Summer Travel Reads — Books That Feel Like a Vacation

In this summer-inspired episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley shares a curated list of books that will transport you; whether you’re boarding a flight or just dreaming of your next getaway.

From the emotional, reflective journey of One Italian Summer to the fun, chemistry-filled energy of Just for the Summer, this episode explores stories that feel like travel, escape, and summer in book form.

Lara Ashley also shares why One Italian Summer resonates personally; reflecting on her own mother-daughter trips, including a special visit to Italy, and how books can connect us to memory, place, and emotion in unexpected ways.

Plus, she highlights immersive reads like Babel and shares exciting July releases on her radar, including Augusta Pine Does Not Exist and Free Girls .

To close, Lara Ashley builds out a Community Library of travel-inspired reads that capture romance, adventure, and self-discovery.

Whether you’re heading to the beach, traveling abroad, or staying close to home, this episode is your guide to reading your way through summer.

Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let these stories take you somewhere new.

This episode was lit. ✨

Transcript

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Hey friends, and welcome back to Lit with Laura Ashley. This is your cozy corner of the internet where we talk about books that take us somewhere. Whether that's emotionally, mentally, or literally across the world. So wherever you are, maybe you're packing for a trip, dreaming about one, or just trying to mentally escape your day, go ahead and grab your favorite drink and settle in. Because today's episode is all about summer travel reads. Books that feel like a vacation, books that transport you, books that let you escape, even if you're staying right where you are. Summer just feels different. It's lighter, it's slower, and invites you to enjoy things without overthinking them. And I think the way we read in the summer reflects that. We want books that pull us in quickly, that take us somewhere new, or just let us feel something without pressure. So today I'm sharing a mix of books I'm excited to read, books that transport you, and a few that are on my radar for the summer. First up is one Italian summer. And this one really is personal to me. It follows a daughter who travels to Italy after her mother's death, a trip they were supposed to take together. And that immediately hits me because every year my mom and I take a trip for her birthday, which is on July 20th. And one of the places we went was Italy in 2018. It's her favorite place. She loves pasta, spaghetti, lasagna, all of it. So reading this book feels like stepping into something familiar, but also something very emotional. Because it's not just about travel, it's about grief, memory, mother-daughter relationships, and what it means to hold on to something while still moving forward. This feels like a reflective, emotional sit by the water and think about your life kind of book. And I already know this is going to be one of those reads that stays with me. Another one is just for the summer. And this one feels like the complete opposite energy in the best way. It follows a guy who believes he has a curse, that every woman he dates finds her soulmate right after him. And I love that this flips the usual narrative because normally it's the woman with the quote unquote love curse. But this time it's a man. So he enters into a fake relationship for the summer, and you already know where this is going. This feels like juicy, fun, chemistry-filled, perfect for a beach or poolside read. And I love books like this in the summer because not everything has to be heavy. Sometimes you just want to enjoy the story or laugh a little and get lost in the tension. And this feels like that kind of book. Next up is Babel. Now, this one, this one I've had on my shelf for a while. This is the one that I keep saying, I'm gonna read it. And this summer, I actually am. Because there's there's something about reading a book like this while traveling that just feels right. It's immersive, it's layered, it's a full world. And sometimes when you're physically in a new place, reading something that also transports you mentally hits differently. So this is going to be my I'm in a new country in a cafe, locked into this story read. And I'm so excited to finally experience it. Now let's talk about what's coming out this summer because I love having a few books on my radar. Augusta Pine does not exist. This comes out July 7th. This one is giving thriller energy. It centers around identity, disappearance, and the unsettling feeling that something or someone isn't what they seem. From what I've seen, it plays perception, truth versus truth versus illusion, and the unraveling of a story that doesn't quite add up. And I love a summer thriller. There's something about reading a slightly unsettling book when everything around you is bright and warm that just works. Another book that's coming out July 7th is Free Girls. This one feels very aligned with the themes I've been exploring lately. It follows women navigating independence, identity, and what freedom really looks like, especially in historical and societal contexts. It feels like layered, reflective, and centered on women's experiences. And I love books that explore what it means to be free in real life. So this one is definitely on my list. Now, if you're building your summer reading list, here are a few books I recommend adding to your community library. Love and gelato. If you love the Italy vibes, this is another immersive, romantic, travel-based stories. The honeymooners, fun, tropical, enemies to lovers energy, perfect for a light, entertaining read. And of course, the classic eat pray love, travel, self-discovery, and emotional growth. And I chose these because summer reading to me is about feeling transported, feeling light, but also feeling connected to yourself in a different way. These books do that. Summer reading isn't about reading more, it's about reading differently, letting yourself escape, enjoy, and experience stories without pressure. So whether you're traveling this summer or just dreaming about it, I hope these books take you somewhere. I'm Lara Ashley, and this episode was So Lid.