While a vacation is a perfect time to enjoy your favorite book, it’s also an excellent opportunity to discover a book you’ve never read. Whether you are lounging on a beach, cuddled beside a roaring fire, or you find yourself with time to kill in an airport, there are tons of great books to read.
Keep reading to learn more about the best books to read on your next vacation.
If you like nonfiction: Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America; Essays by R. Eric Thomas
A touching yet hilarious collection of essays, R. Eric Thomas’ memoir explores what it means to be different. He discusses his childhood otherness felt in his white suburban school, the struggle of coming to terms with his sexuality as a Christian, and his rollercoaster career that took off when he became internet-famous. This collection of essays is both lighthearted and poignant and makes you stop and think about class and race in America. It’s a relatable read that feels like a warm hug, especially for those who have also struggled with feeling accepted or being comfortable in your skin.
If you like mysteries: Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
A stimulating, heart-racing mystery can make any vacation that much better. In this mystery by celebrated YA novelist Anthony Horowitz, book editor Susan Ryeland reads the manuscript of a new novel by Alan Conway. As the star of Conway’s novel detective Atticus Pünd investigates a murder at Pye Hall, Susan Ryeland suddenly finds herself pulled in to a real-life mystery of her own to investigate. Reminiscent of the works of Agatha Christie, Magpie Murders will have you on the edge of your seat as you try to figure out exactly who can be trusted.
If you like historical fiction: These Ghosts are Family by Maisy Card
“An epic novel haunted by the ghosts of colonialism…Card’s book joins a literary tradition that challenges imperial records of history by imbuing the present with voices from the past.” –@TheAtlantic on @dracm‘s brilliant debut #TheseGhostsAreFamilyhttp://spr.ly/60121s4f8An Epic Novel Haunted by the Ghosts of Colonialism
In Maisy Card’s vivid debut, “These Ghosts Are Family,” spirits expose long-held secrets within fractured families and nations alike.
Compared to works like Yaa Gyasi’s Homecoming, Maisy Card’s debut novel centers around a Jamaican family and the secret that changes their lives. Stanford Solomon reveals that he’s actually named Abel Paisley, and he stole his best friend’s identity after faking his own death. The consequences of Abel’s years-ago decision have a ripple effect as we see how his “widow,“ their children, and even the old house boy come to terms with the deceit. Card’s breathtaking novel explores the relationships between the family members as well as the family’s history through the years, beginning in colonial Jamaica. This sweeping family saga is about family, history, betrayal, and more.
If you like romance: My Lady’s Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris
Do you remember “choose your own adventure“ books that you may have read as a child? Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris have crafted an enchanting adult version of the beloved genre. You begin the adventure as the poor heroine during courtship season, as you decide which eligible bachelor you’ll marry. Your fate is in your hands as each decision leads you to new storylines. Beautiful illustrations accompany you on your journey, making this a fun and exciting vacation read.
If you like fantasy: The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin
A vacation is also an excellent time to dive into a series you’ve never read. Luckily for us, Hugo-award winning author N. K. Jemisin just released the first installment of a new series! Book number one of the Great Cities series is The City We Became, which has been described as “a love letter to New York.“ It revolves around the five avatars, or human representations of cities’ souls, of the boroughs of New York City. As an infection quickly spreads throughout New York City, threatening to destroy everything that makes it alive, the five avatars do everything in their power to stop it.
No matter where you’re vacationing or what genre you enjoy, any of these books are sure to leave their mark on you.
