10 books to add to your summer reading list

BookTok creator and book club founder Lucy Ellis is drawn to the connections books create – finding joy in shared recommendations, honest conversations and the friendships that form between people who simply love to read.

When I think about summer, I think about books – the ones I’ll squeeze into an overpacked suitcase, the irresistible new releases smiling out from airport bookshops, the stories that spark conversations with strangers. Growing up by the sea, summer always meant long days immersed in a book, and I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since. Whether you want a gripping page-turner or something more reflective, here are 10 brilliant books to have on your radar.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

You’ve probably heard of this one. It’s on just about every book recommendation list at the moment, which made me hesitant to include it here. But the hype is deserved. Told through letters and emails, The Correspondent follows Sybil – a sharp, witty older woman you can’t help but root for – as she writes to people from her past. One unwritten letter forces her to confront a painful chapter of her life. Winner of the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction, it’s beautifully written, deeply moving and has a distinctive voice that I haven’t stopped thinking about. I didn’t expect to enjoy the epistolary format, but I loved it – so much so that I’ve already bought copies for several friends. bookshop.org

Strange Pictures by Uketsu

If you’re looking for something different from your usual read, look no further. Strange Pictures is the first in a three-part series that I’d describe as an escape room in book form – a mystery where you become the detective. Uketsu is a Japanese YouTuber whose identity remains unknown, so it’s only fitting that their books are a complete mystery too. Made up of just four chapters, the book follows a series of interlinked short stories, all connected by a strange drawing and the hidden clues within it. I read this in just a couple of hours and immediately bought the next two books in the series. I’d recommend reading this alongside someone else – it’s so much fun (albeit a little creepy) and will blow your mind. bookshop.org

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout 

Admittedly, I haven’t read this book yet, but I wanted to share something from my TBR (to-be-read) list. I’ve been recommended this by people with taste I trust, so it feels rude not to pass it on. This is Strout’s most recent novel, which centres around Artie – a devoted teacher, husband and seemingly ordinary man – whose life begins to unravel when he discovers a secret that forces him to reconsider the relationships and experiences that have shaped him. I love Strout’s writing for the emotional depth woven into her understated and often quite simple prose. If you like character-driven novels in the literary fiction genre, then give this one a try. I’ll be picking this up over a sunny weekend soon. bookshop.org

Summer Island by Kristin Hannah

This is my current read. In fact, my laptop is quite literally sitting on top of a paperback copy as I write this. I love anything by Hannah, and this book is different from the historical fiction she is best known for – but brilliant nonetheless. Summer Island follows Ruby, who is reunited with her estranged mother, a famous radio presenter, after a scandal forces them back into each other’s lives. It’s nostalgic, emotional and has a reflective and comforting pace that makes me wish I could read it on a sun lounger by the pool. As the title suggests, it’s the perfect summer read. bookshop.org

The Trees by Percival Everett

The Trees is a brilliant crime novel about two Black detectives investigating a series of murders in a small Mississippi town. When a second mysterious corpse appears at each crime scene, resembling the lynching of Emmett Till, what begins as a murder investigation becomes a powerful exploration of America’s violent past and the fight for racial justice. It sounds dark but Everett tells the story in such an unexpectedly funny way, blending sharp satire and social commentary, that it kept me completely hooked. He’s quickly become one of my favourite writers, and if you enjoy this, you’ll like his novel James. bookshop.org

The Wedding People by Alison Espach 

This is the epitome of a holiday read. It’s everything I want from a book: full of escapism, humour, beautiful writing and a character-driven storyline. When I first picked it up, I was expecting a bit of an “easy read”, but I was met with so much depth and emotion that I was immediately drawn in. It’s about Phoebe Stone, a woman struggling with depression who arrives at a luxury hotel, only to discover it’s been booked out for a wedding. Mistaken for a member of the wedding party, she forms an unexpected bond with the bride. It has a few fun twists and turns and is the type of book you can’t put down. If you’ve recently attended a wedding, I’m sure you’ll find plenty of humour in reading this. bookshop.org

Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister 

I don’t often read thrillers, but as soon as summer arrives, it’s the genre I strangely get most excited for. Wrong Place, Wrong Time (or, honestly, anything written by McAllister) is unputdownable in the best way. If you’ve found yourself in a reading slump lately, this psychological thriller is the perfect way to get back into the swing of it. The story follows a mother who witnesses her son commit a violent crime, only to wake up the next morning one day earlier – before the crime has happened. She must piece together the events that led them there and uncover the truth before it’s too late. It’s fast-paced and offers the type of escapism that will have you staying up way too late to devour all 416 pages. bookshop.org

Waist Deep by Linea Maja Ernst 

I read Waist Deep last summer and it has stayed with me ever since. It’s a contemporary novel about five university friends who reunite for a week at a rural cabin in Denmark, hoping to recapture the carefree spirit of their youth. But as they arrive with the realities of adult life, they soon realise how much has changed. It explores adult friendships with honesty and complexity, filled with sexual tension and steamy moments. It’s one of those books that pulls you in so deeply you feel the emotions and anxieties of each character. I hardly ever reread books, but I’m going to pick this one up again soon. bookshop.org

Into The Blue by Emma Brodie 

Into the Blue is a contemporary romance that follows AJ, a wannabe writer, and Noah, the son of a family of famous actors, whose lives become intertwined after they meet as teenagers and discover a shared love of acting. Their connection deepens until Noah suddenly disappears without explanation, only for them to cross paths again seven years later on the set of an intergalactic TV show, where Noah is now a Hollywood star. Spanning a decade, the novel explores first loves, missed opportunities and the pull of fate. It’s an emotional, nostalgic read and the perfect book to lose yourself in on a sunny afternoon. Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid will enjoy Brodie’s writing style. bookshop.org

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee 

If you find yourself ready to be immersed in an epic, sweeping novel that deserves your undivided attention, please read Pachinko. This is a historical fiction story that spans eight decades and follows four generations of a Korean family living in Japan as they face discrimination, poverty and the search for belonging. It’s profound, moving and one that I think everyone should read. I saved it for a longer trip away, when I can totally lose myself in the story, setting and characters. bookshop.org