What to read this summer – mood reader’s edition
Every book lover has their own idea of what makes the perfect summer read, which is why this year’s round-up of summer book recommendations was written with mood readers in mind. Sometimes you yearn for a tender love story, other times a twisty thriller. Sometimes you don’t even know what you’re looking for until a synopsis draws you in with the promise of an unputdownable read. With the inclusion of YA and New Adult titles to please our fellow crossover readers, here are twenty books to suit every bookish mood.
In the mood for… Tudor revenge that reinvents the story of Anne Boleyn: The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann
We all know the story of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife who was disgraced and beheaded for treason. But what if Anne returned from the dead to wreak revenge on the man who discarded her and sent her to her death? That’s the premise of The Beheading Game, which gives the ill-fated Queen a chance to settle the score as she escapes the tower, sews her head back on and sets out on a quest for vengeance. As she navigates the streets in the guise of a commoner, Anne’s path to justice offers her a glimpse of the real world, as well as the possibility of a different future. If you love books set in the Tudor period, you’ll find much to enjoy in this well-researched alternate history tale with a fantastical twist. (Harvill)
In the mood for… an inventive haunted house horror: Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
In the present day, Lee is hiding out in his father’s home in Japan after murdering his roommate. He doesn’t remember why or where he hid the body, but he can remember the blood. In 1877, female Samurai, Sen, stalks the borders of her home to protect her family from slaughter. She’s not sure they’ll survive – not without her father, who returned from war a ghost of his former self. When Lee and Sen find one another through a door that defies time, they realise they might be able to help each other. But what they find in the creaking old house they share across centuries is beyond what either of them could imagine. Kylie Lee Baker’s eerie take on the haunted house horror blends real life terrors with time-slip supernatural chills. It’ll stay with you long after the final page. (Hodder & Stoughton)
In the mood for… an evocative summer escape to the intoxicating Peloponnese: Beneath the Orange Blossom by Emma Cowell
Two years after her husband’s death, dressmaker Ellen is struggling to put her difficult marriage behind her. When her best friend suggests they recreate their teenage summer in Kardamyli, Greece, which is where Ellen met her first love Alexandros, she gets the chance to confront the past she ran away from, as well as a second chance at happiness. Woven together with little threads of Greek mythology, this is an emotional rollercoaster of a novel with a beautiful backdrop. It’ll make you want to book a trip to the picturesque coastal village that captures its central character’s heart. (Avon)
In the mood for… an addictive thriller exploring female friendship: Such A Nice Girl by Andrea Mara
The morning after a glamorous, luxury wedding, best friends Siobhan and Grace go to wake their twenty-four-year-old daughters. Opening the door to their shared room in the pool-house, the women are met with a scene of disorder – spilt drinks, a smashed lamp, and a blood stain on the carpet. The girls are missing, the police are called and, over the next few days, truths will unravel and secrets come to light, testing Siobhan and Grace’s friendship to its limits. Because if one girl is the victim, it means the other is the killer, and nobody wants their daughter to be either of those things. A gripping psychological thriller that explores the complexities of female friendship – you won’t be able to put it down. (Bantam)
In the mood for… a bookish, high-concept rom-com: Falling For The Protagonist by Ben Goos
When Emmy falls asleep reading a romance novel, the last thing she expects is to wake up in the protagonist’s bed the next morning. She doesn’t want to disrupt Will Barrett’s idyllic world – even if he is fictional. He’s clearly content with his life and understandably doesn’t take it well when Emmy convinces him that his life and loves aren’t real. But as much as she’s eager to get back to the real world, the two form a connection that turns into love, and Will is determined to follow Emmy out of the book. They don’t know if or how they can make a relationship built on fiction work in reality, but together they’re willing to try. Goos’ debut is a fun and charming book-within-a-book romance with an inventive magical twist. (Aria)
In the mood for… a darkly humorous thriller about deceitful rich kids: Coterie of Liars by Kate Weston
Kate Weston’s thriller is a deviously macabre and darkly humorous novel about a group of friends – dubbed the ‘coterie’ – whose epic summer party to celebrate graduating from their elite private school descends into chaos. As chilling accidents begin to plague the group and eerie photos of the previous coterie emerge, it seems that everyone has something to hide. Even the notorious mansion has its secrets, and someone wants to expose them all. Sitting in that crossover sweet spot between YA and New Adult, Coterie of Liars is full of debauched rich kids you’ll love to hate. Think Gossip Girl meets Saltburn and you’ve got the right idea. (Electric Monkey)
In the mood for… a cosy, flower-filled fantasy romance: Wildflower by Becky Jenkinson
