Stories with road trips, wanderlust, wild places, and unforgettable journeys
Whether you’re heading to the mountains, hitting the beach, or staying home with the fan on high, these stories will take you somewhere new. Each book features travel, exploration, or the kind of emotional journey that feels just right for summer. So grab your tote bag, find a sunny spot, and get ready to escape into these vivid, adventure-filled reads.
10 Books Perfect for Summer Adventures
1. The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett
Genre: Contemporary fiction with heart, humor, and unexpected adventure
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At sixty-three, PJ Halliday may have won the lottery, but he’s still grieving the loss of his daughter and the unraveling of his marriage. When he learns his high school sweetheart is newly single and living in Arizona, he sets out on a bold cross-country trip to reconnect. But just as he’s ready to hit the road, PJ becomes the reluctant guardian of his brother’s grandkids, and now his solo mission turns into a chaotic, heartfelt family road trip.
Perfect for: readers who love found family, emotional journeys, and grumpy-sweet grandpas with big hearts.
2. One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
Genre: Magical realism meets contemporary fiction
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After her mother’s sudden death, Katy travels to the Amalfi Coast alone, determined to take the vacation they had planned together. What she doesn’t expect is to meet a woman who looks exactly like her mother in her younger years. The trip becomes an emotional and magical journey of grief, healing, and rediscovery.
Perfect for: fans of emotional summer escapes with a magical twist and gorgeous scenery.
3. The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman
Genre: Historical contemporary fiction with travel and family drama
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A trio of women from the same cursed family head to Italy to break the spell that supposedly prevents them from ever finding true love. Their journey through Tuscan towns is filled with secrets, beautiful scenery, and hope.
Perfect for: lovers of multigenerational stories, travel through Europe, and tales about breaking free from old beliefs.
4. Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson
Genre: Contemporary fiction with humor and heart
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Madeline Hill has spent most of her life quietly running a farm in Coalfield, Tennessee, with her mom, until the day Reuben Hill shows up in a PT Cruiser claiming to be her half-brother. Reuben has tracked down a trail of half-siblings across the country, all abandoned by the same charming but unreliable father—and now he wants Mad to join him on a road trip to meet them and maybe find the man who left them all behind.
Full of dry wit, unexpected warmth, and quirky characters, this is a heartfelt sibling story about forging connections on the road and finding family in the most unlikely places.
Perfect for: readers who love character-driven road trip stories with emotional layers and unconventional family dynamics.
5. Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
Genre: Young adult contemporary romance
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After a bad breakup, Reagan joins her best friend Lilah, a rising country music star, on a summer tour across the U.S. With a tour bus, stadium lights, and a swoony boy band member along for the ride, it’s the perfect backdrop for friendship, healing, and a little new romance.
Perfect for: teens and adults who love music, road trips, and heartfelt coming-of-age stories.
6. The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary
Genre: Romantic comedy
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Addie and Dylan haven’t spoken since their messy breakup, but when they’re forced to share a car to a mutual friend’s wedding, the awkwardness is immediate—and hilarious. Stuck in close quarters on a long drive through the UK countryside, the two confront their past and maybe get a second chance.
Perfect for: readers who love funny, romantic second-chance stories with road trip chaos and charm.
7. You, with a View by Jessica Joyce
Genre: Romance
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After finding a letter between her late grandmother and a mysterious man, Noelle teams up with Theo, her high school rival, to take a road trip across the country and retrace a lost love story. What starts as a nostalgic journey turns into something more as sparks begin to fly.
Perfect for: romance lovers craving emotional depth, scenic drives, and a strong will-they-won’t-they vibe.
8. He Started It by Samantha Downing
Genre: Thriller
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Siblings reunite to reenact a road trip they took as children in order to claim their grandfather’s inheritance. But old rivalries, buried secrets, and rising tensions turn the cross-country drive into a dark, twisty race none of them may survive.
Perfect for: readers who love tense, fast-paced thrillers with family drama and lots of mileage.
9. Places We’ve Never Been by Kasie West
Genre: Young adult contemporary
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Norah and Skyler used to be best friends, but after years apart, they’re reunited for a family RV road trip. With long drives, national parks, and forced proximity, it’s the perfect setting for rekindling their friendship…and maybe more.
Perfect for: readers looking for a light, sweet summer romance with a fun cross-country backdrop.
10. The Summer Seekers by Sarah Morgan
Genre: Contemporary women’s fiction with a road trip twist
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A spirited seventy-something decides to go on a Route 66 road trip and hires a young woman to drive her across the country. Their cross-generational journey is full of laughs, heart-to-hearts, and unexpected detours that change their lives forever.
Perfect for: anyone who loves stories of friendship, empowerment, and chasing joy across the open road.
Let These Stories Take You Somewhere New This Summer
Whether you’re up for a romantic getaway, a suspenseful ride, or a whimsical escape into something magical, these ten books bring summer adventures to life. Each one offers a different kind of journey, with characters who hit the road or venture into the wild in search of something bigger than themselves.
So find a sunny spot, open a cold drink, and let these books take you away. Your summer story starts here.
Happy Summer Reading!
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