As I scrolled through my social media timelines over the Easter holidays I was somewhat envious of those sitting by the pool enjoying a book. As we approach May my timeline is going to full of these images until at least the end of September, if not longer.
Many of the photos shared stated that they had picked up a new book on the spur of the moment in the airport lounge. This got me to thinking…
How do you pick the perfect holiday book?
Personally, I still have the debate as to whether I should be turning to technology and finally purchasing the Kindle Paperwhite that I have had my eye on in forever. Or do I stick with tradition and enjoy the feel of a new book between my fingers and turn each page with anticipation as to what is going to happen next.
As a sucker for a bit of romance, I have to confess that it will be a love story that will win my attention this summer. There are enough doom and gloom stories on the news without opting to read a novel containing it too!
Finding your perfect holiday book
Holiday Gems have recently published a blog with the answers to all your holiday reading questions, including:
- What type of book should I take with me? This will vary depending on the type of holiday youāre going onā¦ a beach break, family getaway or couples escape.
- eBook vs actual bookā¦ which is better for your holiday reads?
- Additional essential tips for holiday bookworms.
Head over to the Holiday Gems blog for the full guide to finding your perfect holiday book.
Giveaway
To help you pick your perfect holiday book, Holiday Gems are kindly offering a Ā£25 Amazon.co.uk gift voucher to one lucky reader.
To enter leave me a comment telling me what book would you like to take on holiday this year, then complete the Gleam widget below:
Ā£25 Amazon Voucher from Holiday Gems
Featured Giveaway
Gone Girl, havent read it yet!
The Girl In The Ice or Killing Hope. I’ve read them both already but I love them so much I would happily read them again and again x
I would choose a different type of book to take with me I would choose a adult colouring book
Color My Heart Happy & some colouring pencils š x
The book thief
My wedding is in greece next month, so a lovely romance with a happy ending x
I would take a bird ID guide for the country I was visiting – as I am a bird watcher
A Curious Career
I’m a sucker for any PG Wodehouse or Agatha Christie – depending on my mood!!
I really like Martina Cole books
One of the Sophie Kinsella books have not read
I love books, something historical or crime!
I quite fancy Little Deaths by Emma Flint
The Summer Seaside Kitchen by Jenny Colgan.
Rag Doll, I’ve had it for ages and can’t wait to read it.
I read a lot of psychological thrillers so I usually take 3 books that are new releases at the time of going on holiday.
I would take gone girl book
my mother in law has got me a agatha rasien book
I think I would take the latest Claire North book, she’s one of my favourite authors.
John Cleese autobiography is on my Summer reading list
Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses by Carole Matthews
Diane Chamberlain Pretending to dance -cant wait to read
I think i’d take a couple of celeb auto-biographys š
I love a good mix of chick-lit, suspense and a few auto-biographies. I also really want to try an actual Kindle as I get too distracted using a tablet and never get around to actually reading!
Gone Girl š xxx
The Keeper of Lost Thing by Ruth Hogan. It’s been described as the feel-good novel of the year.
I always enjoy a good mystery to read on holiday.
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy! Never get tired of reading it!
Paper Hearts and summer kisses by Carol Matthews
The Legacy of Lucy Harte and Watching Edie are on my list to read
I don’t take a single book, I like to read a book a day when I’m on holiday, so I’m loading my kindle 9to save weight in the suitcase) with lots of books in different genres so that I have something to suit my mood whatever I happen to fancy.
I like holiday reading to be light and fun so I usually re-read a book I have enjoyed in the past – my favourite being The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy which makes me laugh no matter how often I read it.
My Name is Leon – I’ve been attempting to get round to reading it for months!
My holiday read is The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. I have seen the film, which I thought was brilliant.
A Seaside Affair by Fern Britton
something light like Sophie Kinsella books
I will be taking ‘Educating Jack’ by Jack Sheffield
All grown up by Jami Attenberg.
The Breakdown by B A Paris.
Thanks for a super giveaway š
The girl on the train – I must be the only person not to have read it
Sounds a bit daft as I’m an adult, but I really want to read some of David Walliam’s books.
We are going away next month, this would be a great start to fill up our kindles with some new books. good luck all š
my next book is the autobigrapht of Neil Young
Since I have a Kindle Paperwhite I will be taking many books on holiday! There will probably be a Patricia Cornwell book on there and hopefully something like ‘I am pilgrim’ and ‘The hate u give’
My summer read is LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring, finally going to power through it! Also interested in reading some more Kurt Vonnegut books… Slaughterhouse 5 was a rollercoaster!
