Whatever you do, don't forget your holiday read when you're writing your packing list. Nothing beats lounging in the sun with a book you simply can't put down. Whether you're a romance fan or love a thrilling page-turner, I've rounded up the very best holiday reads to enjoy – reviewed by the HELLO! team.
From top-rated mystery novels to cult favourite fantasy books taking over TikTok, there's something for everyone to enjoy in this list, combining new releases for 2026 with trending authors. If paperbacks aren't for you, you'll find Kindle and Audible options available to sit back and relax into your new book while on the go.
- Screen adaptation (movie): The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden, £4.50 / $12.58
- Screen adaptation (TV): Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid, £10 / $15.99
- BookTok made me read it: The Names by Florence Knapp, £8.49 / $14
- Best romance book: Funny Story by Emily Henry, £5.48 / $10.39
- Best thriller book: Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon, £11 / $15
- Best romantasy book: Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen, £9.57 / $14
- Best non-fiction book: The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett, £18.40 / $24.50
- Best debut: The Names by Florence Knapp, £8.49 / $14
How I chose the best holiday books
- Reviews: Most of the books in this list have been reviewed by the Best Quality Designer Handbag team, while others have been included due to their top ratings.
- Paperback/audible options: Who wants to carry around a hardback book on holiday? Certainly not me. If paperback isn't an option, Audible is available for those who prefer to listen to books rather than read them.
- Popularity: Many of the books in the list have been a huge hit on TikTok, going viral for their popularity. So we know they're on plenty of people's wishlists, including ours.
Best books for a holiday in 2026
The screen adaptation books taking over
Is the book always better? There’s only one way to find out. From sweeping period dramas to the thrillers everyone will be streaming by the weekend, these are the essential reads to finish before you hit 'play.'
The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden
© AmazonHELLO! Reviews:
"Freida McFadden's 'The Housemaid' series hooked me from the first novel, and I haven't been able to put down any of the pulse-racing books since. It's full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end."
Leanne Bayley, Director of Lifestyle & Commerce
The recent movie adaptation starring Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney and Brandon Sklenar focuses solely on the first book's story and has been a roaring success at the box office which has led to the books soaring to the top of the charts on Amazon.
To read Freida McFadden's The Housemaid series in order, start with The Housemaid, then The Housemaid's Secret, followed by the short story The Housemaid's Wedding (ideally between books two and three), and finally The Housemaid Is Watching.
As The Housemaid is Watching is the latest instalment in Freida McFadden's series, we'll review this one. The tension-packed novel will make you question how well you know your neighbours. The psychological thriller can be read as a standalone if you haven't been following the popular series.
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
© AmazonHELLO! Reviews:
"Beyond the raunchy scenes and ripped bodies, Heated Rivalry lingers longest in its quieter, more tender moments – and we can't get enough.
"Much has been made of Heated Rivalry's overwhelmingly female fanbase and what that reveals about what audiences actually crave from the romance genre. Perhaps it's the portrayal of masculinity that feels softer, safer and more emotionally accessible – or the ease with which readers can recognise themselves in both Shane and Ilya without complication."
Abby Allen, Best Quality Designer Handbag TV writer. Read Abby's review of the TV adaptation.
To read the next Heated Rivalry book, you should read the Game Changers series in publication order for the full story, starting with Game Changer, then Heated Rivalry, and finishing with The Long Game, with the new book Unrivaled continuing Shane & Ilya's story after The Long Game.
You can read Heated Rivalry first if you prefer, but following the series order, especially books 1-2 and 5-6 (The Long Game), gives the most emotional payoff, as the books build on each other.
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
© AmazonAn Offer From a Gentleman is the third novel in Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series, focusing on Benedict Bridgerton's romance - a Cinderella-inspired story where he falls for the disguised Sophie Beckett at a masquerade ball, leading to a determined quest to find his mysterious beauty.
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry
© AmazonPeople We Meet On Vacation is a contemporary romance that follows the "friends-to-lovers" and "opposites attract" tropes. The story revolves around two best friends, Poppy Wright and Alex Nilsen, who couldn't be more different. The movie adaptation has won over the hearts of Netflix viewers and now Emily Henry's books are storming up the charts.
