Read any good books lately? Me, too! You know I’m always looking for airplane reads, beach reads, and books set in places I want to visit—and I LOVE finding a book that inspires me to visit a place that wasn’t even on my radar! Here are the best books I’ve read lately, and one I can’t wait to start!

You Never Know

Tom Selleck

Something you may not know about me: I have a huge movie star crush on Tom Selleck! He’s one of the classiest actors in Hollywood, and he’s got the well-deserved longevity to show for it. (And the Magnum theme song may be on my running playlist.) When I heard he had a new memoir coming out this past spring, I immediately put it on my “to be read” list. It did not disappoint!

This memoir is all about how he made it in Hollywood—the tough breaks, the people he met along the way, the parts he had to pass up (ahem, Indiana Jones). It was a quick read that made me love him even more!

Read all the best Magnum-inspired info on my dedicated Hawai’ian Islands Page!

Attached at the Hip

Christine Riccio

Another quick read, set largely in Fiji, this book is for Survivor fans who like a twist with a side of “show-mance.” The main character gets picked for Survivor, but when she shows up to the first day of filming, she finds out she was actually chosen for a Survivor-meets-Love Island spin-off, where contestants really are attached at the hip—by a rope!

This one is a great airplane or beach read, or both. Between the complexities of the game and the attraction among the players, it’s a fun read. However, there’s a plot twist and a surprise ending you’ll have to read for yourself!

Read on: The Ultimate Travel Couple Bucket List

The Dictator’s Wife

Hollie McKay

Written by one of my favorite war zone journalists, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of her debut novel about an American woman who marries the second son of a living dictator. When her husband suddenly becomes the one in power, she’s quickly in way over her head. 

It’s set in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, mostly on a fictional island nation in the Middle East. It was unlike anything I’d read before, largely because the author has so much hands-on experience both in the region and with actual dictators. 

Read more about the region on my dedicated Middle East Page!

Something Wilder

Christina Lauren

This is for the hikers and National Park enthusiasts! The books that Christina and Lauren co-write are always quick reads (though a bit irreverent—fair warning!), and usually set in interesting places. This one has a mystery attached to it in the form of a murder and a treasure hunt. Set in Utah and Montana, you’ll also enjoy a bit of the Old West and the wilderness, along with some romance and laugh-out-loud situations. Perfect for a long flight, airport delay, beach day, or poolside reading!

More here: The Best Tips for Hiking on Travel

I Must Betray You

Ruta Sepetys

Leave it to Ruta Sepetys to weave a tale through real, historical events in a place that was not really on my radar. This novel of the Romanian Revolution in 1989 is also a thriller, making both the narrator and the reader question whom they can trust. It’s the perfect read for anyone visiting Eastern Europe or looking for a true-to-life novel.

Attention to detail and historical accuracy are the author’s specialty, which always make me wonder why I never learned about this in school, and how I could have possibly missed these world events that ought to be common knowledge. This one absolutely made me want to visit Romania, but also learn more about the history of other formerly communist countries in Eastern Europe.

Related: Your Guide to Solo Travel in Bratislava, Slovakia

Circling the Sun

Paula McLaine

This is another work of fiction based on real events and an actual person. It’s set in 1920s Kenya and follows the real-life experiences of Beryl Markham, award-winning aviator. You read that right. There’s a love triangle, history, wild animals, and more, all set against the dramatic backdrop of Kenya. It’s one of my personal bucket list destinations, so I found the book to be particularly fascinating. It was an ideal poolside read. 

Read on: The Best Trips for Animal Lovers

The House on Biscayne Bay

Chanel Cleeton

Chanel Cleeton quickly became one of my favorite authors after I picked up Last Train to Key West a few years ago. She weaves a storyline with twists and unpredictable characters like almost no one else, and this book, set in 1920s and 40s Miami, did not disappoint. A grand, Gothic mansion seems cursed, or haunted, or both, and the mysteries keep piling on, but not adding up. 

Cleeton always brings the drama, as well as a nod to her ancestral Cuba—itself a bit of a “forbidden” destination. Her books are always a quick read for me (and I’m not usually a fast reader). This one definitely needs to be your next airplane read—maybe enroute to Miami!

A real-life Miami mansion steeped in drama: How to Dine at Gianni Versace’s Mansion

Herod and Mary

Kathie Lee Gifford and Bryan M. Litfin

I knew very little about King Herod, even after visiting Israel last year. Yes, I knew he was the Jewish king who commanded that all boys under the age of two be killed, prompting Jesus, Mary, and Joseph to flee to Egypt shortly after Jesus was born. But anything else? I was at a loss. 

That is, until I read this book. There is a lot of information to take in on his backstory, but it’s told in a narrative, making this an easy read. I also learned several new and interesting things about Mary, Jesus’ mother. Set in Israel, Egypt, and Italy (namely, Rome), this one is a fascinating read for history lovers, religious types, and travelers alike. 

More on my dedicated Israel and Palestine Page

Eruption

Michael Crichton and James Patterson

What’s next on my reading list? Eruption. Set on Hawai’i’s Big Island, it’s Michael Crichton’s epic final story, the one he was working on when he died in 2008. His widow asked James Patterson to complete it, and it just came out this summer. 

This thriller takes place as a volcanic eruption threatens to destroy the island. What’s worse? A U.S. military secret is also involved. I can’t wait to read this one, set in one of my favorite places in the world!

Get more here: Should I be Afraid of the Volcanoes on Hawai’i’s Big Island?

Want more? Get all my favorite book lists from around the world on my dedicated Online Shop!

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