Looking for your next great read? Whether you’re heading off on holiday or planning a few quiet afternoons in the garden, the Cambridge Science Park Book Club has done the hard work for you.
We’ve rounded up the club’s highest-rated books from the past five years, from gripping thrillers and thought-provoking non-fiction to timeless classics and science fiction. There’s something here for every kind of reader.
The Talented Mr Ripley – Patricia Highsmith
2022 highest-rated – 4.15/5
Dark, stylish and impossible to put down, Patricia Highsmith’s psychological thriller introduces one of fiction’s most fascinating antiheroes. Tom Ripley is charming, intelligent and deeply unsettling, making this a gripping story of identity, ambition and crime that’s just as rewarding on a second read.
Factfulness – Hans Rosling
2023 highest-rated – 4.6/5
A refreshing and optimistic read, Factfulness challenges many of the assumptions we make about the world. Packed with evidence, humour and surprising insights, Hans Rosling offers a fascinating guide to thinking more critically about the news and the world around us.
Slaughterhouse-Five – Kurt Vonnegut
2024 highest-rated • ⭐ 4.5/5
Part science fiction, part satire and part memoir, Kurt Vonnegut’s modern classic is funny, moving and unlike anything else on the list. A powerful reflection on war, trauma and humanity, it’s a book many readers wish they’d discovered sooner.
Persuasion – Jane Austen
2025 highest-rated – 4.5/5
Jane Austen’s final completed novel proved one of the club’s most talked-about reads. While its nineteenth-century style wasn’t for everyone, those who stuck with it found a beautifully observed story of love, second chances and personal growth, with one of literature’s most enduring romances.
Looking for something more contemporary? The club also recommends Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (3.9/5), a brilliantly told story of the rise and fall of a fictional 1970s rock band, packed with unforgettable characters and drama.
Invisible Women – Caroline Criado Perez
2026 highest-rated so far – 4.6/5
This eye-opening bestseller explores how the gender data gap shapes everyday life, often in ways we never notice. Thoroughly researched and highly accessible, Caroline Criado Perez shines a light on everything from healthcare and transport to workplace design, making it one of the club’s most thought-provoking reads to date.
Bonus recommendation: Project Hail Mary – Andy Weir
Although it wasn’t an official Book Club read, Project Hail Mary has become a firm favourite with many members, particularly following the release of the film adaptation. Combining big scientific ideas with humour, heart and an unforgettable friendship, it’s an entertaining page-turner that even non-science-fiction fans are likely to enjoy.
Whether you’re reading on the beach, by the pool or simply making the most of a sunny afternoon at home, we hope one of these recommendations finds its way into your summer reading pile.
Fancy joining the conversation? The Cambridge Science Park Book Club is always looking for new members. Find out more about upcoming meetings and how to get involved on our Events page.