As the season for relaxation and retreat approaches, there’s no better companion than a good book. Whether you’re sunbathing on a sandy beach, curled up beside a crackling campfire, or savoring the tranquility of your own backyard, the right story can transform your leisure time into an adventure of its own. In this special section, we’ve curated a diverse collection of must-reads perfect for your holiday escapade. From thrilling mysteries that will keep you on the edge of your sunlounger to heartwarming tales that complement a cozy evening under the stars, our recommendations are designed to cater to every reader’s taste. So, grab your sunglasses (or your blanket), a refreshing drink, and prepare to be whisked away by these handpicked literary gems. Happy reading, and more importantly, happy holidays!

The childhood of poet Patricia Lockwood was unusual in many respects. There was the location: an impoverished, nuclear waste-riddled area of the American Midwest. There was her mother, a woman who speaks almost entirely in strange riddles and warnings of impending danger. Above all, there was her gun-toting, guitar-riffing, frequently semi-naked father, who underwent a religious conversion on a submarine and found a loophole which saw him approved for the Catholic priesthood by the future Pope Benedict XVI, despite already having a wife and children.