Prepare to be enchanted by this cosy fantasy debut which follows a magical florist who receives an unusual request for a mysterious flower. Cursed to always tell the truth, Fliss Farrow has learnt to choose her words carefully and avoid trouble. But her search for more rare flowers leads her to accept the help of handsome, outcast sorcerer and rumoured dark magic wielder Willoh Vane. Fearing that the flowers she’s gathered and delivered are intended for a sinister purpose, Fliss and Will embark on a quest to save the kingdom from disaster. An inclusive story of magical curses, family secrets and gentle romance, Wildflower will make your heart bloom with tenderness for its characters. (Zaffre)
In the mood for… a claustrophobic sci-fi thriller set in the ocean’s depths: Darker Water by Emma Read
It’s 2089, and four kilometres below the ocean surface, hierarchal underwater stations are home to hundreds of workers tasked with excavating and processing ProLEC, a miracle bacteria that’s the solution to the world’s energy crisis. But something is wrong with the ProLEC. The stations are wracked by power cuts and tremors, and once peaceful sea creatures are becoming violent. As three characters – a miner, an engineer and a biologist – start to unravel the truth of what’s really happening, it’s not just the marine creatures who pose a threat. The first in a new YA series, Darker Water is a claustrophobic thriller that promises more frightening fights for survival still to come. (Faber & Faber)
In the mood for… a romantic urban fantasy with witches: Witch Season by Julia Bianco
There are two types of witches: those who are born into magic, and those who explode with it. Katherine Barnes is an enforcer, charged with maintaining order in Los Angeles’ Aestas coven and bringing unsettled witches into the fold. When Silas Khatri, heir to the most powerful coven in the country, arrives to challenge Aestas’s unconventional practices, Katherine’s dislike for him reaches blistering levels. But a powerful threat is on the rise, one bigger than the coven power struggle, one that could lead to all-out war. And one that will draw Katherine and Silas together despite their differences. Julia Bianco’s debut has everything you could want in a magical urban fantasy: warring factions, high stakes action, witchy politics and sizzling chemistry between its central characters. For anyone who didn’t get the memo, urban fantasy is back! (Headline)
In the mood for… a twisty escape room YA murder mystery: The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss
Six months ago, season four of hit reality TV show The Escape Game ended in horror when a contestant was murdered in the escape room on set. Now season five is underway and new contestants are ready to put their skills to the test solving the show’s trickiest escape rooms. As the participants progress through the rounds, the puzzles aren’t just challenges, they’re clues. The deeper they go, the more dangerous it gets. And if they want to not only win but survive to tell the tale, they’ll have to solve the mystery of the murderer once and for all. A fun, twisty and cleverly plotted YA thriller that feels like a puzzle in itself. (Hot Key Books)
In the mood for… a heart-warming post-apocalyptic romance: All We Have Left by Emily Paxman
Thirty years after the end of the world, survivor Kayla Hollins is living in the fragmented wasteland of the Canadian Pacific Northwest. She’s outlived a colony, a cult, a paramilitary group and most of her family. So when her younger sister falls seriously ill, Kayla will do anything to save her – including entering into a marriage of convenience with an aspiring politician she hardly knows so she can secure vital medical care in a utopia on Salt Springs Island. Trapped together in the closest thing left to paradise, the lines of Kayla and Sid’s arrangement soon begin to blur into something with the power to save them both. For a post-apocalyptic novel, this is an unexpectedly gentle, hopeful and healing story about community, found family and second chances in the wake of devastation. (Titan Books)
In the mood for… real life Victorian trailblazers: The Scandalous Ladies Football Club by Frances Quinn
From ‘court dwarf’ Jeffrey Hudson to lay bonesetter Sally Mapp, Frances Quinn is an author known for writing novels inspired by unconventional figures from history. Her latest book tells the story of Nettie Honeyball (named Minnie Newton in Quinn’s book), who founded the British Ladies Football Club in 1895. Trailblazer Minnie is a twenty-eight-year-old school teacher and women’s rights advocate who decides to prove that football isn’t just a man’s game by putting together a motley squad for women. But the club quickly draws attention and controversy, which begins to threaten the life Minnie has built for herself. Heartening and entertaining in equal measure, you’ll be cheering these trailblazing women on all the way. (Simon & Schuster)
In the mood for… a unique love story told by everyone but the main characters: Main Characters by Bobby Palmer
When aspiring director Clara and directionless actor Seb meet in a quiet corner of London, their connection is magnetic. From the outside, their passionate, whirlwind relationship is exactly what falling in love should be like. But when Clara casts Seb in the film that will make her name, what should be the happiest time of their lives ends with a gut-wrenching betrayal. Told through the eyes of friends, flatmates, exes and strangers, this is a love story where everyone but the two main characters get to share their version of events. This kind of concept could have easily felt like a structural gimmick if written by a less assured author but Palmer makes the outside perspective work, gifting readers a unique and deeply moving novel. (Headline)
