July 2022: Top Summer Books to Read
Summer is here and there’s no better way to relax than sitting in the garden enjoying a good book. Here are our top summer books to read whether you’re enjoying a staycation or overseas escape.
Best True Stories
Here’s are top true stories to read while relaxing in the sun this year.
H is for Hawk, Helen Macdonald
H is for Hawk recounts the moving true story of writer Helen Macdonald, who as a child, wanted to be a falconer. As an adult, devastated by the death of her father, Helen isolates herself from society to train her own goshawk. It’s a good read about the relationship between nature and man, and how it’s possible to reconcile death with life and love.
Sniper One, Sgt. Dan Mills
Sniper One gives an unflinching account of The Iraq War, seen through the eyes of Sgt. Dan Mills and his platoon of snipers, who flew into southern Iraq in 2004. Brutal and graphic at times, Mills tells the true story of war in all its gritty detail and leaves you feeling like you’re with him and his platoon on the battlefield. You might need a stiff drink with this one though!
The Salt Path, Raynor Winn
Just days after Raynor learns that her husband is terminally ill, the couple lose their home and livelihood. They decide to walk the 630 miles of Southwest Coast Path that takes in Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, taking only what they can carry. Based on an incredible true story, The Salt Path is about coming to terms with grief and the healing power of nature. The perfect summer book for a UK staycation.
Uplifting Good Reads
Summer is all about relaxing and recharging the body and mind, so there’s no better time to read an uplifting and self-motivating book. Take a look at our top summer books for self-love and self-improvement.
The Strength in Our Scars, Bianca Sparacino
Through poetry, prose and compassionate encouragement, this book tackles the devastating but relatable experiences of moving on, self-love, and ultimately, learning to heal. The Strength in Our Scars reminds us that no matter what we’re going through, it is possible to heal and find peace.
Notes on Heartbreak, Annie Lord
Reeling from the break-up of a long-term relationship, Annie Lord recounts the joy and pain of being in love, something that anyone who has had their heart broken can relate to. Notes on Heartbreak is a fierce, funny and often brutally honest account of heartbreak, and how Annie’s experience is both specific and universal.
Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe, Laura Lynne Jackson
Written by renowned psychic medium Laura Lynne Jackson, Signs invites us to learn how to recognise and interpret messages from loved ones and spirit guides from the other side. Signs is a guidebook and translator for the mysterious spiritual language of the universe.
Escapism Summer Books
Whether you’re escaping to a warmer climate this summer, or just escaping to the garden for some peace and quiet, here are the stories to read for pure escapism in 2022.
The Bone Orchard, Sara A Mueller
Set in a magical fantasy world, The Bone Orchard tells the story of a concubine charged by a dying emperor to solve his own murder, and stop the culprit, most likely one of his sons, from taking over the empire. The Bone Orchard is a fascinating ‘whodunit’ with a gothic twist.
The Justice of Kings, Richard Swan
The first book in a fantasy trilogy, The Justice of Kings follows the story of Sir Konrad Vonvalt, an Emperor’s Justice, acting as a detective, judge and executioner all in one. While investigating a murder, Vonvalt begins to unravel a conspiracy that could bring down all Justices, and the empire itself.
The Wolf, Leo Carew
The first book in the Under the Northern Sky series, The Wolf is an historical fantasy novel of political intrigue and power. It follows a conflict between two very different races with opposing ideas of power and identity, and what both sides are prepared to do to defend their