Ultimate page turners for summer 2020

Beach Read by Emily Henry (2020)

Beach Read is the perfect book to escape into if you can't get to the coast yourself. It's fun, romantic and the rom-com you don't want to miss this summer. January and Gus both have writer’s block, and they both need to finish their novels by the end of the season. So they decide to swap genres. But as they spend more time together, will they end up writing their own love story? This one is the perfect partner to a day spent lazing in the sun, pretending you can hear the waves lapping at the shore.

Grown Ups by Marian Keyes (2020)

We could all do with a bit more Marian in our lives, especially after the tumultuous time that lockdown has caused. Her latest book is brimming with all the wit and wisdom she is so known and loved for. A seemingly happy family has a meltdown when a secret is spilled at a party... Tensions simmer, truths surface and laughs aplenty are had in this wonderful exploration of what it means to be a family. Mess, love, difficult truths and all. It's a capitvating story with a cast of colourful characters, and the best summer reading companion you could ask for.

Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell (2020)

This is the knock-out thriller of the summer from the masterful Lisa Jewell, facing the tricky truth of how we turn to the wrong places to find justice, when often the villains are hiding in plain sight. Saffyre disappears in London, right in front of Owen's house. And Owen is the 'type' everyone suspects. A loner, a bit creepy, never had a girlfriend. And so all eyes turn to him, accusatory and without evidence. A story brimming with secrets and unexpected twists, it's the book that'll have you reading through the summer nights, unable to tear your eyes away.

I Made a Mistake by Jane Corry (2020)

Another unputdownable psychological thriller from Jane Corry calls for unpluggng the phone, flicking off the television and arming yourself with a summer cocktail and an evening of no interruptions. You'll read it in one sitting. Poppy makes a mistake - a mistake she never thought she'd be the one to make, when a charming, gorgeous stranger walks back into her life. She never dreamt that a single kiss could lead to murder. It's exhilirating, addictive and as heartbreaking as it is pulse-pumping.

Queen Bee by Jane Fallon (2020)

Compelling, unpredictable and always with a juicy sting in its tail, Jane Fallon's new novel doesn't disappoint. Set on a beautiful street of mansions where Stella seemingly rules all, Laura ruffles her feathers when she moves into a studio flat and accidentally discovers someone's secret. And that someone just happens to be Stella's fiancé, Al. Wicked, wry and punching all the right notes, it's a devilishly entertaining - and utterly hilarious - tale of revenge.

The Garden of Forgotten Wishes by Trisha Ashley (2020)

Feeling sad that your summer holiday isn't happening? Sick of socially distant garden parties? Find some light relief and utterly unapologetic joy in Trisha Ashley's new novel, set in rural Lancashire. With her green thumbs, Marnie starts a new life with a small cottage and garden blooming with roses, honeysuckle and lavender. She is bruised, trying a fresh start after her marriage fell apart, and it seems to her that her neighbour Ned is a little bruised and broken too. Will they find love and rediscover their dreams whilst they're at it? It's a must-read for all you true romantics out there.

Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan (2020)

If you loved Crazy Rich Asians, this needs to be your glittering read of choice for the summer, about a woman torn between two men on the island of Capri. Set against the summer playgrounds of privilege, this is a truly modern romance about Lucie, daughter of American-born Chinese mother and blue-blooded New York father. She resists her feelings for George, a man who irritates her from the very beginning, even when he walks back into her life and sends her heart - and her engagement - spinning into unexpected places. It's funny, contemporary, fresh and eye-opening. An adventure from start to finish.

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes (2019)

If you loved Me Before You - and who didn't? - sink into the latest novel by Jojo Moyes and let yourself be swept off your feet once more. It's a love story, but perhaps not as you'd expect - a love story of female friendship, and a love for books and the meaning they hold. It's an enchanting read set in Kentucky, with some feisty heroines you'll never forget. Make yourself a summery drink. Find a patch of sunlight, or even lie beneath the stars and read this late into the night. It's an epic tale that'll transport you outdoors, and take your heart on a wild, inspiring and unexpected journey. Most-needed, this summer, all things considered.

To Tell You The Truth by Gilly Macmillan (2020)

Prickling with tension and suspense, this one will make you sweat even if the sun isn't out! It's a thriller that'll keep you guessing, with a few curve balls and stomach-clenching truths uncovered along the way. Lucy's brother disappeared in the woods when she was little. Her eyewitness account was key. Years later, she's a renowned thriller writer, known for her wild imagination. When her husband goes missing, too, she has to ask herself: would she kill her own husband? Would she remember, if she had? It's time to tell the truth. It's time to buckle in, and enjoy the ride.

As You Were by Elaine Feeney (2020)

Raw and sharp and beautifully told, this debut sparkles with characters that feel like real people, exploring what it means to be a woman, and what it means to be free. Set in Ireland and following a cast of women with their own intimate and unique problems, it's as funny as it is tragic. It's the emotional and eye-opening read of the summer, that'll tug on your heart strings and stay in your mind long after you finish the last page.