Summer is the perfect time to slow down, find a patch of shade, and get lost in a good story. 

To inspire your own holiday reading stack, we’ve asked local book lovers to share their top picks from the past year and reveal where they’ll be curling up with a book this season.

Today, we are reading with Māniototo Library assistant Michelle Knox.

1. What is a great read from 2025 you would recommend to others, and why?

Michelle: I really enjoyed the Boys of Tommen series by Chloe Walsh this year. The series is set in Cork, Ireland and follows the lives of a group of high school students. These books focus more on the characters and their relationships with each other, rather than having a plot as such. I got to know each of the characters really well and became very emotionally invested in each of the books. These books deal with some very heavy topics and themes, so can be quite a hard read, but are also very interesting.

I’ve also recently started listening to Freida McFadden while I’m out on my morning walks. I’ve really enjoyed the two I’ve listened to and the way she writes makes you want to listen to/read more and more.

2. What is on your summer reading list, and can you describe your perfect spot to read?

Michelle: Over the summer I’m looking forward to reading some more historical fiction and romance, which are the two genres I really enjoy. I usually alternate between the two as I find it mixes it up a bit with harder and lighter reads. I’ll be out on my deck in the shade reading this summer and enjoying the fresh air.

3. Audiobook, paper, e-reader, or a mix of the three?

Michelle: I definitely prefer a paper book. I like something to hold onto and get into. I do listen to audiobooks while out walking though. I find it quite relaxing and find it easy to get into the story.

4. Tell us about a book that changed how you think.

Michelle: I don’t really have a book that’s changed how I think, but I do feel that by reading the amount I do, I have opened my mind and learnt things that I might not have known otherwise. As I read a diverse range of books it has given me a great general knowledge in life.