9. NEVER LET ME GO BY KAZIO ISHIGURO

The “sea” link may not run throughout this dystopian gem but it’s there to provide some killer symbolism when Ruth, Tommy and Kathy enjoy a carefree trip to the coast after finishing school. Like normal teens. But they aren’t normal teens they’re just organ donors for the rest of the human race. Fully bleak but powerful and thought-provoking in the way a holiday read should be.

10. BREATH BY TIM WINTON

Alongside Tapping the Source above, Breath is one of the best surf novels ever written, albeit from a not especially crowded field. Set in Western Australia in the 1970s, our hero Pikelet and his pal Loonie go from holding their breath in the river to surfing with the help of 30-something guru Sando. But only Loonie has what it takes to surf the big stuff leaving Pikelet to watch and pine. And then there’s Sando’s wife…

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