Looking for a summer read? Librarians share their holiday reading recommendations

21 July 2026

From Italian villas and Greek islands to Japanese food detectives, family sagas and train journeys around the world, library staff have shared the books they believe make the perfect holiday read.

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, Libraries Connected has published a list of 20 favourite holiday reads, selected from more than 100 nominations submitted by people working in public libraries.

The list reflects the books library staff most enjoy sharing with readers and returning to themselves - stories that have left a lasting impression long after the holiday is over.

The result is a collection of books for every kind of summer. Some are ideal companions for a long-haul flight or a lazy week by the pool. Others are perfect for a train journey, a camping trip, a staycation or a quiet lunch hour in the local park. Whether you're travelling thousands of miles or staying close to home, they're all books with the power to transport you somewhere else.

The final selection includes books set in Italy, France, Greece, India and Japan, alongside journeys across continents and stories rooted closer to home. Readers can lose themselves in the Italian sunshine of The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim, encounter the gods and heroes of Greek myth in Madeline Miller's Circe and Natalie Haynes's A Thousand Ships, travel the world by rail with Monisha Rajesh, or explore rural Greece through Polly Samson's A Theatre for Dreamers.

The list also showcases the breadth of contemporary writing, from Hisashi Kashiwai's Japan-set The Kamogawa Food Detectives and Jesse Q. Sutanto's comic crime caper Dial A for Aunties to the sweeping family saga of Min Jin Lee's Pachinko, Matt Haig's life-affirming tale of mystery and second chances The Life Impossible, and Marcia Hutchinson's moving coming-of-age novel The Mercy Step.

Libraries Connected favourite holiday reads

The Enchanted April – Elizabeth von Arnim
Bonjour Tristesse – Françoise Sagan
The Artist – Lucy Steeds
A Theatre for Dreamers – Polly Samson
Circe – Madeline Miller
A Thousand Ships – Natalie Haynes
Still Life – Sarah Winman
A Room with a View – E. M. Forster
The Life Impossible – Matt Haig
A Covenant of Water – Abraham Verghese
Pachinko – Min Jin Lee
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny – Kiran Desai
The Kamogawa Food Detectives – Hisashi Kashiwai
Dial A for Aunties – Jesse Sutanto
Around the World in 80 Trains – Monisha Rajesh
The Summer Book – Tove Jansson
The Owl Service – Alan Garner
The Trouble with Goats and Sheep – Joanna Cannon
The Mercy Step – Marcia Hutchinson
Adrift – Will Dean

Isobel Hunter MBE, Chief Executive of Libraries Connected, said:

"A great holiday read is one of the simple pleasures of summer. By the pool, on a train or just relaxing in the garden or local park, the right book can hook you from the first page. Public libraries play a unique role in helping people find books they'll love – and sometimes a single recommendation is enough to get someone reading again after years away. That's why we hope this list helps even more people discover the pleasure, excitement and escape that only a great book can provide."

