Universe Today Book Club discussion

I thankfully have a vacation coming up, and I'm asking for lively science fiction or non-fiction recs that are well-suited for vacationing. :)
Thanks!

Here are a few that come to mind, if you're looking for some excitement, not much philosophy (?), and maybe some space sciences appeal:

fiction:
"Contact" (Carl Sagan... OK it has been decades since I read this, there is a possibility it contains some philosophizing, but I remember it as having a balance of action at least)
"The Martian"
"Project Hail Mary"

"The Beast of Cretacea" Strasser, Todd
This was a recommendation from an Astronomy Cast book recommendation episode, and I highly enjoyed it. It's sort of a "Moby Dick on Another Planet"
(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...)

"Outland" Taylor, Dennis E. *
(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...)

non-fiction:
"We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe"
Jorge Cham, Daniel Whiteson
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

"The Edge of Physics: A Journey to Earth's Extremes to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe"
Anil Ananthaswamy
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Wonderful suggestions, Contact and The Martian are already in my "cart" so I'll go ahead order them. I'm excited to explore your other suggestions as well. much appreciated :)