12 Books to Heat Up Your Summer

There is something irresistibly alluring about summer. For some, it’s a chance to explore the wild side of the faraway lands, for others- an opportunity to enjoy sunny days on the beach, while for the rest of us- it’s a time to indulge in some summer reading. From brand new novels making a splash this season to our beloved classics, we have selected twelve sizzling reads you can dive into for a great escape. 

The Elementals by Michael McDowell

After a bizarre and disturbing incident at the funeral of matriarch Marian Savage, the McCray and Savage families look forward to a restful and relaxing summer at Beldame, on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, where three Victorian houses loom over the shimmering beach. Two of the houses are habitable, while the third is slowly and mysteriously being buried beneath an enormous dune of blindingly white sand. But though long uninhabited, the third house is not empty. Inside, something deadly lies in wait. Something that has terrified Dauphin Savage and Luker McCray since they were boys and which still haunts their nightmares. Something horrific that may be responsible for several terrible and unexplained deaths years earlier – and is now ready to kill again…

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The Water-Witch by James Fenimore Cooper

Set in 17th century New York and the surrounding sea, the novel depicts the abduction of a woman, Alida de Barbérie, by the pirate captain of the brigantine Water-Witch, and the subsequent pursuit of that elusive ship by her suitor, Captain Ludlow. Cooper wrote the novel, while on an extended tour of Europe, during his stay in the villa Palazzu detta del Tasso near Naples. Cooper tried to print the novel while he was in Italy in 1829 but Papal censors forbade its publication in Italy. Cooper was then able to print the novel in Dresden, before also sending copies to his publishers in the US and England. Critic Allan Axelrod describes the novel as heavily influenced by the Italian context of its writing, noting that it even compares the landscapes of New York with that of Italy.

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The Castaways by Lucy Clarke

“Sisters, Lori and Erin, have an unforgettable holiday planned, in Fiji. The night before their plane was due to transport them from the mainland to one of the remote islands they have a terrible fight and only one sister boards the plane. This sister, as well as the pilot, the seven other passengers, and the vessel carrying them are never seen again. This story is told through two distinct timelines and perspectives. This ensures the reader is privy to Lori’s plane crash as well as Erin’s bid to find out what truly happened to her, two years later. You will be just as invested in each, as both sisters are intriguing characters with their own demons to deal with and a distinct inner-light to aid in fighting them. Just as each of the mysteries, which pepper this book, seems on the brink of a full discovery another is opened in its place, leading both the reader and each sister ever deeper into a chaotic web of intrigue, lies, and shadiness. The final part provides a twist, which makes for an interesting conclusion leaving you with much to ponder over.”- Dannielle

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Persuasion by Jane Austen

Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen’s most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne’s family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate. All the tension of the novel revolves around one question: Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited in their love?

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The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay

Five university students embark on a journey of self-discovery when they enter a realm of wizards and warriors, gods and mythical creatures–and good and evil…

It all began with a lecture that introduced five university students to a man who would change their lives, a wizard who would take them from Earth to the heart of the first of all worlds–Fionavar. And take them Loren Silvercloak did, for his need–the need of Fionavar and all the worlds–was great indeed.

And in a marvellous land of men and dwarves, of wizards and gods, five young people discovered who they were truly meant to be. For they are a long-awaited part of the pattern known as the Fionavar Tapestry, and only if they accepted their destiny would the armies of the Light stand any chance of surviving the wrath the Unraveller and his minions of darkness intend to unleash upon the world…

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What Lies Beneath by Adam Croft

“Set in real world Rutland, England this book gives the reader something different than those set in fictional places. Local residents will naturally love the settings that they might recognise. This book is much more than just a draw for those folks though. It’s a fun, addictive police procedural that follows a murder. There are naturally some dark themes but there’s also some humour and there’s also personal life issues for the main character, DI Caroline Hills. All of these things are mixed together giving the reader a very entertaining book. We follow DI Hills as she investigates the discovery of a body at a local landmark. She is a very complex character with her own personal issues taking their toll on her as well as the stresses of a murder investigation. There’s also the treat of trying to guess who did actually did commit the murder! Overall, a good book from an author that has certainly earned his reputation.”- Chris Well

The Beach by Alex Garland

Rumours of a Thai utopia, the secret location of which can only be disclosed to a chosen few, have been circulating among backpackers for decades. In search of his slice of paradise, a young English traveller Richard joins forces with two fellow explorers to venture into unchartered waters of East Asia. Soon they discover a breathtaking island that seems to offer infinite freedom and a chance of a fresh start. However, when isolation, social anxiety and hallucinations take the better of Richard, his newly found Shangri-La turns into a trap more terrifying than he could possibly have foreseen. 

This delightful summer read promises to be as satisfying as the feeling of sand between your toes. 

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Under a Greek Moon by Carol Kirkwood

“Under a Greek Moon by Carol Kirkwood is the perfect summer read – whilst many of us are dreaming of holidays abroad, this book will transport you to a Greek island to enjoy a few hours of escapism dreaming of sunshine, with a little bit of Hollywood glamour thrown in. It’s the story of a successful actress, Shauna Jackson, who appears to be living the dream life in Hollywood – but when her husband dies suddenly she finds herself in the midst of a scandal and escapes back to a small Greek island where as a teenager she first fell in love. It is an island that holds many fond memories but as she reunites with Demetrios, the man who broke her heart all those years ago, she is forced to confront secrets she has kept buried for many years. A love story and a tale of second chances, it’s the perfect easy read that will sweep you up and keep you turning the pages, have you dreaming of balmy nights in tavernas, and perhaps even finding your own Greek god!”- Elizabeth C. 

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The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware

When Harriet Westaway receives an unexpected letter telling her she’s inherited a substantial bequest from her Cornish grandmother, it seems like the answer to her prayers. There’s just one problem – Hal’s real grandparents died more than twenty years ago. Hal desperately needs the cash and makes a choice that will change her life for ever. She knows that her skills as a seaside fortune teller could help her con her way to getting the money. But once Hal embarks on her deception, there is no going back. 

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The Appeal by Janice Hallett

“In The Appeal a stroke of fate brings an English village community together: little Poppy Reswick is sick with cancer. The local theater company “The Fairway Players” quickly donated £250,000 for the treatment. But suddenly the money is gone. Could someone be so hardened as to steal from a sick child? The answer is yes – and he or she doesn’t shy away from murder in order to cover up the crime. But someone has given himself away in the emails that go back and forth within the group. Between the lines, the members show their true colors, because everyone involved has their own goals and no one knows better than the fairway players how to pull off a show.”- Lou

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The Lord of The Flies by William Golding

An ultimate story of survival, The Lord of The Flies follows a group of children marooned on a tropical island after a disastrous plane crash. As the harsh reality descends upon the young castaways, tempers begin to fray and friendships are put to the test. It’s not long before the first shoots of democracy are ripped out by anarchy when the voice of reason is silenced by primordial needs of the tribe. Smeared with blood and savagery, this twisted allegory brings to light the wickedness of the untamed heart away from civilisation. 

The eighth most frequently banned book in the US history, this classic tale rustled some furthers among critics and parents for its racist remarks, bullying theme and pro-slavery ideology. Some schools went as far as striking the book from their school curriculum because of “profanity, excessive violence and demoralising” message to young readers.

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