Our favourite outdoor reading spots
The Pan Macmillan team share their favourite outdoor reading spots for summer.
Picture this: the sun is shining and you have nothing to do and nowhere to be. What better way to spend an afternoon than sitting outside with a really good book?
Fine, let's be honest, the sun isn't always shining. Nevertheless, Pan Macmillan staff share some of their favourite spots to enjoy a summer read, some more suitable for the British weather than others . . .
‘My ideal outdoor reading spot is anywhere where the sun is shining, maybe with the sound of waves or birds chirping!’
Katie, Email Marketing Manager
If, like Katie, your priority is guaranteed sun, then you're probably going away this year – in which case, you should take a look at our holiday reads. Or be inspired by Katie's reading choice: one of genre-bending thriller writer Blake Crouch's books, Abandon.
‘Living in the UK means that summer doesn't always *summer*. When this is the case, I cheat a bit by sitting in my window nook. That way I'm inside, but can taste the outdoors. My cat, Cashew, is an added bonus.’
Stella, SEO Content Executive
Even if it doesn't quite feel like summer, it won't stop Stella from power-reading Alan Hollinghurt's new novel, Our Evenings.
‘I love finding a sunny table outside to sit and read after work – sometimes with a good drink! The lakeside terrace at the Barbican is the perfect spot for afternoon sun surrounded by some great architecture.’
Alice, Digital Marketing Executive
Alice likes to unwind after work by sitting in the sun and reading stories about powerful women. Taylor Jenkins Reid's Carrie Soto is Back, Kristin Hannah's The Women and Jessica Knoll's Bright Young Women are some of her favourites.
‘My ideal outdoor reading spot is my friend’s garden with a fire pit, good company and a few snacks.’
Carol-Anne, Content Marketing Executive (a.k.a. the TikTok girl)
As Carol-Anne demonstrates, reading can be a communal activity. Why not start a summer reading group? Our book club picks are sure to spark healthy (or not so healthy) debate.
‘I am not sure what I did in a previous life to deserve this garden, but I feel very lucky to have it. I particularly like reading in the 'love seat' we inherited from the previous owners of our house, as it has a table for drinks and snacks, meaning I can sit outside for hours without having to move.’
Ellen, Website Editor
If you, like Ellen, like to spend your summers stationary, sink your teeth into our favourite long books such as Nathan Hill's Wellness, Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life, or even a classic such as Middlemarch.
