Travel provides the opportunity to kick-back and relax, order one or two more cocktails than you normally would, and basically, do whatever you want whenever you want to do it. If you’re anything like me, you also use this time to catch-up on all the latest novels. Whether you’re passing time on a long train-journey or flight, snuggled up in bed on long lazy mornings, or sprawled on a beach lounger soaking up the sun, vacation is the perfect time to snag a good book and get swept away in a thrilling story. So to help prep for your upcoming holiday, we’ve come up with this list of top five books to read on your next trip.
1. Frühstück mit Elefanten by Gesa Neitzel
First on the list is “” which is German for “Breakfast with Elephants” – and yes, this book is for our German-speakers but we had to include it because none other than former Travelette Gesa Neitzel wrote it! Gesa writes about her adventure as she went from her quiet, average life in Berlin to becoming a safari ranger in Africa. Read along as her world is turned upside down and as she adjusts to life living in tents without Internet and plumbing, coming face-to-face with zebras, elephants and lions, and discovering the type of life she always wanted to live. #wearesuperproud
The book is available through NetGalley, a platform where bloggers who are active reviewers on relevant websites can in exchange for a review.
2. The Girls by Emma Cline
Join 14-year old Evie who is mesmerized after seeing a group of older, carefree girls in the park and consequently led into a secretive soon-to-be infamous cult hidden in the hills of Northern California. A unique coming of age novel, “The Girls” is set in the 196os, based on the notorious Manson “family” and is a book that’s sure to take you on a startling psychological journey and keep you turning page after page.
3. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
This next book is a must read. Ruth Ware is a bestselling author known for her twisty and thrilling novels, and “The Woman in Cabin 10” does not disappoint! Get wrapped up in the story of a journalist, Lo – a travelette herself – who is sent on assignment on a luxury cruise. I don’t have to tell you that something dramatic occurs, and Lo finds herself living something we could only describe as a nightmare.
4. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Confession: this book is top on my list for my next trip. I reached out to our team of girls for their most recent fav books and this one got more than one vote! After hearing raving reviews and reading about it myself, I’m more than intrigued to dive into the world of the Le Cirque des Rêves, a circus which arrives seemingly out of nowhere, and the two main characters who are in a fierce competition like no other…
5. Floreana by Margret Wittmer
Finally, this last book is about real-life adventurer Margret herself who packed up her life and moved to Floreana, a remote island of the Galapagos in the 1930s. Let Margret whisk you away to exotic locations in different times and follow along as she and her family create a new life out of nothing, meet some of the most unique people they’d ever encountered and embark on an adventure most of us only dream about.
So that’s it for our list this time. Already read these books or looking to expand your must-read list even more? Don’t forget that NetGalley allows you to in exchange for a review. Don’t fancy writing reviews? Then you’ll just have to hit up your local bookstore.
Do you also use vacation to catch-up on books you’ve wanted to read? Are there other books that should be added to this list? Let us know in the comments below!
This is a guest post by Briana Goad.
Bri is a small-town girl from the Southern U.S. living in big-city Europe. Originally from Athens, Georgia, she planted roots in Berlin in 2011 and lives for travel, good weather, and great food. Whether it’s relaxing on the beaches of Belize, interviewing trendsetters on the streets of Lisbon, or touring the towering city of Tokyo, Bri lives a life on the go and is always up for the next adventure. In between her travels she works as a freelance designer from her home studio. Follow her adventures at home and abroad on and her .
*This post was created in partnership with Netgalley
