9 Reads for Slow Summer Afternoons on The Sofa

Whether it’s raining or a hot, sunny day, there’s something wholesome about a slow summer afternoon spent at home with no plans or urgent tasks on your to-do list. It’s the perfect time to finally pick up the book that’s spent months repurposed as a drink coaster on your bedside table, or dive into a recent bookshop purchase that caught your eye.

Ready your sofa or armchair with your comfiest cushion, a wool throw to hand if you start feeling cool, and an ottoman so you can sink into your spot of choice with your feet up. Make a summery drink (or tea, you can never go wrong with tea) and put your phone somewhere it won’t distract you if, or inevitably when, your mind momentarily wanders.

In case you don’t already have a pile of books you’re dying to read, we’ve put together a list of nine old favourites and some newer releases to get lost in this summer.

1. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

You might know Finnish artist and author Tove Jansson better for her children’s book series The Moomins, but she also wrote a selection of novels for adults. The Summer Book is a Scandinavian classic set on a tiny Finnish island. It follows an older woman and her young granddaughter, inspired by Jansson’s niece, as their connection to one another and the island develops during a summer together. It’s a moving, melancholic short novel filled with quiet nostalgia, warming summer charm, and dry humour.

2. Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Adichie returns with the recently published and hotly anticipated Dream Count, which centres on the stories of four connected women. The book explores the complexity of womanhood, incorporating themes of displacement, love, desire, and memory. It’s a thoughtful read that’s beautifully written – ideal for quiet afternoons of reflection.

3. The Land Where Lemons Grow: The Story of Italy and Its Citrus Fruit by Helena Attlee

The thought of citrus fruit and Italy evokes images of hot summer days spent living la dolce vita, so grab yourself some limoncello or orange sorbet and let Attlee transport you to the Mediterranean. This non-fiction account of Italy’s history told through its citrus groves combines art, poetry, botany, politics, and food culture. It’s a book to savour slowly, so get yourself another scoop of sorbet and enjoy the armchair travel.

4. The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

Also predominantly set in Italy, Highsmith’s iconic The Talented Mr. Ripley is the first in a series of five stylish psychological thrillers. Highsmith’s knack for pulling you into the headspace of anti-heroes is second to none, and this novel is no exception. We follow the titular Tom Ripley as he goes from humble beginnings to a world of wealth, charisma, deception, and crime.

5. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

If you want to turn your escapism up a notch, journey across genres and six interwoven stories that range from a ship leaving the Chatham Islands in the mid-1800s to the far future, where tribes are struggling to survive in post-apocalyptic Hawaii. With five of Cloud Atlas’ six narratives split in two, don’t be surprised if your afternoon turns into a whole weekend, or several, on the sofa as you race to find out what happens after each cliffhanger.

6. You Are Here by David Nicholls

For something that stays closer to home, the relatable protagonists of You Are Here find connection while on a walking holiday in the British countryside. This uplifting romance unfolds gently, with plenty of wit and warmth along the way, making it an easy summer read about starting again.

7. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Pachinko is a sprawling historical fiction novel that follows a multi-generational Korean family living in Japan. Set over eight decades, this immigrant story is rich in history and emotion. Lee’s writing is the kind that draws you in completely and is perfect for a long, uninterrupted afternoon.

8. The Bookseller at the End of the World by Ruth Shaw

You might expect the memoir of a septuagenarian who runs two tiny bookstores in Manapōuri, a remote lakeside town on the edge of Fiordland, Aotearoa New Zealand, to be an uneventful read. But Shaw’s wild life has been anything but mundane. Shaw shares tales of everything from being held up by pirates at sea to pig rearing, all interwoven with reflections on her favourite books and encounters with customers of her seasonally open Two Wee Bookshops. This touching book balances heartbreaking loss and trauma with love, humour, and the enjoyment that comes from finding just the right book for a stranger.

9. The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu

After something you can dip in and out of throughout the summer? The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories is a collection of short stories that blend science fiction, fantasy, and folklore. Liu’s buffet of bite-sized tales is both informative and entertaining, offering something to suit every mood.

Looking for more entertainment this summer? Have a read through our list of six standout fictional TV shows from 2025 for interior design inspiration.