The new Phillipa Gregory book – I love her books
to kill a mockingbird
Gone Girl would be my choice
ebooks for sure only need to take one item instead of loads of books
I’ve got Peter Kay’s autobiography’s stashed away ready for my next holiday adventure!
Somebody recommenede Slave Girl by Sarah Forsyth to me recently, so that will be on my kindle for this years holiday.
any on my kindle sounds good to me š thanks
Into the Water – Paula Hawkins.
Lion A Long Way Home
Any Stephen King book, especially The Stand
I love reading Kathy Reichs on holiday š
The book i would love to take on Holiday with me this year would have to be From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds by Daniel Dennett
The Fireman by Joe Hill. It was a christmas present, not got around to reading it yet.
How The Secret Changed My Life
The Essex Serpent, I already have this on my kindle but am saving it for my hols
My Not So Perfect Life
Not sure yet, maybe a Stephen King book
I would bring my book The Girls! I am half way through it and it is brilliant!
The girl who kicked the hornet’s nest.
Behind the Palace Walls,
The Girl on the Train
I can’t wait to read Lamentation by CJ Sansom, it’s been in my ‘to read’ pile for years!
I’ve downloaded the Novak series by Bella Forrest (vampires, a bit like Twilight), there’s over 20 books so that should keep me busy all summer š
Night School – Lee Child
Dark Water by Robert Bryndza; I have read The Girl In The Ice and the Night Stalker by him and just love his books, can’t wait to start on the next!
thee new roy grace book
A good muder mystery or something by Belinda Bauer
to kill a mockingbird
Jodi Picoult new book!
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – i always meant to read it, but never got round to it.
Any advanced+ book on bridge by Hugh Kelsey.
La Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver x
Happy mum happy baby!
A Carole Matthews book x
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry.
The Girl On The Train (still haven’t read it)
Anything by Karin Slaughter
Show Me A Mountain by Kerry Young
I will be taking The Einstein Pursuit by Chris Kuzneski. I love all of his books
Night is watching by Lucy Cameron
I’ve got loads of unread new books on my book shelf so I’d start there!
A book about how to make money
Percy Jackson and the sea of monsters
I really want to read the Fallen series so i would take that.
I’d take the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy š
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami . one of the few I haven’t read of his! hoping it will be good!
The Guardians Guide to the Galaxy, not read it yet but heard its good.
me before you, Jojo Moyes
The Midnight Line – Lee Child
Flowers in the attic – Virginia Andrews
I am really into real life crime books at the moment. I have the big book of crime to read.
My Spanish grammar books (sad!)
I always start reading two books just before I go on holiday, a funny one and a thriller then depending how I feel on the day, I dip into either one. I hate to start a new book on holiday just in case I don’t like it. Also I do not go anywhere without my kindle, it is a life saver.
Believe it or not I am one of the few who hasn’t read ‘The Girl on the Train’ by Paula Hawkins. I already have it on my Kindle so I am saving it to read on holiday
I love 1984, it’s a heavy book but I like to escape in that book!!
The Girl On The Train
I have a pile to read. Top of the pile is ‘Sometimes I lie’. I can’t wait!
Sam Peters ` – From darkest Skys
I am finally going to get round to reading The Girl on the Train and The Unmumsy Mum for a bit of levity.
The Friend by Dorothy Koomson.
One of the Agatha raisin series, brilliant fun!
I still haven’t read inferno so wouldn’t mind taking that with me š
Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters – and then the rest of the series!! I read very fast ha ha. Excellent series about a Victorian female archaeologist with a bit of murder mystery thrown in!
Spoils by Brian Van Reet
Top of my list is I See You by Clare Mackintosh š
50 shades of grey. Havent read them yet
Time to revisit the Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Such clever stories, so that will be perfect.
“Happy” by Ferne Cotton is my choice of book. It’s a self help book not a novel rec that are usually taken away with you but, it think it will make a “Happy”
the latest michael palin diaries!
The book theif I watched the film the other day was really good
The Boy on the bridge by M.R.Carey is the one on my list
I’m planning to get hold of some hard sci-fi novels to read this year. Iain M. Banks is high on my list.
Well, I have just discovered Danielle Steele, so I have plenty to choose from. Nice easy reading
I am taking Paper Hearts and summer kisses by Carol Matthews, it has been recommended by my friend.
“The Darkest Goodbye” by Alex Gray
I am taking any Agatha Christie book – I’m trying to read and collect them all!
I’d take some Regency Mills and Boon to escape!!
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson š
There are so many books that I want to read at the moment. I am a horror/thriller fanatic so I think the book I would take is The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King which is a collection of stories so perfect for short bursts of reading
I actually like taking cookery books away with me to get some inspiration for new recipes and ingredients!
