Reading Recommendations: Wanderlust Travel Destinations

A new month means another batch of reading recommendations! June’s theme is Wanderlust Travel Destinations. Start off the Summertime with these novels that will take you places around the world and travel through the pages of a book! To see my previous recs from last year, click here.

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Pasta Wars

Slim, successful, and soon to marry the man of her dreams, Katie Cravens is leading the life she always wanted. As the face and CEO of Pasta Pronto, a Carbs for the Calorie-Conscious line of frozen food, Katie chooses to live life like one of her Slimline Spaghetti dinners no mess, no surprises, and everything tied up in a neat little package. But when Katie s fiance runs off with another woman and a quality control fiasco sends her customers running for the hills, it s time for Katie to make a change.

Her company s salvation presents itself in the form of a partnership opportunity with the legendary Ristorante Caramelli of Rome, and Katie has no other choice but to jet off to Italy to convince gorgeous, hotheaded co-owner Luca Caramelli that she is a worthy partner. Gaining Luca s respect proves harder than Katie could have ever imagined, however, when he insists that she must learn how to cook and how to eat true Italian food before he will ever agree to their companies partnership.

If you enjoy romances with delicious food (especially pasta) and adventure, this story is for you. Though a romance this novel also felt like a story of self-discovery as the main character, Katie tries to figure out the future of her company as well as what she desires for her own life. Readers get to see the sights and sounds of Italy and how dishes we love are handcrafted carefully. Katie is faced with some harsh truths about how she truly hasn’t lived for herself. Luca helps her to relax and be more spontaneous and Katie in return helps him to center himself. The attraction between the two is instant and their romance provides for a few steamy scenes as well. 

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Ay,Mija

Sixteen-year-old Christine takes their first solo trip to Mexico to spend a few weeks with their grandparents and tía. At first, Christine struggles to connect with family they don’t yet share a language with. Seeing the places their mom grew up—the school she went to, the café where she had her first date with their father—Christine becomes more and more aware of the generational differences in their family.

Soon Christine settles into life in Mexico, eating pan dulce, drawing what they see, and growing more comfortable with Spanish. But when Mom joins their trip, Christine’s two worlds collide. They feel homesick for Texas, struggle against traditions, and miss being able to speak to their mom without translating. Eventually, through exploring the impacts of colonialism in both Mexico and themselves, they find their place in their family and start to feel comfortable with their mixed identity.

This graphic novel is inspired by the author’s life and depicts a journey of navigating culture and identity. On top of that, the novel discusses bilingual struggles and themes of belonging. Through Christine’s eyes, we are taken on a journey of a solo trip to Mexico and being reconnected with her family. She slowly settles into her family’s home and learns how to feel comfortable with her mixed heritage.

This story is vulnerable and heartwarming at the same time. It shows the complicated feelings of being a fish out of water and also the beauty of Mexico. 

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Honeymoon Alone

For 26-year-old Lucy Gray, life revolves around her family, friends and a classroom full of third graders. Reliable and responsible, she puts everyone’s needs before her own, often without even realizing it. In a chance meeting with the psychic at her sister’s 80s-themed wedding, Lucy is confronted with the idea that she is missing out on life and should follow the signs of fate happening all around her. Awakening to this realization, these signs spur Lucy to take a last-minute trip to London – the very trip her sister had reserved as a honeymoon backup plan. She’ll just have to pretend to be her sister… what could go wrong?

Once in London, what Lucy hoped to be the getaway she’s always dreamed of turns into an adventure she never expected. Tangled in lies and in over her head, she struggles to follow the signs – and her heart – to figure out who she truly is.

Readers are taken on a journey through the city’s sights and sounds as we experience everything through Lucy’s eyes. Through her adventure she grows, learns about herself, and even has the possibility to find a bit of romance. What made this novel such an entertaining read was the sense of adventure and the romantic comedy elements. Lucy, more often than not, finds herself in some tricky situations. Someway or somehow, she is determined to muddle through them the best she can. I appreciated the attention to detail and through reading this book I felt as if I took a trip to London myself! 

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A Time To Dance

Veda, a classical dance prodigy in India, lives and breathes dance—so when an accident leaves her a below-knee amputee, her dreams are shattered. For a girl who’s grown used to receiving applause for her dance prowess and flexibility, adjusting to a prosthetic leg is painful and humbling. But Veda refuses to let her disability rob her of her dreams, and she starts all over again, taking beginner classes with the youngest dancers. Then Veda meets Govinda, a young man who approaches dance as a spiritual pursuit. As their relationship deepens, Veda reconnects with the world around her, and begins to discover who she is and what dance truly means to her.

This novel not only takes readers to India, but teaches them about Bharatanatyam dance. I loved how through written very the novel showcases the very real struggles Veda has as dancer, artist, amputee, daughter, and friend. This novel is full of rich culture and discusses dance as a spiritual (as well as artistic) form and we see how it helps Veda during her healing journey. Reading this novel feels inspiring and shows how the journey of growth has no linear paths.

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What Happens In The Highlands

ight-laced Rose Hensel arrives in Scotland for her best friend’s wedding with a plan—to be the greatest maid of honor ever, let loose for the first time in years, and find out what Scottish guys really wear under their kilts. After meeting the best man, she thinks she found the man who checks all the boxes for a no-strings-attached romp among the heather. 

Lachlan Calder-Mackinnon knows how to show a girl a good time. Gourmet dinners in castle ruins, picnics among rolling hills, and a seaside escape create some unforgettable dates. But as the fling begins to morph into something more, an unexpected wedding guest threatens to ruin Rose and Lachlan’s new romance. 

With a plane ticket in one hand and her broken heart in the other, Rose prepares to head home to reality. However, she’s about to learn that what happens in the Highlands doesn’t always stay there.

I was very excited to read this romance novel not only because I love the romance genre, but I love stories about travel destinations that I want to visit. The author sets the tone for the story by describing Scotland’s lush greenery and all the little things that the small town has to offer. I could picture myself strolling along with small streets while visiting the mom-and-pop shops and taking in all the sights and sounds. The castle where the wedding takes place sounded absolutely gorgeous. Overall, this is a cute romance novel that is fast-paced, easy to read and very entertaining. 

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Dear Haiti, Love Alaine

You might ask the obvious question: What do I, a seventeen-year-old Haitian American from Miami with way too little life experience, have to say about anything?

Actually, a lot.

Thanks to “the incident” (don’t ask), I’m spending the next two months doing what my school is calling a “spring volunteer immersion project.” It’s definitely no vacation. I’m toiling away under the ever-watchful eyes of Tati Estelle at her new nonprofit. And my lean-in queen of a mother is even here to make sure I do things right. Or she might just be lying low to dodge the media sharks after a much more public incident of her own…and to hide a rather devastating secret.

All things considered, there are some pretty nice perks…like flirting with Tati’s distractingly cute intern, getting actual face time with my mom and experiencing Haiti for the first time. I’m even exploring my family’s history—which happens to be loaded with betrayals, superstitions and possibly even a family curse.

As Alaine tries to bond with her mom and her aunt she finds it difficult. She learns more about her heritage, but finds it hard to connect to a world that seems so different from where she grew up.  While the story is heartwarming, it’s a bit bittersweet at the same time. Alaine uses her voice best way she knows how to express feelings in her writing. In Haiti she become more connected to family but also learns about her heritage falls in love, and learns more about herself. 

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That concludes my reading recommendations for books that will take you around the globe! What books do you recommend or what are your favorites? Comment below!