It's been 493 days since I've stepped foot on a plane (not that I'm keeping track or anything), but that hasn't stopped me from escaping on a whirlwind trip or far-flung holiday the best way I can at the moment: by reading a book. I don't know if it's because I've been subconsciously gravitating toward destination romances [1] this year or because there's been an uptick of demand in the subgenre during a pandemic, but all my favourite love stories [2] from the past six months have revolved around travel. A summer spent in the Scottish highlands with a cute chef? Take me there! Flashback holidays all over the world with an unrequited crush? Drop me right into that drama.
Whether you're looking for a little armchair travel yourself or just want to check off the 2021 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge [3] prompt of a book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021, I'm sharing my recent favourite travel romances ahead that are sure to make you feel far, far away — or at the very least, make you forget just how long it's been since your last plane ride.
Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher
If there's one thing Marin Cole avoids in Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher [5] ($13), it's travelling. But if there's one thing Marin can't say no to — it's her sister, Sadie. That's how she ends up stranded on the tropical island of Saba with a stranger's suitcase and an actual stranger (no matter how cute and intriguing), Lucas Tsai, rather than Sadie for their sister's trip. With each new experience on the island, Marin starts to realise that there's more to life than the sheltered cocoon she's been living in.
This book tells two love stories: the budding romantic relationship between Marin and Lucas, and the unbreakable, unconditional sibling bond between Marin and Sadie. Both are beautiful in their own way, and this story really stays with you. I loved how Saba and its slow island living came to life on the page — it was the perfect setting for such a tender story. But don't be fooled by the relaxed setting or the bright, happy cover — this one is a real tearjerker!
People We Meet on Holiday by Emily Henry
In People We Meet on Holiday by Emily Henry [6] ($10), Poppy Wright and Alex Nilsen are best friends who have taken a weeklong holiday together every summer for the past 10 years. All it took was one of these holidays two years ago to implode their friendship, and they haven't spoken since. In an attempt to get them back together again, find her happy, and maybe tell Alex how she really feels about him, Poppy concocts one last trip for them.
This book really takes you places, with Poppy and Alex hopping all over the map from Colorado to Croatia through a span of 10 years. I'm a sucker for a story that switches between what's happening in the present and what happened in the past, and this makes it easy to follow since each flashback is contained within a different location. It's a story that's easy to read and even easier to love [7]!
The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent
The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent [8] ($10) follows a jobless Birdy Finch who, on a whim, decides to take on the summer restaurant job at a remote hotel in the Scottish highlands after her best friend turns it down. The only problem? Everyone there thinks she's Heather, the up-and-coming sommelier taking the wine world by storm. In reality? She has no idea what the difference is between a Merlot and a Chardonnay. She'll need to do a lot of studying if she wants to keep this job and impress her colleagues for the next few months — especially James, the cute chef.
I like how the secluded Scotland setting makes it easy to immerse yourself in Birdy's world — and you really need to immerse yourself since this is what I like to call a "just go with it" type of story: plenty of bad decisions and dramatic disasters, a cast of supporting characters to love and hate, and a sweet and tender romance despite all odds. But through it all, you can't help but root for Birdy!
The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary
In The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary [9] ($14), Addie Gilbert and Dylan Abbott are exes who somehow find themselves stuck together in a car as they road trip from Britain to Scotland for a mutual friend's wedding. After two years with no communication, their sudden forced proximity is bringing back memories of their time together: how they fell in love in Provence and the explosive end to their relationship. Did they make the right decision back then? And more importantly, will they make the right decision now?
This is my favourite book in this bunch and one of my favourite reads of 2021! Similar to People We Meet on Holiday, the plot jumps back and forth between then and now as we learn about the steamy start of Addie and Dylan's romance under the hot Provence sun that one fateful summer before its ultimate demise. It's a second-chance romance full of angst, complex characters, and some truly heart-wrenching moments (fair warning: it's darker than Beth O'Leary's previous books), but that just makes the love story between Addie and Dylan all the more satisfying.