With a staycation, there’s no need to worry about packing or weight limits; you can ram your bags full with what really matters. Books! Endless books where you can kick back, soak up the great British summer and get lost in a juicy read.
In honour of the great British staycation, we’ve pulled together some recommended reads to take with you. And the best bit, you can take all of them if you want.
Experience the romantic and satisfying conclusion to Colleen Hoover's powerful global bestselling novel, It Ends with Us. Colleen Hoover takes us on a whole new emotional rollercoaster, this time, switching between the perspective of Atlas and Lily as they navigate friendship, love and a very jealous ex-husband... Before It Ends with Us, it started with Atlas. Colleen Hoover tells fan favourite Atlas’s side of the story and shares what comes next in this long-anticipated sequel to It Ends with Us. Lily and her ex-husband, Ryle, have just settled into a civil co-parenting rhythm when she suddenly bumps into her first love, Atlas, again. After nearly two years separated, she is elated that for once, time is on their side, and she immediately says yes when Atlas asks her on a date. But her excitement is quickly hampered by the knowledge that, though they are no longer married, Ryle is still very much a part of her life—and Atlas Corrigan is the one man he will hate being in his ex-wife and daughter’s life. Product Information: • ISBN: 9781398518209 • Author: Colleen Hoover • Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK • Format: Paperback • Pages: 336 • Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.3 x 2.45 cm
Welcome to the brutal and elite world of Basgiath War College, where everyone has an agenda, and every night could be your last... Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general - also known as her tough-as-talons mother - has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. But when you're smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away... because dragons don't bond to 'fragile' humans. They incinerate them. With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother's daughter - like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She'll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise. Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret. Alliances will be forged. Lives will be lost. Traitors will become allies... or even lovers. But sleep with one eye open because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die. Product Information: • ISBN: 9780349436999 • Author: Rebecca Yarros • Publisher: Piatkus • Format: Hardback • Pages: 512 • Dimensions: 16.4 x 4.8 x 23.6 cm
Book One of the interconnected-standalone Twisted series by TikTok sensation, Ana Huang. A brother’s best friend / enemies-to-lovers romance, with a hint of suspense… Cold-hearted, ruthless and extremely attractive Alex Volkov is cursed with a past he can’t escape. But Ava Chen only sees beauty in the world…including the heart beneath the icy exterior of Alex, a man she shouldn’t want. As they are forced to spend more time together, their pasts start to unravel, along with their burning desire for one another… Warning: This book contains a jealous/possessive antihero, explicit sexual content, and profanity. Product Information: • ISBN: 9780349434278 • Author: Ana Huang • Publisher: Piatkus • Format: Paperback • Pages: 368 • Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.2 x 3.2 cm
The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it. But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the crime, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn't so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth...? Product Information: ISBN: 9781405293181 Author: Holly Jackson Publisher: Egmont Publishing Format: Paperback Pages: 448 Dimensions: 13 x 19.8 x 2.9cm
Enjoy the new TikTok favourite, Icebreaker! An adorable rom-com about a competitive figure skater and a hockey team captain who are forced to share the rink… Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA. It looks like everything is going according to plan when she gets a full scholarship to the University of California, Maple Hills and lands a place on their competitive figure skating team. Nothing will stand in her way, not even the captain of the hockey team, Nate Hawkins. Nate’s focus as team captain is on keeping his team on the ice. This is tricky when a facilities mishap means they are forced to share a rink with the figure skating team—including Anastasia, who clearly can’t stand him. But when Anastasia’s skating partner faces an uncertain future, she may have to look to Nate to take her shot… Warning: This book contains explicit adult content and is recommended for 18+ Product Information: • ISBN: 9781398525689 • Author: Hannah Grace • Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK • Format: Paperback • Pages: 448 • Dimensions: 13 x 2.65 x 19.8 cm
Why we love it:
- A true reflection of the trials and tribulations of love.
- Characters that you’ll fall in love with and leave you wanting to read the whole series.
Colleen Hoover takes us on a whole new emotional rollercoaster, switching between the perspectives of Atlas and Lily as they navigate friendship, love and a very jealous ex-husband. If you’re a die-hard CoHo fan, then this book is for you. The chemistry between the two characters simply explodes off the page, but be warned, this one is a bit of a tear-jerker. With a few twists and turns along the way, you’ll feel entirely enthralled by the characters and their journey through love. So, if you're looking for a book to get completely lost in on your staycation, then this one is for you.
If you’re looking for more CoHo books to read, check out our post on what order to read Colleen Hoover books.
Why we love it:
- From heartbreak to laughter, this is the perfect book to keep you entertained during the quiet times of your staycation.
