Reading Recommendations: Books That Spark Wanderlust

As summer fast approaches, the travel bug within me is ready to seek out new adventures. I enjoy traveling when I can during the summer months. Life can get busy and we may not always get the time to travel. I’m glad that books can provide an escape to travel to somewhere new or give me ideas for a future vacation. Here are some books that are sure to spark wanderlust.

Synopsis: For Olive, the only thing worse than constant bad luck is having to spend the wedding day with the best man (and her nemesis), Ethan Thomas. Olive braces herself for wedding hell, determined to put on a brave face, but when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. Suddenly there’s a free honeymoon up for grabs, and Olive will be damned if Ethan gets to enjoy paradise solo. Agreeing to a temporary truce, the pair head for Maui. After all, ten days of bliss is worth having to assume the role of loving newlyweds, right? 

I loved the overall setting in scenic Maui in The Unhoneymooners. The warm weather and sandy beaches made me want to go on a tropical vacation. Hawaii is a place is I’ve always wanted to go and I was glad to able to experience a bit oft it through reading this novel. This novel is humorous and fully of crazy antics that will keep readers entertained.

Synopsis: On her 49th birthday, Anna Fergusson, Boston neuroscientist and dedicated introvert, arrives at an unwanted crossroads when the funding for her research lab is cut. With her confidence shattered and her future uncertain, on impulse she rents a cabin for a year on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. However Turtle Island, alive with sea birds and nesting Green turtles, is not the retreat she expected. Here she finds love for the eccentric islanders who become her family; for Tom, the laid-back turtle whisperer; and for the turtles whose ancient mothering instincts move her to tears.

A Drop in the Ocean setting has lots of vivid, ideal scenery. “Turtle Island” is a somewhat secluded island with clear blue waters, natural beauty everywhere, and an overall serene environment. I wanted to travel there myself and swim with the  turtles that are discussed in the book. What I enjoyed most about this book is that is focuses on the message that you are never too old to try new things, and that it’s possible that you can start over again at any stage in life.

Synopsis: Elodie Buchanan is the eldest of ten sisters living in a small English market town in 1861. The girls barely know their father, a plant hunter usually off adventuring through China. Then disaster strikes: Mr. Buchanan reneges on his contract to collect an extremely rare and valuable orchid. He will be thrown into debtors’ prison while his daughters are sent to the orphanage and the workhouse. Elodie can’t stand by and see her family destroyed, so she persuades her father to return to China once more to try to hunt down the flower—only this time, despite everything she knows about her place in society, Elodie goes with him. But now, even if she can find the orchid, how can she ever go back to being the staid, responsible Elodie that everybody needs? (description from Goodreads)

In The Forbidden Orchid I felt like Waller spent too much time setting up the story in England, but I did enjoy the latter part set in China. The setting is intriguing and readers who enjoy historical fiction will enjoy this book with its immersive environment. Though I had heard of plant hunters in that era I like how the concept worked itself into the story, I loved reading about the lush landscapes that Elodie visits in this novel.

Synopsis: When Ruka was younger, she saw a ghost in the water at the aquarium where her dad works. Now she feels drawn toward the aquarium and the two mysterious boys she meets there, Umi and Sora. They were raised by dugongs and hear the same strange calls from the sea as she does.Ruka’s dad and the other adults who work at the aquarium are only distantly aware of what the children are experiencing as they get caught up in the mystery of the worldwide disappearance of the oceans’ fish. 

The art work is incredibly detailed in Children of the Sea, especially the way the underwater scenes are displayed and the way sea creatures are drawn. This manga follows the story of a girl named Ruka who constantly feels out-of-place, but feels most at ease when she’s in the sea. I the story is mainly fantasy, with some magical realism thrown in. I love the overall feeling of being immersed in the sea life world while reading this series.

Synopsis: Talking to other people isn’t Kate Bailey’s favorite activity. She’d much rather be out on the lake, soaking up the solitude and sunshine. So when her best friend, Alana, convinces Kate to join their high school’s podcast, Kate is not expecting to be chosen as the host.   Then the podcast gets in a call from an anonymous guy, asking for advice about his unnamed crush. Kate is pretty sure that the caller is gorgeous Diego Martinez, and even surer that the girl in question is Alana. Kate is excited for her friend … until Kate herself starts to develop feelings for Diego. Suddenly, Kate finds that while doling out wisdom to others may be easy, asking for help is tougher than it looks, and following your own advice is even harder.

Listen to Your Heart is a fun, summery read! I love books set on the lake since I grew up around the beauty of the Great Lakes. This book transports readers to a small and serene lake town where people spend their summers on the lake and on the water. It’s seems like a quiet and relaxing getaway. This story is a bit formulaic, but is a cute story about love and growing out of your comfort zone.

Synopsis: Oriana is a young woman who currently has no money, no job and her father won’t return her phone calls. Stressed and in sore need of a good break, Oriana finds herself in a difficult position when her bossy little cousin tricks her back to their home country, South Korea. Come and join Oriana as she learns how to handle her troublesome family members and strange new friends, who all bring new and unwanted stress to her life.

In the Love! Love! Fighting Series Oriana meets a pop superstar, Jae, and even though they initially get off too a rough start they eventually form a strong bond.The romance blossoms between them slowly as they both help each other to work out their own issues. The story is set South Korea and we follow Oriana as she gets reacquainted with her home country with all the sights and sounds it has to offer!

That concludes my reading recommendations for books that spark Wanderlust! What books do you recommend or what are your favorites? Comment below!