Gone girl – ive seen the film but not had time to read the book yet
‘The Museum of Extraordinary Things’ by Alice Hoffman…I like a bit of escapism whilst on hols!
Any of the Shopaholics series by Sophie Kinsella
A newly published autobiography, love them!
I need to catch up on the last few books from the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones, so will be popping those on my kindle ready for holiday!
A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson her follow up to Life After Life which I have been meaning to read for ages. It is very large glad I am not going on a plane.
I really want to read The Girl On The Train
Tinker tailor soldier spy by john le carre – Need to re read this to see if I can follow the plot
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas, I hear it’s amazing!
I have just been recommended “two brothers” by Ben Elton, not something I would normally read but definitely taking it on holiday this summer
I’d like to take Jackie Collins latest book The Santangelos will miss her books
I really want to read the girl with the dragon tattoo so I would take that
The House at Riverton-Kate Morton š
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, everyone is raving about it!
Anything by Stephen King
My not so perfect life by Sophie kinsella! i love her books x
I always buy a cheap trashy romance to read and then I don’t mind leaving it behind.
Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick, love an autobiography when I’m on holiday.
I like horror and crime stories
I’ll be taking “Paperhearts and Summer Kisses” by Carole Matthews
I’d take all of Katie Fforde’s books, I love her!
Definitely something by Diane Chamberlain
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
anything by Louise Hay
the sudden departure of the frasers
Mum’s List by St John Greene
The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins
The Officer and the spy by Robert Harris
I will take my kindle that has many books on it already, I want to finish Stephen Kings The Dark tower series this summer only 4 to go
I have never read any Harry Potter and people keep telling me I am missing out so the trilogy would be great.
There are so many books I want to read! I’d probably choose The Essex Serpent by Sarah Parry x
The Girl in the spiders web, I have read all the other millennium books but not the latest one yet.
Anything chick lit as I love easy reading..or a cookbook!
I will be taking something by Marion Keyes love an easy read when on holiday!
I really want to read the new Laline Paull book! I loved The Bees, so I think her new book will be amazing.
Sharon Osbourne biography
The Burial Hour – the latest Jeffrey Deaver
Ripper – Patricia Cornwell
I absolutely love her!! Very excited to read this one! Xo
I’d take some Cathy Glass books
it would have to be a book bu Terry Brooks
The Breakdown by B A Paris
The girl on the train
I’d like to take the new Harry Potter book
Stephen King – It
Something light and happy like a Sophie Kinsella book or the Scotland Street series.
I’m still reading The Princess Diarist, so will probably take that to finish.
Sophie Kinsella’s latest book – My Not So Perfect Life – as I’ve not had chance to read it yet. She’s written some great holiday reads š
martina coles books
American Gods – can’t wait to start watching the TV series later today!
The girl on the train
The God of Small Things. I read it a long time ago but would like to read it again.
The Girl on the Train, because I still haven’t read it!
i love anything that is an easy read, last holiday i picked up giovanna fletcher in the swap box that was good.
Either a Catherine Cookson or Lynne Andrews era style
The Wedding, by Nicholas Sparks (sequel to my favourite book of all time, The Notebook)
Am not really a book reader so would take a Holiday guide with me as i always get lost
Can you Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella!
The Great Liners Story
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
The Wrong Knickers – A Decade of Chaos by Bryony Gordon as I’m currently reading, Mad girl and she refers to her other book a couple of times, so would be nice to read it too!
Either a Catherine Cookson or Lynn Andrews era style book
either a james patterson or andy Mcnab love a bit of action
The new star trek legacies triology
I love a murder mystery, so perhaps an Agatha Christy!
The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes
The Girl on the Train
A few classics on my Hitlist – to kill a mockingbird at present
I’d take something by Jojo Moyes š
i think i would take abarat or any clive barker book
Happy by Derren Brown!
Guiness Book of Records š
Probably take a tourist guide book
The Girl on the Train.
The Girl on The Train
Gone girl. I thoroughly enjoyed the film but assume the book will be so much better x
I would take a lighthearted romance. Not got anything specific in mind as I haven’t been shopping. Either that or night school by lee child as I have it sitting on my bedside table waiting for the opportunity to read it
Constance halls new book
Twilight books… Easy reads and I’m not quite through them
The Quest for Juice by Jonathan-David Jackson, looks really funny x
Harry Potter – any in the series! Not that I get much chance to read with a little on in tow
The latest Jack Reacher novel!
NIGHT SCHOOL by Lee Child, all of his books are good
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann.
Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses by Carole Matthews
Pillars of the earth – Ken Follett. I’ve wanted to read it for years but can never remember it when I’m stood in a bookshop.
id like to take big little lies
Into the water – Paula Hawkins
The World According to Bob: The further adventures of one man and his street-wise cat
Giovanna Fletcher’s Always in Love – been on my shelf for so long but had no time to read it. Looks like the perfect summer read lazying on a sun lounger.
I would chose a Lynda La Plante book
I fancy re-reading Riders by Jilly Cooper
Gone Girl or The Girl On The Train!
I really fancy reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. We’re watching more Nordic Noir and I’d love to read the book as well.
haven Decided yet
Just downloaded a book called The Missing Ones: An absolutely gripping thriller with a jaw-dropping twist (Detective Lottie Parker Book 1) by Patricia Gibney to my Kindle so looking forward to reading this as I am on holiday next week.
Anything by Jackie Collins for pure escapism
The Notebook – i’ve never read it and loved the film
I will be taking my Harry Potter books with me on holiday,2 weeks sat by a pool relaxing with my favourite books will be heaven!
I think the latest Edward Marston book in the Railway Detective series
I would like to read George R Martins Songs of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) again as I think I would find it easier to follow having seen the TV Series
The Guinness Book of World Records. A mult im imparvo, with so much hidden depth, and so many records I could try to break whilst away!
I would choose The Woman Who Stole My Life – Sounds great!
I’d like to re-read one of the classic sci-fi books like the Thing or Cell.
I’m happy with any fiction book, I just love reading – full stop.
Dalai Lama’s The Art of Happiness . I reread it on a regular basis.
Heir to the empire. By Timothy Zahn
I’m more likely to stick with a cryptic crossword book rather than a novel.
I just read Temeraire, a great book about dragons and naval battles. I think I will get the sequel
The blade artist by Irvine Welsh. It’s the only book by him I haven’t read yet.
john updike rabbit run
Something by Cecelia Ahern.
I think I’d choose an autobiography!
Odd Birds by Ian Harding. Can’t wait to read it š
Aliens by Jim Al-Khalili
The latest Brigette Jones book – I find them so relaxing to read.
A nice and easy romance x
I’m trying to read more children’s classics this year! Currently reading Moon over manifest-Newberry Honour medal winners often a good bet!
A Girl on the Train as haven’t got round to reading it yet
The Girl on a Train is next on my list
Any Agatha Christie
A Game of Thrones by George R R Martin
any Stephen King
Davina McCall’s autobiography – Lessons I’ve Learned x
The newest Jodi picoult book
Difficult Women by Roxane Gay
Pharaoh by Wilbur Smith
Delighted that Jilly Cooper’s Mount has just come out in paperback – they’re always weighty!
My family and other animals by Gerald Durrell
Into the Water ā Paula Hawkins
I never got around to reading girl with a dragon tattoo so might take that!
An adult colouring in book, so peaceful!
The Escape – CL Taylor
A Martina Cole I’m behind with her books great beach reading.
Into the Water ā Paula Hawkins
Homer – The Iliad
The Goldfinch – Donna Tartt
The pillars of the earth by Ken Follet but it’s quite heavy so may be a bit impractical for the beach!
i’m not sure, maybe Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses
Any Martina Cole or Lynda Le Plante
I want to re-read all the Harry Potter books (sad i know)
I want to read George R.R. Martin’s books, starting with A game of thrones.
I love true crime and I really want to read the book The Devil’s Knot – morbid I know but I like true stories
Built for Speed by John McGuinness
The Forever House by Veronica Henry- it is due out shortly and sounds a lovely Summer read
Fallout
by Sadie Jones
The Lord of the Rings, I haven’t read the full thing for years.
I’d take the latest novel by Lisa Jewell – I love her books.
The Woman at Number 24 – Juliet Ashton
Will take the new Milly Johnson and my favourite Chris Carter – The Night Stalker which I could read and reread straight away. š
I always take more than one book away with me and I nearly always read books from the same authors. At the moment, I’m reading Laurell K Hamilton so I would probably take a couple of Anita Blake novels with me.
Karin Slaughter books
A game of ghosts by John Connolly! Something to get my teeth stuck into, I do love a good thriller!
I’ve had a copy of the casual vacancy since it was released but never read it, so it would have to be that!
I’d take the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson to read again. It’s my favourite book series of all time!
Very British Problems
The hobbit as I have never read it before
I’d like to take The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
I’d probably chose the Whistler by John Grisham
Something by John Irving
I like reading diaries – I just finished the diary of hoarders daughter so i am sure I would take new diary i find with me
i love Crime novels
Iām a sucker for any PG Wodehouse or Agatha Christie