Best Books to Read on Your Holiday | Top Vacation Reads

Whatever the escape, these are the book titles you’ll want to pack.

A trip away gives you the chance to unwind, and a good fiction novel can help you fully disconnect from work, notifications, social media and everyday pressures. 

From uplifting romance books for the sunlounger to gripping crime and thrillers for long flights, these top 10 best holiday reads of all time offer something for every kind of escape.

Take these books with you on your next holiday.

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

Set in the fictional seaside town of Little Crescent Island, Great Big Beautiful Life pits two journalists against each other for the chance to write the biography of a reclusive, scandal-trailing heiress who's only giving away her secrets one tantalising piece at a time. It’s a grumpy-meets-sunshine pairing done to perfection.

The Bad Bridesmaid by Rachael Johns

When serial dater Fred is roped in as matron of honour for her mother's sixth wedding, she thinks it's a big mistake and is determined to stop it from going ahead. Also on the same page is Leo, the groom’s gorgeous son. Together, they hatch a plan to put an end to the nuptials once and for all.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Told entirely through letters and emails, this novel follows sharp-tongued Sybil Van Antwerp, a retired lawyer who has spent thirty years keeping everyone at arm's length. That is until an old correspondence forces her to reckon with the past.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

On a remote subantarctic island, home to the world’s largest seed vault, a family of caretakers rescues a mysterious woman from the sea during a violent storm. As she recovers, old grief begins to surface, and hidden motives come to light, placing both the family and the island’s precious collection at risk.

The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros

A soldier's final letter sends his best friend to a small Colorado town to honour one last promise: to look after the sister and family he left behind. As Beckett helps Ella and her children rebuild their lives, the bond between them deepens into a heartfelt romance shaped by healing and hope.

Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

Ten suspects, ten planned heists and one very unlucky amateur detective caught inside a bank robbery gone spectacularly wrong. When one of the hostages is murdered, Ernest Cunningham must work out who came to steal what and how far they are willing to go to get it.

Private Tokyo by James Patterson and Adam Hamdy 

A covert operative is murdered on the streets of Tokyo, and his dying message draws private investigator Jack Morgan into a conspiracy that reaches far beyond a single killing. As the investigation deepens, Morgan uncovers a deadly plot that puts both the city and his own life in grave danger.

Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen

In this sequel, newly crowned queen Meryn Cooper is fighting to hold her fractured kingdom together, with only her bonded direwolf and her former enemy, Stark Therion, by her side. As political tensions rise and enemies close in, Meryn must decide who she can trust while risking both her crown and her heart.

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett 

Set in Depression-era Mississippi, this sweeping novel follows orphaned Meg Lefleur as her path becomes entwined with a group of women brought together by hardship and circumstance. As buried secrets come to light and loyalties are tested, they discover the strength to challenge the expectations placed upon them.

The Divorce by Freida McFadden

When her husband leaves her for a younger woman, drains their accounts and takes control of the life they built together, Naomi refuses to simply move on. Her curiosity about his new girlfriend soon turns into obsession, uncovering secrets that place her own safety at risk.

Looking for more reading inspiration?

Ten books for holiday reading not quite enough? Browse our contemporary fiction collection for recent releases and reader favourites in a similar vein. 

Planning the trip itself? Our travel books bring together practical guides and evocative travel writing to help you make the most of wherever you are headed. 

For remarkable true stories, turn to our biographies and memoirs, which showcase extraordinary lives and experiences. You can also browse our audiobooks and take your next story with you, without adding extra weight to your suitcase.