You’re lying on the beach, the tide is gently drifting in, and the sounds of the waves offer an almost therapeutic ambience. But you’re on edge. There’s been a murder, and the big question is…whodunnit?
No holiday is truly a holiday without a good book, and whether you’re a lover of thrillers, science fiction, or a sucker for a tale of boy meets girl, a book can provide you with the perfect companionship for those days by the pool, on the beach or, as many of us know all too well, delays at the airport!
Getting your holiday reads right can be a difficult task. Firstly, you need to choose a book you’re going to like. But then timing is also everything too. The last thing you want to do is get down to the final few chapters and be left on a cliffhanger as you land back in Blighty.
At The Works, we’re fanatical about fiction and understand the value of choosing the right book for your holidays. That’s why we’ve delved into the details, exploring just how long the top picks, best sellers, BookTok trends and some of our favourite authors’ books take to read. So, whether you’ve got a short haul flight and the excitement of a city break, or two weeks topping up the tan in the Bahamas, we’ve got the perfect suggestions for your holiday…
Two to four-hour reads
Short stories or smaller novels can be an ideal option for smaller breaks or travelling from destination to destination, immersing yourself in the narrative for just a short while before hopping off and beginning your own adventure.
Exploring the Sarah J. Maas collection is a solid option, with A Court of Frost and Starlight, a novella and the smallest book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, taking just under four hours to read. The series itself, is also an excellent option for longer holidays, on the whole each book taking between eight and 13 hours to read.
Elsewhere, Jojo Moyes’ Paris For One & Other Stories slightly tips over the four-hour mark in terms of reading time but is broken down into short stories, ideal for a short trip.
Short story collections are among the best options for shorter trips, whether that be short-haul flying or mini breaks, afternoons at a spa or the one relaxing day of the holiday pencilled in, with Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber, a collection of fantasy stories taking just over two hours to get through, while the late Bridget O’Connor’s After A Dance, released earlier this year is a hilarious collection of short stories that will have you chuckling on trains, planes and automobiles.
Four to six-hour reads
If you’re looking for a read to get you through an entire afternoon sat by the pool, relaxed on the outside but heart-pumping inside, Jeneva Rose’s thrillers are a good option. Home is Where The Bodies Are, her latest mystery thriller has been hugely popular among the BookTok community of late, while digging deeper into her collection You Shouldn’t Have Come Here will keep you entertained for a good five hours.
Sticking to the thriller genre, Frieda McFadden’s One By One is also trending at present and will provide you with four and a half hours of holiday reading time, while outside of the genre, romantic novel Night Shift, by Annie Crown offers a similar amount of escapism but with a slightly different vibe, ideal for sitting in the sunshine or a longer haul flight.
Six to eight-hour reads
For those looking to pick up their book regularly on holiday, you may be looking for a slightly longer read. The more romantic among us should certainly look to the Elsie Silver collection, with Powerless, Flawless, Reckless and Wild Love all coming in at just under eight hours per read.
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors, one of the top BookTok trends of 2024, is another good romance option, taking around six and a half hours to read, while Funny Story by Emily Henry and David Nicholls, whose One Day has reemerged as a big hit 15 years on from its first release, provides a comforting read in You Are Here, both of which will take just over six hours to get through.
Outside of romance books, Ian Rankin is a solid choice of author if you’ve got around eight hours of reading time available to you whilst on holiday. Even Dogs in the Wild, for example, will pass around seven hours of your time, ideal for those airport waits and European flights.
Eight to ten-hour reads
As mentioned, Sarah J. Maas is the author to explore for fantasy fans with some long-haul flights and plenty of time sat around the pool this summer. In fact, the entire A Court of Thorns and Roses collection will take you just over 40 hours to get through. Which, for two weeks in the sun, is just under three hours of reading per day!
Rebecca Yarros’ The Empyrean Series is another excellent fantasy option and among the hottest trending books around today. The Fourth Wing, the first in the series, is a long read at just under 12 hours, while the Iron Flame provides just over 10 hours reading, again good options for long haul flights and regular travelling during your holidays.
Elle Kennedy’s The Graham Effect offers a sports romance option, as Gigi Graham navigates trying to make the Olympics and juggling a love life, while Chloe Walsh is a popular author with the Boys of Tommen series (Binding 13 and Keeping 13) keeping you engrossed for over 25 hours.
Find the perfect book for your holidays
Of course, there are tons more books to consider ahead of your holidays, and across The Works’ site, you’ll find many of today's top fiction books, as well as the perfect summer reads.
So, make sure you save some space in your bag and enjoy a holiday of sun, sea, sand and some great reads to really make you switch off. After all, it’s what holidays are all about…
