Summer holidays are coming (finally!) – the perfect excuse to fill your boots (or suitcase…or Kindle…) with a feast of hot summer books to while away lazy hours poolside, on the beach, or lying in your own back garden. We love a good gossip about our latest faves here at Average Janes, so we thought we’d share some of our recommendations – from easy beach reads, to gripping thrillers and deep thinkers. Enjoy browsing!
Average Janes’ picks of seven of the hottest summer books to read over the next few months.
Becky’s pick: “A light concoction, just the right side of quirky to avoid too much frothiness. Set against the backdrop of Paris’ winding streets and romantic beauty, this lovely book follows the quest of bookseller Laurent to find the mysterious owner of a handbag – the contents of which include a red notebook of private thoughts and dislikes – which he finds abandoned in the street near his home. It’s sweet and thoughtful, with enough gentle twists to keep you guessing until the end. Ideal for a weekend away.”
Holly’s pick: “Please don’t be expecting too much from this book because it is pretty trashy, but heart warming too! Ellen is the main character and is whisked away to Corfu to help her Bridezilla sister plan her big, fat Greek wedding. Everything has gone a bit wrong with her love life back home, so meeting the hunky Yan allows her to take her mind off things… This is perfect for a sun lounger read!”
Rhian’s pick: “On my recent trip to Italy I indulged in a few books by Jon Ronson and I wasn’t disappointed. I heard about his books through the This American Life podcast and now I’m knee-deep in his literary archive. So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed is a thought-provoking delve into the world of public shaming and the rise of internet trolls, and his collection of short stories Lost At Sea reveals what an interesting, bizarre life he’s had. Pick up some of his books for an easy and fascinating read.”
Nell’s pick: “I like something easy to get into that doesn’t require much thought. Lying on a sun lounger with an easy book and a cold drink is a perfect holiday day for me. Some of my favourite books to read are crime/thriller novels. I absolutely love the Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffrey Deaver (The Bone Collector is the first in this series). They have the right level of drama and intrigue while also developing the characters.”
Harriet’s pick: “The so-called ‘mummy porn’ genre of books – first coined when E.L. James introduced us to Mr Grey – has seen many reviewers fail to give this genre of books any literary applause. The Lemon Grove is said to bring both literacy fiction and erotica together, in what is said to be a psychologically substantial, as well as sexy, book. Give it a go.”
Becky’s pick: “This surprising book is a fab holiday read – weaving in and out of decades, threaded together with the fascinating history of engagement diamonds. There’s a good blend of cynicism and hope, poignant moments and humour as the characters’ short stories cleverly weave together. I also loved the thread of advertising history, running from the Mad Men era to today, and tracking the development of women’s careers in this male-dominated environment.”
Becky’s pick: “If you’re a Sarah Waters fan – Tipping the Velvet, The Fingersmith – you definitely need to give this a go. Typist Rose Baker is fascinated when shining, glamorous new colleague Odalie joins the typing pool, and Rose is soon sucked into her glittering world. Weaving through the excesses and restraints of prohibition-era America, this tale has sinister twists that make you consider the darker sides of human nature. Perfect beach reading.”
Pick up all of these hot summer books from Amazon or your local bookshop.
That’s seven sizzling summer books to fill up your Kindle or suitcase this summer.
What summer books are you reading? Share with us – @tweetjanes.
We had the chance to interview the wonderful Hannah, founder of Ava May Aromas. From…
On our list of recommended skills to learn in 2021, drawing had a pretty high…
2020 was a year of hardships for many of us. Millions of people saw their…
What Jane doesn’t love a bit of la Dolce Vita? Well, we found just the…
Famed fashion designer Virgil Abloh has teamed up with Nike to design a special outfits…
Though it may feel like it’s been going since Christmas, eight weeks of Love Island…
