What we read this summer (and why you should read them too)

This season, our reading list transported us to worlds not dissimilar to our own, yet full of characters that made us laugh, cry, smile and (sometimes) want to run. If you’re looking for your next great read – whether for a holiday, a quiet weekend or a stolen half-hour before bed – try these books we couldn’t put down.

Going Overboard by Portia MacIntosh

Looking for a light-hearted summer romance that’s as fun as it is easy to read? Going Overboard follows Jessa, who gets dumped by her boyfriend during the first dance at a friend’s wedding. To make matters worse, she still has to endure a week-long cruise to her best friend’s destination wedding – sharing a double-bedroom suite with none other than her ex, his new girlfriend, and her own handsome-yet-infuriating ex, Brody. Sun-soaked decks, sparkling seas and a cast of colourful characters provide the perfect backdrop for a story that balances humour, heart and just enough romantic tension to keep you hooked.

Why you should read it:
It may follow the classic rom-com formula, but that’s exactly the point. If you’re craving something breezy, feel-good and effortlessly entertaining, this is the book to pack in your beach bag. Going Overboard is pure holiday reading – fun, flirty and impossible not to smile through.

Love Poems by Rupi Kaur

Soft, intimate and emotionally precise, Love Poems is a quiet companion of a book – one you dip into rather than race through. Through beautiful poems and simple illustrations, Rupi Kaur explores love in all its forms: romantic, self-directed, fleeting, enduring, and everything in between. Love Poems brings some of Kaur’s best works into a carefully curated collection that’s just as much a keepsake as something meaningful to share.

Why you should read it:
Because not all summer reads need to be nail-biting, long or consuming. Perfect for readers who love to dip in when they suit, Love Poems feels accessible, honest, and gently affirming.

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

New York Times and global bestselling author Freida McFadden’s latest book, Dear Debbie, is a staunch reminder that you should never underestimate a housewife. Debbie’s life seems like a picture-perfect example of modern suburban living. She writes an advice column in the local paper from her beautiful house in New England, which also has a magazine-worthy garden. Her husband is one step away from being a partner at his accounting firm, and her two teenage daughters occasionally talk to her during breakfast. But things aren’t as picture-perfect as they seem, and when Debbie’s world starts to unravel, the cracks in her carefully curated façade begin to show.

Why you should read it:
If you love satisfying plot twists, pick up Dear Debbie. It’ll leave you questioning what’s real and who can be trusted, and keep you turning pages well past your bedtime.

Let Me Out by Amanda Brittany

Let Me Out is a chilling whodunnit set against an eerie seaside backdrop. Twelve years ago, Annie’s childhood best friend, Giselle, died. Now Annie has returned to her hometown to care for her brother after he suffers a disturbingly similar fall, one that’s left him paralysed and unable to talk. Was it an accident, or is something more sinister at play? As Annie begins searching for answers, old memories and long-buried secrets rise to the surface. Addictive and fast-paced, Let Me Out is a complex book that intertwines multiple stories together, culminating in a jaw-dropping ending you won’t see coming.

Why you should read it:
If you love thrillers that mess with your head (in a good way) and keep you thinking about the story days later, this is a must-read. If you’re easily frightened, sit this one out, or (at the very least) don’t read it at night.

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

Sharp, funny and unapologetically bold, Mad Mabel is one of those reads that grabs you from the very first page. Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is 81, has lived on the same street for 60 years, and doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon (unless, of course, it’s in a mahogany box). But when her neighbour mysteriously dies, her past – and the many tragic stories attached to it – quickly catches up to her. This domestic thriller moves effortlessly between dark humour and heart, a reminder that everyone has a story, no matter their age, and that it’s never too late to surprise the people around you (or even yourself).

Why you should read it:
If you love character-driven novels with wit, warmth and a slightly rebellious edge, this one’s for you. Mad Mabel celebrates ageing without sentimentality, delivers laugh-out-loud moments alongside heart-breaking tragedy, and champions a protagonist who refuses to fade quietly into the background.

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