We've teamed up with the Sunday Times bestselling author Veronica Henry to bring you a seasonal book club. You'll find inspiration on different themes with books to delight and inspire throughout the months ahead, perfect for popping your feet up, relaxing and diving into a book.
What could be more idyllic than an English country house in summer? The distant call of the cuckoo, tea on the lawn, the pock of tennis ball against racket, the sweetness of a stolen strawberry from a glass bowl . . . and a hammock to read in. Many people are rushing to get away this year, but I just want to rest and relax and enjoy my surroundings now life is a little easier, and make the most of my friends and family, so gentle sun and a good book is all I need to escape. I hope these choices might sweep you away as you sit in a shady corner of the garden.
The Beloved Girls – Harriet Evans
No-one does big house intrigue like Harriet Evans, and The Beloved Girls is her most atmospheric to date. When barrister Catherine disappears from a train station, the answer seems to lie in the past, at a rambling house in the West Country. In 1989, a young girl Jane comes to stay with the glamourous but damaged Hunter family at Vanes and soon falls under their spell. The house and its inhabitants are pre-occupied, if not obsessed, with a ceremony they hold each summer around the bees kept in a ruined chapel in the grounds. Mysterious, bewitching and intriguing.
The Birdcage - Eve Chase
Another rambling house, another damaged family, but this time on a cliff top in Cornwall. Artist Charlie Finch has always behaved exactly as he wishes – and now the past is catching up with him as he gathers his offspring together at Rock Point to discuss his future. They are all living in the shadow of what happened during the eclipse of 1999, and each of his three daughters holds a piece of the puzzle. Eve’s writing is exquisite and evocative, and she knows how to keep the pages turning like no other.
Heritage Style – Selina Lake
Stylist Selina Lake is the queen of the perfect setting and has a raft of gorgeous books to help you do the same. In Heritage Style she combines nostalgia and comfort to create gorgeous interiors by using what you already have and a few clever purchases. Inherited treasures, family heirlooms, vintage finds and up-to-date accessories go into the mix, along with advice on wallpaper, paint and fabrics. The photos are stunning and will give you the confidence to experiment and put a new spin on your surroundings without spending a fortune. If cosy, welcoming and inviting is the look you’re going for, look no further for inspiration.
The Last Bite – Anna Higham
Whether you are lucky enough to have a bountiful garden, or you pick your own, or you just love puddings, this is the bible you need to get the most out of apples, pears, strawberries, gooseberries, plums . . . every fruit you can think of! Executive pastry chef at the renowned River Café, there is nothing Anna doesn’t know about desserts. This is not a book for beginners, but if you are prepared to put in the time and the effort, this will lift your fruit cooking to the next level. With delights such as elderflower custard, raspberry ice cream sandwiches and quince posset with chestnut meringue, your family and friends will be thoroughly spoilt.
Have you picked up any of these amazing books? We'd love to hear your thoughts about Veronica's choices, or perhaps you're reading Veronica's latest book The Impulse Purchase? Join us with these summer reads and pop your comments and thoughts below.