Travel Reading Challenge: Around the World in 12 Books in 12 Months
Are you looking for an annual travel reading challenge? You’re in the right place!
I created this travel-themed reading challenge to help you discover new destinations and new perspectives from around the world, over the course of twelve months, reading twelve books.
If there’s one thing I love as much as traveling, it’s reading. So why not combine the two into a themed reading challenge? With a different prompt each month, you’ll travel the world through pages of books.
Below you’ll find the monthly reading prompts for this reading challenge. I’ve also included several personal recommendations per prompt as a starting point to help you decide what to read.
Note: I have included Amazon affiliate links for each of the books mentioned below. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
If you’d like to support independent bookstores, you can also shop these recommendations on my Bookshop.org storefront. I will earn a small commission if you make a purchase through one of my links, but an additional 10% of each sale will also go to supporting independent bookstores.
January: A book set in South America
First up, start off your year reading a book set in South America (this can be fiction or nonfiction.) South America is a huge continent, but it only contains 12 countries and a few territories. The majority of the continent is also Spanish-speaking, but don’t let this fool you into thinking that it’s all homogeneous.
It’s an incredibly diverse continent, both geographically and culturally. From the peaks of the Andes to the jungles of the Amazon, immerse yourself in a book that takes place in South America this month.
My recommendations:
- Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras (Colombia): Set in Bogota in the 1990s, this engrossing historical fiction novel tells the story of two girls from very different backgrounds.
- The Lost City of Z by David Grann (Brazil): This nonfiction book follows the footsteps of the British explorer Percy Fawcett, who disappeared while searching for a lost city in the Amazon jungle.
- The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova (Ecuador): Told between present and past, this magical realism novel weaves a story about the mysterious matriarch of the Montoya family.
- The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende (Chile): This classic novel is another example of magical realism, following three generations of the Trueba family in an epic, lyrical story.
February: A travel memoir
In February, live vicariously through someone else’s adventures by reading a travel memoir. Travel memoirs are always fun to read because they provide a firsthand account of someone’s own personal experiences.
Whether you’re interested in stories of living in another country, going on an epic adventure, or friendship and romance on the road, there are plenty of travel memoirs out there to satisfy your wanderlust.
My recommendations:
- The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost by Rachel Friedman: This delightful travel memoir focuses on female friendship as the author navigates the world with an adventurous friend by her side.
- Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad: Before he became a YouTuber with millions of subscribers, Chris Broad was just an English teacher in a remote Japanese town, chronicling his experience in this book.
- Finding Katya by Katie Aune: After taking a career break in her mid-thirties, former lawyer Katie Aune embarked on an adventurous trip around all 15 countries that made up the USSR.
- The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner: In a quest to discover the secrets to a happy life, the author of this travel memoir takes a journey to countries including Switzerland, Qatar, and Bhutan.
March: A book set in a hotel
For March, we’re checking in to a book set in a hotel. There’s nothing as quintessential to travel as hotels. As transient places where interesting people are constantly coming and going, there’s a lot of storytelling potential with hotels. And there are also a lot of great books that take place in hotels.
This month, you can choose any book that is set in a hotel or has a hotel as one of its main focal points, whether it’s a mystery, historical fiction, literary fiction, or even a memoir about hospitality.
My recommendations:
- A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles: This sweeping historical fiction novel begins in 1922, when a Russian aristocrat is sentenced to a lifetime of house arrest at a luxurious hotel in Moscow.
- The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley: During the opening weekend of a new luxury resort in Dorset, England, things go horribly wrong and old secrets resurface in this gripping thriller.
- The Maid by Nita Prose: Set in an upscale hotel, this charming mystery novel follows Molly, an earnest and kind yet socially clueless maid who finds herself at the center of a murder investigation.
- The Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis: New York City’s famed Chelsea Hotel is the backdrop for this intriguing historical fiction novel following two women in the 1950s during the McCarthy era.
April: A book set in North America
North America spans Canada, the United States, Mexico, the countries of Central America all the way down to Panama, plus the Caribbean. That’s a lot of different places to choose from!
This month, choose a book (it can be fiction or nonfiction) that takes place somewhere in North America. If you’re American and you choose a book set in the United States, then I also challenge you to read a book about a destination you’ve never been to before, or from an author of a different background from you.
My recommendations:
- Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Mexico): Set in Mexico in the 1920s, this fantasy novel follows a young woman who finds herself swept away on a journey by a Mayan god.
- Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt (United States): This dramatized account of a true crime that gripped Savannah, Georgia in the 1980s is an atmospheric, page-turning read.
- Solito by Javier Zamora (El Salvador to the United States): Following a young boy as he travels from El Salvador to the United States to reunite with his parents, this is an incredible, poignant memoir.
- The Cubans by Anthony DePalma: This nonfiction book follows the lives of several everyday Cubans over the span of decades, allowing you to see the impact as the country’s history unfolds.
May: A nonfiction book about another country or culture
While I love reading fiction, it’s also good to read nonfiction from time to time to learn more about a topic. In this case, we’ll be focusing on nonfiction about other countries and cultures this month.
Dive into learning about the interesting history, quirks, and culture of a new destination this month by picking up a nonfiction book that focuses on another country anywhere around the world.
My recommendations:
- The Bonjour Effect by Jean-Benoît Nadeau and Julie Barlow: Whether you speak French or not, this nonfiction book about the secrets, quirks, and rituals of the French language is a riveting read.
- Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick: This oral history tells the story of six different North Koreans living life under a brutal authoritarian regime before eventually defecting to a new life.
- How Iceland Changed the World by Egill Bjarnason: Although it’s a small country with only 400,000 people, Iceland has had an outsized impact, and this nonfiction book examines why that is.
- The Italians by John Hooper: American journalist John Hooper lived in Italy for fifteen years, and this book offers a deep dive into Italy’s history, culture, people, and national psyche.
June: A book set in Africa
Africa is a vast continent made up of 54 countries, yet many people make the mistake of assuming it’s all the same. And yet that could not be further from the truth. Africa is an amazingly diverse continent.
From the deserts of the Sahara to the wildlife-filled savannas to gorgeous islands like Zanzibar and the Seychelles, Africa is full of incredible natural beauty. It’s also filled with so much history and culture. This month, choose a book (which can be fiction or nonfiction) that takes place in a country in Africa.
My recommendations:
- Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (Ghana and the United States): Set between Ghana and the United States, this epic historical fiction novel follows the descendants of two half-sisters in 18th-century Ghana.
- Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (South Africa): Comedian Trevor Noah shares stories from his childhood and adolescence in South Africa during and after apartheid in this memoir which is full of heart.
- Cobalt Red by Siddharth Kara (Democratic Republic of the Congo): This nonfiction book illuminates the horrors of the cobalt mining industry in the DRC through heartbreaking interviews.
- Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria): Set amidst Biafra’s struggle for independence from Nigeria in the 1960s, this historical fiction novel follows five unique characters.
July: A book set on an island
Since it’s summer, let’s travel to the islands! There’s something so intriguing and exotic about islands, especially those of the tropical variety. Due to their remote nature, islands are perfect for getting away from it all. Think gently swaying palm trees, crystal-clear waters, and a relaxed pace of life.
This month, read a book that is set on an island. This could be anything from a suspenseful thriller set on a small, secluded island to a lighthearted beach read that takes place on a popular vacation island.
My recommendations:
- One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware: Set on a tropical island, this fast-paced thriller follows five couples filming a reality show. Everything quickly goes wrong, and it turns into a fight for survival.
- The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza: Combining mystery and historical fiction, this novel alternates between past and present as a woman travels to Sicily to learn more about her grandmother’s past.
- Circe by Madeline Miller: This fantasy novel reimagines the life and story of Circe, who in Greek myth was a powerful enchantress banished to a remote island by her father, the god Helios.
- River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer: After being freed from slavery, a woman searches for her children in this historical fiction novel that takes place in Barbados, British Guiana, and Trinidad.
August: A book set in Asia
Next up on our literary voyage, we’re heading to Asia. This is another enormous continent — in fact, the largest in the world, home to 48 different countries and thousands of years of history and culture.
Asia is extremely varied, with different regions like Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. This continent is home to the highest mountain peaks in the world, vast modern cities, beautiful beaches, and more. Choose a pick (either fiction or nonfiction) set somewhere in Asia, and get reading!
My recommendations:
- Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (Singapore): This rom-com novel follows two characters from very different worlds as they fall in love, set against the backdrop of Singapore’s high society.
- Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (Japan): Set in Japan in the 1960s, this coming-of-age novel follows two characters who are college students in Tokyo as they navigate life’s challenges.
- Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo (India): This heartbreaking yet hopeful nonfiction book follows the lives of various people living in Annawadi, a slum of Mumbai, India.
- Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer (Nepal): Another nonfiction book, this firsthand account of one of Mount Everest’s most disastrous expeditions is a suspenseful and engaging tale.
September: A nonfiction book about world history or events
For September, it’s back to nonfiction. And this time, we’re picking books that explore world history or events. From migration to human rights to geopolitics, there’s so much you can learn about.
Whether you’re fascinated by sweeping historical narratives or focused investigations into a specific event, there are plenty of books to choose from that will expand your view of the world and its complexity.
My recommendations:
- The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson: This broad account of the Great Migration in the United States over the span of half a century gracefully weaves together personal stories and history.
- 1491 by Charles C. Mann: What were the Americas like before Christopher Columbus arrived? That’s what this expansive nonfiction book examines, covering centuries of indigenous history.
- The Border by Erika Fatland: This nonfiction book shines a light on Russia, offering unique perspectives as the author journeys through every country that shares a border with Russia.
- Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here by Jonathan Blitzer: Focusing on immigration from Central American countries to the United States, this sweeping nonfiction book is enlightening and engrossing.
October: A book set in the Middle East
Now it’s time to turn your attention to the Middle East, a region that is as complex as it is historic. From ancient civilizations and religious history to modern politics, the Middle East is full of stories to explore.
Reading a book set in this region can give you insight into the people, landscapes, and struggles that have shaped it. Choose a book (fiction or nonfiction) set in the Middle East and you’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for a part of the world that is often misunderstood, but incredibly rich in culture and history.
My recommendations:
- I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai (Pakistan): This powerful memoir, written by education activist Malala Yousafzai, shares stories from her life before and after she survived being shot by the Taliban.
- The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali (Iran): Spanning decades, this beautiful historical fiction novel focuses on the friendship between two very different women growing up in Tehran.
- As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh (Syria): Following a young Syrian woman whose life drastically changes in 2011, this novel grapples with the impact of the civil war.
- Inside Qatar by John McManus (Qatar): This nonfiction book offers an insight into what it’s like in Qatar, a small, oil-rich nation on the Arabian Peninsula that many people know little about.
November: A book about a long-distance journey
This month, it’s time to go the distance — literally. We’re going on an epic journey in November, and that means reading about going long distances by train, motorcycle, bicycle, or even on foot.
For this prompt, pick up a travel memoir that specifically focuses on a long-distance journey. This is always an exciting topic to read about because you can live vicariously through someone’s adventures.
My recommendations:
- Joy Ride by Kristen Jokinen: This fun and adventurous travel memoir documents the author’s journey with her husband as they traversed the Americas from Alaska to Argentina by bicycle.
- Around the World in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh: Journalist and train enthusiast Monisha Rajesh takes her fiancé along on an epic journey traversing much of the world on 80 train rides.
- Wild by Cheryl Strayed: Reeling with grief after the death of her mother, the author decides to hike the 2,650-mile Pacific Coast Trail solo and shares her experience in this travel memoir.
- Free Ride by Noraly Schoenmaker: Now a popular YouTuber with millions of subscribers, this book documents the author’s early journeys traversing the globe alone on her motorcycle.
December: A book set in Europe
Finally, it’s time to finish the year in Europe. As the second-smallest continent, Europe packs a lot of countries (44 to be exact) into a relatively small geographical space. Europe is probably the most romanticized part of the world, thanks to its legacy of history, culture, art, architecture, and landscapes.
But it’s so much more than charming small towns and elegant cities. This month, choose a book (that can be fiction or nonfiction) set somewhere in Europe — maybe a country you aren’t that familiar with!
My recommendations:
- I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys (Romania): Set in Bucharest in the 1980s, this gripping historical fiction novel follows a teenager navigating the trials and struggles of life under Communism.
- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (France): This historical fiction novel takes place in France during World War II, following the converging stories of two intriguing characters.
- The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell (Denmark): After moving to Denmark, British journalist Helen Russell chronicles what she’s learned about Danish life and culture in this delightful book.
- The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (Russia): Combining fantasy and historical fiction, this atmospheric novel set in medieval Russia draws inspiration from Russian folklore.
Join the Travel Reading Challenge
I hope you’ll join me in completing the travel reading challenge. This is a great way to expand your horizons and learn about other countries and cultures through both fiction and nonfiction books.
Reading allows you to travel the world without even leaving your home, and you can discover so many incredible stories about fascinating destinations around the globe simply by turning the page.
Happy reading!
Related Guides:
