What to read this summer by Mark Haddon, Samantha Harvey, Zadie Smith and more

Several prominent authors have revealed their top book recommendations for summer reading, offering a diverse selection of fiction and non-fiction. Zadie Smith highlighted Margaret Busby’s "Part of the Story: Writings from Half a Century" as a collection celebrating a lifelong passion for African literature and life, and praised Luke Kennard’s "Black Bag" as the funniest and smartest novel she has read recently. Mark Haddon recommended "Taiwan Travelogue" by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated by Lin King, noting its win of the International Booker prize in May 2026. He also urged readers to explore other books from the International Booker prize shortlist, specifically mentioning Daniel Kehlmann’s "The Director". Other authors contributing to the summer reading list include Sarah Waters, William Dalrymple, Bernardine Evaristo, and Anne Enright, who collectively suggest 70 brilliant books for the season. The curated list aims to provide engaging and thought-provoking options for holiday readers, spanning various genres and themes. The selection emphasizes works that offer unique perspectives and literary merit, encouraging readers to discover new authors and revisit established ones.