Penguin Picks: 4 books to escape with this long weekend – no travel required

Whether you're planning to travel this long weekend or stay cosy at home, there's no better escape than diving into a captivating book.

From heartwarming romances and thought-provoking celebrations to rich intergenerational dramas and thrilling mysteries, we have the perfect selection to inspire, entertain, and fill your heart with hope.

The hard part is deciding which book to read first. To help you choose, here are four books that Penguin Random House employees are escaping with this long weekend – with no travel required.

Long weekend reading recommendations 

Lily, Publicist

Two rival authors have to compete against each other to win contract to write the biography of a notorious, reclusive heiress in Emily Henry's latest romcom, Great Big Beautiful Life. It is packed full of the humour and romantic tension Emily Henry is best known for, as well as a little something new. I absolutely devoured this book; it's passionate, emotional and deeply romantic, with characters you'll adore.

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

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Sarah, Editor

You Don't Have to Have a Dream is a collection of Tim Minchin’s three thought-provoking and funny university graduation speeches that will make you nod along appreciatively and occasionally snort with laughter. Rather than sermonising on the conventional grand life plan, Tim makes a great case in advocating passion, hard work and kindness. His brilliant and enviable brand of witty, insightful prose delivers a comforting reminder that success can come from unexpected places, and that the journey – rather than the destination – can be a lot more fulfilling. This a great read for anyone (past or future selves included) seeking inspiration and a fresh perspective.

You Don't Have To Have A Dream by Tim Minchin

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Heidi, Head of In Market & Brand Director

To say Charlotte’s writing is transportive is an understatement. To date, Charlotte’s books have had me wanting to up sticks and move to Greenland, then throw it all in to run with the wolves in the Scottish Highlands. In her latest novel, Wild Dark Shore, the story takes place on a tiny island off the coast of Antarctica, and you bet I now want to move there too! Such is the evocative way in which Charlotte describes the natural world and places in this book, but this is not a quiet story; there is a thrilling element to it, an intriguing cast of characters and a mystery to unravel. When a woman washes up on the shore of the windswept island Dominic Salt and his children inhabit, secrets start to surface, revealing the complexities of trust and survival. This is a book that will appeal to anyone who loves a good mystery, a beautifully described setting, and a story that tugs at the heartstrings.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

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Joel, Digital Marketing Executive

After deciding to listen to the audiobook of Nadia Mahjouri’s debut novel Half Truth on a whim, I became hooked almost immediately. It follows the journeys of Khadija and Zahra, two women from different worlds – Tasmania and Morocco – who are both searching for answers about the same man. Their stories collide, creating outcomes that neither could foresee. Drawn from the author’s own experiences, the story is told with heart and vigour, with the emotion coming across so vividly. Most impressively, this emotional complexity and character depth is maintained across several evocatively represented locations, and two intergenerational narratives that are closely intertwined. Each piece fits together seamlessly, creating a must-read tale of resilience, motherhood and cultural exploration. I can’t recommend this book any more highly!

Half Truth by Nadia Mahjouri

Need more inspiration? Find more long weekend escapes in this curated collection.