Spring travel is a dull affair without the company of our book-bound adventures. The secret ingredients to the perfect spring reading list cocktail is fresh new voices, faraway settings and bold narratives which challenge our imaginations. Here are the seven books which will be in the Modern Jetsetter’s suitcase this spring:

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian

I wouldn’t be a good jetsetter if I didn’t indulge in a travel-infused thriller. A hungover flight attendant wakes up in a Dubai hotel room with a dead man – and the international adventure and airborne intrigue doesn’t stop there. I’ll probably never look at my flight attendants the same way again.

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal

Anything Reese Witherspoon includes in her book club, best bet it’s going to be on my reading list. This stunning fusion of east and west (the best cultural fusion, by the way) explores the alluring lives of immigrant women as they reach the summit of their creative dreams.

The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen

Family secrets, wartime history, mysteries and the Tuscan countryside. Add a cup of cappuccino, and I’m sure this is the perfect bookish ode to Italian adventure. Whenever I spot an Italy-related book, it automatically makes my list as it’s an instant excuse to visit Italy (over and over again).

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

The greatest journeys don’t always require distance – they happen right within our soul (but luckily this one includes an awesome destination as well). This alluring Alaska tale captures the spirit of a modern American pioneer through the perspective of a 13-year-old girl and her parents. I can’t wait to cozy up in the mountains this spring and dedicate an entire day to this literary escape.

Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano

Another Italy vacation! Auntie Poldi retires to Sicily but finds her idyllic outlook on Italian island life shattered by a murdered handyman and romantic affairs. The ultimate transport to rocky Sicily and springtime mystery, Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions will forever change your idea of la bella vita.

A Higher Loyalty by James Comey 

This is an excuse to keep up on political affairs without entering the rabbit hole. I avoid the endless political storm like the plague, but there is something I can’t resist about James Comey’s resolute devotion to the truth (and his hilarious ominous Twitter postings). I’m truly hoping this memoir is just as irony-laced as his social media accounts.

The Italian Teacher by Tom Rachman

You may have gathered that I have a thing for Italy, but this delicious escape goes beyond the boot-shaped wonderland. When Pinch’s famous estranged father dies, the London-based Italian language teacher goes on a mission to secure his father’s legacy as a painter… and finally make his own mark on the world. A gorgeous tale of art, family and finding oneself in a shadow, The Italian Teacher is a the perfect multicultural literary affair.

Keep up with Kortney as she travels the globe and shares her breathtaking journey with the world.

Instagram: @modernjetsetter
Twitter: @kortneygruenwald
Website: themodernjetsetter.com

(photo by @modernjetsetter)