If you’re like me then no holiday is complete without a good book or two. Even on an active sun holiday, it can be worthwhile taking some time to relax and enjoy a book! Bring it with you to enjoy the end of that hike, or cycle. Or to enjoy during lunch on that watersports break. I’m that girl who packs 5 books for a week away. I had 30kg allowance for 3 months in Africa, I used 7kg for books. I’m that girl. So I’ve thrown together a list of some of my favourite reads, some of which maybe you could try on your next sun holiday. In no particular order:
Can you keep a secret – Sophie Kinsella
Sophie Kinsella is queen of the ‘chick lit’ genre, and this book will have you laughing the whole way through. There’s so many moments in this book I could relate to and I found myself rooting the protagonist the whole way through. This isn’t your typical, girl meets boy and falls in love. Well, I mean that’s the whole idea of the book but there’s a twist you’ll really appreciate, and that’s all I’m saying! Apart from that it’s a perfect mix of comedy and romance.
The Snowman – Jo Nesbø
This book is translated from Norwegian, and so I found some of the names a bit of a struggle but other than that this book is fantastic. Part of the inspector Harry Hole series, this book focuses on a serial killer who leaves a snowman at a person’s house to mark them as his next victim. This who-done-it book will have you guessing until the very end, and you’ll not want to put it down until you know. Trust me, I stayed up until 4am finishing this one.
The Lake House – Kate Morton
I’m seeing a theme in these books now that I’m writing about them. This is another mystery/intrigue book; when an off-duty police detective stumbles upon an old abandoned house, she discovers its interesting past and reopens an old missing-persons case. The story is told from various points of view, and so the story is constantly moving and progressing. The result being that we form a whole world in our head, forming attachments to each character and being emotional involved in their lives. This book is lengthy, so I would only bring it along on a sun holiday if I could really commit.
The Bridgertons Series - Julia Quinn
If you’re a fan of your historical romance novels, then you’ll love these. The series, set between 1813 and 1825, is a collection of eight novels, each featuring one of the eight children of the late Viscount Bridgerton. The books create a world and family that you just want to know about. The characters are all loveable, with each facing their own battle. These are a real light-hearted read, that don’t take long at all to finish. Perfect for a beach holiday.
The Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins
This is another murder mystery book. Although, this book was slightly different in that it took me a while to warm to the protagonist. She displayed many traits that annoyed me, but as the book develops you realise she has these characteristics for a reason. And by the time you come to sympathise with her, you realise you are completely embroiled in this all-consuming book. Essentially, a woman gets involved in a murder case after inventing an imaginary friendship with a “perfect” couple who live in a house that her train passes every day. Again, it keeps you guessing to the very last minute and it’s a book you won’t want to put down.