12 holiday reads: Essential books to pick up at the airport

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As a passionate reader and cinephile, I absolutely delight in the anticipation of visiting bookstores prior to my beach vacations. This ritual allows me to carefully select the captivating worlds I will immerse myself in through novels, as I unwind and recharge on the sandy shores.

It can be hard to know what to choose, though, when there are hundreds of new releases every month.

Read on for all our picks!

1. Strange Houses by Uketsu

If you’re not familiar with Uketsu yet, it’s high time you get to know this enigmatic figure. Unlike many creators who reveal their true selves, Uketsu chooses to hide behind a white mask, black attire, and an electronically altered voice on YouTube. His area of expertise lies in horror and mystery stories, and his latest work, Strange Houses, is destined to spark conversations online.

Explorers will discover the enigmas behind peculiar homes, tackling verbal riddles and deciphering blueprints to unearth the grim realities hidden within these structures.

2. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Joan Goodwin is thrilled at the prospect of getting close to the stars, believing her dreams are becoming reality as she’s accepted into NASA’s astronaut training program – an achievement even more noteworthy given it was among the first for women in the 1980s. However, a fateful meeting with her soul mate might jeopardize everything, and lives will be forever altered when STS-LR9 launches.

3. House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama

1986 finds Josephine in the Philippines, shunned by the townsfolk following the tragic deaths of her parents during her marriage to an older man. An old acquaintance presents a chance at escape, though it’s not without its eerie conditions: she must reside in a supposedly haunted mansion and engage in a game of hide-and-seek. If she triumphs, her heart’s desires are hers; if she fails, it could mean her demise…

4. The Compound by Aisling Rawle

If you’re a fan of Love Island and reality shows, you’ll find The Compound captivating! We delve into the life of Lily, a participant in an extreme television series set within a remote compound. As their lives hang in the balance and daily eliminations occur, who will ultimately emerge victorious? And at this point, are they even striving for victory anymore?

Read our review of The Compound by Aisling Rawle.

5. The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun

In a hospital bed, unable to move or speak, Oghi wakes up following a car accident that took the life of his wife. This tragedy places him under the supervision of his mother-in-law as she copes with the loss of her daughter. As Oghi’s universe contracts, his mother-in-law seeks to dismantle whatever remnants remain of his life.

6. The Man Who Died Seven Times by Yasuhiko Nishizawa

At the heart of their New Year’s celebration, Grandfather Fuchigami meets a tragic end, and his grandson, Hisataro, finds himself trapped in a confounding time-loop, living the same day repeatedly. Each dawn offers Hisataro an opportunity to uncover the murderer and save his grandfather’s life. Can he solve the enigma?

7. Liquid by Mariam Rahmani

From my perspective as a movie critic, let me share my thoughts about the protagonist’s predicament. Having always believed herself to be the most intellectually superior in any given setting, she finds herself, years after earning her PhD, still struggling financially, unattached, and stuck in a dead-end job. In light of these circumstances, it seems that only one option remains tantalizingly within reach: securing a wealthy spouse.

Consequently, her summer turns chaotic and filled with dating, only for her to receive heartbreaking news which propels her towards Tehran, seeking answers about her identity and origins.

8. By Your Side by Ruth Jones

For over three decades, Linda Standish has been employed at the council’s Unclaimed Heirs Division, eagerly anticipating an early retirement. However, prior to her departure, she has one last case to handle – the search for Levi Norman’s family, a Welshman who settled on a secluded Scottish island five years before his passing. Finding his kin might prove challenging, but in the process, Linda could uncover some truths about herself.

9. Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

Jet believes she has plenty of time left in her life, yet there may be an error in that assumption. When she’s viciously assaulted, she discovers she only has a week remaining. In these final days, she chooses to investigate her own attempted murder to uncover the culprit before it’s too late. Can she figure out who attacked her in time?

10. When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén

In Sweden, Bo lives a peaceful life, predominantly on his own. Despite being elderly, he finds joy in visits from his caring team and his son. Apart from his loyal companion, Ture, the dog, those meetings are often the highlights of his days. However, when his son proposes it’s time for Ture to move on, a tumult of feelings arise within Bo, compelling him to assert himself and make decisions independently.

11. Men in Love by Irvine Welsh

The late 1980s is drawing to a close, marking the end of Margaret Thatcher’s reign, but a fresh chapter unfolds for the Trainspotting gang. Characters like Renton, Sick Boy, Spud, and Begbie reappear, seeking ways to feel alive once more. As the 1990s approach, they find themselves experiencing pleasure in unexpected locales. Will love be the key to their desires?

12. The Sleepwalkers by Scarlett Thomas

Upon checking into Villa Rosa during their honeymoon, Evelyn and Richard discover hidden mysteries. From the moment they arrive, the peculiar owner Isabella seems to favor newlywed Richard while showing disdain towards Evelyn. As the vacation progresses, bizarre secrets begin to surface.

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2025-07-25 15:04