Best Summer Reads for 2024

The perfect item to accompany you on a luxury sailing holiday is a great book, and we've compiled a list of the best summer reads for 2024. After all, so many of us wish we had the time to catch up on that novel that's been collecting dust or break out the Kindle to tap into that unread library. Our daily lives are often busy, and don't afford that moment of peace and quiet to escape into a story. Or we get distracted by the latest episode of something. A sailing holiday provides ample time to relax, disconnect from our electronics, and kick back with a book while lounging on the yacht.

Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman

This one is deep, beautiful, and will make you miss the actor even more. It is a top favourite pick amongst the best summer reads of 2024. Alan Rickman, famously establishing himself in cinema as a lead actor with his breakthrough performance in Die Hard, continued with brilliant, evolving, and unique work in the Harry Potter series and many other films.

The diaries, which cover the years from 1993 until Rickman's death in 2016, offer a unique perspective on both his public and private life. Reading them is like listening to Rickman converse with a close friend, including notes and illustrations that give depth and insight beyond the beloved actor's career in film.

The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig

The Midnight Library is an ideal summer read for those seeking a fantastical element but with a protagonist navigating choices regarding personal transformation that is relatable to us all. A library with infinite books, each of which tells the tale of a different reality, is located somewhere beyond the edge of the universe.

One book chronicles your life as it happened, and a different book describes the alternate existence you might have had if you had made a different decision at any given time. What if you had the chance to visit the library and see for yourself? While we all wonder how our lives might have been different, would any of these other lives have been better?

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before, by Dr Julie Smith

Sailing and vacations are as much about exploring as it is about doing something for our health and mental well-being. This book holds incredible insight and reflection for all of us. Online sensation Dr Julie Smith, a clinical psychologist with years of experience, gives you the tools you need to deal with everyday life challenges and take control of your emotional and mental health in her debut book.

"Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before" teaches you how to strengthen and maintain your mental health, even in the most trying times, and is rife with insider tips from a therapist's toolkit. Dr Julie Smith's perceptive guidance and coping techniques can aid you in building resilience, whether you aspire to manage anxiety, handle criticism, conquer depression, cultivate self-assurance, boost motivation, or attain self-forgiveness. All the while reading on a relaxing yacht holiday.

Everything I Never Told You, by Celest Ng

This novel is one for mystery lovers and is bound to captivate you while aboard. "Lydia is Dead" is the opening line to this deeply elaborate tale of a small-town Chinese American family in 1970s Ohio.

The novel follows a delicate balancing act that had kept the Lee family together, yet is upset when Lydia's body is discovered in the nearby lake, throwing them into disarray. "Everything I Never Told You" is an enthralling story of how mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle to understand one another. And ultimately, a profoundly moving story of family, secrets, and longing.

Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens

This novel has been a favourite for years and is still a top pick for best summer reads for 2024. An unsolved murder with an engrossing story that pulls you into the world of marshes and mystery, "Where the Crawdads Sing" has captivated the world since it was published and is a must-read if you haven't yet. The story follows the "Marsh Girl", who had lived alone near the small town of Barkley Cove in North Carolina since being abandoned when she was young. The town suspects her of an unsolved murder.

"Where the Crawdads Sing" is a gripping tale of a possible murder and a beautiful dedication to the natural world. It is also a heart-breaking coming-of-age story. Delia Owens provides a detailed reminder that we are all subject to nature's captivating and harsh secrets and are forever shaped by the children we once were.

A Kind of Magic, by Anna Spargo Ryan

Here is a memoir that many of us will connect with, especially after the trials of the peak pandemic and the effects it had on many of us. And while it delves into deep topics like mental health, anxiety, depression, and the games our minds can play – this book is truly about optimism.

"A Kind of Magic" is a powerful, honest, and sometimes comical insight into Anna's life, dealing with varying levels of mental illness or challenges of everyday life. It paints a beautiful picture of overcoming ourselves as our often-worst enemies at times. In the end, the stories of brokenness, be it the mind or spirit, become the magic of finding ourselves again.

Everything I Know About Love, by Dolly Alderton

This best summer read of 2024 will strike the heartstrings. A collection of personal stories, memoirs, satires of the everyday, wisdom from the tribulations of life, and light-hearted wit – this is one page-turner that will have you glued to the book and raving about to your friends. Living within the same space as "Bridget Jones's Diary", this story is a real-life telling of the hardships, confusion, preposterous moments, and coming of age. It will bring you back to nostalgic moments, ridiculous moments, tough moments, and touching moments we can all relate to on the journey of becoming an adult.

Book your holiday and bring your favourite book!

There you have it, our picks for the best summer reads for 2024 and a great collection to choose from to bring aboard your Yacht Getaways sailing holiday this summer! Book your holiday today to discover the world's best destinations on your skippered luxury yacht charter. Sit back and relax on your perfect holiday getaway, sailing between historic ports and secluded bays.