17 best books to read on holiday: Top reads of 2024

After Richard Osman's incredible success with his 'The Thursday Murder Club' series, his new series is already a hit. A new detective team and a thrilling new murder to solve - the suspenseful new novel combines humour and mystery for a page-turner you won't be able to put down. 

Colleen Hoover provides readers with hit after hit, and 'Ugly Love' is a clear winner on TikTok. The novel centres around Tate Collins meeting airline pilot Miles Archer. Forget love at first sight, this is attraction at first sight! The pair embark on a no-strings-attached arrangement but as you might expect, things get a little messy.

Despite being released back in 2020, 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' still makes its way onto my TikTok For You Page constantly. The fantasy series has gained a cult following, and has been described by author Alexandra Bracken as, "a gorgeously written tale as lush and romantic as it is ferocious."

Emily's fifth fiction book Funny Story follows Daphne and Miles, a pair of total opposites -- Daphne is a buttoned-up librarian with no social life and Miles is a chaotic musician -- who end up living together when their fiances decide they're really in love with each other, and soon a plan forms, to make their exes jealous by pretending to be enjoying a summer romance together.

The book follows two storylines of Hannah Martin, following the meeting of an old flame. In alternating chapters we see the two stories unfold with different outfits and large-scale consequences for Hannah and those around her, raising the question of whether anything is truly meant to be, and whether there is really such thing as a soul mate. 

The story centres around Sam, who has the perfect life; she has a great job, the perfect fiancé, and a home she loves in the busy city. But when she returns home to her family's Long Island beach house to discuss wedding planning, she bumps into her first love, Wyatt. He's the man who broke her heart. As they spend more time together, the spark comes rushing back. But what happens when she's about to say 'I do'? You'll be smiling so much when you read this book

If you're a fan of modern romance, 'Emily in Paris' and charming short stories, you'll love 'Paris for One and Other Stories' by Jojo Moyes. It has 11 heartwarming short stories, so it's perfect for those who struggle to dive into long books on their travels. 

Everyone has heard of 'It Ends With Us' by now. The number one bestseller went viral on TikTok and Instagram and is currently being made into a movie starring Blake Lively. The story revolves around Lily, a girl who hasn't always had it easy but she's determined to live the life she wants. When she meets Ryle Kincaid, he changes everything. But can her past life come back to haunt her? You'll have to read it to find out.

Melanie Cantor's 'The F**k It! List' has been described as a "triumphant comedy about a woman taking on the world on her own terms." It follows the story of Daisy who has just caught her boyfriend cheating on her fortieth birthday, sending her to feel like her dream of having a baby has been shattered. The uplifting read follows Daisy's attempt to tick off items from her F**k It list in order to take control back over her life.

From bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld, 'Romantic Comedy' tells the story of a TV scriptwriter who thinks she's done with love until an unlikely interest overturns her assumptions about romance. Reese Witherspoon described the novel has, "a hilarious, sweet, smart read that you're going to love!"

Clara Millen hasn't taken a vacation, and has failed to join her childhood friends at Pine Lake Camp for their annual reunion, in years. But when she is forced to take a break, she faces more unwelcome change: the owners are retiring and selling the property. Revelry turns into reminiscing and the chance to reconnect with those who know her best -- and her camp nemesis, Mack -- forces Clara to make some tough decisions.

Lisa Jewell's TikTok-famous, award-winning book is a hit with fans - prepare to be hooked if you're taking this on holiday. 

The book centres around Alix Summers and Josie Fair, two strangers who happen to be birthday twins.

Without giving anything away, the two meet by chance on their birthday and Josie ends up being a guest on Alix's hit podcast. Why? Because Josie's life appears to be strange and complicated, and Alix finds her interesting and wants to keep digging to find out more.

Slowly Alix starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, but what are they?

'The Housemaid is Watching' is the latest installment in Freida McFadden's series, and the psychological thriller can be read as a standalone if you haven't been following the popular series. The tension-packed novel will make you question how well you know your neighbours.

Inspired by Agatha Christie's 'And Then There Were None', Alice Feeney's Daisy Darker is the clever and compelling story of the Darker family isolated on their private island in Cornwall. Together for the first time in a decade, the family will be cut off from the rest of the world when the tide comes in, and when the tide goes out nothing will be the same again, because one of the family members is a killer.

'The End of Summer' is not just a story about death; it is a celebration of life, love, and the complicated ties that bind families together. The themes resonate long after the final page, prompting readers to reflect on their own relationships and the legacies they will leave behind.

This novel is a haunting yet beautiful read that tackles difficult subjects with grace and humour. It’s a testament to resilience and the enduring power of connection, making it a must-read for anyone seeking a compelling and thought-provoking narrative.

'Things No One Taught Us About Love' offers a guide into strengthening relations and understanding the true nature of love from the author of the bestselling 'Good Vibes, Good Life'. The book is described on Amazon as, "for anyone looking to harness the power of the universe, and their own self-understanding, to manifest stronger, deeper relationships."

The memoir from Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker delves into his unique life in 20th-century pop culture. It unfolds as Jarvis reviews the contents of his loft, deciding to keep or throw the objects he has stashed away there - each one with a story attached to it that reveals something pivotal about his youth and the things that shaped him and prepared him for his role as the quirky lead singer that went on to garner national treasure status.