thames. When a former resident returns after 20 years, it brings turmoil for Mary and her granddaughter Jo. ‘It had a hold on me from the beginning to the end,’ said one VIP reader.
Good Books July 26 Collection Reader Favourite
The Treasures by Harriet Evans (Penguin General)
This first part in a planned trilogy moves between post-war London and mid-60s New York and left VIPs desperate to read part two of the story. ‘It feels nostalgic and reminiscent of your own first love,’ said a reviewer. ‘The beginning of the book drew me in with the “treasures” described.’
Maggie by Katie Yee (Brazen)
A unique take on the divorce novel that hooked our readers in with the emotional depth and vulnerability of the main character. ‘The wit the author uses to show us her characters is very well done,’ said a panellist. ‘I feel it shows a natural human behaviour to make light of things we cannot control.’
What to read next
Dead Heat by Sabine Durrant (Penguin)
Readers loved the slow-burn suspense of this thriller about a group of old friends holidaying in Greece’s Mani Peninsula. ‘An engaging read, particularly if you enjoy psychological suspense set against a glamorous yet tense backdrop,’ said a panel member.
Story Of A Murder by Hallie Rubenhold (Penguin)
The wife and mistress of the notorious Dr Crippen are the focus of this true crime book, which our VIP reviewers thought was well researched. ‘I particularly liked all the historical detail, and the well-written characters really drew me in,’ said one.
The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King (Fourth Estate)
An American student uncovers her Chinese grandmother’s secret past at the Phoenix Pencil Company in Shanghai, in this multigenerational story the panel described as magical. ‘This isn’t the sort of the book that I’d usually pick up, but it was so well written and fascinating,’ said one reviewer.
Getting Away by Kate Sawyer (Bonnier)
Starting in the 1930s, this novel tells the story of an ordinary family through the decades and transformative moments from the holidays they take. Readers found it compelling and heartfelt. ‘Sawyer tells the story from multiple viewpoints, often changing her writing style to reflect the different generations,’ said one VIP.
The Long Isle by Andrew Raymond (Vinci)
The atmospheric setting on the isle of Uist in the Hebrides was a big draw for fans of this gritty crime novel featuring a feisty female detective. ‘The plot is gripping and well-paced, and Detective Constable Mairead Maclean is abrilliant character,’ a VIP reviewer told us.
Heart The Lover by Lily King (Canongate)
Readers fell hard for this beautifully written novel about first love and second chances. ‘This book was thought-provoking and sensitive in the maturation of the characters and their situations,’ said one. ‘It made me cry and left me hoping that there will be a sequel.’
How to buy the books
Look out for the Good Books logo in all good bookshops. All the books are available from Bookshop.org (via your local bookshop) with a 10% discount using the code LOVEBOOKSHOPS.
Join our VIP panel
VIP Members can sign up at ghmembers.co.uk to receive free books to review – and help us choose the next Good Books Collection.
