It appears that several of our SBTB Podcast Patreon Discord are planning for a vacay. In preparation, we’d like to compile some great vacation reading suggestions for the occasion.
Sarah: On one memorable vacation, this book gave me an absurd good time: The Very Virile Viking by Sandra Hill ( A | BN | K | AB )
Carrie: If you haven’t read The Windflower by Laura London ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Scribd ) on the beach then you haven’t lived.
Lara: During my last holiday, my best friend introduced me to the bonkers series that is Dark Olympus by Katee Robert. Her and I would read the books and then chat about the insanity. A memorable holiday!
Sarah: I thought about this query, and a good vacation book has to fit some criteria that I admit are rather finicky. I want it to be easy to enter and exit – I might have to get up, go get food, go swim, do whatever I’m doing on vacation and then go back to it. So I don’t want to have to onboard myself over and over to remember the people and the plot.
I also don’t want to be sad or scared or anxious or anguished. I’m on vacation ffs. I have plenty of that.
I joke a lot about reading books that aren’t “Right here, Right now,” and when I myself am “somewhere else,” I like a soapy, fun escape for vacation reading.
Ergo: The Very Virile Viking by Sandra Hill.
In 2017, I recommended the Chesapeake Bay series and the Born In series by Nora Roberts, and those would still work for me, though both deal with some heavy business. Contemporary Nora is ideal for vacation – not thriller Nora or ParaNora. Those are different. Same with Lucy Parker’s Act Like it, backlist, Shelly Laurenston’s Crows, and Deanna Raybourn’s anything.
Elyse: I can’t read thrillers on vacation because my brain goes into hyper vigilant mode. I often read beachy romance when I’m at the beach or camping romance when I’m at a cabin. The Carley Fortune books set on a lake are a great vacation read.
I also read the Armand Gamache mysteries ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) on vacation but fair warning they start off cozy but the series gets darker as it goes on.
Shana: I like to read a book on vacation that is totally absorbing but short, or one that’s focused on travel. I think I actually have more space for slightly sad books or unusual literary structures while I’m chilling on a beach than in my regular life when I’m reading for escape in short bursts.
I just read the Our Riches by Kaouther Adimi ( A | BN | K | AB ) while I was on a cruise. It’s a lyrical little book about an Algerian bookstore during their fight from independence. But, I get that it might not fit many people’s beach reach needs. I think Jodi Mcalister’s Here for the Right Reasons ( A | BN ) would be perfect for a vacation. It’s fun, easy to get sucked in, and you can take advantage of the free time to never put the book down.
Which books would you suggest for prime vacation reading? Do your recommendations differ depending on locale? Let us know in the comments!
