The best books to read this summer

What should you read at the beach this summer? And if you have to stay at home or need a break from the kids? Every June our literary editor Fred Studemann and his deputy books editor Laura Battle put together the FT’s summer book special, and today they give us their recommendations, each of them with a different summer activity in mind. Their general top picks are James by Percival Everett and Knife by Salman Rushdie.

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We look forward to hearing from you. Lilah is on Instagram @lilahrap. We are on X @lifeartpod and email [email protected]. We appreciate reviews on Apple and Spotify.

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Links (all FT links take you past the paywall):

– Some categories that Fred and Laura have taken from the Best Books special:

Best Fiction: https://on.ft.com/3VH3Wrn

Best literary nonfiction: https://on.ft.com/3VI1kt9

Best audiobook: https://on.ft.com/3VM1W0U

– Here are the other recommendations mentioned: More by Molly Roden Winter, long Island by Colm Toibin, Come and get it by Kiley Reid, Maurice and Maralyn by Sophie Elmhirst, Beirut Train Station by Paul Vidich, You are here by David Nicholls, Memories of my former self by Hilary Mantel, The fearful generation by Jonathan Haidt, Nuclear war by Annie Jacobsen and Bulbs by Roberto Piumini. Fred and Laura also recommend This strange, eventful story by Claire Messud as an audio book, read by Cassandra Campbell.

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