🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
Vacation means different things to different people. For those who love books, a holiday isn't complete without tucking a book (or several) into their bag, or loading them onto an e-reader. But what makes the perfect holiday read?
Some prefer something short to accompany busy days of sightseeing. Others want a long book that will entertain through hours on the beach doing little besides relaxing and the occasional drink or nap.
Don't worry, Newsweek has you covered. Our expert staff has curated a list of highly recommended novels, memoirs and nonfiction to match whatever your vacation tastes. And to further help you along, we've estimated how much time each book choice will require to read it.
Of course, any day can be a vacation with a good book, so no need to reserve a ticket or a hotel to select one of these reads.
Fiction
Thriller
The Pact
by Sharon Bolton | Trapeze
About a week, leaves time for sightseeing
A slow burner that gradually tightens its grip before racing toward a chilling finale. Though I found every character thoroughly unlikeable, I couldn't look away. The story follows six privileged teens whose reckless dare ruins 18-year-old Megan's life, landing her in prison for 20 years. When she's released, she calls in the debt they all owe her, sparking a tense, high-stakes reckoning. Bolton masterfully explores guilt, privilege and justice in a story that's dark, unsettling and ultimately satisfying.
▸ Carrie Bremner, Art Director
Strong Women
By Any Other Name
by Jodi Picoult | Ballantine Books
About a week, leaves time for sightseeing
A modern New York City playwright struggles to be taken seriously until she tries concealing her identity. An Elizabethan woman can't become a published writer because of her gender. Both women are destined for success, but each must first become invisible to feed her ambition. This empowering novel juxtaposes their stories, leaving readers questioning how much has really changed, and what if history was written by women after all? If Taylor Swift's song "The Man" was a book, this would be it.
▸ Alyce Collins, Senior Life & Trends Reporter
Suspense
The Safekeep
by Yael van der Wouden | Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster
A day or two; can't stop till you reach the end
This book was shortlisted for the Booker Prize last year—once you start reading it, you can see why. The prose is tight and propulsive; the characters are fascinating; and the plot is not an afterthought, as it sometimes can be with more "high-minded" novels. A subtle mystery with a romantic twist.
▸ Zahreen Ghaznavi, General Counsel
Horror
Deliver Me
by Elle Nash | Verve Books
A day or two; can't stop till you reach the endNash's novel is a creepy and unsettling body of horror. The story, focusing on Dee-Dee, a worker in a meatpacking plant, is ominous, tragic and unlike anything else I've ever read. Three of my friends and I all read this on a trip to France last year; none of us could put it down. Ideal for fans of Margaret Atwood, Otessa Moshfegh and Emma Cline.
▸ Marni Rose McFall, U.S. News Reporter
LGBTQ+
Our Evenings
by Alan Hollinghurst | Random House
A leisurely read; give it two weeks
Hollinghurst is something of an unofficial gay laureate in U.K. fiction. In his latest tome he puts a new story—of two friends whose lives cross over from the swinging sixties to Brexit Britain—in his trademark style. He portrays an unrivaled understanding of relationships that is still evolving at this stage in his celebrated career.
▸ Ben Kelly, Senior Audience Editor
Historical Fiction
The Tiffany Girls
by Shelley Noble | William Morrow Paperbacks
About a week, leaves time for sightseeing
Step inside the world of Tiffany Studios' women's glass-cutting department in the late 1890s and early 1900s. This well-researched book beautifully describes the strong sister-like connections in the division, led by the very real and inspiring glass designer Clara Driscoll, as well as at a local boardinghouse. At a time when women's rights were mostly ignored, the so-called "Tiffany Girls" were highly skilled artisans with an unbreakable bond. In fact, Driscoll's crown jewel, the Tiffany dragonfly lamp—featured in the book—and other glass designs are on view at The New York Historical museum. If your vacation allows, take a trip to the museum to see it yourself.
▸ Mandy Taheri, Weekend Reporter
Feel-Good
The Incredible Kindness of Paper
by Evelyn Skye | Atria/Emily Bestler Books
A day or two; can't stop till you reach the end
Perfect for the end of summer, this feel-good novel will be in bookstores in August. Chloe and Oliver's friendship—from their meeting as first-grade pen pals through their teens—was so tight that everyone just called them "Clover." Circumstances separate them, only to bring them back together in their 30s, through mysterious workings, Chloe's endlessly positive attitude and her yellow origami notes. It's just the book you need—beautifully drawn characters and prose and a smile-inducing story.
