Booksellers across the UK have shared their top reading recommendations for the summer holiday season, highlighting a diverse range of fiction and non-fiction titles that span genres, settings, and historical periods.

Rebecca Roberts of Night Owl Books in East Linton suggests a literary journey to Georgia with Leo Vardiashvili’s "Hard by a Great Forest," a coming-of-age story set in Tbilisi that offers a window into Georgian history and culture. This recommendation inspired her to revisit "The Eighth Life (For Brilka)" by Nino Haratischwili, a multi-generational family saga. For non-fiction, she highlights Caroline Eden’s "Cold Kitchen: A Year of Culinary Travels," which combines travel narratives and recipes across a dozen countries from Scotland to Central Asia.

Sue Porter from Linghams Booksellers in Heswall focuses on a mix of contemporary and classic works. She recommends "The Compound" by Aisling Rawle, a fast-paced dystopian novel about women trapped in a reality TV setting, and Graham Norton’s heartfelt novel "Frankie," which explores postwar Ireland and the 1960s New York arts scene. Porter also points to Lucy Worsley’s biography "Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman," which uncovers surprising facets of the famed mystery author’s life, and she revisits Elizabeth Gaskell’s "Mary Barton," a novel capturing the social effects of industrialization in northern England.

Amanda Truman of Truman Books in Leeds offers lighter beach reads such as Alexandra Potter’s "So, I Met This Guy…" about cross-generational friendship and romance fraud, as well as Benjamin Myers’s evocative "The Offing," set in North Yorkshire. She also recommends Patrick Radden Keefe’s "London Falling," a non-fiction investigation into a suspicious suicide that explores the city’s underworld.

Mary James from The Aldeburgh Bookshop suggests Lucy Steeds’s "The Artist," a novel set in 1920s Provençal heat involving secrets and art, alongside Rónán Hession’s quirky "Leonard and Hungry Paul," and Frances Wilson’s biography "Electric Spark," which delves into the early life of Muriel Spark.

Alex Call from Bert’s Books in Swindon champions "The Eights" by Joanna Miller, chronicling the experiences of the first women admitted to Oxford University, and also recommends Bobby Palmer’s "Isaac and the Egg," a quirky novel dealing with grief, as well as Jonn Elledge’s "A History of the World in 47 Borders," noted for its global historical insights.

Mystery novel enthusiasts may turn to Isla Coole of Criminally Good Books in York, who highlights Callum McSorley’s "Squeaky Clean," set in Glasgow’s criminal underbelly, and Sarah Waters’s historical crime novel "Fingersmith," which intertwines fraud and love in 1860s London. For non-fiction, she points to Jennette McCurdy’s "I’m Glad My Mom Died," a memoir of resilience from the former child actor.

Patrick Neale of Jaffé & Neale Bookshop in Chipping Norton recommends Michael Pedersen’s "Muckle Flugga," a story of personal rebirth on an isolated island, alongside Hilary Mantel’s expansive French Revolution saga "A Place of Greater Safety." He also suggests Ian Leslie’s "John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs," which examines the iconic partnership of Lennon and McCartney.

Chloe Sudworth of Simply Books in Stockport praises "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans, a novel composed entirely of letters that unravels the life of its protagonist Sybil. She also recommends "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which explores the scandalous life of a Hollywood star, and Sarah Wynn-Williams’s exposé "Careless People," focusing on the power of social media giants.

For fans of country house dramas and espionage thrillers, Tom Rowley of Backstory in London recommends Anna Hope’s "Albion," updated with contemporary themes of environmentalism, and Charles Cumming’s "Box 88," a spy novel filled with intrigue and suspense. He also highlights Owain Mulligan’s humorous diary "The Accidental Soldier," set during a British tour in Iraq.

David Headley of Goldsboro Books in London suggests Rosanna Pike’s atmospheric medieval novel "A Little Trickerie" and highlights Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s celebrated "The Shadow of the Wind." In non-fiction, he recommends Salman Rushdie’s "Knife," a deeply humane meditation on survival and creativity.

Debbie James of Kibworth Books plans to revisit Elizabeth von Arnim’s "The Enchanted April," inspired by her upcoming holiday in Italy, and advises readers to explore "Murder in the Midday Sun," an anthology of short crime stories from independent publisher Profile. She also promotes Hwang Boreum’s "Every Day I Read," which reflects on the calming power of daily reading.

Rosalind Ephraim from Burway Books in Shropshire echoes the recommendation for Virginia Evans’s "The Correspondent" and also revisits Elizabeth Gaskell’s "Mary Barton," emphasizing its insight into social change during the Industrial Revolution.

Together, these recommendations offer readers a rich selection of novels and non-fiction works suitable for a range of tastes and holiday moods, from historical sagas and mysteries to personal memoirs and culinary journeys.