Summer holidays are the perfect time to dive into a book you actually want to read.
Free from the judging eye of your fellow commuters - the ones who scan the front cover of your dog-eared copy of of 50 Shades Of Grey and make assumptions about the way you live your life (we've all done it) - you can jump into those easy reads you've had your eye on for a while now.
A quick tip: anything that has been made into a chick flick is a goer! We've already offered you guidance on the books everyone is talking about this summer, but now we've turned our book foraging skills to the reads best suited to the beach...
1. One Day by David Nicholls. As far as believable book romances go, this heartbreaking love story of two university friends and their struggle to actually get together is up there with the best of them.
If you held off seeing the flick starring Anne Hathaway (and her terrible attempt at a British accent), then the book is well worth a read this summer. Long enough to see you through your holiday but small enough to fit in your tote bag, One Day is just asking to be read at the beach.
Order your copy here.
2. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Didn't we tell you a book with its very own film adaptation was a good place to start?
It's the memoir of the author who, in her early thirties, has it all - a husband, a home, a career - but instead of feeling fulfilled she feels panicked and confused. Leaving behind these outward marks of success, she packed up and set off to live in Italy, India and Indonesia where she learnt to eat, pray and guess what? Love.
While it may sound corny, it's resonated with women across the globe, topped the New York Times' bestseller list and was made into a flick starring Julia Roberts. Get you copy here.
3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It's 1962 in Mississippi and aspiring writer Miss Skeeter persuades two black maids to document their experiences as "the help", caring for white children who grow up to be just like their parents in a world of segregation and prejudice.
This unputdownable page-turner will have you hooked from page one, perfect for hanging around at the departure gate and on the beach.
Buy your copy here.
4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Set in a future version of what once was the US, the trilogy follows Katniss Everdeen as she rebels against the repressive state. While there's no denying these are children's books and won't be the most intellectually stimulating read of your life, they're pacey, jammed pack full of action and you'll probably polish one off right after the other.
Plus, anything that Jennifer Lawrence has put her name to can't be bad. Get all your copies here.
5. Chocolat by Joanne Harris. This novel about a small French town turned upside down by the arrival of a bewitching chocolate confectioner, Vianne Rocher, and her spirited young daughter will have you hooked from the beginning.
At times, it's a bit of a weird read, but this tale of romance is exactly what holiday reads are made for. A timeless classic, you can go back to this work time and time again. Grab a copy here.
Don't fancy actual reading? Check out the best audio books to download in time for your summer holiday...