The Ultimate Bookworm’s Guide to Travel Inspiration

Are you always looking for the next adventure anywhere you can find it? Do you love being introduced to new places through stories? Are you keen to travel, but can only do it from the pages of a book right now? Then read our famous bookworm’s guide to travel inspiration.

Bonus: these books are also available as audio books, so if reading is not your cup of tea, then sit back, and enjoy the narration! This post contains affiliate links to these audio books that are available on Audible, at no extra cost to you.

1. The Picture House by the Sea

Written by Holly Hepburn and narrated by Karen Cass

Written by one of our favourite authors and read by an equally great narrator, this collection of novellas is brilliant from beginning to end. We follow Gina as she leaves the city behind to aid her grandfather with his ice-cream business, which is the only concession keeping the run-down art deco cinema from closing its doors.

Luckily, with the help of Ben, a renovation expert and a friend from her past, Gina employs her skills to renovate the cinema and save it from ruin. Is it simply a matter of changing the cinema, or changing one’s life?

Deliciously entertaining and romantic, The Picture House by the Sea is filled with descriptions of the Cornish coastline in calm weather and in storm. It will make you want to leave everything and head to the seaside to splash about in the azure waters or to soak up the wild landscape as you walk along the coast.

This book was originally published as four novellas: Brief Encounter, Singing in the Rain, Dirty Dancing and Some Like it Hot.

2. Coming Home to Brightwater Bay

Written by Holly Hepburn and narrated by Karen Cass

Yet another collection of novellas by the same author and narrator, Coming Home to Brightwater Bay takes us on a journey to Orkney islands. Merina Wilde, the successful published author, is secretly dealing with a severe case of writer’s block. Will the spectacular coastlines and the spirit of old inspire her to overcome her insecurities and discover her passion for writing again?

Follow Merina as she visits the iconic sites on the mainland, and as she ventures out of her comfort zone to the other islands to learn more about their history and way of life. Make a list of all the places that she discovers and pack your bags as soon as possible. The Orcadian experience awaits!

This book was originally published as four novellas: Broken Hearts at Brightwater Bay, Sea Breezes at Brightwater Bay, Dangerous Tides at Brightwater Bay and Sunset Over Brightwater Bay.

3. Outlander

Written by Diana Gabaldon and read by Davina Porter

This is by far one of the most famous historical fiction books ever written. We can guarantee it will keep you hooked from beginning to end and you will not rest until you read the rest of the series. This IS THE book to read if you want to fall in love with Scotland forever.

After the Second World War, Claire Beauchamp Randall travels to the Scottish Highlands with her husband Frank for their second honeymoon. During their stay, she comes across a circle of standing stones. With some mighty force, is transported to the eighteenth-century. Will she manage to return to her old life or will she be forced to make a life there for herself? We promise you, 18^th century fiction has never been so gripping. Outlander will make you want to move to Scotland and never return.

The Outlander series is to be read in the following order:

1. Outlander
2. Dragonfly in Amber
3. Voyager
4. Drums of Autumn
5. The Fiery Cross
6. A Breath of Snow and Ashes
7. An Echo in the Bone
8. Written in My Own Heart’s Blood
9. Go Tell the Bees that I Am Gone

4. Sophia’s Secret

Written by Susanna Kearsley and narrated by Carolyn Bonnyman

If you have devoured the Outlander series, then Sophia’s Secret should be at the top of your list. Present-day Carrie McClelland turns to Slains Castle for inspiration to write her next bestselling novel, believing that her heroine is nothing more than fictional. But as she progresses, she discovers factual details that make her wonder if her knowledge stems from ancestral memory.

Perched atop a cliff, overlooking the North Sea, and boasting a general air of the Gothic about it, the ruined Slains Castle seems to challenge us to set foot inside its eerie interior.

5. The Longest Holiday

Written by Paige Toon and narrated by Nicky Diss

This book will make you want to go on holiday because it starts with just that: a girls’ holiday. Laura’s luck in love appears to have deserted her and she leaves dreary England behind in an attempt to have her worries washed away by a bit of summer fun. An attraction to a sexy Cuban, then, takes her completely by surprise. Will she have the courage to face her past and look forward to the future?

Set in Florida Keys, The Longest Holiday provides the perfect dose of sunlight, swimming, diving and summer breeze. If you haven’t planned a trip to Florida yet, then read or listen to this book and let it transport you to the tropical destination of your dreams.

If you live in Europe and wish for an island closer to home, why not look at this post right here: Best Beaches in Malta

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoy reading or listening to these books as much as we did. If you have any comments or recommendations, let us know in the comments below.

Happy Reading (or Listening)!

Passport and Pathways x

Still don’t know if audio books are for you? Read this post for Reasons Why You Need Audible In Your Life.

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