9 Curated Reads for Your Next Trip

And some podcast recs for road trips, too.

Last weekend, during a drive from Atlanta to Florida to visit my in-laws, I mused about the fact that I often consume more media when traveling than when I’m at home. (Okay, besides television…I can’t help binging Friday Night Lights lately.)

On road trips, my husband and I turn to podcasts and audiobooks, along with the quintessential ‘90s playlist; we are millennials after all. When I’m laying by a pool or dealing with jet lag, I’m reading a book on my Kindle app. And on weekend trips, I’ll usually pack a hardcover or two for lazy mornings or quiet nights in.

And, I don’t know, this might just be me—but I feel like there are so many wonderful reads out there right now. So with that in mind, as two voracious readers, Kayti and I thought it fitting to bring you the nine books we recommend for your next trip.

These are ones we’ve personally read—so let us know what you think! (And drop your own recs, of course.) And if you’re not in the right headspace to dive into a book, we have some podcast ideas below, too.

9 Books To Pack For Your Next Trip

Kayti:

• The Lifestyle by Taylor Hahn: I met Taylor in a writing class a few years ago and was so intrigued when she told us about her first book (a novel about a couple turning to swinging to save their marriage). It’s a fun, spicy, and emotional story, which is exactly what I want for a red-eye flight.

• Severance by Ling Ma: Apparently I have a thing for dystopian fiction? I picked up a copy of Severance per recommendation from a bookseller (ask the bookstore employees for recs!), and it did not disappoint in one bit. I mean, the description alone is 10/10: Candace Chen is an unfulfilled Bible product coordinator, and it follows her story before and after an incurable infection slowly obliterates global civilization.

• Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker: People are likely sick of me promoting this book by now, but I promise you: It’s that good. I love everything Chelsea writes and this novel is no exception. It’s about motherhood and loss and the brutal, mighty things women do to keep themselves and each other alive.

• Blue Ticket by Sophie Mackintosh: I read this book while in Berlin last year, and it kept me up all night. It includes a dystopian storyline, addictive characters, and lyrical prose.

Henah:

• Middle of the Night by Riley Sager: I’ve rarely met a Riley Sager thriller I didn’t like. This is his latest release, and it hits close to home (the location is a NJ suburb, eerily like the one I grew up in). Ethan Marsh returns to his childhood neighborhood, and has to contend with the longtime disappearance of his childhood best friend, Billy. If you grew up in the ‘burbs too (or you’re heading there soon), this one’s for you.

• Tom Lake by Ann Patchett: While technically a romance, I adored this book about three daughters learning about their mother’s previous relationship with a famous actor. It takes place in the summer on a Michigan cherry farm, and Patchett’s prose is incredibly bucolic and soothing. You’ll instantly be transported there.

• Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll: Probably better to listen to while en route than at your accommodation 🤣, but this fictional re-imagining focused on the survivors of Ted Bundy stuck with me for a long time. After reading plenty of true crime, I loved this subversion of the typical “serial killer story.”

• Tell Me Everything by Erika Krouse: The blurb pretty much sums it up (“the mesmerizing story of a landmark sexual assault investigation and the female private investigator who helped crack it open”), but I loved this blend of searing memoir and thrilling true crime. I truly don’t know why its Goodreads rating is only a 3.75, but her asides about Colorado and human nature often took my breath away. Give it a try!

• Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang (

  C Pam Zhang
  ): Now, if you want to be carried away to a place that doesn’t exist (though, I won’t call it escapism because it’s pretty bleak), this was an excellent read. It’s rich, lush, will make you very hungry—and dripping with some powerful societal criticisms. The paperback version comes out 9/24, just in time to grab for fall.

Now, our favorite part: What are you all reading? We love adding to our (already-teeming) TBRs. 😅

Road trips we’re doing or towns we’re hoping to visit this season?

Kayti: Anywhere with fall weather! It’s been 100+ degrees in LA for the last few weeks (pray for our wildfires), so I’m just happy to get away to cooler temps with fall colors/crisp air! I’ll likely visit family in northern CA, and I’d love to hop over to Mt. Shasta (I’ve never been there!).
Henah: Last year over Halloween weekend, we visited Savannah for the first time and I loved it. So in that vein, I want to explore Charleston this year sometime. For a more local rec, I’ve been hearing about the antique shop and flea market scene in Madison, GA—it’s now at the top of my list.

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Best way to track what we’ve read?

Kayti: I love taking photos of books I’m reading. I’ve tried Goodreads and Instagram, and I've even written down what I’m reading in my journal. But there is something special about scrolling through photos on my phone and seeing the book cover in the setting where I read it.
Henah: I personally use my Instagram Stories to track the books I read, and I’ve kept them all as “highlights” since 2019 (I can’t believe I’m about to enter the sixth year of doing so!). I use Goodreads too, but I’ve been meaning to check out StoryGraph.

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Favorite book clubs or communities?

Kayti: Honestly, friends. I think book clubs can be so fun and interesting, but (as Henah notes below) they can be difficult to find and get into! I love reading something alongside a friend and chatting about it. It’s not as “official” but feels as intimate and insightful IMO.
Henah: I’ve been itching to join a book club in Atlanta, but they all have extensive waitlists! Years ago in the pandemic, I co-founded a book club (and wrote about how to do so), but haven’t had much luck locally yet. But for online options, BIG fan of Feminist Book Club and

Grace Atwood

’s recommendations. (I don’t use TikTok because I know it’d be a black hole for me, but I am intrigued about BookTok, so…what do we think?)

• Bookmarking this roundup of books for fall from

  Downtime
  . If Rachel Khong (of Real Americans) recommends something, we’re in!

• If you’re not up for a book or are embarking on a road trip, this This American Life ep—specifically, Act I—brought me to tears. (Content warning for violence.)

• Another pod rec: This older episode of 99% Invisible is one I think about often.

• This spice mix for the perfect fall drink, especially when I’m feeling homesick for my mom’s chai. What are you sipping as the temps turn?

Happy reading, friends! See you next week…for someone else’s birthday. 👀

—Kayti & Henah xx

us for the next 2 months // credit