The peak summer holiday season is well underway, and you might already be mentally – or literally – packing your bags for your next getaway.
Whether you’re planning exotic adventures abroad or a quiet staycation in the UK, there’s nothing quite like relaxing with a good book and a cool drink.
If you haven’t yet decided on your holiday reading list, here are five wonderful, light-hearted options you might want to consider making space for in your suitcase or adding to your Kindle.
1. The Satsuma Complex, Bob Mortimer (comedy)
This was comedian Bob Mortimer’s debut novel in 2022. It was a smash hit and won the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction in 2023.
The story centres on Gary Thorn, a lonely London legal assistant whose world is turned upside down after he goes for a pint with a colleague, Brendan. At the pub, he meets a mysterious girl who promptly disappears. When Brendan goes missing, he needs to track down the girl, but all he knows about her is that she was reading a book called The Satsuma Complex.
So follows a hilarious crime caper, told in Mortimer’s inimitable surrealist style (Gary has frequent “conversations” with a squirrel he’s befriended).
The Satsuma Complex is a highly original, witty book, with a page-turning plot and unforgettable characters. If you enjoy it, there are two subsequent novels to enjoy: The Hotel Avocado and The Long Shoe.
2. Consider Yourself Kissed, Jessica Stanley (romance)
This joyful and sweet contemporary love story was selected by The Guardian for its list of “the five best romance books of 2025”.
The story opens with Coralie, an Australian immigrant who is feeling isolated after relocating to London. She soon meets and falls in love with Adam, a clever and witty political podcaster who has a four-year-old daughter called Zora.
Over the next decade, the couple move in together and grow their family. However, Coralie feels there’s something missing in her life, and she begins questioning her identity.
While at its heart, Consider Yourself Kissed is a classic romance, the plot and Stanley’s writing are much cleverer and wittier than many books in this genre.
3. Blood Orange, Harriet Tyce (thriller)
Tyce’s first novel is a shocking and twisty psychological thriller that quickly became a Sunday Times bestseller following its publication in 2019.
Alison is a criminal barrister who is taking on her first murder case, defending Madeleine, a woman who admits stabbing her husband to death.
To the outside world, it looks like Alison has everything: a happy marriage and a flourishing career. The reality is very different: her husband isn’t what he seems, she’s having a toxic affair with a colleague, and her severe dependency on alcohol is becoming increasingly destructive.
As her life begins to unravel, Alison discovers that someone knows her deepest secrets and is out for revenge.
Blood Orange is a gripping, addictive thriller that you won’t want to put down.
4. The Let Them Theory, Mel Robbins (personal development)
In the busyness of everyday life, you might struggle to find the time and mental energy for personal development. That’s why a holiday is the perfect opportunity to reflect, learn, and set new goals.
The Let Them Theory by the author, podcaster, and lawyer Mel Robbins, is a great choice for anyone who wants to build a happier, more fulfilling life. It’s sold more than 10 million copies and made the New York Times, Sunday Times, Amazon, and Audible bestseller lists.
Robbins is one of the biggest names in the self-help genre, and she’s known for her accessible, no-nonsense, and science-backed approach.
In this book, she shares practical tips on how to beat common barriers to happiness and success, such as overwhelm, self-doubt, comparison, and procrastination. Instead, Robbins guides readers through strategies for building the resilience and confidence they need to pursue their own path to a joyful and rewarding life.
5. A Funny Life, Michael McIntyre (autobiography)
Michael McIntyre is one of the most recognisable and loved figures in British comedy. In 2012, he was the highest-grossing stand-up comedian in the world.
Known for his high-energy observational humour, McIntyre excels at turning the mundane into the hilarious.
His first autobiography, Life & Laughing, told the story of his struggles to find fame and ended with McIntyre’s big break in 2006. A Funny Life charts the highs and lows of being a celebrity and the challenges of holding on to the success he’s fought so hard for.
It’s an easy, fun book that’s full of stories you can laugh over with your travel companions or chortle at quietly on your own. In other words, it’s a perfect holiday read.
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Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.
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