Vacation Destination Books

Who else enjoys researching and enhancing their vacation experiences by reading historical fiction before boarding a plane, boat, or car? Whether it's a local getaway or a river cruise along the Danube, my anticipation and memories have been greatly enriched by learning about the people, places, and experiences that make each destination a personal journey.

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

Here’s a list of my favorite historical fiction novels that have enhanced my vacation experiences:

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

• Love and Paklava by Alyssa Jarrett (not HF but features many sites in LA and SF)

• 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

• How to Read a Book by Monica Wood (not HF but features Portland)

• The Frozen River by Ariel Lawton (Hallowell)

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)

• Maybe Marilyn by Lois Cahall (Cape Cod)

• The Boston Girl by Anita Diamont

• The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

• The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly

• 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
  

Another Tip: TripFiction is a great source for finding books to enhance your vacation.

What are your favorites?

Happy reading through an author's eyes, whether you're 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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