What could be better than a vacation with the perfect book that matches your mood and setting just right? It’s hard to top that!
But how do you find the best books to read on vacation?
First of all, let it be said that any book can be a vacation book. However, there are a couple of vacation books that stand out to us, and we think they are the perfect companions for specific vacation scenarios. That’s why we want to introduce you to our favorite vacation books for your 2024 getaway.
There will be something for every type of reader, in every type of genre, and for every type of vacation setting. However, if you’re a true bookworm, make sure to check out our Summer Bookworm Bucket List.
Now, let’s delve into the best vacation books for 2024.
The Guest List
📙 Category: Thrilling Mystery
👩🦰 Ideal for: Mystery lovers, Thrill seekers
⭐ Perfect Setting: Best enjoyed on a stormy night, perhaps in a secluded cabin or a cozy room with rain pattering against the windows.
💗 Why You’ll Love It: The Guest List is a story where secrets hide, and tensions rise. It is set on a remote Irish island. When you pick up this book, you will get immersed in a world where you are among the elegantly dressed guests at a wedding. Here, every person holds a grudge or a secret.
If you love being kept on the edge of your seat and guessing who the real villain is, this could be your next go-to vacation thriller.
Beach Read
📙 Category: Light-Hearted Romance
👩🦰 Ideal for: Romance enthusiasts, Beach readers
⭐ Perfect Setting: Best read with your toes in the sand or on a sunny park bench.
💗 Why You’ll Love It: If you’re a romance fan, you’ll know that there’s nothing like a perfect romance to match the carefree vibe of a beach vacation. This book is accurately titled Beach Read. It follows two authors who have nothing in common but writer’s block. They decide to swap genres in a summer that ends up being filled with surprising love.
This book is the right choice when you want to feel sun-soaked and restore your faith in love. For more information about this book, read our Beach Read Book Review.
Educated
📙 Category: Inspirational Non-Fiction
👩🦰 Ideal for: Memoir readers, Self-improvers
⭐ Perfect Setting: Ideal for introspective reading in a quiet retreat.
💗 Why You’ll Love It: Educated is a memoir and also proof of the resilience of the human spirit. You get to follow Tara Westover’s journey that takes you from a survivalist childhood to the halls of Cambridge University.
It’s a great choice for moments when you want some time for solitude and reflection.
A Darker Shade of Magic
📙 Category: Fantasy Adventure
👩🦰 Ideal for: Fantasy fans, Adventure seekers
⭐ Perfect Setting: Great for reading while traveling through bustling cities or vibrant locales.
💗 Why You’ll Love It: With A Darker Shade of Magic, you get transported into a world of parallel Londons, each filled with varying degrees of magical mischief and political intrigue. V.E. Schwab has a vivid way of storytelling that will pull you into the adventures with Kell, an Antari who can travel between worlds.
If your vacation feels like it needs a little bit of extra excitement, then this fantasy adventure book is the right read for you.
The Nightingale
📙 Category: Historical Fiction
👩🦰 Ideal for: History buffs, Emotional readers
⭐ Perfect Setting: Fitting for a peaceful garden or a quiet historical site.
💗 Why You’ll Love It: This book is set against the harrowing backdrop of World War II in France. The Nightingale tells a powerful story of the two sisters’ bravery and resilience. In this book, you will explore the emotional depths of war and survival all through a profoundly personal lens.
This book is not a light read – it’s more for when you’re in a reflective mood and looking for a story with rich historical detail.
Project Hail Mary
📙 Category: Science Fiction Journey
👩🦰 Ideal for: Sci-fi enthusiasts, Space adventurers
⭐ Perfect Setting: A thrilling companion for high-altitude locales or stargazing nights.
💗 Why You’ll Love It: Can you imagine waking up alone on a spaceship millions of miles away from home, with the fate of humanity resting on your shoulders? This is what Project Hail Mary is about. The book is filled with humor as well as a gripping survival story.
It’s a great book to read on vacation – for anyone who loves a mix of science and fiction.
Everything I Never Told You
📙 Category: Family Drama
👩🦰 Ideal for: Fans of literary fiction, Emotional drama seekers
⭐ Perfect Setting: Quiet mornings by a lake or under the shade of a large tree.
💗 Why You’ll Love It: Everything I Never Told You is a book about a family’s unspoken pain and the issues of being different in a conforming world. The novel tells the story of a Chinese-American family dealing with loss.
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
📙 Category: Young Adult Novel
👩🦰 Ideal for: Teens, Young adults
⭐ Perfect Setting: Cozy corners in bustling cafes or a sunny spot in the park.
💗 Why You’ll Love It: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is heartwarming and sincere. It brings a nice blend of humor and meaningful moments. You get to follow Simon as he experiences love, friendship, identity, and all the issues with them.
Good Omens
by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
📙 Category: Humorous Read
👩🦰 Ideal for: Comedy lovers, Fans of satire
⭐ Perfect Setting: Anywhere laughter is appreciated — maybe a sunny beach or a comfy hotel balcony.
💗 Why You’ll Love It: What happens when an angel and a demon team up to save the world from the apocalypse? The answer is chaos, humor, and unexpected friendship. The book Good Omens combines wit, philosophy, and absurdity. It’s as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
It’s a good vacation read if you want to laugh and think about the weirdness of existence.
Red Notice
📙 Category: Action-Packed Thriller
👩🦰 Ideal for: Thrill seekers, True crime enthusiasts
⭐ Perfect Setting: Engrossing enough for long flights or train rides.
💗 Why You’ll Love It: Red Notice is an experience and a rather intense ride through finance, corruption, and Russian politics.
It’s a real-life thriller perfect for anyone who craves a story that grips you from start to finish.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
📙 Category: Self-Help Guide
👩🦰 Ideal for: Self-help readers, Philosophical thinkers
⭐ Perfect Setting: Ideal for introspective reading beside a peaceful sea or during serene evenings.
💗 Why You’ll Love It: Mark Manson created a blunt guide (with no filter) that helps you accept your faults and find happiness in an overwhelmingly optimistic world. The book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is refreshingly honest and also humorous.
It’s a great companion for moments of vacation solitude when you want to think about what truly matters.
The Best Vacation Books for 2024
Picking the right books to read on vacation can be almost as important as choosing the right vacation destination.
We have done our best to match each book with the ideal reader and setting, but you can read each book in any setting you like.
If you feel like you haven’t found your perfect vacation book yet, look at the summer reading list, best travel books, and hot #BookTok books for summer that we have discussed in our recent articles.
Happy reading, and have a great 2024 vacation!
