As summer reading lists start to circulate, a diverse group of authors has shared their recommended beach reads, highlighting titles that combine engaging narratives with the perfect escapism for the season.

Florence Knapp, author of *The Names*, cites Annabel Monaghan’s *Nora Goes Off Script*, a romantic tale centered on a single mother and screenwriter whose house becomes a film set, leading to an unexpected connection with a leading actor. Robert Harris, known for *Conclave*, suggests revisiting Graham Greene’s classics such as *The Power and the Glory* and *The Quiet American*, novels set against hot climates that evoke the atmosphere of a sun-drenched veranda or deserted baggage hall.

Rebecca F Kuang, author of *Yellowface*, recommends Anthony Doerr’s *Cloud Cuckoo Land*. She praises its ambitious structure, which weaves cross-century and continental narratives, emphasizing human resilience and storytelling. Meanwhile, Mike Gayle points to Jo Callaghan’s *Body of Lies*, a politically charged thriller involving a murdered MP and a cryptic binary-coded message. The novel concludes Callaghan’s Midlands-based series featuring a human and AI detective duo.

Bella Mackie, author of *Claws Out!*, offers *The Enchanted April* by Elizabeth von Arnim as a light and engaging read, chronicling four women seeking refuge in an Italian villa, a story praised for its humor and warmth. Curtis Sittenfeld, known for *American Wife*, highlights *Crash Into Me* by Robinne Lee, a narrative exploring complex female relationships set against the backdrop of Los Angeles. The book is noted for blending glamour with thought-provoking themes.

Historical fiction also features prominently. Harriet Tyce recommends *Nonesuch* by Francis Spufford—a blend of historical and fantastical elements set during the London Blitz—alongside *Time to Burn* by Ellery Lloyd, which introduces contemporary time-travel twists. Abir Mukherjee selects *The Shadow Step* by Mark Billingham from the Blackpool-set series featuring detective Declan Miller, praising its mixture of suspense and humor.

Abigail Dean endorses *Main Characters* by Bobby Palmer, which explores a fragmented romance through multiple perspectives, offering nuanced insights into relationships and community. Jennie Godfrey recommends *Dead Heat* by Sabine Durrant, a psychological thriller set during a Greek summer, noted for its cinematic quality and suspense.

Shari Lapena draws attention to *In Five* by Ilona Bannister, an immersive countdown thriller unfolding on a London train platform. Nick Harkaway suggests *There Is No Antimemetics Division* by qntm, describing it as a unique and gripping counter-espionage novel with episodic structure suitable for beach reading.

Paula Hawkins recommends *Four Terrible Parents* by Calla Henkel, a tightly woven comedy-thriller about unconventional co-parenting, while Kate Mosse highlights the reissued *Fenny* by Lettice Cooper, a pre-World War II coming-of-age story set in Tuscany that captures the essence of Italian summer life.

Adele Parks favors *Mad Mabel* by Sally Hepworth, a darkly humorous novel featuring an independent elderly woman entangled in mysterious deaths in an Australian suburb. Finally, Claire Powell suggests *Some Bright Nowhere* by Ann Packer, a deeply moving narrative about a husband coping with his terminally ill wife’s plans.

Together, these selections offer a variety of genres and moods, from historical fiction and thrillers to tender narratives and literary explorations, all deemed ideal companions for readers seeking engaging stories this summer.