In the mood for… a clever twist on Hitchcock’s iconic horror Psycho: Marion by Leah Rowan
Hitchcock shocked audiences when he brutally killed off protagonist Marion Crane in Psycho. Leah Rowan’s reimagining of the seminal horror might begin with that same desperate woman who’s stolen money from her employer but it soon switches gears, giving the titular leading lady a chance to fight back. Instead of Norm killing Marion, Marion kills Norm. And so begins a fateful chain of events that explores just how far Marion will go to save both herself and the sister she was originally trying to protect. Told from the dual perspectives of Marion and an investigator looking for a missing woman, Rowan’s novel is fuelled by frustration and female rage – a must-read for classic horror fans. (Titan Books)
In the mood for… spies in the sixties: The Spy and the Snake by M J Robotham
The second book in Robotham’s Mrs Spy series reunites readers with MI5 operative Maggie Flynn, whose well-earned promotion has pulled her out of the field and put her behind a desk. Without the disguises and danger, Maggie’s days in London are starting to feel ordinary. So when an assignment to fly to Budapest and pose as the wife of a notorious British defector in order to smuggle him back to the UK arises, Maggie doesn’t hesitate. But as Cold War tensions simmer and shadows linger on every corner, Maggie finds herself drawn to a mysterious stranger who may endanger more than just the mission. Read this for the evocative 60’s atmosphere, the tense spy thrills and the tenacious heroine at its heart. (Aria)
In the mood for… a nostalgic noughties sports slasher: Splasher by Billie Host
It’s 2006 and all Spencer Ward should be worrying about is his new job as Assistant Swim Coach at Richardson University. It’s been a decade since tragedy struck during his own college years but when two students are found dead in the pool on the first day of training, Spencer is overcome with an ominous sense of déjà vu. As increasingly severe freak accidents plague the students, Spencer and his team must figure out what is hunting them before it’s too late. With a heavy dose of noughties nostalgia, Splasher mixes competitive sports drama with camp Point Horror-esque thrills, resulting in a fun and suspenseful slasher. (Penguin)
In the mood for… spooky season vibes and small-town summer romance: Summerween by Joss Wood
Wearing its devotion to Halloween firmly on its sleeve, this aptly titled rom-com follows choreographer Wren Dunlop whose summer plans of solitude by the lake get derailed when she’s roped into teaching dance for her hometown’s Summerween spectacular. She’s not the only one hiding out in Solstice Springs. Burned out trauma surgeon Dane Trafford might have two left feet but he’s determined to prove that men can express themselves through dance too. As they get to know the steps – and each other – Wren and Dane get caught up in the magical spell that Summerween weaves around them. Full of delightfully quirky characters and small-town charm, this is the ideal summer read for fans of spooky season. (One More Chapter)
In the mood for… a sexy dark academia sequel: Daybreak by Autumn Woods
When Ophelia Winters arrived at Sorrowsong, an elite university in the Scottish Highlands, she wanted nothing more than to destroy Alex Corbeau-Green and his billionaire family. But that was before she knew him and they fell in love. Now, an unthinkable betrayal and his father’s disappearance has forced Alex back to New York to salvage the family empire, leaving Ophelia reeling and alone. But when an anonymous tormentor threatens to reveal evidence that Ophelia and Alex committed a murder on campus, the two must find a way to trust each other once again in order to stay alive. Autumn Wood’s follow-up to Night Shade is pure dark academia heaven – suspenseful, romantic and tender in all the best ways. (Pan)
In the mood for… a deeply human tale of mental health and falling in love: Outside by Charlotte Levin
Following a tragic incident, rising-star Beatrice has retreated from life entirely and now finds herself unable to leave the house. With her acting career by the wayside, her connection to the outside world consists of her elderly Polish neighbour, the tedious postman, a therapist with issues of her own, Piano Woman from the flat opposite, and a foul-mouthed parakeet called Matisse. Then Irish gardener, Finn, enters Beatrice’s life and she’s no longer so isolated and alone. But can their relationship help her confront her fears and step outside again? A story full of themes close to Levin’s heart, Outside is a poignant and perceptive novel with characters that really stay with you. One to look forward to when it’s released next month. (Oneworld)
In the mood for… an unsettling gothic fever dream about secrets and desire: Dreamland by Olivie Blake
Another one for the August pre-orders is Olivie Blake’s contemporary gothic novel about fame, family secrets, unsolved murders and ill-fated love. When struggling actress Anya Morris receives an invitation to work for the iconic de Witt family – one of LA’s most influential Hollywood dynasties – she accepts. All she has to do is spend time with Jude, the reclusive and enigmatic heir apparent. But Jude is a man sequestered by mysterious health issues and the de Witt estate is tainted by blood and secrets. Drawn deeper into their world, Anya begins to wonder if it’s the strange house that’s cursed, or if it’s Jude himself that might be touched by the occult. Like so many of Blake’s novels, this is a trippy, mind-bending, fever dream of a read. The perfect Hollywood-set supernatural horror to devour during a sultry heatwave. (Tor)
