• The best books on Summer - The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
  • The best books on Summer - The Go-Between by L P Hartley
  • The best books on Summer - To the River: A Journey Beneath the Surface by Olivia Laing
  • The best books on Summer - Summer by Ali Smith
  • The best books on Summer - The Hill of Summer by J A Baker

The best books on Summer, recommended by Melissa Harrison

Temperatures ratcheting, tinderbox conditions, a pressure cooker atmosphere… summer is a handy literary shorthand for rising tensions. But in the natural world, summer is a quiet time when the flowers die back and the fruits and seeds are ripening. Here, Melissa Harrison—the novelist, nature writer and podcaster—recommends five of the best summer books, for those who like to read in step with the seasons.