As summer approaches, some of the UK's most celebrated literary figures have offered their suggestions for essential holiday reading, providing inspiration for bookshelves across the nation. Notable authors such as Zadie Smith, Mark Haddon, Nina Stibbe, and Stephen Grosz have shared their personal favourites, encompassing a wide array of genres and themes.
Zadie Smith highlighted Part of the Story: Writings from Half a Century by Margaret Busby, describing it as a beautiful collection reflecting a lifelong passion for African and diaspora literature. Smith also praised Luke Kennard's Black Bag, calling it the funniest and smartest novel she had read recently. Mark Haddon, meanwhile, suggested a metaphorical journey with Yáng Shuāng-zǐ's Taiwan Travelogue, an International Booker Prize winner, and urged readers to explore other shortlisted titles like Daniel Kehlmann's The Director and Ana Paula Maia's On Earth As It Is Beneath.
Nina Stibbe recommended Séamas O’Reilly’s debut novel, Prestige Drama, a darkly humorous mystery set in Derry involving a missing Hollywood actor. She also drew attention to Helen Bain’s The Daffodil Days, which explores Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes’s marriage through multiple perspectives, and Maria Semple's new novel, Go Gentle, for its blend of humour, intellectual depth, and romance. Stephen Grosz’s picks included Deborah Treisman’s extensive anthology, A Century of Fiction in the New Yorker: 1925–2025, J.L. Carr’s A Month in the Country, and Stefan Zweig’s poignant memoir, The World of Yesterday.
Further recommendations came from Virginia Evans, who frequently suggests Jess Walter’s Beautiful Ruins and plans to revisit Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle this summer for their transportive qualities. Joe Dunthorne expressed his enjoyment of Benjamin Markovits’s The Rest of Our Lives for its commitment to character and plot, and Harriet Armstrong’s debut, To Rest Our Minds and Bodies. For poetry enthusiasts, Dunthorne recommended Sasha Debevec-McKenney’s Joy Is My Middle Name for its delightful and witty verses.
These diverse selections from prominent authors offer a rich tapestry of literary experiences, catering to various tastes and ensuring that UK readers have a wealth of options for their summer escapism. From gripping political horror to humorous literary fiction and profound memoirs, the curated list provides ample material for both leisurely holiday reading and stimulating intellectual engagement.