My Favourite Books to Read While Travelling

For when you need some inspiration for your next plane or beach read

Photo by S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash

Over the past years of solo travel, I have realised that reading is one of the big joys that travel brings. Whether it is a quiet morning on the beach or a long plane ride across the world, immersing myself in a fictional world has significantly expanded my views of the real world and improved my own writing.

I often spend way too much time searching for the exact right book that I feel like reading right now, so I thought you might feel the same. Here are 8 of my all-time favourite books that are fantastic reads but different enough that they should fit any mood/vibe you are looking for.

Please also let me know your favourites, I am currently looking for new books to read!

Disclaimer: To support my writing, this article includes some affiliate links; I’ll earn a small commission when you buy through the link at no extra cost to you.

1. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

You know how some books are exciting to read, have a great story, but at the same time, encourage you to think of your own life and ambitions? This was one of those for me.

Chimamanda is an incredible writer, and I loved the protagonist in this story. Reading about her blog and her passion for writing somehow ignited my own again and is part of the reason this very blog has grown.

I think this makes for an incredible plane read! Most recently, I have been reading mostly on my phone as I am trying to travel with only a 40L backpack, so Kindle has been a lifesaver.

2. The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

I have read a couple of books by Jodi Picoult and really enjoyed all of them. The Book of Two Ways was one of the most recent, and I think it’s a great book to read while travelling.

It delves into topics of how your choices affect who you are and what your life may look like (common themes in her books), all relevant when you are off to another corner of the world. I read this book in like two days, it was just that good.

Jodi Picoult has also written some amazing other books like My Sister’s Keeper and small great things, which are worth checking out.

3. This One Life by Amanda Prowse

One of my most recent reads and a fantastic read about building the life you want while not letting go of your old life. I thought the book was a great lesson about balancing different areas of your life and that one can truly have it all, at least in some ways.

As a solo, female traveller who often leaves family and friends behind to see the world, this book hit close to home in some ways, and I really think I learned something from it.

4. Anything written by Emily Henry

If I want a book to read on the beach that is well written with a great story, but still something I can put down to go exploring and it won’t feel disconnected to read on the next day (if you know, you know), then Emily Henry is always my choice.

Two of my favourites by her are Beach Read and Book Lovers, though I have read almost all of her books at this point!

5. The Happiness Equation by Neil Pasricha

This book is a little different as it isn’t a story, but a book about happiness and the secrets that lead to a happy life. While it may sound cliché and I was VERY wary before reading, it is life-changing in the most real ways possible.

To this day, I apply some of the principles mentioned in the book in small ways that have improved my life, especially related to my anxiety. It is an amazing read for travellers!

6. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This book took me a second to get into, but once I did, it was such a great book for the beach. There are a lot of elements and characters to the story, which keep it super interesting and it is set in Malibu, giving you those beachy vibes.

Overall, I found this a not-too-serious book that was perfect to read when I had the time.

7. The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez

If you are a traveller, an explorer, someone who likes to learn about all corners of the world, this is the book for you. I found it in a random thrift shop abroad and fell in love.

The story is set in Afghanistan and explores daily life there in the most elaborate tangle of stories from the point of view of several women. It is such a great read for my solo, female travellers!

8. Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews

This is more of a plane or bus read than a beach read in my opinion, but a thrilling one. Again, a thrift store find and one I picked because I had heard of the movie, but the book turned out to be a page-turner and the story was unique and hard-hitting.

While I would take some of the historical/political commentary in this book with a pinch of salt and do proper research if you are interested in the Cold War, I liked the book as it was one that kept me engaged the whole way through. And that’s what I’m really looking for in a plane read.

Check out more of my travel guides on my blog Travel Off Script :)