10 Books to Bring on Your Next Road Trip

With the new Delta Variant of COVID-19 spreading around, and the crazy world that we are living in right now, most people aren’t ready to travel to far destinations, protecting themselves and others. However, many are ready to leave their homes and have at least a little adventure. What better way to do that than with a road trip with lots of books? Go to fun places, spend time in nature where there is enough room for lots and lots of social distancing. But remember to bring masks with you! And don’t forget your books for your trip.

While road trips can be fun, they can also be very long. Sometimes, you spend hours driving through flat fields of brown, with only a couple of cows to keep you company. So what better way to spend that time than making your way through that mile-long TBR list?

If you are like me, you will want to find the audiobook version of these books. I get carsick when I look at my phone for anything more than 5 minutes in a moving car, let alone hours.

There is a little something for everyone on this list. I included some spooky reads, contemporary, and mystery. I like a good mix while I am on vacation, so hopefully, everyone can find something they will enjoy on this list of 10 books to bring on your next road trip!

If you are planning on going on a road trip soon, check out this post I wrote, which has a bunch of tip and tricks to make you trip safe and fun!

Disclosure: This post containes affiliate links. I will make a small commission from every purchase made through these links. Thank you so much for your support!

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

When you are on the road, the best types of books to read are the ones you get completely lost in, and that is exactly what I felt while reading Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan. The world-building was fantastic and there was such a unique set of characters that I actually cared about. I can’t wait to read the sequel to this story, I am sure it will be as good as the first!

When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole

I don’t know what it is about road trips, but they always put me in a spooky mood. Maybe it is driving past all the open land, that almost looks abandoned. Anyway, When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole is the opposite of abandoned, as the main character is watching as her neighborhood is slowly being gentrified. But, this is something a little more sinister to it.

Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann

On another note, if you aren’t in the mood for something spooky, Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann was one of my favorite reads of 2020. Me not being much of a contemporary reader, this one was fantastic and relatable. I loved the main characters and the Asexual representation was… *chef’s kiss*

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

While driving, sometimes you want something comforting and beautiful. Something you can digest while also focusing on the beautiful views passing you by. If that’s the case, pick up The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. This book is written in verse and was one of the most beautiful reading experiences I have ever had. I highly recommend listening to any and all Acevedo works through audiobooks. The author reads the story, and it is like listening to music, how poetic and colorful the language and story are. This is a book I will be reading and rereading for a long time to come.

Mirage by Somaiya Daud

Mirage by Somaiya Daud is another book that I absolutely fell into, and escaped into the intricate world that the author created. I knew nothing coming into this book, and I am so glad of that. The storytelling, characters, and world are so beautifully created you won’t notice as the hours pass on your trip. I can’t wait to read the sequel once I get my hands on a copy!

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

Looking for something with a little more emotion? We Are Okay by Nina LaCour was heartbreaking and comforting all at the same time. It is a character-driven story, and you will easily fall in love with the characters. I found myself genuinely caring about what was happening, and learning why the characters acted the way they did.

These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling

If you can’t tell by now, I tend to go for the character-driven stories, and this was no exception. I love the group of characters in These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling and the intense situations they are put through. i am also a sucker for any witchy book. I absolutely adored this book, and flew through it.

Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen

Another thing I love is to fly through books about things I love, and something I love is dance. I read Loveboat, Taipei by Abigal Hing Wen because of a book club I joined. I knew nothing about it. But with my luck, it was about a dancer! I absolutely love the main character of this story, Ever. She has a goal and she does anything she can to achieve it. I love how inspiring this story is, and the familial love and friendships are so fun and intriguing to read.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I think we all know about The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor jenkins Reid, but I thought I would include it in this list just in case. I was completely enthralled by the life of Evelyn Hugo, and I couldn’t put this book down until the very last page.

The Project by Courtney Summers

As soon as I saw that The Project by Courtney Summers was about cults it was added to my TBR. And soon after I got my hands on a copy of the audiobook. This book was a lot of fun to read, and I loved the mysterious aspect of it. I was partially confused the entire time i was reading it, and it was so much fun.

I recently went on a road trip, and there was something so special about sitting there, as the world passed me by, while listening as a wonderful world was being created in my mind. Reading is so magical, and this made it ten times better.

For other audiobook recommendations, especially going into the autumn season, check out this post I wrote last year!

Let me know in the comments below what books you would bring on a road trip!