We all had big plans for 2020. We were going to travel, get in shape, read that book that’s been sitting on our shelf for years. Instead, a lot of us are eating to cope with our emotions, staring out our windows longingly at the outside world, and just praying for 2020 to come to a close. While we may not be able to do a lot of the things we planned on, especially travel, we can still make the best of 2020. Personally, I’ve never worked out more in my life or read as many books. If you’re yearning for a trip around the world, might I recommend these seven books to satisfy your wanderlust? Let’s get started…
one | The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy follows Arthur Dent (human) and Ford Prefect (alien) on their trip throughout the universe after the Earth is destroyed to make way for an intergalactic highway. It’s highly entertaining and completely non-sensical and worth every turn of the page. Bonus? It’s five books-in-one if you choose to pick up the “Ultimate” copy I have pictured above. What better way to satisfy wanderlust than to travel the galaxy in 800 pages?
two | Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Wild takes readers on a hike of a lifetime as Strayed seeks to find out who she really is and what she really wants out of life after losing her mother, experiencing divorce, and so much more. I’m no hiker, and neither is Strayed at the beginning of her journey, but reading Wild made me think I might actually be able to survive weeks in the woods with only myself as company (I most definitely cannot, and I’m more likely to have a Lorelei Gilmore adventure than a Cheryl Strayed revelation). A story about finding yourself and discovering things you never knew possible, Wild is sure to satisfy some west-coast wanderlust.
three | A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
A Darker Shade of Magic is a delightful read full of mystery, adventure, and mayhem. Schwab creates a world with three Londons — White London, which is teeming with magic and run by truly villainous siblings, Red London, which is home to Kell and relatively balanced, and Grey London, which doesn’t know of magic’s existence. Kell is special — he can travel between Londons. But when Kell discovers a dark relic from the past, he is thrown into an adventure he never asked for that results in the fight for his life. Schwab is an expert world creator, and I was immediately captivated by this book from page one. Bonus? It’s a series, so you can just keep reading when you finish this one. This is an unconventional wanderlust pick, but I always find a fantasy novel scratches a specific itch any other novel just can’t reach.
four | The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Embark on the journey of a lifetime with Bilbo and the dwarves as they meet goblins, trolls, and so much more. Bilbo has never done anything out of the ordinary until one day a band of dwarves show up on his doorstep demanding to be fed and inviting him on a quest. The dwarves want to reclaim their treasure and rid the land of the dragon, Smaug, that terrorizes the country. Originally intended as a children’s story, The Hobbit can truly be enjoyed at any age, but especially when stuck at home looking for adventure.
five | The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Follow Olive and Ethan, sworn enemies, on a delightful honeymoon meant for their siblings in this twisty contemporary romance sure to satisfy the heart. Olive’s twin, Ami, and Ethan’s brother, Dane, have a seafood buffet at their wedding that renders everyone sick except, of course, Olive and Ethan, who can’t stand each other. The two reluctantly take the trip to Maui that Ami won, and subsequently have to lie their butts off to Olive’s new boss and Ethan’s ex-girlfriend when they run into them both in Hawaii. Obviously, they fall in love, but my favorite part is a huge twist between Olive and Dane that will leave you fist-pumping in the air.
six | Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Crazy Rich Asians is about a Singaporean family that is, well, rich. Some of the members are snotty brats, but some are just like normal people. The book follows a handful of characters, but the main story is about Rachel and Nick. They are attending Nick’s best friend’s wedding, and Rachel has no idea what she is about to step into. Nick, who works as a professor in the state’s, and he hasn’t told her anything about his rich family. Rachel is in for quite the treat. From catty bridesmaids to an evil mother-in-law, Kwan’s story has it all, including gorgeous descriptions of Asia for any wanderlust heart.
seven | The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
The Idea of You is about a mom who takes her teenage daughter to an August Moon concert (think One Direction) and ends up having a worldwide romance with the lead singer, who’s about 20-years-old. They travel the world together, they fall in love, they support each other in all of their endeavors, but this was just supposed to be lunch, right? What are they supposed to do when the fame and the pushback from fans become just too much for them to handle? It’s a whirlwind love story that will leave you wanting more.
Happy reading,
Kimberly