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
Romance stories to swoon over
Funny Story by Emily Henry
© VikingHELLO! Reviews:
"If you haven't read an Emily Henry book it's time to get on board; three of her novels are already in the process of being adapted for the big screen, and Jennifer Lopez is producing a TV series based on a fourth. This book is a joyous laugh-out-loud novel about finding the right person in the wrong places, Funny Story is the perfect holiday read."
Rebecca Lewis, Los Angeles Correspondent
Emily's fifth fiction book Funny Story follows Daphne and Miles, a pair of total opposites -- Daphne is a buttoned-up librarian with no social life and Miles is a chaotic musician -- who end up living together when their fiances decide they're really in love with each other, and soon a plan forms, to make their exes jealous by pretending to be enjoying a summer romance together.
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
Atmosphere: A Love Story by Taylor Jenkins Reid
© AmazonHELLO! Reviews:
"Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favourite authors – I loved Daisy Jones & The Six and I had high hopes for Atmosphere and it was even better than I could have hoped. It's definitely a contender for one of my favourite books of the year. So much more than a love story, it’s a tale of a woman who rises against the odds in one of the most male-dominated industries of the world: space travel. I was hooked from the first word and could not put this book down."
Laura Benjamin, News Director.
Joan Goodwin has always been obsessed with space. Happy with teaching astrophysics at university, she is thrilled to be selected as a trainee astronaut at NASA in the 1980s, joining the space shuttle programme. She quickly bonds with her fellow trainees as they undergo the gruelling and intense training regime and isn’t shy to call out the sexism she sees on a regular basis. While navigating her new life – and battling with her jealous sister, the mother to her beloved niece Frances – she learns to rely more and more on her fellow astronaut Vanessa. The love story that develops is interspersed with a gripping and life-threatening catastrophe during a space mission, resulting in Joan having to work out what she most wants out of her life.
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One Last Summer by Kate Spencer
© AmazonHELLO! Reviews:
"My one summer working at an American summer camp came rushing back as I read Kate Spencer's wonderful 'One Last Summer', an emotional story of one thirty-something woman realising her life took a direction she never expected and how she found the strength to understand it's never too late to change."
Rebecca Lewis, Los Angeles Correspondent
Clara Millen hasn't taken a vacation, and has failed to join her childhood friends at Pine Lake Camp for their annual reunion, in years. But when she is forced to take a break, she faces more unwelcome change: the owners are retiring and selling the property. Revelry turns into reminiscing and the chance to reconnect with those who know her best -- and her camp nemesis, Mack -- forces Clara to make some tough decisions.
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The Conditions of Will by Magnolia Parks
© OrionHELLO! Reviews:
"I devoured this book because I truly went on a journey with the characters and enjoyed uncovering all their family secrets. While the title hints at it, a specific plot point regarding the will causes the pace to pick up, making it a race to the end. Jessica illustrates the Carter family through a modern lens, successfully exploring family dysfunction. At times I even disliked some of the lead characters' decisions, which showed I was truly immersed in the story."
Iona MacRobert, Editorial Assistant
Following the TikTok sensation of Magnolia Parks, The Conditions of Will is a more complex romance story about Georgia Carter, who reunites with her conservative South Carolina family after her father passes away.
However, no family reunion is ever simple, as Georgia must face the sister she resents for their shared past. To throw another spanner in the works, Georgia begins to fancy her brother's gorgeous AA sponsor, Sam Penny, who is a name not to forget.
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
Thriller books for a tense read
Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon
© AmazonHELLO! Reviews:
"The very first page of Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben had me hooked. The ultimate page turner, Gone Before Goodbye was my book of 2025 and one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a pacy plot with a strong woman at its centre."
Katie Daly, Lifestyle Writer
The story follows a surgeon named Maggie who, after losing her licence, enters a world of opulence and grandeur upon accepting a shady proposition from a former colleague. This book takes you around the globe, gripped by every twist and turn as Maggie is taken deeper into a world she wishes she'd never entered.
Harlan Coben, the titan of the thriller genre, has said he never collaborates, but readers will be glad he teamed up with the Legally Blonde star for this one.
