Summer may be winding down, but there’s still time for one more great escape—no passport required. From sun-washed Mediterranean villages to bustling Asian capitals and remote corners of the globe, these stories let you savor the thrill of travel without ever leaving your chair. Let your imagination wander, your heart race, and your senses soak up the flavors, colors, and cultures of faraway places.

5 Books That Transport You Around The World (Before Summer Ends)

1. The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

Available at Amazon

Available at Bookshop

A floating bookstore on the Seine becomes the starting point for a heart-healing journey through the French countryside.

2. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

Available at Amazon

Available at Bookshop

An escaped convict finds redemption, danger, and unexpected belonging in the chaotic streets of 1980s Bombay.

3. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

Available at Amazon

Available at Bookshop

Across the Pacific, a Japanese teenager’s diary washes ashore in Canada, bridging two lives and two worlds.

4. The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

Available at Amazon

Available at Bookshop

Set in 1930s colonial Malaya, a dance hall girl and a houseboy cross paths while unraveling a haunting mystery.

5. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes

Available at Amazon

Available at Bookshop

A spontaneous home purchase in the Italian countryside blooms into a love affair with food, culture, and slow living.

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