2024 Summer Essential Reads: Fiction Top Picks

Whether you're lounging by the pool, sipping cocktails on the patio, or escaping the heat indoors, what better companion than a book to pair with your favourite summer drink? Here is our list of fun-reads that are perfect for sun-soaked days or those lazy afternoons when you just can't be bothered to move from your hammock. From breezy romances to page turner thrillers, these books are sure to give you good stories to tell about 2024 summer. (And who knows, maybe your book will even get along better with your drink than you do!)

1. Funny Story by Emily Henry

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Adult Fiction

“Drink. Dance. Have fun.”
“In a room with our exes,” I point out. “Who think we’re dating.”
Miles’s smile hitches up. “See?” he says. “Doesn’t that sound fun?”

Two wronged exes hatch a mischievous plan to make their former partners' lives a living nightmare. What follows is a joyful, shimmering novel about a pair of opposites bound by a shared mission and unexpected sparks. To know more Click Here

Genre: Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Japanese Literature

Inspired by the real case of the convicted con woman and serial killer, "The Konkatsu Killer," *Butter* is a vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance, and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan. This gripping narrative follows an everywoman's journey through the societal pressures that complicate the pursuit of happiness, delivering a story as satisfying as a gourmet meal.

In Tokyo's detention center, convicted serial killer Manako Kajii captivates journalist Rika Machida with her irresistible recipes, sparking an unexpected culinary connection that transforms them both. As Rika delves deeper, she finds herself questioning not just Kajii’s motives, but her own desires and ambitions. To know more Click Here

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy Romance, Historical Fiction

An epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy filled with hope, heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love.

Amidst a divine war, aspiring journalist Iris Winnow battles family struggles and personal turmoil. Her letters to her missing brother mysteriously reach Roman Kitt, her rival at the Oath Gazette. As they form a secret connection through these letters, Iris and Roman are drawn together to face the chaos on the front lines, fighting for love, family, and the fate of the world. To know more Click Here

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, LGBT, Romance

Hilarious, haunting, and heartwarming, Under the Whispering Door is a tale of a life lived too little and a death that offers a second chance.

Wallace, who realizes he’s dead after meeting a reaper at his own funeral, finds himself at a peculiar tea shop where Hugo, the owner, helps souls cross over. With just one week to live the life he never had, Wallace embarks on a journey of self-discovery and redemption. To know more Click Here

Genre: Fiction, Short Stories, Humour

Twinkle Khanna's keen observations and wry humor shine through in this collection of five captivating short stories.

From a family's hilarious clash over burial traditions to a woman urging the chief justice to set a ‘nice cut-off age’ for dying, these tales of ordinary lives are filled with light, shadow, and unexpected twists. Each story, whether poignant or comedic, is a vivid snapshot of human experience. To know more Click Here

Enjoy these picks and remember: if your summer drink starts whispering plot twists, it's a sign you've found the perfect book companion.