The Booker Prizes guide to summer reading: the best books to read in 2026

From the nostalgia of the British seaside to distant, sun-soaked landscapes, dive into the Booker Prizes team’s recommendations for summer reading

From unforgettable settings to novels that keep you on the edge of your deck chair, these are your favourite books to escape with as the temperature rises 

Across the northern hemisphere, temperatures are rising with forecasts of another sweltering summer ahead. Here are ten searingly good Booker-nominated reads, where hot weather is much more than just a backdrop 

From solitary escapes to idyllic resorts, join us on a trip through literature’s most compelling coastal tales with these Booker Prize-nominated novels