▸ Meredith Wolf Schizer, Senior Editor, Operations
Family Values
A Family Apart
by Joan Lowery Nixon | Laurel Leaf
About a week, leaves time for sightseeing
Though written for middle schoolers, I still recommend this book well into my 20s. The first book that made me fall in love with reading, it's a story about a young girl's fight and sacrifice to keep her family together. Set in America in 1856, this tale shows what life was like on an orphan train and gives a unique glimpse into American history. Even better, it is the first book in a seven-part series, each of which focuses on the siblings of the protagonist, Frances Mary Kelly.
▸ Jenna deJong, SEO Journalist
Science Fiction
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
by Douglas Adams | Del Rey
A day or two; can't stop till you reach the end
Don't panic. This is the only book where Earth's destruction is merely a mildly inconvenient plot twist. Meet a perpetually befuddled human, a two-headed galactic president and Marvin—the clinically depressed robot you never knew you needed. You'll learn to always carry a towel, distrust bureaucracy and the answer to everything. Read it because existence is absurd, and laughter might be the most intelligent response available.
▸ Gray R Thomas, Digital Content Editor
Murder Mystery
Murder by Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery
by Rachel Ekstrom Courage | Hyperion Avenue
A day or two; can't stop till you reach the end
It's like an episode of The Golden Girls, but with murder. Could anything be more perfect? Reading it is like watching a classic episode of the late '80s show, complete with laughs, combined with that cozy murder-mystery feeling every episode of Murder, She Wrote gives you. Also perfect for fans of The Maid or The Thursday Murder Club, it's basically like being wrapped in a cozy (albeit blood-stained) blanket.
▸ H. Alan Scott, Senior Editor
Hopeless Romantic
Conversations with Friends
by Sally Rooney | Crown
About a week, leaves time for sightseeing
A master at capturing the beauty and pain in everyday life, Rooney tells the story of two Irish college students exploring newfound relationships with an older, married couple. This book will tear you apart (in the best way!)
▸ Kate Nalepinski, SEO Journalist
Fantasy
The River Has Roots
by Amal El-Mohtar | Tordotcom Publishing
A day or two; can't stop till you reach the end
A beautiful reimagining of The Two Sisters murder ballad that weaves folk song and magic into the flow of the river Liss in Thistleford. This isn't quite England, but it isn't quite anywhere else either.
▸ Duncan Ross, Global Head of Research
Coming-of-Age
The Rachel Incident
by Caroline O'Donoghue | Vintage
About a week, leaves time for sightseeing
This charming story is both funny and messy. Rachel and James' friendship feels much like ones many of us found in our early 20s—lit with a match, sparked by an immediate connection and then quickly becoming all-consuming. The character development, though, is the opposite, building slowly and realistically. And all with a witty plot.
▸ Katherine Fung, Senior Reporter
Nonfiction
Folklore
English Folk Tales of Coast and Sea
by Lisa Schneidau | The History Press
About a week, leaves time for sightseeing
Dive into England's maritime history with this charming collection of 52 folk tales passed down through the generations, retold by ecologist and storyteller Schneidau. From encounters with mermaids, the devil and even Robin Hood to themes of superstition and skulduggery, these short tales are perfect escapism to dip in and out of during your summer vacation.
▸ Carrie Anderson, Senior Editor, Print & Digital
Celebrity
From Here to the Great Unknown
by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough | Random House
A day or two; can't stop till you reach the end
Amazing as an audiobook, its immersive nature kept me tuned in for the nearly six-hour runtime. The book is a conversation between Lisa Marie Presley and her daughter, Riley Keough, who helped finish Presley's memoir after her 2023 death. Read by Julia Roberts and Keough with samples of Presley's audio notes, I was transported by this familial love story from start to finish.
