Summer reads: Our recommendations

Eilidh, Writing Communities Administrator, says: 'I love a shocking, page-turner for the summer and, with her debut, Patel offers all this and more. A single speaker reflects on the power imbalances which exist within her sexual and romantic relationships, only further twisted through her own misbehaviour. Thick with all-too-familiar internet speak, it’s something of an archive (and I can’t wait to return to it in years to come). At once funny and insightful, I’m A Fan takes an unafraid look at our online obsessions, their IRL counterparts, and the intersections of race, gender and class that span across both – it’s utterly engrossing.'

Theresa, Marketing Communications Co-ordinator (Schools), says: 'Blending memoir, folklore and a keen naturalist mind, Sea Bean is a perfect holiday read – especially for those looking to make the most of their Scottish summer! Sally's search for an elusive seabean on the shores of the Shetland Isles is beautifully written, full of courage, wit and wanderlust. Learn secrets of the natural world and find a new curiosity for what the tide brings in next time you visit a beach.'

Yasmin, Early Years Digital Content Co-ordinator, says: 'If you’re looking for a summer read with a touch of melancholy, Klara and the Sun is a gorgeous novel. It’s a story set in a not-too-distant dystopian future, about an ‘Artificial Friend’ named Klara who comes into the life (and home) of a young girl named Josie, and who depends on the sun for its ‘special nourishment’. Kazuo Ishiguro is so good at writing meditative, thoughtful characters, and this book – although set in the mind of a robot – is no different. It’s simple but beautiful, a bittersweet testament to humanity and our constant search for meaning.'

Eilidh, Fundraising Officer, says: 'Freakslaw by Jane Flett is a perfect holiday read – wild, colourful and a little bit unnerving. It’s the summer of ’97, when a funfair arrives in the Scottish town of Pitlaw and turns everything upside down. I was completely immersed in the world of the Freakslaw and was rooting for all of the characters – I didn’t want to put it down.'

Craig, Design and Marketing Manager, says: 'I’m newly discovering the works of Agatha Christie for the first time, and I see now why they’ve endured on bookshop shelves over the past century. A gripping whodunnit, a tight plot, an eclectic mix of eccentric characters – all staples of a good Hercule Poirot novel, but no more so than in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. A perfectly planned and executed story, with cunning twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout. Just when I thought I had it solved, the rug was pulled from underneath me with an unexpected but highly satisfying ending. It’s Poirot – and Christie – at their very best, and stands up as a stellar piece of crime fiction nearly 100 years on.'

Kirsty, Early Years Operations Manager, says: 'Tara Westover writes powerfully about her childhood growing up in a strict Mormon survivalist household in the mountains of Idaho. It describes the battle a young Tara faced between her cravings for the education she’s never had and her loyalty to her family and way of life. I don’t often read memoirs but I found Educated fascinating and was gripped to the end. Would heartily recommend.'

Jane, Early Years Training & Development Manager, says: 'A green notebook, entitled ‘The Authenticity Project’ is left at Monica’s cafe for someone to find… Inside, a few paragraphs, written by Julian Jessore, age 79, an artist… This entry ends up changing Julian’s life, and the lives of all who find the book, as they share their true selves on its pages. This story is uplifting, thought-provoking and entertaining. It shows it's never too late for new beginnings. This book is also a reminder that sometimes what we're looking for may not truly be what we need.'

Rachel, Reading Communities Administrator, says: 'This thrilling novel of a secret government coven of witches is such a compelling read, it's impossible to put down. After a prophecy is told of a great danger from within the coven, we follow four best friends as they try to save the world from a foretold apocalypse. This novel is full of humour, and it’s difficult not to want to be a part of the coven too!'

Katie, Digital Officer, says: 'If you don’t mind being moved to tears on your summer holiday, Anne Enright’s The Wren, The Wren might be the read for you. Enright conjures an entire world that spans three generations: free-spirited Nell, her anxious and often unpredictable mother Carmel, and Carmel’s late father Phil, a revered Irish poet, behind whose beautiful words lie years of damaging behaviour. Enright’s prose never misses: every line in the novel is captivating. Dotted throughout is the aching poetry of the fictional Phil, looming over the other characters’ lives – whether they want it to or not. Wise, often funny and deeply empathetic, The Wren, The Wren cathartically examines family relationships, human nature and generational trauma.'

Eilidh, Writing Communities Administrator, says: 'A poignant and beautiful exploration of art and its revolutionary potential. Actor Sonia Nasir returns to Palestine to visit her sister. Unexpectedly, she ends up in a production of Hamlet, prompting her to re-consider her relationships, her craft and her family’s homeland. It’s a wonder to look at Hamlet anew through this crucial lens. Hammad’s writing is tender and generous, truly a novel to savour.'