It’s officially summer, which means a vacation is imminent. When you’ve got a few days away from work or other responsibilities, what do you dream of doing? Is it sinking your toes into the warm sand of a picturesque beach or taking a winery tour? Maybe you’d rather stay at a secluded log cabin or go on a cross-country road-trip. Whatever your ideal vacation, we’ve found the perfect book to pair it with. Read on for what you should read next, based on your perfect vacation.
If you’d love to stay at a B&B, try reading…
The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
There’s something so unique about staying at a bed and breakfast. No two B&Bs are alike, as each has its own distinctive interiors, vibes, and hosts. Some may even be described as quirky, with people and situations you’ll still be reminiscing over for years to come. Not to mention a B&B is a relaxing place to land, whether you’re using it as a home base to explore or curling up with a book.
If staying at a quirky B&B is your dream vacation, check out the new cozy mystery The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell, which draws on comparisons to both The Great British Bake Off and Only Murders in the Building. Every summer, bakers gather for a competition at the beautiful Vermont home of renowned baker Betsy Martin. But this year, someone is intent on sabotaging the bakers — and then a dead body appears. With a cast of eccentric characters in an undeniably cozy setting, this mystery is perfect for B&B fans. Just make sure you know the location of the nearest bakery as you read this mouthwatering mystery.
If you dream of lounging on the beach, try reading…
Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes
Nothing says vacation like sinking your feet in warm sand, the sun at your back, and clear blue water as far as the eye can see. In other words, the beach. It’s a beautiful sensory experience and also versatile: You can swim, relax, chat with friends in adjacent lounge chairs, or sit in the shade with a good book.
If you’re planning on becoming a beach bum on your next vacation — whether on a nearby coast or a faraway tropical island — make sure to have the audiobook of Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes handy. Set when Hawaii was annexed by the United States, it follows Hi’i, a young woman from a family of legendary hula dancers who dreams of winning the Miss Aloha Hula competition. But her family is filled with secrets, from her father’s identity to her estrangement from her grandmother. You’ll root for Hi’i as you immerse yourself in the Hawaiian culture of this powerful seaside story.
If you want to rent a remote cabin, try reading…
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger
When you’ve got time off, you want to be away from everything — the stress, the noise, maybe other people. Staying in a cabin set deep in the forest is a great way to recharge from the busyness of ordinary life, plus it allows for the pleasures of hiking in the woods, perhaps swimming or fishing in a nearby lake, and, of course, reading for hours without interruption.
If a cabin is your preferred getaway, read a cabin-set book like Lisa Unger’s Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six. In this thriller, three couples rent a luxurious cabin in an isolated forest. But amidst the hot-tubbing, gourmet food, and beautiful scenery, secrets are simmering among the group of six friends. Add in the cabin’s troubling history and the strange behavior of the hosts, and suddenly the vacation of these friends’ dreams turns deadly. If you’re a cabin-dweller and fan of locked-room mysteries, this is a must-read. Just make sure to leave a few lights on.
If you’d love to gather for a family reunion, try reading…
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Perhaps the vacation you’re most anticipating may be a place to gather with your relatives, especially if you all live in different places around the nation (or globe). Particularly during the past few years, when travel has been difficult, spending time with loved ones can be a precious experience. You can catch up on each other’s lives, swap stories from your childhood, and maybe even do a little genealogical research on ancestors in your family tree.
If you enjoy family gatherings, try reading the new New York Times bestseller The Covenant of Water. It tells the story of three generations of a family who live on the Malabar Coast of South India. Starting with a 12-year-old girl’s marriage in 1900, it follows the family over seven decades of the 20th century as they experience love and loss, not to mention a strange curse: In each generation, one member of the family dies by drowning. You’ll be riveted by this intergenerational story as you gather with your own clan.
If you’re eager for a road trip to visit national parks, try reading…
The Lost Journals of Sacajewea by Debra Magpie Earling
Sometimes you just want to get out and see the country when you’re on vacation. If you’re a nature lover who digs exploring, driving to majestic mountains, rivers, canyons, and other scenic locales is an ideal way to spend your days off. If you time it right, you can make a whole road-trip out of the excursion, catching parts of the country you’ve missed — or have been yearning to return to.
If you’re ready to hit the road, pack a perfect book alongside your bottles of water and granola bars. Especially if you’re in North America, we suggest The Lost Journals of Sacajewea by Debra Magpie Earling. This new historical novel takes the perspective of Sacajewea herself as she is raised in the Lemhi Shoshone tribe before being kidnapped in a tragic attack. Eventually, of course, she joins the expedition of explorers Lewis and Clark as they travel across America. In Sacajewea’s voice, the story is not only page-turning but also powerful, and will make you see your country through fresh eyes.
If you’re wishing for a winery tour, try reading…
Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey
Whether you’re going wine tasting with a group of friends or as a romantic getaway, touring the vineyards and tasting different varietals can be a fun and relaxing getaway. You’ll likely be treated to fantastic views and stories about the history of the land between sips that will give you a renewed appreciation of what you’re drinking as well as where you’re visiting..
If you’d love to book a winery tour, check out Tessa Bailey’s recently-released romance Secretly Yours. As teenagers, Hallie and Julian almost kissed in his family’s Napa Valley vineyards. But now that they’re both adults, the two are opposites in almost every way. Julian is an uptight Ivy League professor, and Hallie’s the gardener working on his family’s property. Too bad neither can stop thinking about the other… You’ll adore drinking in this wine-drenched, second-chance love story.
About the Author: G.G. Andrew
G.G. is a freelance writer and author of romance and women's fiction, including the short story "Everything Left Unsaid" in the collection A Million Ways: Stories of Motherhood. A Texas transplant, she lives outside Houston with her husband and two sons, both of whom are on the autism spectrum. In her spare time, she enjoys browsing bookstores, yoga, paper crafts, cooking, genealogy, and anything related to Halloween. She's probably drinking tea right now.