- It’s great for us rom-com lovers who love a good happy ending.
Another book from the brilliant Tessa Bailey. Natalie Vos returned home after losing her job and her fiance in one fell swoop. She just needs her trust fund to finance her new business venture, and everything will be okay. Unfortunately, the terms require her to marry before she can have the money. Only one problem, she’s just been dumped. This feel-good story will have your heart doing backflips as you follow the trials and tribulations of a marriage of convenience and its impact on the characters. We recommend this heartwarming, sweet, and occasionally steamy novel that will sweep you off your feet.
Why we love it:
- Great for those who want to feel inspired and driven to succeed.
- The perfect mix of drama and excitement, which had us gripped on every page.
Six years after her last match, Carrie Soto watches a young British tennis player steal her record - and Carrie knows she has to go back and reclaim her rightful place at the top, even if the world doesn't believe in her. This emotional and gripping book is the perfect immersive read for your staycation. Even if you’re not a tennis or sports lover, this book will leave you eager to read more novels from Taylor Jenkins Reid. With characters who explode off the page and a storyline that will have you hooked from the word go.
Why we love it:
- All you could want from a romance novel and all the drama that goes with it.
- A great story of friendship with lovable characters.
She wants the fairytale. He wants freedom. Blake and Farrah shouldn't have fallen for each other the way they did: totally, completely, and irrevocably. This book is the tale of two lovers whose forces at home threaten to rip them apart, even if they don't know it yet. The banter and genuine friendship between the characters is heartwarming and funny in all the right places. With an underlying tale of friendship throughout, this book will have you rooting for all the characters and eagerly awaiting the next instalment. This is also the perfect book for a short and light read on a staycation.
Why we love it:
- An exciting story full of twists and turns on every page.
- A brilliant fantasy fiction for those who love to escape to a new world.
Alliances will be forged. Lives will be lost. Traitors will become allies or even lovers. But sleep with one eye open because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die. Not only does this book whisk you away to a fantasy world, but the slow-burn romance has been perfected and adds a touch of lightness to the story. We also love this book for its fast-paced hunger-games-style cliffhangers, which Rebecca Yarros effectively uses to leave us all wanting more. This book will be ideal for your staycation travels, helping to whisk you away to another fantasy world, wherever you may be in the country.
Why we love it:
- Another one for all our romance lovers out there, with all the juicy drama you could ask for.
- A suspenseful read that you won’t want to put down.
Cold-hearted, ruthless and extremely attractive, Alex Volkov is cursed with a past he can’t escape. But Ava Chen only sees beauty in the world, including the heart beneath the icy exterior of Alex, a man she shouldn’t want. Will they become the next power couple, or will they fall? This book has everything a reader could want, love, spice, emotion and more. You’ll instantly fall in love with the characters and with all the twisted romance throughout the storyline. This book is a great introduction to the Twisted series by Ana Huang and a great one to add to your staycation reads collection.
Why we love it:
- A story that will have you hooked throughout.
- Perfect for all you detective wannabes who love a crime story.
If the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth?
This book is like a modern Nancy Drew novel, with an engaging mystery featuring a diverse cast that discusses everything from racial injustice to the importance of found family. The story switches between first-person diary entries and third-person narration, making the novel even more engaging and exciting. We also love this book, as it makes for a quick and light read ideal for those long weekend staycations.
Why we love it:
- An easy read with an immersive and, some may say, ‘spicy’ storyline.
- Great for rom-com lovers who want a bit of light reading that will also make you laugh.
Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA. But when Anastasia’s skating partner faces an uncertain future, she may have to look to Nate to take her shot, and safe to say they’re not the best of friends…yet. This book has it all, drama, spice and, of course, a bit of romance. It is a modern-day take on young adults' ideas of romance and views on commitment, so you know it's got all the romance goodness you’ll love, making it the perfect comfort book while you are on a staycation.
Now you’re all set for your staycation with some great reads that will fill your suitcase. From thrilling romances to exciting crime dramas, this list will have all you need to keep you entertained on your staycation.
Summers are made for easy reads. Think about it. When you’re sprawled out on a sun lounger on some far-flung sandy beach, you’ve usually got a book in hand that you’ve been devouring over the last couple of hours.
The phrase “Chick Lit” was popularly used in the 1990s and early 2000s to describe contemporary and popular fiction aimed at young women. Its quirky main characters, who were (more often than not) hopeless at romance, really struck a chord. And why wouldn’t it?
There is nothing like sinking your teeth into a brand new Crime Novel. The suspense, mystery and intrigue are unmatched by any other genre, especially when paired with a satisfying ending.