Hot summer reads

From prize-winning authors to thrilling page-turners, here are the books to take to the beach, park or pool this summer.

The Woman In Me

By Britney Spears

In June 2021, the world listened as music icon Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her truth changed the course of her life, and the lives of others. Written with candour and humour, Spears’ book reveals the enduring power of music and love – and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms.

Lola In The Mirror

By Trent Dalton

Acclaimed Boy Swallows Universe author Trent Dalton returns with a big-hearted story about love, fate, life and death. A girl and her mother have been on the run for 16 years. The girl has no name because names are dangerous when you’re on the run. She dreams of a life as an artist, but first she must look in the mirror.

Tell Her She's Dreamin’

By Simone Amelia Jordan

Simone Amelia Jordan shares her story of growing up as a Lebanese-Cypriot girl on the whitewashed Central Coast in the 1980s to becoming Australia’s most successful hip-hop journalist. Her personal memoir disrupts the long-held view that women, and racially diverse women especially, are limited in their power as bold explorers. Her story is about defying the odds to reach your dreams.

My Wrexham Story

By Paul Mullin

In 2021, Paul Mullin sent shockwaves through the EFL by taking a downwards move to National League team Wrexham AFC. Since then, Mullin has helped transform the Wrexham team, capturing the imaginations of fans across the world. In his autobiography, he recounts his roots in Liverpool, the highs and lows of soccer, and lessons learnt from his son’s autism diagnosis.

Good Material

By Dolly Alderton

In this sharply funny and relatable story from the bestselling author of Ghosts, Andy loves Jen and he can’t work out why she stopped loving him. Set adrift on the sea of heartbreak, Andy clings to the idea of solving the puzzle of their broken relationship. Because if he can find the answer to that, maybe Jen can find her way back to him. Andy still has a lot to learn, not least his ex-girlfriend’s side of the story.