The Shameless Book Club guide to summer reads and sips

If your grand plan of churning through piles of novels this summer didn’t quite happen, never fear – we’re not done with the season just yet. If you’re unsure which book will be worth your while, or you’re forever on the hunt for novels that over-deliver, take note – the team behind The Shameless Book Club have shared their favourite summer reads. And you’d better believe every one of them is a cracker. 

These picks aren’t coming from any old book club – it’s headed up by our mates at Shameless Media. At The Shameless Book Club, they’ve created a community (more than 200,000 on Insta and TikTok collectively, in fact) that comes together to discover top picks, fresh releases, in-depth reviews and everything else they love so much about books. 

Each team member has chosen just one standout book to recommend – no easy task – and these diverse titles span everything from thought-provoking memoirs to light-hearted thrillers. To complete the ultimate reading experience, The Shameless Book Club suggests these novels all go perfectly with Cupio Wines – perhaps with a glass of Cupio Pinot Noir Dry Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Noir. The choice is yours. 

So, if a great read, a glass of vino and a little time out sounds like your kind of heaven right now, take your pick from the experts’ favourites below. 

1. Novel: Homegoing by Yaa Gyas  
Chosen by: Zara, co-founder of Shameless Media

“This is the kind of book I want to thrust into the hands of anyone who needs a new book. It’s had a really lasting impact on my understanding of how intergenerational trauma manifests and how connected we are to our ancestors.” 

2. Novel: Heartburn by Nora Ephron
Chosen by: Michelle, co-founder of Shameless Media

“I discovered this book in my very early 20s and was head over heels. Shameless listeners won’t be surprised to hear it covers all my favourite plot points in a book (love, infidelity, betrayal), and it does them all beautifully. It’s also very, very pacey! It has fewer than 180 pages, so you’ll breeze through this in one sitting. Nora makes every word count.”

3. Novel: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Chosen by: Emma, Social Media Manager 

“This book left me in pieces, but I come back to it as my favourite pick, time and time again. It’s Michelle Zauner’s biography that explores her identity and connection with culture through food, music and her dying mum. As someone biracial, I’ve never felt closer to a piece of literature.” 

4. Novel: Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma by Claire Dederer 
Chosen by: Eilish, Senior Producer 

“This is a book that has stayed with me for months after I read it for the first time. What do we do with good art made by bad people? It’s a question that many of us have asked ourselves at least once in our lives. If you’re looking for an answer to that question, Monsters is a great place to start.” 

5. Novel: The Island by Victoria Hislop
Chosen by: Lucy, Head of Podcasts

“The Island is one of those incredible books that hooks you into a heartful story while educating you on a time in history. It is both moving and intimate, and it’s my ultimate holiday read.”

6. Novel: Expectation by Anna Hope 
Chosen by: Cassie, Senior Partnerships Manager

“I read this over four years ago and still recommend it to everyone. It follows three girlfriends navigating life as some settle down while others live their best life. It’s a beautiful story about finding your own path and also teaching you how to be a good mate to those on different journeys.” 

7. Novel: Love Stories by Trent Dalton
Chosen by: Annabelle, Senior Podcast Producer 

“If I had a penny for every time I waxed lyrical about this book, I fear I’d have… quite a few pennies. Love Stories is a brilliant and heartwarming exploration of love and human connection. It’s feel-good (and also feel-sad at times), and I could read it over and over again. And I have!” 

8. Novel: The Revenge Club by Kathy Lette
Chosen by: Nikkita, Partnerships & Marketing Executive 

“The Revenge Club is a perfect summer read if you’re after something fun and lighthearted. The story of four women on a mission for retribution is thrilling, and it keeps you hooked from start to finish. It’s the kind of book that’s hard to put down.”

9. Novel: Fever by Deon Meyer
Chosen by: Elaine, Partnerships Executive 

“I read Fever before the pandemic and its depiction of a global health crisis feels eerily relevant. It’s an intense and suspenseful read, with great characters, plenty of action and a fast-paced narrative that keeps you hooked.” 

10. Novel: All Fours by Miranda July
Chosen by: Anj, Managing Director

“All Fours is a story about the messy, surprising ways people connect. It’s also one of the first books I ever read that openly explores perimenopause, blending humour and heart to tackle this confusing stage of life. If you are looking for a raw, relatable and deeply human tale about connection, change and the beauty of life’s messy moments, this is your book.”