Whether you have a holiday booked or not, this is well and truly the season to take over a sunny corner of the beach or park, soak up those rays, and lap up a good book.

But which good book, eh? Well, for those who just aren’t in the mood for a gritty true crime or a historical thriller, though, we wholeheartedly recommend dipping into the romantic fiction section of your local book shop.

And, in a bid to help you settle upon one of the many thousands of titles this genre has to offer, we’ve whipped up a list of our favourite romantic books – each of which aims to soothe your soul and lift your spirits.

From old favourites like Bridget Jones’ Diary to popular new titles like Last Tang Standing, there truly is something here for everyone.

Romantic books: 29 holiday reads that are perfect company for the beach