Still looking for the perfect gift for the traveler in your life? Your local bookstore has the answer. From futuristic fiction in faraway places to non-fiction novels with a nod to the natural world, these 10 books will inspire recipients to plan their next adventure, finally click book on that bucket-list trip, or simply escape to a new time and place.
1. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
Rising sea levels mean the family caring for a global seed bank has to soon abandon their post—but not before a stranger washes up on their remote shore. Set in the near future, Wild Dark Shore is a dystopian-ish mystery that hits all the marks.
2. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
To read Taylor Jenkins Reid is to love her. And her latest, Atmosphere—a book about the first women astronauts—will make you laugh, cry, and cheer for these pioneering heroes.
3. Heartwood by Amity Gaige
A woman hiking the Appalachian Trail goes missing in Maine—and the race is on to find her. Told from a kaleidoscope of perspectives, Heartwood will keep you guessing to the very end.
4. Forever Paris: A Guide to the Timeless Soul of the City by Marin Montagut
On my last trip to Paris, I fell in love with Marin Montagut’s boutique. And now, he has a new book out, Forever Paris, honoring the enduring charm of the city’s most treasured neighborhoods, museums, cafes, and more. It’s the perfect gift for anyone who loves Paris—and might already be planning their next trip back.
5. This Is a Love Story by Jessica Soffer
New York’s Central Park plays not just the setting, but a supporting role in Jessica Soffer’s This Is a Love Story: a novel that details the intimate ups and downs of a decades-long love story.
6. The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams
In The Nature Fix, Florence Williams makes the science-backed case that nature is good for your mental and physical health.
7. Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
Set (primarily) in the Highlands of Scotland, Once There Were Wolves follows Inti and her team as they reintroduce wolves to the region. But their efforts aren’t met without a fight from locals. When a farmer is found dead, everyone is eager to point fingers—and bury secrets.
8. The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
Narrated through the lens of two girls who grew up in 1960s Iran, The Lion Women of Tehran illuminates the disparate experiences of those who have wealth and power—and the freedom to flee an authoritarian regime—and those who don’t.
9. Sandwich by Catherine Newman
For one week each summer, Rocky and her family escape to idyllic Cape Cod. Maybe it’s nostalgia or maybe it’s hormones, but this year, Rocky—accompanied by her college-aged kids and aging parents—is grappling with untold secrets. If you’re into quiet novels packed with heart, you’ll devour Sandwich.
10. The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
For a dose of natural wonder, look no further than The Hidden Life of Trees. Leveraging decades of experience managing forests, author and forester Peter Wohlleben distills the scientific research that reveals trees are indeed social beings that thrive in communities.
