5 Recommend Reads to Escape Into on Your Northumberland or Yorkshire Holiday
No Passport Required: Discover the Beauty of the UK with Inspire Leisure
One of the best things about getting away is the gift of time. When you step out of the rhythm of work and routine, space opens up for slower moments – the kind where you can sit with a book for an hour, or even an afternoon, without interruption. At an Inspire Leisure holiday home in Northumberland or Yorkshire, the setting lends itself beautifully to reading. You might curl up with a blanket as rain taps gently on the roof, or turn the last page with a glass of wine after a day walking the coast or countryside.
Choosing the right book for a holiday isn’t about racing through the latest bestseller – it’s about finding a story that suits the mood you want to sink into. The five novels below offer a range of experiences: some are rooted in the landscapes around you, while others provide pure escape into other worlds. All are contemporary, widely read, and talked about so you can lose yourself and still feel part of the literary moment.
The Offing — Benjamin Myers
Benjamin Myers has a gift for capturing the beauty of northern landscapes, and The Offing is one of his most celebrated novels. Set on the Yorkshire coast just after the Second World War, it follows a teenage boy who leaves his mining village behind and stumbles into a friendship with an older, unconventional woman. Through her, he discovers art, poetry and a way of life he had never imagined. It’s a gentle but powerful story about freedom, creativity and the possibility of change – made all the more evocative if you’re reading it near the same stretch of coast.
Holy Island — L.J. Ross
L.J. Ross has become one of the most popular crime writers in Britain, and it all began with Holy Island. This debut introduces detective DCI Ryan as he investigates a murder on the tidal island of Lindisfarne. The Northumberland setting is more than just background; it shapes the tension and atmosphere of the story. Dark secrets, shifting tides and isolated landscapes all add to the suspense. For holidaymakers, it’s especially satisfying to read a fast-paced thriller that unfolds in the very part of the world you’re exploring.
Holy Island — L.J. Ross
L.J. Ross has become one of the most popular crime writers in Britain, and it all began with Holy Island. This debut introduces detective DCI Ryan as he investigates a murder on the tidal island of Lindisfarne. The Northumberland setting is more than just background; it shapes the tension and atmosphere of the story. Dark secrets, shifting tides and isolated landscapes all add to the suspense. For holidaymakers, it’s especially satisfying to read a fast-paced thriller that unfolds in the very part of the world you’re exploring.
The Paper Palace — Miranda Cowley Heller
Set over the course of a single summer’s day, this novel takes place at a family retreat in New England, but its themes of memory, desire and the pull of the past resonate universally. The narrative slips between present and past as the protagonist faces a life-changing choice, creating a layered and absorbing read. Heller’s writing is rich and atmospheric, ideal for when you want to immerse yourself completely in a story.
Yellowface — R.F. Kuang
For something sharper, more satirical and distinctly modern, Yellowface examines ambition, jealousy and cultural appropriation in the publishing world. Told in the biting, witty voice of a struggling author who takes credit for another’s work, it’s a page-turner that also has plenty to say about identity and creativity. If you’re in the mood for something pacey and thought-provoking, this is a book that sparks conversation long after you’ve finished.
Yellowface — R.F. Kuang
For something sharper, more satirical and distinctly modern, Yellowface examines ambition, jealousy and cultural appropriation in the publishing world. Told in the biting, witty voice of a struggling author who takes credit for another’s work, it’s a page-turner that also has plenty to say about identity and creativity. If you’re in the mood for something pacey and thought-provoking, this is a book that sparks conversation long after you’ve finished.
