Top Ten Holiday Reads For 2024

I usually have my head in a book, and I've been reading some great novels lately. I have listed my 'Top Ten' books to give you some inspiration for your holidays this year. Now Spring is here, and Summer will just be around the corner, we all need some great reads for the holidays ahead, whether you are going abroad or having a fun staycation. If you are anything like me, there's nothing quite like lounging on a sun-bed on the beach or by the pool (or even in my own back garden!) with a cocktail or mocktail in hand, soaking up a tan whilst devouring a captivating read.

There are various different genres on my list, from historical fiction to thrillers, so there should be something to suit every reader.

1. Miss Austen Investigates by Jessica Bull Historical Fiction / Crime Fiction I couldn't put this one down! If you're a Jane Austen fan, then you will love this murder mystery as Jane turns detective in this fascinating crime novel. It really is a genius piece of writing, with beautifully-drawn characters that come to life on the page, and a captivating storyline with a mystery to solve that will leave you hooked! Jessica Bull has also masterfully reflected one of Jane Austen's novels throughout to subtly pay tribute to her work. See if you can guess which one it is before you reach the end!
   

2. In the Blink Of An Eye by Jo Callaghan Thriller / Mystery / Science Fiction Wow, another real page-turner! This thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole way through as the author takes you on a journey to solve some unsolved puzzling cases that are all connected to each other. This novel also has an exciting Science Fiction edge to it, as the Detective in the novel has to solve the crime along with an AI Detective, which adds a fascinating twist to it.
   

3. The Doll Factory by Elizabeth MacNeal Historical Fiction / Gothic Fiction / Thriller This is masterful story-telling at its finest. The literary language used to portray the story of Iris, a young woman who longs to be an artist and make a better life for herself, is engaging and beautifully told. This Victorian Gothic tale is haunting and full of suspense as we follow Iris' story and her journey to becoming a model for the artist, Louis Frost, whilst she is unwittingly being stalked by a man named Silas who is obsessed with her.
   

4. The Interpreter by Brooke Robinson Psychological Thriller / Mystery / Suspense Another thriller I struggled to put down! This novel centres on Revelle Lee, a single mother, whose job entails interpreting for witnesses and defendants in court. However, one day, she purposefully mistranslates a statement in order to change a verdict, in her belief that a grave injustice is about to be served and a guilty man is about to go free. Revelle must do everything she can to prevent her act from being discovered, otherwise she will lose everything, including her son. However, there is someone out there who can expose her, and who is out for revenge.
   

5. Midnight by Amy McCulloch Thriller / Suspense / Psychological Thriller / Adventure Fiction This thriller is full of unexpected twists and turns, as we journey with Olivia who has embarked on an Antarctic cruise, but it soon becomes apparent that there is a killer on board the ship, and you never know when they will strike next or who will be the target. Definitely a gripping read from start to finish!
   

6. Atalanta by Jennifer Saint Fairy Tale / Historical Fiction This was a refreshing Greek mythology retelling of Jason and the Argonauts, written from the perspective of the Greek heroine Atalanta, the only female crew member of the Argo. For once, this is a Greek tale that doesn't have a tragic ending, which was good for me as I hate sad endings! The imagery created used by Jennifer Saint's excellent storytelling is vibrant, and there is adventure, danger and even romance around every turn.
   

7. River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Sheare Historical Fiction This is such a beautiful and deeply moving story about a mother's undying love, and her quest to find her children who were cruelly separated from her, torn apart by slavery. Set in the Caribbean, this is a heartwarming tale of a mother's determination, courage and tenacity as she faces dangers, adversity and a great adventure as she searches for her children.
   

8. Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons Historical Fiction / Romance Novel We're all familiar with literature's most tragic couple and their love story: Romeo and Juliet. But what do we really know of Romeo? Before he fell in love with and married Juliet, Shakespeare's play tells us how he was in love with fair Rosaline. Natasha Solomons cleverly explores the darker side to Romeo we didn't know was there, as she tells the tale of poor Rosaline, the fair maiden that Romeo uses and then abandons in his fickleness and treachery.
   

9. The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell Historical Fiction / Biographical Fiction Maggie O'Farrell does an exquisite job of portraying the complicated life of young Lucrezia, the third daughter of Cosimo de’ Medici, who is forced in marriage to Alfonso d’Este. Set in the 1560's in Florence, Italy, we follow Lucrezia and watch her story unfold, as the author cleverly shows us how women's lives and fates were controlled and manipulated by the men of the time.
   

10. Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce Adventure Fiction / Historical Fiction / Humorous What better novel to read on your travels than a fascinating adventure novel as it follows two very different women embark on an exciting and yet turbulent journey together in the search for a rare beetle.

I'd love to hear what you have been reading lately and what you would recommend for my holiday reading list! Leave me a comment and let me know. :-)