Authors Share Summer Reading Picks for Beach and Pool
Summer reading suggestions come from authors like Freida McFadden, Mick Herron, and Robert Harris, with Jenny Colgan presenting the curated list and stressing the importance of a well-rounded reading experience. Among the featured titles are Kathy Burke's "A Mind of My Own," Ann Patchett's "Whistler," and Ferdia Lennon's "Glorious Exploits." For those frustrating moments, Emma Cline's "The Guest" is recommended, while Belle Burden's "Strangers" serves as a nonfiction refresher. Additional titles include "The Calamity Club" by Kathryn Stockett (Caro Claire Burke), "Here in the Dark" by Alexis Soloski (Taffy Brodesser-Akner), and "Convenience Store Woman" by Sayaka Murata (Alice Oseman). Robert Harris also suggests works by Graham Greene and R.F. Kuang's "Cloud Cuckoo Land."
Key facts
- Freida McFadden recommends 'The Calamity Club' by Kathryn Stockett.
- Mick Herron recommends 'Country People' by Daniel Mason.
- Robert Harris recommends Graham Greene's novels set in hot climates.
- Jenny Colgan introduces the list with tips for a balanced reading diet.
- Kathy Burke's autobiography 'A Mind of My Own' is recommended for the outward journey.
- Ann Patchett's 'Whistler' is recommended for a post-rosé afternoon.
- Daniyal Mueenuddin's 'This Is Where the Serpent Lives' is an immersive epic.
- Ferdia Lennon's 'Glorious Exploits' is for a quality afternoon read.
- Emma Cline's 'The Guest' is a 'neighbourhood psycho' book.
- Belle Burden's 'Strangers' is a nonfiction palate cleanser.
- Richard Osman's 'The Impossible Fortune' is for queuing at non-EU passport control.
- Taffy Brodesser-Akner recommends 'Here in the Dark' by Alexis Soloski.
- Alice Oseman recommends 'Convenience Store Woman' by Sayaka Murata.
- Nita Prose recommends 'The Paper Palace' by Miranda Cowley Heller.
- Lisa Jewell recommends 'It's Not What You Think' by Clare Mackintosh.
- André Aciman recommends 'London Falling' by Patrick Radden Keefe.
- Lucy Foley recommends 'The Wedding People' by Alison Espach.
- Kirsten Miller recommends 'The Pinnacle' by Abir Mukherjee.
- Leigh Bardugo recommends 'The Last Baron' by Tom Sancton.
- Matt Haig recommends 'The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances' by Glenn Dixon.
- Jodi Picoult recommends Annabel Monaghan's 'Nora Goes Off Script'.
- R.F. Kuang recommends 'Cloud Cuckoo Land' by Anthony Doerr.
- Jo Callaghan recommends her own 'Body of Lies'.
- Amanda Whittington recommends 'The Enchanted April' by Elizabeth von Arnim.
- Curtis Sittenfeld recommends 'Crash Into Me' by Robinne Lee.
- C.J. Cooke recommends 'Nonesuch' by Francis Spufford and 'Time to Burn' by Ellery Lloyd.
- Adam Hamdy recommends 'The Shadow Step' by Mark Billingham.
- Louise Candlish recommends 'Main Characters' by Bobby Palmer.
- Sabine Durrant recommends her own 'Dead Heat'.
- Ilona Bannister recommends her own 'In Five'.
- Mick Herron (again) recommends 'There Is No Antimemetics Division' by qntm.
- Paula Hawkins recommends 'Four Terrible Parents' by Calla Henkel.
- Kate Mosse recommends 'Fenny' by Lettice Cooper.
- Adele Parks recommends 'Mad Mabel' by Sally Hepworth.
- Lisa Gardner recommends 'Some Bright Nowhere' by Ann Packer.
Entities
Artists
- Freida McFadden
- Mick Herron
- Robert Harris
- Jenny Colgan
- Kathy Burke
- Ann Patchett
- Daniyal Mueenuddin
- Ferdia Lennon
- Emma Cline
- Belle Burden
- Richard Osman
- Caro Claire Burke
- Kathryn Stockett
- Taffy Brodesser-Akner
- Alexis Soloski
- Alice Oseman
- Sayaka Murata
- Daniel Mason
- Nita Prose
- Miranda Cowley Heller
- Lisa Jewell
- Clare Mackintosh
- André Aciman
- Patrick Radden Keefe
- Lucy Foley
- Alison Espach
- Kirsten Miller
- Abir Mukherjee
- Leigh Bardugo
- Tom Sancton
- Matt Haig
- Glenn Dixon
- Jodi Picoult
- Annabel Monaghan
- R.F. Kuang
- Anthony Doerr
- Jo Callaghan
- Amanda Whittington
- Elizabeth von Arnim
- Curtis Sittenfeld
- Robinne Lee
- C.J. Cooke
- Francis Spufford
- Ellery Lloyd
- Adam Hamdy
- Mark Billingham
- Louise Candlish
- Bobby Palmer
- Sabine Durrant
- Ilona Bannister
- qntm
- Paula Hawkins
- Calla Henkel
- Kate Mosse
- Lettice Cooper
- Adele Parks
- Sally Hepworth
- Lisa Gardner
- Ann Packer
- Graham Greene
- David Mitchell
- Maeve Binchy
- James Herbert
- Nigel Farage
- Maggie Haberman
- Donald Trump
Institutions
- The Guardian
- New York Times
Locations
- London
- Vermont
- Cape Cod
- Massachusetts
- Mumbai
- Paris
- Italy
- Florence
- Tuscany
- South Carolina
- LA
- Los Angeles
- New York
- Soho
- Greece
- Greek
- Australia
- Australian
- Yorkshire
- Blackpool
- Midlands
- Midlands-set