3 women share their favourite holiday reads to inspire your next poolside book pick

Ice cream on the beach heatwave

Credit: Getty

Books


3 women share their favourite holiday reads to inspire your next poolside book pick

By Zesha Saleem

2 years ago

5 min read

We spoke to three women about their favourite holiday read to inspire your next poolside book choice.


Not a lot compares to the joy of reading a good book on holiday – whether it’s in your garden or on a warm, sunny beach halfway across the world.

For some, it’s the perfect time of year to finally work through their ever-growing to-be-read pile, accumulated throughout a very busy year. Others like to retreat back into the comfort of their favourite books for their poolside reading. Whatever you prefer, a good read can definitely enhance your holiday.

According to research by TUI’s hotel brand TUI Blue, holidaymakers read an average of 1.9 books on their annual holiday – with favourite genres including romance, mysteries and thrillers. Not only that, but 30% of those surveyed said that they like to read different types of books on holiday compared to the ones they’d usually read at home.

If you’re stuck on what to read while on your next holiday, don’t fear. We spoke to three women about their special summer reads to help inspire your own holiday reading. 

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Katherine Storr, a 38-year-old freelance journalist from south London likes to read on holiday because it’s just so much easier.

“I love reading on holiday – it’s what I’ve always done since I was very young,” she said. “I find it hard to concentrate on reading at home. I have three young children who wake up very early, so I’m very tired in the evenings and can usually only manage 10 pages or so.”

With reading from home nearly impossible, she uses holidays to read books that she really wants to get stuck into. “A holiday is an escape from real life, and reading a brilliant book is another way of shutting off from the real world of being a parent and the regular routine of family life.”

Her recent favourite summer read was Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, the winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and described as a reimagination of Charles Dickens’s David Copperfield for the modern age.

Couple in blue clothes on a boat ride

Credit: Katherine Storr

“It’s a tough read at times, which I would have found harder to cope with if I was reading it at home after a stressful day. As I was reading it in Mallorca on a beautiful beach, I found it easier to deal with the less upbeat storylines,” she said.

If you’re looking for summer inspiration, Katherine recommends going to your local library to see what’s in, reading online round-ups of books to take on holiday or even forming a group with your friends so everyone can share their current choices.

And Then She Vanished by Nick Jones

For 43-year-old Claire Gleave, director of a maternity activewear brand, reading on holiday is a chance to try something different that she might otherwise have given up on after a few pages.

A particularly special read was And Then She Vanished by Nick Jones, which is about a man who uses time travel to try and save his sister, who’s been missing since childhood. Claire started reading it after a friend recommended it.

“I kept falling asleep on it at home (not the book’s fault), so I saved it for my holiday last summer and read the whole thing over a couple of days. I couldn’t put it down,” she said. 

“I gave it to my eldest son after and he loved it too. It’s been so lovely to share a book that we’ve both really enjoyed and can discuss.”

If you’re stuck for reading inspiration, Claire recommends talking to friends, but most importantly, not being scared of trying something new.

“I find on holiday you can really get stuck into a book in a way you can’t at home, which is especially good if you are an impatient reader like me. Make sure to research before you go and get your books or Kindle ready beforehand. Don’t just pick up any old thing at the airport.”

Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

Shop Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari (Vintage), £12.34 at Bookshop.org

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Alexandra Watson, a 49-year-old outdoor products reviewer who relocated to Spain seven years ago, loves her holiday reads to be about self-development. For her, reading at home is too difficult due to the demands of her daily life.

“I never read when I am home; I am far too busy to make it a priority, but when I travel, that’s it. My brain and body demand I read to feel I am on a break,” she said.

While picking a favourite summer read is hard, she finally decided on Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari as her choice. A firm favourite read by many – from Barack Obama to Chris Evans – it discusses how humans and society have changed over the course of millions of years.

Visitng Matera this year - Selfie of family

Credit: Alexandra Watson

“I had to ‘read’ the book, and it took me a month – I usually can get a book finished relatively quickly, but this was deep, fascinating and made me think about our ancestry,” she said.

“I also love history; it contains many places I have been to and still want to visit, like Göbekli Tepe in Turkey. It was riveting and brilliant and absorbed me while idling away.”

Alexandra recommends allowing yourself to be swept away by your holiday reads.

“Think about having fun, letting off steam and chilling with the books you read. Holidays are meant to be relaxing, so find a book that helps you do just that.”

“It can be a real indulgence and a joy if you don’t have time in your everyday life to dive into a book.”


Images: courtesy of case studies; publishers

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