10 Best Spring 2018 Books for Travelers

Deputy Executive Editor Sarah Schlichter's idea of a perfect trip includes spotting exotic animals, hiking through pristine landscapes, exploring new neighborhoods on foot, and soaking up as much art as she can. She often attempts to recreate recipes from her international travels after she gets home (which has twice resulted in accidental kitchen fires—no humans or animals were harmed).

Sarah joined the SmarterTravel team in 2017 after more than a decade at the helm of IndependentTraveler.com. Sarah's practical travel advice has been featured in dozens of news outlets including the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Budget Travel, and Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio. Follow her on Twitter @TravelEditor.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A journal. Even years later, reading my notes from a trip can bring back incredibly vivid memories."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Road tripping and hiking through the rugged mountains of Patagonia."

Travel Motto: "'To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.'—Freya Stark"

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle. I get restless on long flights and like to be able to move around without disturbing anyone else."

Email Sarah at sschlichter@smartertravel.com.

See recent posts by Sarah Schlichter

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No matter where you’re headed this spring, you never want to brave a long flight or layover without a few good books. Load up your e-reader with these spring 2018 books that’ll make your hours or in the air fly by.

The Best Spring 2018 Books for Travelers

These intriguing new books range from feminist fiction to true stories of adventure travel.

The Flight Attendant, Chris Bohjalian

When flight attendant Cassie Bowden wakes up hungover in a Dubai hotel room, she makes a frightening discovery: The man next to her in the bed is dead in a pool of blood. Did Cassie kill him? This thriller offers plenty of twists and turns on the way to the answer.

What People Are Saying: “The Flight Attendant is the ultimate airplane book, and not just because of its name: entertaining and filled with inside info on the less glamorous aspects of flight crew’s lives, it may even make you more politely attentive the next time you’re asked to listen to that in-flight lecture on emergency water landings.” – The Washington Post

Available on Amazon.

The House of Broken Angels, Luis Alberto Urrea

This big-hearted story of a Mexican-American family takes place over just a few days, as patriarch Big Angel welcomes the whole family to his home in San Diego for what he expects to be his final birthday party.

What People Are Saying: “The setup may sound like a tearjerker, but the book’s spirit is irrepressibly high. Even in its saddest moments, The House of Broken Angels hums with joy.” – NPR

Available on Amazon.

The Last Wild Men of Borneo: A True Story of Death and Treasure, Carl Hoffman

The author of this fascinating account travels to Borneo to retrace the footsteps of two modern-day adventurers—one of whom disappeared without a trace. It’s one of the best spring 2018 books for travelers interested in exotic lands.

What People Are Saying: “Hoffman’s fascination and enthusiasm are readily apparent on every page. Combined with diligent research and a refreshing less-is-more narrative—the book goes in-depth but is devoid of notebook-dumping—Last Wild Men of Borneo deserves a wide audience.” – The Christian Science Monitor

Available on Amazon.

Female Persuasion, Meg Wolitzer

The latest offering from the bestselling author of The Interesting and This Is My Life, this novel tells the story of college freshman Greer Kadetsky, whose unexpected meeting with feminist icon Faith Frank will change the course of the student’s life.

What People Are Saying: “[The novel] feels almost prescient in its exploration of gender politics, corporate corruption and, ultimately, how much is enough when it comes to personal sacrifice. Along the way, it also takes an unflinching look at the intricate nature of family, the elaborate give-and-take of friendship and the perils of hero worship.” – The Washington Post

Available on Amazon.

The Good Liar, Catherine McKenzie

When it comes to spring 2018 books, few are more compulsively readable than this psychological thriller about how three women cope in the aftermath of a building explosion in downtown Chicago.

What People Are Saying: “Who the good liar may be, and what that phrase might actually mean, are questions that will resonate long after the book is finished.” – Publishers Weekly

Available on Amazon.

The Stowaway: A Young Man’s Extraordinary Adventure to Antarctica, Laurie Gwen Shapiro

This book tells the exciting true story of Billy Gawronski, a teenager who stowed away on a 1928 expedition to Antarctica.

What People Are Saying: “This coming-of-age story about a strong-willed boy with an insatiable appetite for adventure is evocative of the Hardy Boys and will appeal to both adult and young adult readers.” – Publishers Weekly

Available on Amazon.

Whiskey, Bruce Holbert

This gritty novel follows two brothers in the American Northwest struggling with addiction, troubled marriages, and parents who can’t seem to steer clear of the law.

What People Are Saying: “Like Cormac McCarthy, another bard of the modern West’s brutality, Holbert finds beauty and cruelty in the land, in the tease and punch of eloquently elliptical dialogue, and in the way humans struggle for love, self-knowledge, and a grip on life that won’t just burn their fingers.” – Kirkus Reviews

Available on Amazon.

My Lady’s Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel, Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris

In a fun twist on both traditional romance novels and the Choose Your Own Adventure series, Curran and Zageris offer readers the chance to determine the romantic fate of a Regency maiden.

What People Are Saying: “The authors understand romance novel tropes, and those looking for a farcical romp will find plenty of laughs, winks, and nods in how the stories play out.” – Publishers Weekly

Available on Amazon.

Warlight, Michael Ondaatje

The author of The English Patient returns with the story of Nathaniel and Rachel, who remain in London at the end of World War II while their parents move to Singapore, leaving them in the care of an enigmatic man known as The Moth. Ondaatje offers one of the most hotly awaited spring 2018 books.

What People Are Saying: “Ondaatje’s shrewd character study plays out in a smart, sophisticated drama, one worth the long wait for fans of wartime intrigue.” – Kirkus Reviews

Available for preorder on Amazon.

Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life, Cleo Wade

Anxious flyers or travelers needing an emotional reset should pack Heart Talk, an illustrated collection of poems, mantras, and spiritual wisdom.

What People Are Saying: “The collection encompasses both never-before-seen and newly-written poems as well as some perennial favorites from [Wade’s] ever-inspiring Instagram feed.” – Entertainment Weekly

Available on Amazon.

More from SmarterTravel:

Follow Sarah Schlichter on Twitter @TravelEditor for more travel tips and inspiration.

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