The full nominations

Book	Nominated by	Full nomination
The Enchanted April - Elizabeth von Arnim	Katharine Seymour, Reader Development Librarian, Bristol Libraries	"A classic originally published in the 1920s, it tells the story of four female friends who decide to escape their dreary lives and rent a castle in Italy for a month-long holiday. Light and uplifting, perfect holiday read."
Bonjour Tristesse - Françoise Sagan	Emma Escott, Supervisor, Wiltshire Libraries	"A quick and easy read, Bonjour Tristesse perfectly captures the atmosphere of a glamorous holiday in the French Riviera. Amongst the backdrop of beautiful scenery, sun-soaked days and the carefree feeling of summer the book explores themes of love, jealously and growing up."
The Artist - Lucy Steeds	Emma Howe, Library & Information Officer, Minehead Library	"Set in 1920's sun-soaked southern France, Lucy Steed tells the story of Ettie and Joseph, brought together under the eye of Edouard Tartuffe- reclusive painter. This book is a treat for the senses that builds with the heat of the summer in the French mountains. Secretive and gorgeous."
A Theatre for Dreamers - Polly Samson	Tamsyn Daniel, Library Team Assistant, Fareham	"Set on a rural Greek Island in the 1960s, and filled with characters inspired by the author's real experiences, this book transports you to hot sunny days in rural Greece. The characters live and love across the summer season, with the island itself becoming a character in it's own right. It is partly a coming-of-age story, partly an observation of relationships all played out against the backdrop of artists and musicians claiming their space in the world."
Circe - Madeline Miller	Daisy, Library and Information Officer, Somerset Libraries – Libraries West	"This book is a retelling of the witch Circe from Greek mythology, most well known for turning Odysseus' men to pigs in the Odyssey! It is a beautifully written book with most of the plot taking place on the mythological island of Aeaea, the place that Circe calls her home. If you're interested in complex characters, mythology, or simply want to read a book by an author that has truly mastered their craft, then I highly recommend Circe by Madeline Miller for your holiday reading."
A Thousand Ships - Natalie Haynes	Katie Anderson, Reader Development Officer, Guille-Alles Library Schools Service	"This book beautifully blends the stories of many women in Greek mythology, focusing over the end of the Trojan war. It's a book that whole-heartedly consumes you and doesn't leave you feeling empty. In fact despite it's sad and tragic content, it is a story that is told with soul and sentiment and leaves you wanting to read more about the forgotten heroines of Greek mythology."
Still Life - Sarah Winman	Tiff Woosley, Collections Lead for Children & Young People, Guile-Allès Library	"Beautiful Italian scenes of wine and pasta that certainly make you hungry, but set the scene for a beautiful summer read."
A Room with a View - E. M. Forster	Daren Kearl, Stock and Development Librarian, Kent Libraries	"Conjures up the romantic past of Florence and Italy's countryside."
The Life Impossible - Matt Haig	Amy Callow, Reader Development Librarian, BCP	"A wonderful uplifting and thought provoking book, set on the iconic Mediterranean isle of Ibiza. Matt Haig's clever and witty storytelling with a generous sprinkle of magic is the perfect recipe for a holiday read."
A Covenant of Water - Abraham Verghese	Stephanie Smith, Library Assistant, West Sussex Libraries	"I love reading books set in the country I'm visiting so on a recent trip to southern India A Covenant of Water was the perfect read. It has history, family, tragedy and is full of love. A true epic and as it's rather lengthy it was the perfect excuse to sit in the sun and read!"
Pachinko - Min Jin Lee	Vicki Baikey, Library Manager, Cheshire East Libraries	"This is my all time favourite holiday read..so captivating, with twists and turns a plenty, emotive, transportive, and ever so gently informative, it has it all. I'd go so far as to say unputdownable, so perfect for long, languid, unhurried days - enjoy!"
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny - Kiran Desai	Rebecca Leadley, Duty Manager, Hampshire Libraries	"This is a gentle but powerful family saga, it is a love story spanning continents and cultures. A beautiful read and an ideal holiday read - you will fall in love with the characters and their journey to each other."
The Kamogawa Food Detectives - Hisashi Kashiwai	Naomi, Library Team Assistant, Hampshire Libraries	"A collection of short stories all about a chef who doubles as a food detective, tracking down people's favourite meals from their past. This wholesome book (and book series, as there's multiple now) is the perfect chill holiday read. The short story format makes it really easy to pick up and put down, and the wholesome nature of the stories leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy (and hungry, as the recipes are described in great detail!). The perfect holiday read for someone wanting to get back into reading!"
Dial A for Aunties - Jesse Sutanto	Ann Penn, Principal Librarian: Resources and Information, Inspire: Culture, Learning, Libraries	"When Meddy accidentally kills her blind date, she calls her meddling Aunties for help. Let's just say that trying to hide a body while their family wedding business is also dealing with the biggest wedding of the year leads to some trouble... This is a hilarious comedy crime caper with snappy dialogue, a deserving winner of the Comedy Women in Print Prize in 2021. It's a perfect light-hearted, escapist holiday read (with two more books in the series if you are hooked!)"
Around the World in 80 Trains - Monisha Rajesh	Claire, Senior Library Assistant, West Sussex	"As someone who likes to travel and especially by train this book was a great way to learn about train journeys around the world."
The Summer Book - Tove Jansson	Lily, Reading & Development Co-ordinator, Calderdale Libraries	"An exploration of nature and freedom, a captivating world to escape to."
The Owl Service - Alan Garner	Kelly Blake, Stock Librarian, Swindon Library & Information Service	"Although it was published in 1967, this Carnegie Award-winning book really stands the test of time. It makes for a great holiday read - especially if it's a UK-based holiday - as it is actually set in the summer holidays for three young teenagers. It's an early folk-horror title so although set in the "modern" 1960s, it has a timeless quality to it. It's based in Welsh myth and has themes of culture and class tensions, as well the more general turmoil of being a teenager."
The Trouble with Goats and Sheep - Joanna Cannon	Karen Cornish, Library and Information Assistant, Norfolk	"Set during the heatwave of 1976 it is very appropriate for the June we have had this year. As with all Joanna's books, this is very much about the characters and what a rich variety there are living in The Avenue! There's a mystery to be solved, secrets to be revealed and a brilliant young hero. Loads of cultural references too for anyone who grew up in the 70s and 80s. You'll really feel like you've been transported back in time to a world of Angel Delight, The Sweeney, and ordering clothes from catalogues. Highly recommend for this summer!"
The Mercy Step - Marcia Hutchinson	Andrea Hardaker, Information and Digital Development Officer, Bradford Libraries	"This is such a compelling piece of auto-fiction. I fell in love with the main character from the first page; fiesty, determined and fun. It's made up of short and very readable chapters and although it covers hard hitting subject matters of domestic abuse etc, it is very subtly handled. The subject matter is dark and probably wouldn't be everyone's light-hearted 'fun summer read', but the humour shines through and I found I just couldn't put it down!"
Adrift - Will Dean	Emma Mercer, Senior Development Officer, Somerset Libraries	"A narrow boat on the canal is a perfect setting for a holiday, however this is a high-tension thriller about a family's descent into darkness - which also includes libraries."