Looking for recommendations that are a step up from chick lit but not too highbrow!

line Mortality or Lisa Jewell. Both tell good, meaty stories without being chick lit.

Jodi Picoult books are my recommendation.

I was in to Lynda La Plant a few years ago

Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy Sayers (if you work in an office)

The Lie Tree
I know Maeve Binchy fits in the chicklit arena but if it happens that you haven't read either Light a Penny Candle or Circle of Friends, they are a real treat and proper stories. Not short though.

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - absolutely brilliant book.

I always enjoy Lucinda Riley's books, and liane moriarty is excellent, I have enjoyed all of her books, especially the earlier ones - what Alice forgot and the last anniversary

jenny eclair , vanilla slices something..is good

The Britt Montero series by Edna Buchanan, if you like mysteries. Set in Miami.

I recently read The Girl in the Red Coat and How I lost You, neither particularly difficult reads and a decent yarn.
(both about missing children though so I appreciate not for everyone)

Leanne Moriarty really is good. Not sure quite how chic lit is defined, but i find Jodie Picoult asinine, and LM well written and engaging. Perfect beach reading.

For something a bit more thought provoking how about The Past (well constructed but a wee bit dull).

Or The Moon's a balloon? David Niven's autobiography. V funny and interesting.

Or We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. Really good but i can't say much or I'll spoil it.

I recommend Anne Fine; although she's most famous for her children's books, she has also written extremely good novels for adults. Tight plotting, without being brick-sized reads.

Have you read any Douglas Kennedy? I find them a bit more engaging than chick lit but still easy to read. Also, JoJo Moyes is worth a look if you haven't already. I'd class it as chick lit but at the better end.

Anything by Maggie O'Farrell, wonderful characters and great stories but still a pretty easy read

I like the Maisie Dobbs books by Jaqueline Winspear. Set between the wars with a bit of historical detail but not so much as to get tedious (mostly). The heroine is a female private investigator and it weaves the case she is working on with her personal life. Definitely not chick lit but still light enough for a summer holiday read.

Miss Pettigrew lives for a day. It's 1920's chick lit but a classic. So high-brow as well.....

Jenny Eclair's Life, Death and Vanilla Slices is great.

I really enjoyed reading In the Land of the Long White Cloud trilogy on my last holiday, nothing too taxing but a good (long) story.

The Rosie Project by Graham Simsion . Fabulous book, recommended it to all sorts of people. they all loved it. Laugh out loud, heart warming, fabulous book.

Anything by Diane Chamberlain

Eva Ibbotsen - The Morning Gift, A Company of Swans, The Magic Flute, The Secret Countess, A Song for summer. They're marketed as YA now, but they're beautifully descriptive and just nice stories.

Jeffrey Archer - Not A Penny More, Not a Penny Less. Not chick lot, but easy to read (and very clever - it's a bit like The Thomas Crown Affair in a way).

Rowan Coleman is amazing. I also enjoy Dorothy koomson

Tasmina Perry is my guilty pleasure, but I prefer her older books including Original Sin, Daddy's Girls and Goldiggers. I also recently read the Rosie Project and loved it, there is a sequel called the Roaie Effect which is also quite sweet. I recently read Before I Go To Sleep at book group which was a really fast read and quite entertaining. I'm currently reading The Night Circus which is really good too.

Try some of Alexander McCall Smith's books they are fantastic stories but lighthearted too.

I would try Anita Shreve or Barbara Kingsolver