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell
© AmazonThe undisputed queen of the domestic thriller is back, and this time she’s taking us behind the closed doors of a family with everything to lose. Don’t Let Him In is a masterclass in creeping dread and psychological suspense. When a figure from the past reappears, the thin veneer of a perfect life begins to crack, revealing secrets that were meant to stay buried forever. Dark, claustrophobic, and impossible to put down, this is the adaptation that will have everyone talking about the "Jewell twist" for a while longer.
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Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
© AmazonHELLO! Reviews:
"I'm normally quite hard to please when it comes to thrillers as they're not my go-to genre, but Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney was genuinely gripping and so hard to put down. The story is so twisty with more than one shock point – it had me feeling on edge in the best way, exactly a how good thriller should be!"
Francesca Shillcock, Writer
Grady Green is an author having a terrible time. After receiving possibly the biggest news of his career, his wife, Abby, going missing on the very same day.
A year on, Grady is still reeling from the unsolved mystery and full of questions about what really happened to his wife and his career as a writer has plummeted as a result of his grief. So, he decides to take action.
Grady escapes to a tiny Scottish island to stay in his publisher's cabin in the hope that the change of scenery, quiet living and isolation of his new environment will get his creative juices flowing enough for him to finish his next book.
But when he gets there, more questions rise to the surface when he sees a woman who is almost identical to his wife...
Is Grady finally going to find out what happened to Abby? Or will the exasperation of trying to get to the bottom of the mystery make things more complicated?
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
Romantasy spicy novels
Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen
© Wayward TxFHELLO! Reviews:
"I could not put this book down. If you're a romantasy fan, Dire Bound is unmissable. It combines brilliant writing with a gripping plot, a love story that isn't quite what it seems, as well as an amazing fantasy world with direwolves and an elite training academy. This book is perfect for fans of A Court of Thornes and Roses and Fourth Wing."
Millie Jackson, Podcast Producer
Check out more of Millie's top romantasy picks.
This spicy, page-turning military romantasy follows Meryn Cooper as she enlists in the army when her sister is kidnapped. Meryn becomes part of the lethal Bonding Trials in a desperate bid to save her sister, where a single mistake could cost her life. Now Meryn must survive four months of training at the castle. She is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her cold and beautiful instructor, Stark Therion, is eager to punish any weakness.
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
© MagpieHELLO! Reviews:
"Fans of enemies-to-lovers will adore this romantasy read. Not only is the chemistry between the two main characters sizzling, the spicy scenes in this book will have you blushing. It's a perfect beach read, as you can escape into a fantasy realm with an intriguing magic system and a heroine who must learn to find her place in a world that has forever changed."
Millie Jackson, Podcast Producer
Check out more of Millie's top romantasy picks.
What happens if the villain wins? Briony's future lies in tatters as her kingdom is overrun, her brother killed and she is imprisoned and auctioned off to the highest bidder – who just so happens to be her mortal enemy.
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
Women's literary fiction
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
© Fig TreeHELLO! Reviews:
"Hands up who remembers The Help? It was the 2009 best-selling historical fiction book by Kathryn Stockett about African-Americans working in rich white households in Mississippi in the early 1960s which was made into a hit film starring Emma Stone, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, who won an Oscar for her role. Well, the author of that book - which sold 15million copies worldwide - is now finally back, 17 years later, with her next novel and it’s fair to say that it’s been very eagerly awaited by the book world."
Laura Benjamin, News Director
The Calamity Club centres around Meg Lefleur, an 11-year-old girl growing up in Mississippi in 1933. Abandoned by her mother, she lives in an orphanage where she has to fight each day to survive and keep her spirit alive. Soon she meets Birdie and Charlie, two young women who are set on confronting their past while both haunted by their previous losses. The three soon find an unexpected kinship and come together to look out for each other in ways none have ever experienced before. But as the great Depression starts to tighten its grip on their town and the town’s residents grow ever more fearful, how can they make it through?
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Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley
© Hutchinson HeinemannHELLO! Reviews:
"While the topics, like Coralie juggling motherhood and her career, are nothing new, the way they're tackled is thoughtful, warm and witty, with echoes of David Nicholls."
