The older we get, the more we desire the simple things in life. When it comes to a holiday, that includes peace, quiet, and a good book. There’s nothing like diving headfirst into a world of words, far-flung destinations, and stories of adventure, history, and romance. Here, we detail our latest choice reads for your next holiday.

1. For the culture vulture – The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

Born into a world of words, Esme, a curious girl, spends her childhood in the garden shed in Oxford, the Scriptorium, where her father and a team of lexicographers gather words for the world’s first Oxford English Dictionary.

When a piece of paper with the word ‘bondmaid’ falls on the ground, Esme picks it up and stashes it away. Collecting little misplaced and discarded words at the Scriptorium, she begins to realise that some words are given more importance over others. The words that give meaning relating to women’s experiences are often not recorded by the men. Esme secretly collects these words for another dictionary known as The Dictionary of Lost Words.

Based on truth, this historical fiction tells a moving tale of the power of language and how it can shape and change the reality of the world and our experiences in it. It is a thought-provoking read for those who enjoy history, language, and women-driven stories.

Get the book:
Popular Bookstore | Kinokuniya

2. For the cafe hopper – How to Stop Time by Matt Haig

On the surface, Tom Hazard appears to be an ordinary 40-something-year-old, but he has been alive for centuries. One of few afflicted with a rare condition that causes him to age slowly, Tom has witnessed and been a part of pivotal and historical events. What he longs for now is to simply live an ordinary life as a history teacher in London.

Imminent threat to his secret arises when he falls in love, the one thing his kind is not allowed to do. Between his desire for romance and his search for his daughter whom he believes possesses the same condition as him, Tom wrestles with his past, the rules of the Albatross Society which protect people like him, and finding purpose in the present.

A story filled with loss, hope, the inevitability of change, and an unwavering pursuit of loveand happiness, How to Stop Time is a book you will struggle to put down. We suggest getting a hot cuppa, picking a cosy corner, and spending the rest of the day in with this book.

Get the book:
MPH Online | Kinokuniya

3. For the holiday reader – Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

A lone survivor wakes up on a spacecraft with no memory of his name, why he is there, or what he is meant to do. Ryland Grace soon learns that he is on an eleventh-hour mission to save Earth. Humanity is on the brink of annihilation caused by a microorganism consuming the sun.

Millions of miles from home, with two deceased crew members on board, Ryland tries to find a way to reverse the solar dimming to save both Earth and Rocky’s home planet, an alien companion he meets along the way.

If the only time you get to read is when you are on holiday, this is the book you would want to take with you. It is a story of sacrifice, endurance, and unlikely friendships, enveloped in witty and adventure-packed sci-fi goodness.

Get the book:
Lit Books | Popular Bookstore | Kinokuniya

4. For the culinary connoisseur – Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Set in early 1960s Southern California, chemist Elizabeth Zott works at the Hastings Research Institute amongst an all-male chemist team whose misogynistic attitudes undermine her work and intelligence. Life takes a surprising turn when Calvin Evans, a Nobel-prize-nominated scientist and colleague, falls in love with her.

When life hands her the unexpected, Elizabeth finds herself a single mother and host of America’s beloved cooking show, Supper at Six. Her unusual cooking methods gain a large following of women as she encourages them to not hold themselves back and to be fearless in fighting for what they want to achieve.

Hilarious, charming, and at times heartbreaking yet wonderfully uplifting, Lessons in Chemistry is a story of the power of knowledge, what it takes to overcome adversity, and the strength found in a chosen family.

Get the book:
Popular Bookstore | Kinokuniya

5. For the lone wanderer – The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Henry DeTamble and Clare Abshire have a love story for the ages. Bound by a rare genetic condition that causes him to involuntarily travel back and forth between time, Henry first meets six-year-old Clare, the love of his life, at the age of thirty-six. Faced with a life of unpredictability, they wrestle to lead a normal life as Henry’s inability to remain in one place and time becomes more difficult the older he gets.

This book is the perfect companion for solitary travellers. It is a moving and thrilling tale of love, loneliness, and the value of time in an unforgettable story that will leave you changed.

Get the book:
Popular Bookstore | Kinokuniya

6. For the pool lounger – The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Do we all get to experience life-long love and is there someone for everyone? Professor Donald Tillman has never been in a serious relationship. Having a lifelong struggle with social customs, the genetics professor was convinced that romance was not in his future. That is until he met Rosie Jarman.

On his statistical and evidence-based quest to find the perfect wife, Rosie comes in like a whirlwind, fiery and spellbinding, sending his evidence-based perfect partner ideals right out the window.

Funny, affirming, and deeply endearing, The Rosie Project is a story of how love, unquantifiable and unpredictable can meet us in unexpected ways and change us for the better if we let it. It is our poolside book recommendation to you.

Get the book:
Book Xcess | Kinokuniya

7. For the timeless traveller – Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now by MayaAngelou

In her first collection of essays, Maya Angelou, the beloved African-American writer and poet, notes autobiographical reflections while sharing wisdom from her extraordinary life. Her words are a balm for the heart and food for the soul. Written in 1993, the themes of life, faith, love, and what it is to be a woman are still relevant today. Full of gusto, inspirational, and written in a style that only Maya Angelou could, it is a treasure trove of wisdom everyone needs to read at least once.

This timeless addition to your holiday reading list is a quick read but one you will find yourself revisiting over and over again.

Get the book:
MPH Online | Kinokuniya