15 Young Adult Books for Readers with Wanderlust

travel books

Summer is the time I’m always thinking about vacations and the travel bug hits me hard! I have yet to travel internationally besides when I went to Aruba on my honeymoon but if I can’t do the actual traveling, I’ll happily travel through someone else’s trips in a book!

Typically, I think of travel books as contemporary romances but there are also so many amazing places to visit that are featured in other genres as well! Today I’m sharing some of my favorite travel destinations found within my favorite books!

15 YOUNG ADULT BOOKS FOR READERS WITH WANDERLUST

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss, #1)

ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS is still one of my favorite contemporary romances of all time. I remember when I first read it I knew nothing about France (much like Anna) but it was amazing how easily I slipped into this setting and now I MUST go to Paris someday.
Locations Visited: France

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 WANDERLOST by Jen Malone

Wanderlost

I just finished WANDERLOST not too long ago and it was really cute! I’d say it’s a great recommendation for fans of ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS too. I kind of love the books where the main character has no idea what they’re doing in a foreign country because that would so be me.
Locations Visited: The Netherlands, Italy, Monaco, Austria

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JUST ONE DAY by Gayle Forman

Just One Day (Just One Day, #1)

I related a lot to Allyson in JUST ONE DAY so it’s a book I really connected with! It was one of the first books I read where The Netherlands was such a prominent setting and it sounds absolutely beautiful! I’d love to visit someday.
Places Visited: Paris, London, The Netherlands, Mexico

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SUMMER OF SLOANE by Erin L. Schneider

SUMMER OF SLOANE had me itching to go to Hawaii! We considered it for our honeymoon but ended up with Aruba instead. I still really want to make it out there! Maybe for an anniversary trip…
Places Visited: Hawaii

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MEANT TO BE by Lauren Morrill

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill cover

MEANT TO BE is just plain adorable and I adore the hate-to-love romance. It brought a new side of London to my attention and I’d love to experience it as well!
Places Visited: United Kingdom (London)

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NANTUCKET BLUE by Leila Howland

Nantucket Blue (Nantucket, #1)

Ahh, beachy summer days. I’m not a huge beach person but Nantucket had me longing to soak up the rays. (Which is a bad idea because I burn so easily!) The touristy-town feeling of the book had me reminiscing about vacations!
Places Visited: Nantucket

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MYSTERY/THRILLER

DANGEROUS GIRLS by Abigail Haas

Dangerous Girls

I read this book before I had actually been to Aruba so I wasn’t familiar with the setting but now I want to re-read it since I’ve been! Although I definitely did not see the inside of an Aruban jail (thankfully).
Places Visited: Aruba

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WITH MALICE by Eileen Cook

With Malice

WITH MALICE is split between the states and Italy, where the “incident” took place but I could just picture myself taking tours around Italy! (Even though I’ve never been there)
Places Visited: Italy

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THE CONSPIRACY OF US by Maggie Hall

The Conspiracy of Us (The Conspiracy of Us, #1)

THE CONSPIRACY OF US was a lot of fun and I loved the jet-setting, political thrills! I pretended the characters would run into Anna and Etienne (from ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS) while in Paris but alas. That didn’t happen.
Places Visited: France, Istanbul

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FANTASY

THE CROWN’S GAME by Evelyn Skye

The Crown's Game (The Crown's Game, #1)

THE CROWN’S GAME is a take on historical fiction but the setting is Imperial Russia. I never knew I was so interested in Russian history and culture but with the books I’ve been reading that are set there, I’m totally hooked!
Places Visited: Imperial Russia (historical fiction with fantasy elements)

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THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater

The Scorpio Races

Thisby is a fictional place but it feels so incredibly real. It feels like a combination of British and Scottish islands but also has a hint of a historical feel, like 1940s or 1950s.
Places Visited: Thisby (fictional island reminscent of British and Scottish towns)

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SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha, #1)

SHADOW AND BONE is another Russian-inspired fantasy world and this one was inspired by csarist Russia. I love the influences throughout the book and it made me want to learn even more about the history and culture!
Places Visited: Russian-inspired fantasy lands

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THE WRATH AND THE DAWN by Renee Ahdieh

The Wrath & the Dawn (The Wrath & the Dawn, #1)

The setting in THE WRATH AND THE DAWN was so beautiful and vivid. I could absolutely picture the desert atmosphere and Renee Ahdieh really brought the book to life with amazing imagery and sensory attractions.
Places Visited: Arabian Nights-inspired fantasy world

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HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)

Who doesn’t want to visit London after reading the Harry Potter books? When they even create attractions based on the books, it just makes me HAVE  to go see it for myself.
Places Visited: Magical London

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DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1)

Prague was another place I never really considered before just because I didn’t know much about it but after reading DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE, I totally need to visit. It sounds so rich in history and the buildings and architecture seem amazing!
Places Visited: Prague

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Do you have a bit of wanderlust? What are some places you’ve been to or want to travel to? Which books inspire you to plan a vacation or two?

Hi, I'm Brittany!
Hi, I'm Brittany!

I'm an avid reader, candle-maker, and audiobook lover! Here you'll find book reviews, fun blog posts, and my other loves of photography & craft beer!

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10 thoughts on “15 Young Adult Books for Readers with Wanderlust

  1. Dana @ The Unprinted Protagonist

    Wanderlust has been kicking my butt this summer. I’m just so excited to start at my new university across the country! Reading has helped ease some of it, but it’s hard to quell the excitement.

    I’ve read quite a few of these books: Anna and the French Kiss, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Harry Potter, The Scorpio Races, The Conspiracy of Us… All of them are spectacular! I definitely recommend All Fall Down by Ally Carter to anyone who likes The Conspiracy of Us. I reviewed it on my blog, but tl;dr it’s a fun thriller that takes place in Embassy Row of a Mediterranean nation. And the love interest is Russian.

  2. Tasya

    I really agree with Anna and The French Kiss. I never get the big deal about Paris until I read this book! Now I really want to make a wish at point zero or just strolling around the street of Paris. I also put Just One Day and Wanderlost on my list because of the travelling aspect 😀 And also yes to HP, TWATD and grisha. Oh how I wish their world is real! This is such an amazing list!♥

  3. Amanda Marie

    I had no idea Daugther of Smoke and Bone was set in Prague! I’m going to be in Prague in less than a month so maybe it is time for me to pick this one up.
    You have some amazing books on this list and a few I haven’t heard of before that now I want to read (like Wanderlost).
    Thanks for sharing!

  4. Rachel

    Great list!! Anna, Wanderlost, Summer of Sloane, and the Conspiracy of Us are top of my TBR! I love books that catapult readers to other times, places, and experiences we normally wouldn’t have. I really want to go to Khorasan and eat all the amazing food and visit Rey and see the sand dunes and everything! Also Ottoman Empire Russia would be amazing. 🙂 Great post <3

    Rachel @ A Perfection Called Books

  5. Vlora

    Oooh, I love this! I’m always more likely to read a book if it features a cool location/time in history that intrigues me, and I can’t wait to read Shadow and Bone. I definitely have a bit of wanderlust, but I can’t always afford to go (and I like being home too), so travelling through books is one of my favorite things to do. Great list!

  6. Holly @ Nut Free Nerd

    Love this list! I feel as though nearly all of the books I read are set in the US, so I’d really like to expand my bookish horizons when it comes to international settings. I would also recommend Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, which takes place in Australia– it’s been a favorite of mine for years!

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