17 books to add to your holiday reading list this summer
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words by daisy henry
Do not disturb.
Though you wouldn’t believe it from a cursory glance outside, the southern hemisphere has finally moved into the summer months. On paper, this means warm days and balmy nights are abundant. However, as many of us local to these parts know, the weather is unpredictable.
Rest assured, the appeal of the holidays remains intact. For most full-time workers, the end-of-year break means your out-of-office is switched on, notifications are switched off, and the days are yours to do with as you please.
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For some, the severance of your nine-to-five means its time to switch off and unplug, perhaps with a feel-good or tear-jerking romance novel. For others, it represents an opportunity to mentally plug in, a way of using your free time to expand your mind with a challenging non-fiction read.
Whichever camp you fall into, a holiday spent reading is never a holiday wasted. Open the windows, lounge in your underwear and take it slow.
Heart the Lover by Lily King
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Whether you’ve read Lily King before or not, my personal recommendation is to bump this to the top of your reading list immediately. Ideal for a long weekend or to pull you out of a reading slump, Heart the Lover traces the narrator’s love triangle with best friends, Sam and Yash. It follows the characters from their early days in college, right into adulthood, posing the dreaded question: what if things had gone differently? Expect to shed a tear or two.
Find it here.
Dead and Alive by Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith’s latest book, Dead and Alive, is Smith at her most incisive. A collection of essays, Smith moves between topics spanning to Stormzy’s accent at Glastonbury, the death of Joan Didion and Toni Morrison, and international politics. A combination of personal reflection and sharp-eyed critique, Dead and Alive will make you think.
Find it here.
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
The first book in the Neapolitan quartet, My Brilliant Friend is set in a 1950s Naples neighbourhood, and traces the fierce, complicated friendship between characters, Elena and Lila. Moving from their school days into adolescence, it captures the pressures young women face and the desire to carve out a life of your own. Ferrante’s writing is perfect for anyone who loves rolling internal monologues, artfully constructed sentences and character-driven stories.
Find it here.
Loved One by Aisha Muharrar
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Loved One is the debut novel from Emmy nominated writer and co-Executive Producer of the shows Hacks, The Good Place and Parks and Recreation, Aisha Muharrar. It begins as Julia’s best friend Gabe dies unexpectedly and Julia tries to recover his various possessions. Naturally, this leads her to Elizabeth, the last women Gabe loved. Together, both women reconcile their conflicting memories of Gabe, what he meant to them and whether they might mean something to each other.
Find it here.
Chosen Family by Madeleine Gray
There’s not one single straight male character in Madeleine Gray’s latest novel, Chosen Family – need I say more? Jokes aside (though it is true), Chosen Family casts a spotlight on the intricacies of female relationships. It weaves between past and present, introducing us to teenage Nell and Eve, taking us through to adulthood. In true Madeleine Gray fashion, its hilarious yet poignant, exploring themes of queer identity, motherhood and friendship.
Find it here.
Ponyboy by Eliot Duncan
First recommended to us by Charlee from Grandpa’s Book Club, Ponyboy captures the “the joy and ache of self-discovery, the allure of escape and above all, the urgency of coming home to yourself”. It follows a trans-masc protagonist, Ponyboy, who feels stuck in a cycle of popping pills and making art, despite his desire to be seen, exactly as his is.
Find it here.
Audition by Katie Kitamura
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Shortlisted for The Booker Prize, Audition is the latest novel from American writer, Katie Kitamura. The story begins as an accomplished actress meets a younger man meet in a restaurant and is split in two suspenseful parts. What unfolds is two competing narratives, examining the roles we’re all expected to play in our everyday lives.
Find it here.
The Trio and Johanna Hedman
Johanna Hedman is a Swedish author who’s writing has been likened to Deborah Levy, Sally Rooney and André Aciman. Her debut novel, The Trio, is largely a character-driven story, starting when the three main characters are older and travelling back in time to their university days. This book is perfect for readers who love pretentious university students, stories with political undertones and complex characters.
Find it here.
The Hiding Place by Kate Mildenhall
The Hiding Place follows a group of friends who decide to go in together to buy an idyllic property buried in the bush. From the minute they leave for their first weekend away, things start going wrong, eventually leading to a death overnight. A fast-paced thriller, the novel explores themes of ownership, deception and friendship. Consider it the perfect beach-side read (or maybe one to take for a week away camping with friends).
Find it here.
Eros: Queer Myths for Lovers by Zoe Terakes
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Eros is the first book from Australian actor and writer, Zoe Terakes. Dubbed a ‘sexy, modern take on ancient Greek myths’, this collection of five short stories reveals how queerness and myth have long been intertwined.
Find it here.
Ruins by Amy Taylor
Amy Taylor’s latest novel, Ruins, was swiftly picked up by film company, Miramax, with actors Vanessa Kirby and Sebastian Stan set to star and produce – which in itself is a pretty strong selling point. If you need more convincing, the plot is set over a hot, Greek summer and follows married couple, Emma and Julian, as they arrive to house-sit for a friend. Their holiday soon takes an unexpected turn when they meet Lena, a young local woman, who helps them test the boundaries of their relationship in enticingly risky ways.
Find it here.
My Thoughts Exactly by Lily Allen
If, like me, you’ve been bingeing West End Girl, then I suggest revisiting Lily Allen’s 2018 memoir, My Thoughts Exactly. Candid and funny in true Allen style, it gives you a glimpse into the woman behind the fame and how she got there, scandals and all.
Find it here.
Exit Lane By Erika Veurink
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Exit Lane is the debut novel of writer and journalist, Erika Veurink. Perfect for fans of You, One Day and People We Meet on Vacation, Exit Lane traces the relationship between characters Teddy and Marin. After meeting on a post-graduation road trip from Iowa to New York, the characters paths continue to cross again and again over the course of eight years.
Find it here.
Antiquity by Hanna Johansson
Set between Stockholm and an island in Greece, Antiquity is a story about a writer who comes between an older artist and her teenage daughter. Perfect for fans of Call Me By Your Name and Lolita, it’s set during a hot, Greek summer, with days spent swimming and eating fruit.
Find it here.
Bread of Angels by Patti Smith
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Patti Smith fans will be over the moon to hear the singer, writer and artist has a new book on the shelves. Taking us through her childhood years, Bread of Angels has been regarded as Smith’s most intimate memoir so far. It traces her early interest in art and where her love for poetry first took hold.
Find it here.
Seeing Other People by Diana Reid
Though this isn’t Diana Reid’s newest novel, it’s one I love coming back to it over the summer months. Set in Sydney, it follows sisters Charlie and Eleanor and their relationships (and crossovers) with two key people. It’s full of perfectly unlikeable, overly self aware characters, with sharp witty dialogue and a fast-moving pace.
Find it here.
The Knowing by Madeleine Ryan
If, like us, you fell in love with Madeleine Ryan’s writing after reading her article on the seductive chaos of the social media in Fashion Journal‘s Issue 198, then you’ll be happy to hear there’s more where that came from. Set over the course of one day, The Knowing follows protagonist, Camille, as she commutes from her regional town into Melbourne, only to realise she’s left her phone at home. Coupled with an overly demanding boss, Ryan interrogates our reliance on our phones, what might happen if we were to exist without one, and what to do if we’re yearning for more.
Find it here.
For the top 100 books of the 21st century, head here.
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