If there's one book I should buy as a paperback this summer, it would be...

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If you had to recommend one book to buy as a paperback to read on the beach or by the pool this summer, which would you recommend?

Robert Harris 'An officer and a Spy'
Bernard Knight Crowner John Series
DH swears by CJ Sansom Shardlake series
Anything by Alexander McCall Smith especially no 1 ladies detective agency
'The Kite Runner' Khaleid Hoseini

The Island of Missing trees
The Paper Palace
Still Life
Hamlet
Lessons in Chemistry
Pachinko
City of Girls

I agree with Tracy Chevalier for historical fiction, A Single Thread is the latest I've read and loved it.

I also like re-reading the No 1 Women's Detective Agency books by Alexander McCall Smith on my summer holidays

Crawdads is one of the worst books I've ever read.

Jodi Taylor's chronicles of St Mary's books, first one is "just one damned thing after another".
Yes there is a bit of time travel, but the premise is fascinating (to me at least), and the characters are great. Don't think the first is the best book, but you have to start there.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle.

How to kill your Family-Bella Mackie definitely.
Non fiction-Dave Grohl-Storyteller

Not massively keen on Sally Rooney and her writing style but have read Normal People and Conversations with Friends (both have been made into tv series, on Iplayer and people argue that NP the series is better than the book)

Where the Crawdads Sing is coming out on film very soon too. I'm wanting to read the book first but have heard mixed reviews.

Where the crawdads sing
The seven husband's of Evelyn Hugo
The authenticity project
Scabby Queen

Have you read Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy? Older novels — Helen Dunmore’s Zennor in Darkness, AS Byatt’s Possession, Angela Carter’s Nights At the Circus, John Fowles’ The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Pat Barker’s brilliant WWI Regeneration trilogy?

Wolf Hall
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell

both big meaty books which would benefit from a solid poolside read (they're page-turners once you get into them, but you need to blast through the opening hundred pages to find your feet).

Lessons In Chemistry and Blood Orange have been my favourites so far this year.

Possession is amazing too
and The Essex Serpent

Another vote for Great Circle. Best book I’ve read all year.

Where the Crawdads Sing
The Further you Fall is a perfect holiday thriller about a ballet company with a great ending

American Dirt is excellent - gripping but not a flowery summer read if that's what your after.

Currently reading Mrs England by stacie halls. Historical fiction and really enjoying it up to now.

I love gentle historical fiction so can recommend a few!

I spent a lovely summer in the garden reading I Capture The Castle and The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, set in the 1930's and 50's respectively.

I loved A Single Thread (listened to the audible version narrated by my favourite narrator Fenella Woolgar) and Life After Life (again, the audio version read by FW). Both set in the early part of this century.

I also cannot recommend enough The Diary of a Provincial Lady, which was written in the 1930's. It's wonderful and very funny.

Following. I'm off on holiday next week and need to load my kindle. Definately going to try How To Kill Your Family.

Oops sorry Watch her Fall

Came on to say the same thing
Thought it wouldn't be my thing but absolutely loved them

If you like historical fiction, The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak is beautiful. There is one part where Shafak describes soldiers in one of the WWs and it made me hold me breath. Loved it.

Ooh - thank you for those recommendations. I like the sound of The Further You Fall.

Sarah warters writes a ripping yarn.

Modern, but I loved diary of a somebody by Brian Bilston

And I'm another crawdads hater. Predictable, twee plot and some atrocious poetry

If you like historical fiction try Kate Mosse, Labyrinth, Sepulchre etc

I recommend Kate Quinn for historical fiction. I really enjoyed the Rose Code about Bletchley Park and the Huntress about world war 2.
And I just finished Girl with the Louding Voice which was really good too.

For a meaty read I would recommend Ken Follett - Pillars of the Earth