Serendipity Reviews: Favourite Holiday Reads by Anne-Marie Conway

As part of the Forbidden Friends blog tour, I’m pleased to welcome Anne-Marie Conway onto the blog to tell us which books she loves to take on holiday with her.

My new book, Forbidden Friends, tells the story of Bee and Lizzie, two girls who meet on holiday in Spain and become best friends. The story explores issues of grief, loss, bulling and family loyalty. It is the story of a friendship tested to the limits as Bee and Lizzie fight to overcome serious obstacles in their quest to see each other again.

Bee loves reading; in fact she packs more books in her suitcase than clothes! When she spots Lizzie sitting on a rock on the beach, she recognises the book she’s reading and plucks up the courage go over and talk to her about it. They soon discover that they both love reading, and that Little Women is their favourite ever book.

I’m just like Bee when I go on holiday. I pack so many books my suitcase feels as if it’s filled with bricks! I always try to pick books that draw you in - allowing you to get completely caught up in another world. Below are five of my favourite holiday reads…

1. Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech

This book is like an old-fashioned fairy-tale: a miserable orphanage, evil baddies, plucky children and a page-turning adventure. It’s also one of the most moving books I’ve read in a long time so make sure you’ve got lots of tissues!

2. Girl Missing by Sophie Mackenzie

This book has all the ingredients of a great holiday read. You literally can’t put it down. The great thing is, it’s part of a trilogy, so when you’ve finished the first book you can go straight on to the second!

3. Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

I read this last year on holiday after my two boys had finished with it. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, but it made me cry too! It’s all about Liam who is supposed to be away in the Lake District - but somehow ends up in space – by mistake!

4. Broken Soup by Jenny Valentine

This is one of my favourite books ever. It’s about Rowan Clark and how her family are trying to deal with the death of her brother. It’s also about friendship and first love and it’s another one of those books that you just can’t put down!

5. The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden is my favourite classic. I read it on holiday when I was a child I can still remember the wonder of it now. I wanted to visit the garden myself - meet Mary and Dickon, make Colin better, be part of their world. In fact, I think I might read it again, this summer…if I can just fit it into my suitcase!