12 Books to Give You a Serious Case of Wanderlust

 

There's nothing better than some armchair traveling, am I right? And for me, when it can take me to a tropical island, a beautiful lake, or a historic city in Europe, I am all for it. Today I am featuring twelve beach reads that will have you packing your bags and booking a flight in no time.

1. The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza 

The food! The people! The drama! Even though this book was a bit of a murder mystery, I was totally caught up in all the amazing details of Sicily.

 

 

2. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

This book is one of my favorite beach reads of all time! This one transports readers to beautiful Positano, Italy.

 

 

 

3. On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves 

If you are looking for some armchair traveling to a deserted tropical island in the Maldives, look no further! 

4. Villa America by Liza Klaussman

This atmospheric beach read takes readers to the French Riviera. It's based on a real house built in the 1920s.

5. Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland

If you long for lazy summers in the Catskill Mountains among the forest and lakes, this book will be right up your alley. 

 

 

6. The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

I adored this cute novel that takes place on a remote island in the Chesapeake Bay. Who doesn't dream of unplugging on small island where everyone takes it slow?

 

 

7. Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

This beach read is one of my absolute favorites and it had me dreaming of my own lakeside Canadian getaway.

8. Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes 

This powerful novel takes readers through the history of Hawaii and had me longing for a trip back. This book truly captures the spirit of Hawaii.

9. The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey

If your idea of a good vacation is to an East Coast summer camp where your days are filled with swimming, canoeing, and more, this is the ultimate summer camp book. If you enjoyed camp as a kid, this will bring back all the memories. 

10.  This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

I have been a fan of Prince Edward Island for years (thank you, Anne of Green Gables), but reading this book took my obsession to a new level.

 

 

 

11. The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner

The beautiful backdrop of the Amalfi Coast truly shines in this book that is part historical fiction, part mystery and romance. 

 

 

12. The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani

This book will have you packing your bags to gorgeous Italy in no time and nobody depicts Italy and Italians better than Trigiani.

Runner Up:

 

Any Elin Hilderbrand novel will have you dreaming of your own trip to Nantucket.

So, these are just a few of my favorite beach reads that provide some great armchair traveling. If you are looking for more beach reads, I've got you covered. You can check out my beach read menu for more recommendations or my guide to the best beach reads for 2025.  Let me know what you think in the comments below.