Isabel Mohan, Second Act Editor
It starts with a meet-cute but Consider Yourself Kissed isn't a frothy romcom; it's an epic modern love story set against a political backdrop. It charts the relationship over a decade between lonely in London Aussie copywriter Coralie and single dad and Brexit journo Adam.
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So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne
© AmazonHELLO! Reviews:
"I've loved Holly Bourne's novels for a long time, and this one might be her best yet. She has such an amazing knack for making each and every one of her characters completely relatable - not to mention that I was GRIPPED by the mystery element!"
Emmy Griffiths, TV and Film Editor
A house burns down during a baby gender reveal party and everything goes horribly wrong - but which of the four best friends reuniting for the event started the blaze?
Is it Steffi, the career driven editor tired of celebrating other people's lives when no one celebrates hers? Is it Nicki, the expectant mother to be with a secret? Is it Charlotte, the party planner desperate for a child of her own? Or is it Lauren, a new mum desperately struggling with the realities of motherhood?
As the story delves into the women's lives, it feels like any of them could have been culpable in the crime - but is it more complicated than that?
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Land by Maggie O’Farrell
© Tinder PressHELLO! Reviews:
"Critics say it is her most ambitious novel so far and, having been lucky enough to have been sent an early proof, I can agree. It’s brilliant, moving, atmospheric and pure Maggie."
With Hamnet tipped to sweep the board at this year’s Oscars, the author of the book on which it’s based, Maggie O’Farrell – who also co-wrote the screenplay for the movie - is seemingly everywhere.
Already one of the UK’s most popular authors, with bestsellers like the aforementioned book about the grief of William Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway when their 11-year-old son passes away, as well as others like The Marriage Portrait and The Vanishing, her name will be impossible to escape in 2026.
To compound her popularity, June sees the release of her next eagerly-awaited novel, Land. The book, her tenth, is set on the Atlantic coast of Ireland and was inspired by the author’s own family history. In 1865, Tomás and his ten-year-old son, Liam, are mapping the whole of Ireland, a country which has been ravaged by the Great Hunger, for the Ordnance Survey. Tomás wants his maps to be a record of the disaster but an unsettling encounter on a remote stretch of the coast sets him and his family on an unexpected journey which unearths past histories and changes their lives forever.
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New voices in the literary world
The Names by Florence Knapp
© PhoenixHELLO! Reviews:
"I picked up this book for a book club without initially knowing anything about the story. In my opinion, that was the best way to read it, as it is an absolute gem. Florence Knapp is a major new writing talent and I am excited to read more of her future work!"
Iona MacRobert, Editorial Assistant
The plot follows the premise of what would happen if a child were given three different names and explores the different life courses that would pan out - prepare to be hooked throughout. While the book contains heavy themes, particularly surrounding domestic abuse, the exploration of how our names define us and determine our future is beautiful and complex.
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Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams
© OrionHELLO! Reviews:
"This was my favourite book of last year and I can't stop buying it for friends. I loved how well-drawn the characters were — particularly how those who could have been annoying on paper were actually complex and loveable — and the final chapters had me sobbing. I can't wait to read more of Hattie Williams's subtly powerful words."
Isabel Mohan, Second Act Editor
Bitter Sweet centres around Charlie, a junior book publicist who gets into a complicated affair with a much older, married man who happens to be an acclaimed author. But really it's a story about grief and mental health, alongside a familiar but nostalgic rollercoaster of early noughties office life.
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Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash
© DoubledayHELLO! Reviews:
"It's lauded as the most anticipated literary debut of 2026, and author Madeline Cash delivers with a book full of wit, humour, drama and family dysfunction."
Carla Challis, Commerce Partnerships Editor
The novel weaves the tale of the Flynn family falling apart at the seams after parents Catherine and Bud open up their marriage. Abigail, the eldest daughter, is dating an ex-soldier nicknamed 'War Crimes Wes'; middle-child Louise is in the midst of a correspondence with an online terrorist; and the youngest, Harper, is being sent to a reform camp due to her insistence that the town's citizens are being monitored.They're all at odds with each other, until a local billionaire casts a shadow across the family. And it's down to the brilliant Harper to find out just why this billionaire is so interested in the town and its residents - which sees Harper and her sisters catapulted into a criminal conspiracy that just might bring the family - and the town - back together."
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