Readers were delighted that the four shortlisted books in this year’s Summer Reading selection were light and easy to read. They sped through most of them in a couple of days and it became clear quite quickly which one was their favourite. After a fun and in-depth discussion, readers unanimously picked “Theft” as the Best Summer Read 2026.
“Theft” by Abdulrazak Gurnah (Tanzania) was voted Best Summer Read 2026. It follows the intertwined lives of Karim, Fauzia, and Badar as they grow from adolescence into adulthood. As their relationships fracture through ambition, infidelity, and resentment, we see how power, obligation, and emotional “theft” can shape people’s lives. Readers loved this beautifully written novel, with its compelling storytelling. They enjoyed the richly drawn and well fleshed out characters, with their complicated relationships and personal histories shaped by trauma, family and circumstance. Readers particularly liked following the main characters as they moved from childhood into adulthood, watching their lives unfold with a lot of drama, uncertainty and change. They had a constant feeling that something terrible was about to happen, which created a quiet tension throughout the story, yet nothing ever does – and this was one of the things they appreciated most. Overall, readers found it an engaging story with memorable characters that offered them plenty of substance, with thoughtful observations on colonialism, women’s rights and the lasting impact of the past.
“Three Days in June” by Anne Tyler (U.S.) follows Gail Baines, a socially awkward woman who, over the course of the weekend of her daughter’s wedding, loses her job, unexpectedly reunites with her ex-husband Max, and faces a family crisis when troubling news surfaces about the groom-to-be. Readers liked this witty and highly readable novel that explores family tensions, divorce and complicated relationships with plenty of humour and engaging dialogue. They appreciated the short chapters and brisk pace that made it feel like a page-turner, and they felt the story had an almost television-like quality that made it easy to settle into. Several readers found the relationships relatable and liked the way the story gradually grew on them. However, others felt the novel was lightweight and somewhat flat, with some characters, particularly the protagonist, proving frustrating or insufficiently developed. While the slow unfolding of the story worked for some, the ending was felt by several readers to come too soon, leaving the novel feeling neat and enjoyable but ultimately rather forgettable.
“The Distinctly Competent District Councillor” by Jonas Jonasson (Sweden) is a comedic and satirical novel about an ambitious district councillor determined to save her struggling Swedish town from economic decline by launching an increasingly eccentric campaign to attract a wealthy German businessman who is considering opening a factory in Sweden. Readers described this book as a delightful, quirky and very light-hearted read, packed with absurd situations, slapstick humour and plenty of laughs. They particularly liked the protagonist and the ingenious tactics she employs, and they found the colourful cast of characters added to the comedy, though more often as caricatures than fully developed personalities. Readers found it an easy and fast read that was absurd at times, but with some substance beneath the humour. Although lightweight, they agreed it made a quick, entertaining read that was funny, offbeat and uncomplicated.
Nicola has chosen “Sympathy Tower Tokyo” by Rie Qudan (Japan) as her Coup de Cœur Summer 2026. It is a near-future novel set in Tokyo that follows an architect tasked with designing a luxurious rehabilitation prison meant to symbolize a new social ideal which believes criminals should be treated with empathy rather than punishment. Most readers found this book challenging, with its complex ideas, focus on language and unconventional narrative that made it difficult to follow or fully engage with. They struggled to connect with the protagonist or understand where the story was going. Its complexity and surreal quality left them feeling more frustrated than fascinated. However, a couple of readers loved its futuristic ideas and use of AI built, its quirky characters and their backstories, and the links to real people and events; and they liked its ending. Nicola particularly enjoyed the novel’s reflections on language and how humans use words; and how those words can can shape – or confine – our lives.
“… but the tower will fall. Sooner or later, all buildings do. It is a precondition of their creation, just as death is a precondition of our birth.”
