Love your books with a splash of the sea? Here you’ll find the crème de la crème of contemporary set against a backdrop of the ocean.

The soothing nature of the ocean has long been a device used in literature, and as a nation who thrive on sun, sea and surf during the summer months, it’s no surprise that expansive bodies of water play a key character in many of our favourite books. And as many of us will spend the summer break immersing ourselves in the salty goodness of the sea, why not also pick a suitable tome that pays homage to our love for all things ocean-related.  For most of us all good summer holidays conjure up images of the sea, and this list of five books sets the scene perfectly.