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15 Books You Should Read to Inspire Your Summer Travels

Whether you have exciting travel plans for the summer, or you want to have the best staycation ever, nothing will get you quite as excited for adventures to come as a good book. Here are a few page-turners to get you in the zone.

Into the Wild by John Krakauer

The book that inspired the movie of the same name, Into the Wild tells the true story of a college grad who rejects capitalist society and travels alone through the U.S. and Alaska.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

The author reflects on her journey to self-discovery in Italy, India and Bali.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

This classic of American literature is provocative and unforgettable.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist follows the adventures of an Andalusian shepherd boy to Egypt, where he hopes to find a treasure.

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes

The author recounts her life in Tuscany, where she bought and restore a house.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

This important classic follows Huck in his adventures on the Mississippi river, in the company of a runaway slave.

The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux

This tale will take you from the streets of London to the legendary railways of the Asian continent.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Cheryl Strayed inspired a generation of young women to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in search of existential answers.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

A young man sets out to find hidden gold on a Caribbean island.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

This bestseller pieces together the mysterious disappearance of architect, mother and wife Bernadette Fox.

Love With a Chance of Drowning by Torre DeRoche

In this memoir, Torre follows a man halfway across the world on his small sailboat.

Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck

Steinbeck narrates his adventures around the U.S. with his French poodle.

A Long Way Home: A Memoir by Saroo Brierley

The memoir that inspired Lion is poignant and compelling.

Paris Was Ours by Penelope Rowlands

In a collection of essays, 32 writers describe their life as foreigners in Paris.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

This disturbing classic chronicles a middle-aged man’s obsession with the young Lolita, and the pair’s travels across America.

Want more book suggestions? Check out Course Hero’s reading list and study guides!

Iris was the associate editor at Her Campus. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in communications and gender studies, but was born and raised in France with an English mother. She enjoys country music, the color pink and pretending she has her life together. Iris was the style editor and LGBTQ+ editor for HC as an undergrad, and has interned for Cosmopolitan.com and goop. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @irisgoldsztajn, or check out her writing portfolio here.