Bucks &amp; Oxon


<p>Whether you&#8217;re heading off to the Med, plotting a staycation in the garden or simply looking for an excuse to ignore your emails for a few blissful hours, a great book is the ultimate summer accessory. We asked the literary experts at <a href="https://marlowbookshop.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marlow Bookshop</a> and <a href="https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bell Bookshop</a> to share the titles they&#8217;re most excited about right now, and the result is a deliciously varied pile of page-turners, from sweeping historical fiction and heart-tugging family dramas to dark comedy. Sunscreen on, phone off – here&#8217;s what to pack.</p>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-09-at-12.09.24.png" alt="" aria-hidden="true" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">Land by Maggie O&#8217;Farrell</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>One of the year&#8217;s most anticipated novels comes from the brilliant Maggie O&#8217;Farrell, author of the much-loved <em>Hamnet</em>. Set in 1865 Ireland, <em>Land</em> follows a father and son working to map a country still recovering from famine and loss. Richly atmospheric and deeply moving, it&#8217;s a sweeping story of family, survival and belonging. Perfect for fans of immersive historical fiction and evocative natural landscapes.</p><p><a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/land/maggie-ofarrell//9781472289087?utm_source=1830024&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=https%3A%2F%2Fcreatordata.co.uk&amp;sv1=affiliate&amp;sv_campaign_id=1830024&amp;awaid=3787&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw857RBhAgEiwAI-1yKE0ZUyfgTgj-OvB1vnSEJXxdr9hymbKvsItlDyt-zjzYJfbpl5A_uRoClDAQAvD_BwE&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23871320777&amp;gbraid=0AAAABDpLjNsUkqUVRKO8ngEDs3J82wY8z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BUY IT NOW</a></p></div></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-09-at-12.11.51.png" alt="The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>Nobody does human relationships quite like Elizabeth Strout. Her latest novel follows history teacher Artie Dam, whose seemingly ordinary life masks a growing sense of loneliness and disconnection. Tender, wise and beautifully observed, this is one to savour on a sun lounger if you love character-driven fiction that lingers long after the final page.</p><p><a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-things-we-never-say/elizabeth-strout/9780241814307" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BUY IT NOW</a></p></div></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-09-at-12.43.11.png" alt="The Artist by Lucy Steeds" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">The Artist by Lucy Steeds</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>Set in Provence in 1920, this atmospheric novel brings together art, creativity and a heartwarming love story over one unforgettable summer. Evocative and beautifully written, it&#8217;s the perfect escape for anyone dreaming of sun-drenched landscapes and a slower pace of life.</p><p><a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-artist/lucy-steeds/9781399819589" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BUY IT NOW</a></p></div></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-09-at-12.45.24.png" alt="Heart the Lover, Lily King" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">Heart the Lover by Lily King</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>A delightful exploration of young love, sexual passions and friendship that come crashing back much later in life to give greater meaning to those carefree years. A book you will become emersed in from the very beginning and feel the love and pain of all involved.</p><p><a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/heart-the-lover/lily-king/9781837265527" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BUY IT NOW</a></p></div></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-09-at-12.47.03.png" alt="Natural Disaster Lisa Owens" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">Natural Disaster by Lisa Owens</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>What could possibly go wrong on one mother&#8217;s carefully planned final day of maternity leave? Quite a lot, as it turns out. Funny, heartbreaking and painfully relatable, Lisa Owens brilliantly captures the chaos of modern family life. A smart, warm and wonderfully honest summer read.</p><p><a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/natural-disaster/lisa-owens/9780349020235" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BUY IT NOW</a></p></div></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-09-at-12.18.10.png" alt="Murder in the Midday Sun" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">Murder in the Midday Sun</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>Looking for something to dip into between swims and spritzes? This collection of ten sun-soaked murder mysteries brings together some of crime fiction&#8217;s biggest names, including Ruth Rendell, Val McDermid and Edmund Crispin. Perfect for fans of short stories with a dark twist.</p><p><a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/murder-in-the-midday-sun/various/9781805229810" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BUY IT NOW</a></p></div></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-09-at-12.39.28.png" alt="The Book Game by Francis Wise" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">The Book Game by Frances Wise</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>Described as a &#8216;howlingly funny thriller&#8217;, this deliciously sharp novel follows an Oxfordshire book club as rivalries, ambitions and long-buried secrets bubble to the surface during a sweltering summer week. Witty, twisty and packed with drama, it&#8217;s ideal for anyone who enjoys their literary fiction with a side of mischief.</p><p><a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-book-game/frances-wise/9780008679293" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BUY IT NOW</a></p></div></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-09-at-12.56.45.png" alt="Eye Spy by C. M. Ewan" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">Eye Spy by C. M. Ewan</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>Boarding the Eurostar this summer? Pack this. A gripping thriller that unfolds as the train races through the Channel Tunnel, <em>Eye Spy</em> is fast-paced, clever and utterly impossible to put down. Blink and you&#8217;ll miss your stop.</p><p><a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/eye-spy/c-m-ewan/9781035043033" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BUY IT NOW</a></p></div></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-09-at-13.01.52.png" alt="Dad Had a Bad Day Ashton Politanoff" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">Dad Had a Bad Day by Ashton Politanoff</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>A darkly funny novel about fathers, sons, friendship and an increasingly all-consuming obsession with tennis. Quirky, unsettling and surprisingly moving, it&#8217;s the sort of book you&#8217;ll race through while simultaneously wondering where on earth it&#8217;s heading.</p><p><a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/dad-had-a-bad-day/ashton-politanoff/9781917092883" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BUY IT NOW</a></p></div></div></div></div>



<p><em>Ready to add a few more titles to the TBR pile? Pop into <a href="https://marlowbookshop.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marlow Bookshop</a> or <a href="https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bell Bookshop</a>, where the expert booksellers are brimming with recommendations for every kind of reader. Fair warning: you&#8217;ll almost certainly leave with more books than you planned.</em></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE? </h2>



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<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/arts-culture-things-to-do/best-outdoor-theatre-buckinghamshire-oxfordshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al fresco fun! Best outdoor theatre in Bucks &amp; Oxon this summer</a></li>



<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/best-pub-gardens-oxfordshire-buckinghamshire/">Sun, spritzes and stunning views: the prettiest pub gardens near you</a></li>



<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/day-trips/top-picnic-spots-buckinghamshire-oxfordshire/">Pack a hamper! 17 perfect picnic spots in Bucks and Oxon</a></li>
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Summer reading sorted: 9 brilliant books to slip into your beach bag

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