▸ Alyssa Haak, Publishing Editor
Family Business
The Spinach King: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty
by John Seabrook | W. W. Norton & Company
About a week, leaves time for sightseeing
Still have a Succession-shaped hole in your life? Then read this gripping real-life story of how a New Jersey family farming empire was torn apart by intergenerational conflict. A deeply personal look at his grandfather's business, this is an epic American tale of capitalism, class tensions and racial exploitation in the 20th century.
▸ Alfred Joyner, News Director
Friendship and Adversity
Stay True
by Hua Hsu | Vintage
About a week, leaves time for sightseeing
Hsu gets right to the heart of the experience of growing up—focusing on the transcendent power of human connection and how grief can empower us to forge ahead in the face of adversity. His reflection on the death of his friend Ken and how their serendipitous friendship molded him is inspired, heart-wrenching and beautifully told. Though I had been through the emotional wringer by the end, the memoir still left me feeling warm and optimistic.
▸ Vic Verbalaitis, Editorial Intern
Social Media
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism
by Sarah Wynn-Williams | Flatiron Books
A day or two; can't stop till you reach the end
Easy to dismiss as the rant of a disgruntled ex-employee, Wynn-Williams' account of the job she dreamed up for herself at Facebook is compelling. While overseeing the social media giant's global policy and government relations, she finds herself at the heart of the company's most problematic decisions. But her disillusion sets in as she fails to steer Facebook in the direction she would like. One highlight is her quest to persuade the Myanmar regime to lift restrictions on the company. As she meets representatives of the oppressive military junta entirely alone, her description of the sinister atmosphere is palpable. Few in the corporate world can have been "further from Kansas."
▸ Trevor Davies, Digital Content Editor
Criminal Reform
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
by Bryan Stevenson | One World
A leisurely read; give it two weeks
Just Mercy speaks to the flaws of the American criminal justice system, especially injustices faced by marginalized communities. Stevenson's interactions with death row inmates call attention to wrongful convictions and racial prejudice. This heartbreaking but optimistic memoir urges readers to confront inequality and consider their role in the struggle for justice; a call to action for a more just society.
▸ Amanda M. Castro, Live Blog Editor
Culture
Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture War
by Ash Sarkar | Bloomsbury Publishing
About a week, leaves time for sightseeing
The book examines how political and media elites manipulate cultural divisions to maintain power. Sarkar writes with sharp humor and clarity, making complex ideas about power, identity and media feel accessible without dumbing them down. It's packed with spicy anecdotes, biting commentary and pop culture references that keep it engaging even when tackling weighty themes.
▸ Sonal Nain, Newsletter Reporter and Producer
Media
When the Going Was Good: An Editor's Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines
by Graydon Carter | Penguin Press
A leisurely read; give it two weeks
Carter brilliantly captures the heyday for long-form magazine journalism with a slew of deliciously indiscreet tales from his time in the editor's chair at Vanity Fair from 1992 to 2017, and from the rest of his journalism career. The lavish expenses culture he details in an era awash with advertising money is enough to make any modern-day mag chief green with envy.
▸ Paul Rhodes, Head of Magazines
Politics
Abundance
by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson | Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster
A leisurely read; give it two weeks
Nothing says summer beach read like a deep analysis of the failures of liberal governance and the vexing problems of housing, climate change and infrastructure. But if you are interested in seeing a blueprint for how the Democrats can win elections again, this is it: with a rabid focus on development, cutting red tape and lots of housing.
▸ Carlo Versano, Politics Director
Southern Soul
Matriarch
by Tina Knowles | One World
A leisurely read; give it two weeks
As someone whose own mama hails from the Gulf Coast and grew up in the South during the 1960s, reading Matriarch felt like coming home. Tina Knowles—or Mama Tina—pulls back the curtain on her life with warmth, honesty and that unmistakable Southern charm. From a spirited young girl splashing in the brown waters of Galveston to a woman carving her place as a wife, mother and businesswoman, Mama Tina's journey is full of grit, grace and resilience. She moves effortlessly from "bless your heart" gentleness to full-on mama bear energy when needed. While I won't spoil what she shares about her two famous daughters (yes, those daughters), I'll just say: Get your own copy. You'll laugh, reflect and maybe even call your mama when you're done. A must-read for anyone who values strength, survival and Southern soul.
▸ Emeri B. Montgomery, Director of Audience
