#LoveEnglish: our recommended summer reads
25 June 2025
Lydia Ridding and Sam Orciel, English Subject Advisors
Reading’s just one of the reasons that we #LoveEnglish, and summer is the perfect time to get lost in a great book – whether it’s on a plane, by the pool or even in the garden!
If you’re looking for your next summer read, take a look at these recommendations from our colleagues. Whether you enjoy the classics or a goblin-filled epic fantasy, there’s bound to be something for you!
The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It’s Broken
Recommended by Tom, Subject Advisor for Sociology and Criminology.
“It gives a first-hand account of what it’s like to be a barrister, and the difficulty in defending guilty people. It also looks at how the law works in practice, and the issues with our current legal system. I went through every emotion reading this and it’s pretty rare a book makes me laugh out loud!”
‘Possession (A Romance)’ by A. S. Byatt
Recommended by Donna, Product Manager – Strategic Partnerships.
“The book moves between contemporary UK, where two academics are working, and the Victorian world of the subjects of their research, with the language reflecting the eras. It combines poetry, letters and prose to unravel the mysterious connections between the four lives of the protagonists. It’s almost a detective novel, come mystery, with romance too!”
‘On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous’ by Ocean Vuong
Recommended by Aaron, Marketing Executive.
“There are books that entertain, and then there are books that bear witness and leave something glowing behind.
“Vuong writes with the intimacy of a whisper and intensity of a wound. This novel is a quiet, aching exploration of family, identity, love, language, and immigration written with so much care.
“If you’re looking for a summer read that lingers long after the last page, this is it.”
‘Da Red Gobbo Collection’ by Mike Brooks, Denny Flowers and Rhuairidh James
Recommended by Andy, Qualifications Product Manager.
“I say read what you enjoy and don’t worry what others think! I love Warhammer and this book is my favourite – a funny story about goblins that mixes up how you think the world works. It’s an easy read, perfect for dipping into somewhere in the sunshine.”
‘Red Rising’ by Pierce Brown
Recommended by Laura, Customer Success Manager.
“It’s exciting, complex, and thought-provoking. But the best bit is, once you’ve turned that final page and wish you had a little bit longer with the characters you’ve become so attached to, there is a full series following on from it... and it’s brilliant!”
‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Recommended by Ewan, Qualifications Product Manager.
“Like so many people, it’s a book I loved first time round as a teenager, with its intoxicating tale of America’s Jazz Age. Plus, what better time to re-read it than on its centenary?”
‘The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant’ by Stephen Donaldson
Recommended by Jay, Administrator.
“It is a grand fantasy series with a very interesting lead character. The books are very well written by Donaldson, who creates a detailed world for the stories to happen in. The audiobooks are tricky to get hold of but if you can get them... “joy is in the ears that hear, not the mouth that speaks” as the giants say.”
‘The Magical Map’ by the Young Writers
Recommended by Grant, Senior Product Designer.
“It was a fantastic opportunity for children across the country to submit a chapter. This one is especially important as my daughter had her chapter published in it. As you can imagine, we’re very proud of her!”
‘The Burning Grasses’ by Chantelle Fourie
Recommended by Chantelle, Business Change Leader.
“It’s my love of the written word that got me here: to recommending my own book! For fans of grimdark sword and sorcery, it’s not a light read but an immersive one. If you feel like a magical escape this summer, I’d recommend giving it a go.”
‘Autumn’ by Ali Smith
Recommended by Nicola, Product Manager – Support Propositions.
“It beautifully blends themes of time, memory and art, and makes you think, but not too hard – perfect for a holiday read! The characters are wonderfully crafted, with the charming friendship between Daniel and Elisabeth adding a lovely touch.”
‘H is for Hawk’ by Helen Macdonald
Recommended by Lisa, Head of Assessment Specialist Recruitment, Commissioning and Reward.
“This book captivated me from the beginning. It’s a memoir that explores grief in such a beautiful way through the taming of Helen’s goshawk, Mabel. I find myself watching birds of prey in a different light since reading it, and I’m still missing my Mabel-fix.”
‘Madrid: A New Biography’ by Luke Stegemann
Recommended by Sam, English Subject Advisor
“Every year I choose a new chunky tome that will last a week of reading in the sunshine! This is a compelling piece of storytelling on the history of one of the great cities of the world.”
‘Long Island’ by Colm Tóibín
Recommended by Lydia, English Subject Advisor
“As a fan of ‘Brooklyn’ by the same author, I couldn’t wait to read Long Island when it was published. I love the quiet reflectiveness of Tóibín’s prose; it’s as much about what isn’t said as what is. It's a perfectly satisfying summer read.”
Have your say and shape the future of English
We hope you’ve enjoyed our summer reading suggestions, and we’d love to keep this conversation going. As part of our planning for the future of English qualifications, we’re keen to hear the views and opinions of a wide range of English teachers.If you’d like to be involved and help shape the future of the subject, please sign up to our Insight Panel – we promise, it only takes a few minutes – and explore the activities and discussions in our English Advisory Group.
Stay connected
Have questions about our English qualifications? You can email us at english@ocr.org.uk or message us on X @OCR_English.
You can also sign up to subject updates to keep up with the latest news, updates and resources.
If you are considering teaching any of our qualifications, use the online form to let us know, so that we can help you with more information.
About the authors
Prior to joining OCR in June 2023, Lydia spent 20 years working in a range of sixth form colleges across the country, teaching A Level and GCSE qualifications in English. She was a coursework moderator with OCR for a number of years and has an MA in Victorian Studies from Birkbeck University.
Before joining OCR in September 2022, Sam spent ten years teaching a range of English qualifications in secondary schools, including as a head of department. She did this alongside completing a MSt in Advanced Subject Teaching at the University of Cambridge, specialising in A Level English curricula and pedagogy.
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