Vacation Destination Books

Who else enjoys exploring vacation destinations through historical fiction? Whether it's a local getaway or a river cruise on the Danube, my anticipation and memories have been greatly enhanced by learning about the people, places, and experiences that make every destination a personal journey.

Some of my favorite vacation destination reads have taken me as far away as Budapest, Vienna, and Paris, and as close to my home in New England.

Some of my favorite historical fiction novels from places I've visited:

OUTSIDE THE U.S.

Aruba:

• The Aruba Arrangement by Mike Hatfield

Budapest & Vienna:

• The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki

• Sisi by Allison Pataki

• Stolen Beauty by Laurie Lico Albanese
  

Paris & France:

• Claude & Camille by Stephanie Cowell

• Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly (Paris & Ravensbruck)

• From a Paris Balcony by Ella Carey

• Shakespeare and Company by Sylvia Beach

• The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

• The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher

• The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
  

INSIDE THE U.S.

California

• The Beautiful Stranger by Camille Di Maio (San Diego)

Florida (Key West and Miami)

• Hemingway's Girl by Erika Robuck

• Hemingway's Key West - includes 2 hour walking tour by Stuart B. McIver

• Jimmy Buffett - A Life from Beginning to End by Hourly History

• The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton

• The Last Train for Key West by Chanel Cleeton

• The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Maine:

• A Family Beach House by Holly Chamberlin

• A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline

• The Frozen River by Ariel Lawton

Massachusetts - Boston, Cambridge, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket:

• Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks (Cambridge, Martha's Vineyard)

• Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian (Boston)

• The Boston Girl by Anita Diamont

• The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

• The Summer I Met Jack by Michelle Gable
  

New York City

• A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner (Ellis Island and Manhattan)

• The City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

• Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney

Rhode Island

• A Well Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts (Newport & NYC)

• A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams

• The Lost Summers of Newport by Beatriz Williams

South Carolina - in and out of Charleston:

• The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark (Charleston)

• The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (Charleston)

• The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
  

What are your favorites?

Happy reading through an author's eyes, whether you or armchair traveling or packing a suitcase!

Here’s a little glimpse into my bookish world.

When I’m not reading... I’m writing, promoting my debut novel, researching my next book, reading to our grandsons, sharing bookish thoughts on social media, and piecing together jigsaw puzzles—usually with a book theme.

📚 Monthly Columnist – Victoria’s Voice for The Armenian Weekly

📖 Author – Who She Left Behind, a 5-star, award-winning historical fiction novel inspired by my family’s story of survival during the Armenian Genocide and their journey of rebuilding in the United States.

✉️ Creator of HerSTORYian Tales – A free monthly newsletter dedicated to the art of storytelling through reading, writing, and speaking. We spotlight female protagonists, celebrate Armenian culture, and dive into the captivating world of Who She Left Behind.  Click here to sign up and you will automatically receive a monthly update of books I'm reading.

Check back for regular updates, and feel free to share your thoughts—I’d love to hear from you. Let’s journey through the pages together!

Read On!

Victoria

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• Historical Fiction Spotlighting Resilient Women During Genocides

• Books to Read for Armenian Genocide Month

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