These beach reads will inspire your next trip
Make sure your trip is one for the books by picking a page-turner that will truly take you away.
From fantasies that bring a whole new meaning to escapism to romance novels that are easy to fall in love with – we asked UK travellers like you what your favourite beach books were last year. And you didn't disappoint.
With film and TV playing an increasing role in our holiday choices, books and their adaptations are giving us bucket loads of inspiration on where to visit. So as we plan our 2025 getaways, the destinations from these bestselling stories could be this year's hottest spots.
The most popular reads of the year are:
It Ends With Us – Colleen Hoover
A powerful romance about Lily, who falls for neurosurgeon Ryle but discovers troubling patterns from her past repeating. Emotional and heart-wrenching.
Harry Potter series – J.K. Rowling
Follows Harry, a young wizard, as he discovers his magical heritage and battles the dark wizard Voldemort, with the help of his friends at Hogwarts.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
A Hollywood icon tells her life story, including her seven marriages and one true love, to an unknown journalist—leading to a shocking connection.
The Midnight Library – Matt Haig
Nora, struggling with regrets, finds herself in a magical library where she can explore different versions of her life, searching for what makes it meaningful.
Verity – Colleen Hoover
A struggling writer is hired to complete a famous author's unfinished series but discovers a disturbing, hidden manuscript revealing dark secrets.
Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus
In the 1960s, a brilliant but undervalued chemist accidentally becomes a TV cooking show host, using her platform to challenge gender roles.
The Summer I Turned Pretty series – Jenny Han
A coming-of-age romance about Belly, who finds herself caught between two brothers during summers spent at their family's beach house.
The Housemaid – Freida McFadden
A woman takes a job as a housemaid in a seemingly perfect family's home but soon realizes the secrets hidden behind closed doors.
Twisted series – Ana Huang
A steamy, interconnected romance series featuring strong heroines and morally grey love interests, each book following a different couple.
The Thursday Murder Club – Richard Osman
A charming, witty mystery where four elderly sleuths in a retirement home investigate unsolved murders—and end up entangled in a real case.
Seamus Macauley, Editor in Chief at Holiday Extras said:
"We've seen films and TV shows play an increasing role in holidaymakers' trips over the last couple of years. At the beginning of the year three Greek islands became the biggest risers thanks to interest in Argylle; Malta also saw a surge after playing host to Gladiator II, and Madeira's Fanal Forest captured the attention of travellers following its appearance in the Star Wars series Acolyte.
"Adaptations aren't the only drivers of course – we've all seen the impact of White Lotus on the destinations it's filmed in, and bookings to Japan were up 60% year-on-year when the fourth season of Race Across The World aired. With new episodes of both shows due for release in the first few months of the new year, we expect bookings to destinations they feature, such as Thailand, will be on the up too."
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