Summer is here and that means you need to pack your carry-on or your beach bag with some juicy summer reading for travellers! After all, there’s no better way to practise your English than by stretching out on the sand with the book of the summer. We’ve scoured the best new travel-related books so whether you’re travelling across the globe or just enjoying a “staycation”, these summer reads will transport you.
1. Walking the Americas by Levinson Wood
You won’t believe it’s non-fiction… this incredible story is the tale of a man who walked all the way from Mexico to Colombia on a journey of over 1,800 miles! If you’ve got itchy feet or just enjoy reading about tales from the road, you will love this book. You’ll also be shocked at how many times the author escapes danger – don’t use this as a guidebook!
For fans of: The Motorcycle Diaries, Into the Wild, Walking the Himalayas
2. Less by Andrew Sean Greer
This novel, recently released in paperback, won the Pulitzer Prize in 2017. It’s a globetrotting love story that takes readers from San Francisco to Mexico, Italy, Germany, Morocco, Japan and India. Main character, Andrew Less, is a gay writer pushing 50 who starts his journey to escape a broken heart. It’s a truly human story that anyone can relate to.
For fans of: Wonder Boys, This Must Be The Place
3. A Long Way From Home by Peter Carey
If you’ve ever dreamed of travelling to Australia, this book will appeal to you. It tells the story of a husband and wife team who take on a road race that winds all around the country. Dive headfirst into Australia and get a heaping dose of wanderlust!
For fans of: The Dressmaker, The Thorn Birds
4. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
The most remote of the USA’s 50 states, Alaska is the setting of this coming-of-age story. Peek into the rugged landscapes, savage climate and the inner workings of a family suffering the aftereffects of the Vietnam War. This is a great way to travel to Alaska from the comfort of your couch.
For fans of: The Glass Castle, The Snow Child
5. The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian
Everyone needs a good thriller to take to the beach or on the plane in your stack of summer reading for travellers, and this one is getting a lot of buzz! It follows the story of a flight attendant who wakes up on a layover in Dubai next to a dead man – how can you resist a great mystery?
For fans of: Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train
6. The Road Trip Book: 1001 Drives of a Lifetime by Daryl Sleath
The guidebook of all guidebooks! This new non-fiction collection of incredible road trips has something for everyone. With destinations all across the globe in varying degrees of intensity (for first-timers all the way to the real adrenaline junkies), you can find a road trip that will immediately go to the top of your travel bucket list.
For fans of: All the Lonely Planet guidebooks, On the Road
7. Tangerine by Christine Mangan
The exoticism of Morocco has attracted artists, musicians and writers for years. Tangerine is another story of expat transplants in Morocco, Tangier to be specific. This tense novel will have you turning pages as fast as you can!
For fans of: The Sheltering Sky, Hideous Kinky, The Diver’s Clothes Lie Empty
8. Alone Time: Four Seasons, Four Cities, and The Pleasures of Solitude by Stephanie Rosenbloom
Solo travel… it’s more than just a trend, it’s a way of life! Whether you’re a seasoned solo traveller or you’ve been too timid to take the plunge yet, you’ll enjoy this non-fiction tale that follows a solo traveller as she explores Paris, Istanbul, Florence and New York.
For fans of: Eat, Pray, Love; Under the Tuscan Sun
9. Couchsurfing in Iran: Revealing a Hidden Word by Stephen Orth
One of the undeniable results of travel is shattering stereotypes, and no book does it better than this one. Far from the Iran that’s portrayed on the news, the book tells the story of reporter Stephen Orth as he gets to know the locals and learns about what Iran is really like for the people who live there.
For fans of: Three Cups of Tea, Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure
10. Who is Vera Kelly? by Rosalie Knecht
New York, Buenos Aires, the 1960s, spies… this is a great globetrotting adventure that will transport you to another time and place. It’s the perfect page-turner to take with you on your next trip!
For fans of: Catch Me If You Can, The Bad Girl
What do you think?