Grab your sunglasses and pack your tote bag because summer is calling, and what better way to enjoy it than with a book-ation? If you love a cross-country road trips to faraway destinations, we’ve rounded up the perfect bookish companions to fuel your wanderlust. Mile after mile, page after page, these books will take you on your own journey of self-discovery without having to pitch in for gas money.
Check out the rest of our Book-ation destinations >>
Places We’ve Never Been by Kasie West
Norah and her seemingly indifferent childhood best friend, Skyler, have headed on the road for a summer adventure. The only problem is Norah hasn’t seen Skyler in years. The time apart had dimmed their once-bright friendship, and they need severe readjusting. As miles stretch before them, old wounds and competition threaten to ditch them by the roadside. Yet, under endless starry skies and fueled by quirky roadside detours, they chart a course towards unexpected discoveries, including a reforged friendship and maybe even a hint of something new.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad
After graduating college, Suleika Jaouad moved to Paris to become a war correspondent. However, an unexpected leukemia diagnosis at 22 changed everything. She spent four years fighting for her life. Once cured, she struggled with how to live again. Jaouad embarked on a 100-day, 15,000-mile road trip with her dog, Oscar, meeting people who had supported her during her illness. This journey taught her that the boundary between sickness and health is fluid and ever-changing.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
You, with a View by Jessica Joyce
Noelle Shepard is grieving her grandmother’s death when she discovers letters hinting at a forbidden love. Seeking answers, she creates a viral TikTok. She tracks down her grandmother’s secret love, Paul, who offers to take her on the honeymoon road trip he and her grandmother never took. Noelle agrees, but Paul’s grandson, Theo—Noelle’s high-school enemy—has to come, too. Two weeks on the road, stuck in a car with Theo, might change everything.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert
Conrad Stewart’s charming facade hides a chaotic life, while Alden Roth’s perfection masks inner turmoil. Stuck together on a cross-country road trip to a fan convention, their rivalry fades, forging an unexpected connection. Each has a compelling reason to win the upcoming Odyssey gaming tournament, and neither is willing to let emotions interfere, even if it means sacrificing their one chance at something truly magical.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adle
Millicent Watts-Cohen embarks on a road trip from D.C. to Key West with her elderly friend’s ashes, determined to reunite her with a lost love. Forced to travel with cynical writer Hollis Hollenbeck, Millie faces quirky bed-and-breakfasts, small-town festivals, and unexpected companionship. Despite his disbelief in happily-ever-afters, Hollis becomes invested in their journey. As they near their destination, Millie realizes this trip might also be about discovering her own love story.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, have spent five years on the road in an old school bus ever since a tragic accident. When Coyote learns that a cherished park in her hometown is being demolished, she plans a secret 3,600-mile trip back to Washington. Along the way, they pick up a motley crew of travelers, each with their own dreams. Through this journey, Coyote discovers that going home is challenging but possible with friends by her side, leading to her happily ever after.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite
With a well-worn map and a tank full of wanderlust, Happi Smith hits the open road. But, this isn’t your typical summer adventure. The passenger seat holds the memory of her sister Kezi, a social justice warrior who was silenced too soon. Happi grapples with the sanitized image everyone paints of Kezi. Fueled by a vintage travel guide and a fierce love, Happi embarks on a road trip to honor Kezi, her way.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun
Dusty roads and a shared past beckon Logan and Rosemary back to each other. Their childhood friendship turned bitter rivalry, but a dying teacher’s final wish throws them in a flamboyant van for a cross-country adventure. Uptight Rosemary and impulsive Logan, both stuck in ruts, must navigate old wounds and the open road with laughter, detours, and maybe a second chance at friendship, and maybe more, along the way.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn
For the last decade, Jess Greene has kept a life-altering secret from her younger half-sister, Tegan. Their reckless mother ran away with a con artist/ host of a popular podcast, The Last Con of Lynton Baltimore. Jess fears Tegan will leave their home and chase after their reckless mother. When Teagan does, Jess follows in tow, hoping to protect her sister. Now, traveling across the country, she is finding a new sense of vulnerability and curiosity in her life.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Love in Tandem by Becca Kinzer
Charlotte Carter’s life is stable again after a failed engagement and her mother’s cancer battle. With her new dream job teaching music, she faces another challenge: saving the school’s music program from closure. Enter Zach Bryant, her ex-fiancé’s adventurous brother, back in town for a wedding. Misunderstood as a couple, they embark on a 500-mile tandem bike ride to win prize money to save the program. Amidst the journey, Charlotte starts rethinking her assumptions about Zach and wonders if this ride is just the beginning of something bigger.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Leave A Comment