August's Best Books

Pick up the hottest summer reads with Waterstone’s round-up of the best books for August.

Fiction

One for history buffs: The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable (£14.99): Ambition, talent, passion – it's all here in this page-turner based on real-life 18^th Century Venetian violinist and composer Anna Maria.

One for the beach bag: Enemies to Lovers by Laura Jane Williams (£9.99): Perfect for when you’re propped up on the sun lounger, this winning romcom sees highly strung Flo and irksome Lothario Jamie thrown together on a family holiday.

Crime & thrillers

Cool collection: Safe Enough And Other Stories by Lee Child (£22): This pulse-raising collection of 20 short stories featuring gangsters, bodyguards and hitmen comes from the best-selling author of the Jack Reacher series.

Historical thrills: Medici Heist by Caitlin Schneiderhan (£16.99): A daring young con woman in Renaissance Florence plans an audacious scheme to steal the Medici dynasty’s wealth. Think of a mix between Ocean’s Eleven and The Marriage Portrait, and you’ve got it!

Children’s literature

For serial thrillers (teen fiction): Such Charming Liars by Karen M McManus (£11.99): Another edge-of-your-seat thriller from the author of One of Us is Lying, in which a mother and daughter team of jewel thieves plan one last heist but end up getting an unexpected reminder of the past.

Picture book: The Calendar Kids Meet August by April Martin (£10.24): Celebrating the end of summer, friendship, and preparing for a new school year.

Home & lifestyle

For bakers: Jane's Patisserie Easy Favourites by Jane Dunn (£17.99): This one is sure to get the tastebuds tingling, with super easy, stress-free recipes for everything from feta garlic muffins to Bourbon biscuit cheesecake.

For stress-free living: The Art of Danish Living by Meik Wiking (£14.99): Bring a little hygge into your life with this guide to finding happiness and fulfilment both in and out of work.

Biography

Must-read: A Voyage Around The Queen by Craig Brown (£25): A structurally brilliant and fascinating biography of Queen Elizabeth II, one of the most documented people of the last century.

For Swifties: Taylor Swift – The Stories Behind the Songs by Annie Zaleski (£25): The ultimate guide to Taylor Swift’s formidable songbook, with more than 200 tracks explored and explained.

Nature writing

Indispensable guide: The Almanac, A Seasonal Guide to 2025 by Lia Leendertz (£12.99): You’ll find valuable information on everything from beach holidays to the best times to spot meteor showers in this bestselling annual guide to the seasons.

For gardeners: Gardener’s Almanac 2025 by Greg Loades, The National Trust (£9.99): Essential annual guide for all gardeners, covering pruning, recycling, wildflowers, house plants and much, much more.