Heading away on holiday, enjoying a staycation, or simply looking for your next great read? Our bankers share a book they have enjoyed recently and why they would recommend it.

Here are their picks.

Clare Ansell, Banking Director
Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict by Elizabeth Day

I chose Friendaholic because it explores a type of relationship that is often overlooked in favour of romantic love: friendship. Elizabeth Day offers thoughtful reflections on loyalty, boundaries, loneliness and self-worth, making a compelling case for valuing and nurturing the friendships that sustain us throughout life. Insightful and relatable, it is a book I would particularly recommend to women in their 40s and beyond.

Tracey Davidson, Chief Executive Officer
Will It Make the Boat Go Faster? by Harriet Beveridge and Ben Hunt-Davis

I regularly return to Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?, particularly as we are currently taking part in the programme's high-performance development training at Hampden Bank. What I enjoy most about the book is its blend of humour, practical lessons and honest reflections from the authors' journey to Olympic gold. The central idea that success comes from consistently focusing on the actions that move you closer to your goal is a simple but powerful message that applies equally to teams, businesses and everyday life.

Gill Sanders, Banking Director
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

The Vanishing Half is a powerful novel about identical twin sisters who choose radically different lives: one living openly as a Black woman, the other passing as white. It explores themes of identity, race, family secrets and belonging across generations. This was one of our book club recommendations and not a book I would normally have picked up, but I could not put it down.

Linda Duthie, Associate Banking Director
Bob Skinner Series by Quintin Jardine

I have been reading Quintin Jardine's Bob Skinner books for years, starting with the first in the series, Skinner's Rules. I have just finished the latest book, Kill List, which is number 38. The books are crime fiction, set mostly in Edinburgh and across Scotland, and follow Bob Skinner's career from police officer to Chief Constable. With plenty of intricate plots and twists, they are always a great read.

John Glanville, Banking Director
Patriot by Alexei Navalny

Among all the books I've read recently, Patriot is the one that has stayed with me most. Patriot is a gripping, inspiring and deeply moving account of a remarkably brave and uniquely brilliant man. Alexei Navalny was a proud patriot who stood up for what he believed was right, fully aware of the grave consequences he would face. Both tragic and heroic, it is a story that stays with you long after you've finished reading it.

Matthew Dobson, Head of Mortgage Intermediary Lending
Twelve Secrets by Robert Gold

I read a lot on the train to and from work, usually detective thrillers. One book I would recommend is Twelve Secrets by Robert Gold. The story is full of twists and turns, with compelling characters and a gripping investigation that keeps you guessing until the end. It is a real page-turner and the first book in a series that I have thoroughly enjoyed.

From all of us at Hampden Bank, we wish you a relaxing summer and hope one of these recommendations makes its way into your holiday suitcase.