Women Who Travel Book Club: 11 New Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List
An essential part of packing a carry-on ahead of a summer vacation is deciding which new book to bring. Earlier this year, Women Who Travel launched our very own “book club”—a quarterly list of the new reads written by women authors worth that we think are worth diving into. For our summer edition, we once again asked our editors and contributors to share their favorite titles—and they delivered a variety of highly-anticipated books, from dramas set on Cape Cod to non-fiction reporting on national dishes in Japan, Mexico, and beyond.
Keep scrolling for 11 books we're loving this summer. They are guaranteed to transport you around the world, whether you're reading from the comfort of a beach lounger or passing the time on a long flight. We'd love to hear which you're reading—and which fantastic new books we missed—on Instagram or Facebook. (Your picks could make it into the next roundup.)
All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
I fell hard for this book, like pulled in from my gut and held on for the ride. We follow Greta and her unresolved personal darkness in Hudson, New York where she develops an obsession with the voice she hears from transcribing therapy sessions for a local sex coach. The infatuation becomes a grabbable reality when she recognizes the voice IRL and introduces herself under false pretenses. It's an odd, droll, full-fat bite into someone's second coming of age; dealing with the stunting trauma of a parent's death as a teen and watching that pain pour out as an adult. It's silly without trying to be silly. It's sad without trying to be sad. You're just there with Greta, allowing her to stretch and exist against the backdrop of the countryside. —Laura Delarato, contributor
The Mythmakers by Keziah Weir
I'm excited to read this book, which is the debut novel from Vanity Fair senior editor and fellow Condé Nast colleague Keziah Weir. She oversees the magazine's Vanities section, which I've always devoured—so when I heard that she was penning a book, I knew I had to add it to my list. The premise is admittedly a bit meta: A young journalist has a passing interaction with an acclaimed author, then, years later, after he's died, discovers that he's written a short story about her. The idea dredges up thorny questions about literary ambition and identity, and who owns someone's narrative. Needless to say, I can't wait to watch them rise to the surface. —Betsy Blumenthal, features and franchises editor
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley
My annual summer holiday in the Florida Panhandle, where I was born and raised, always includes plenty of time to read, especially on the beach. As soon as I slip my feet into the sand, I’ll be cracking open The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise, by Colleen Oakley, a USA-Today bestselling author who’s a dear friend (and one of my former magazine editors, too!). The gist: Tanner, a slacker 21-year-old, and Louise, a feisty octogenarian, take off on a road trip that’s anything but ordinary—this unlikely pair is, in fact, on the lam. The book has already received rave reviews and makes me think of Thelma and Louise—my favorite movie. I can’t wait to dig in. —Blane Bachelor, contributor
Saving Time by Jenny Odell
I’m reading Jenny Odell’s new book Saving Time and it’s been a real eye-opener for me on so many levels. Firstly, it has stripped me of any notion that I don’t enjoy reading nonfiction, but more importantly, it has completely turned my own notion of time and productivity on its head. (I will never use the phrase “time is money” again!) Saving Time is an incredibly ambitious critique of how we perceive time in the modern world, and takes its cues from everything from the biology of moss to Indigenous philosophies to call for a less extractive way of living, and to help relieve ourselves of the pressure of time. There’s also a powerful discussion around leisure and respite, but I won’t give it all away. Read the book instead. —Arati Menon, global digital director
National Dish: Around the World in Search of Food, History, and the Meaning of Home by Anya von Bremzen
I’m always on the lookout for compelling long-form travel writing that I can learn a thing or two from, so when I saw James Beard Award–winning food and travel writer Anya von Bremzen had a new book out, I quickly hit add to cart. I haven’t started it yet, but I’m excited to dig in (pun woefully intended) and head on a tasting tour from Paris to Tokyo to Istanbul to Oaxaca to demystify the origin stories of classic dishes like pizza, ramen, and mole. —Sarah Khan, editor
Listen here for Anya von Bremzen on a recent episode of the Women Who Travel podcast.
The Shift by Tinx
Admittedly, I’m a big fan of editor-turned-influencer Tinx. She’s been called social media’s “big sister” as she uses Instagram, Tik Tok, and her podcast, It’s Me Tinx, to share as many tips (and restaurant recommendations) as she can. Her debut book compiles some of her best theories and advice for women—on dating, navigating changing friendships, family dynamics, mantras to live by, and self love. The Shift is all about reframing your perspective—embracing aging instead of fearing it, thanking your body for all it does for you instead of criticizing it, and accepting that some people just won’t treat you right instead of tirelessly trying to change their minds. While I do find it particularly relatable as a woman in my 20s, the lessons she shares are for women of every age. —Meaghan Kenny, associate commerce editor
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
Eleanor Catton’s new novel Birnam Wood transports readers to a fictional national park in New Zealand, where a landslide just occurred. After the tragedy, the book’s main characters start sniffing around the surrounding nature, including an American billionaire who supposedly wants to build a bunker to ride out the apocalypse and a group of guerilla gardeners who call themselves Birnam Wood. The twists and turns that follow make the book an excellent summer thriller read. —Jessica Puckett, senior transportation editor
Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
On a spontaneous decision, I decided to delve into R. F. Kuang's Yellowface, and I must say, it did not disappoint. The story revolves around two aspiring writers: Athena Liu, a critically acclaimed writer who has just signed a deal with Netflix; and June Hayward, whose debut novel sank and never made it to a paperback. Tragedy strikes and Athena dies in a freak accident, right in front of June’s eyes. Our dear June then goes on to steal Athena’s novel and passes it off as her own creation, with minor edits, in search of the recognition she craved. And she gets it until damaging evidence surfaces, threatening June’s brand-new success.
Kuang cleverly satirizes publishing's double standards, tackling diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation. The story highlights the struggles faced by writers in their quest to produce exceptional works. It also explores the impact of social media on the literary landscape, where authors are often subjected to criticism and called out, sometimes escalating to extreme levels. I found myself eagerly flipping through, page after page, captivated by the unfolding events. —Anukriti Malik, social media senior associate
Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur
Adrienne Brodeur's 2019 memoir Wild Game managed to be both shocking and grounded, and the audiobook made the hours fly by on a solo road trip I did from Los Angeles to Aspen right after New Year's 2020. I was thrilled to learn she'd published a novel, Little Monsters, in June. I'm only a few chapters in, but it's obvious not only that Brodeur has WASPy family drama and coastal New England landscapes in her bones, but that she's a deft and captivating storyteller. —Maggie Shipstead, contributor
The Guest by Emma Cline
I spent my summer Friday last week lying in Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn, pouring over the final pages of The Guest, the second novel from Emma Cline. Calling it a summer read does the book an injustice—this is a razor sharp, haunting, and at times deeply disturbing story that would sit comfortably on bookshelves next to Eve Babitz and Joan Didion—but I can't imagine a better season for immersing myself in the story of Alex, a 22 year old on the run who slips herself into Hamptons homes, pool parties, and members' clubs under a series of different guises. —Lale Arikoglu, articles director
All of This: A Memoir of Death and Desire by Rebecca Woolf
I love, love, love Rebeeca Woolf's All of This: A Memoir of Death and Desire. The author's marriage had been on the rocks for a while, and right when she was about to ask her husband for a divorce, he found out that he had stage four pancreatic cancer. Four months later, he was dead. The book wrestles with a thousand emotions and the writing—so raw, so crushing, so poetic—is absolutely gripping. Woolf makes you rethink everything you think you know about relationships and what it means to be alive. —Ashlea Halpern, contributor
