Read Around the World (12-Month Travel Reading Challenge + Book List)
Travel the world through books with this 12-month reading challenge filled with atmospheric destinations, immersive stories, and travel-inspired book recommendations from around the globe.
Updated regularly with new book suggestions and ideas.
What if your reading list could take you around the world? This travel-inspired reading challenge is designed to help you explore new countries, cultures, landscapes, and stories — all through books.
Over 12 months, you’ll travel from bustling cities and quiet countryside villages to tropical islands, remote wilderness, and completely imagined worlds.
Each month includes:
- a flexible reading prompt
- multiple ways to complete it
- curated book recommendations
- links to even more location-based book lists
You can follow the prompts month by month or simply choose the destinations that interest you most.
Whether you want to read more diversely, discover new places, or escape through books, this challenge is designed to make reading feel like travel.
Jump to a Month
How the Challenge Works
Each month, choose one book that fits any of the prompt options. You can follow the challenge in order or jump between months at any time.
There are no strict rules — the goal is simply to explore the world through stories. You can:
- read books you already own
- choose from the recommendations below
- explore new genres and authors
- revisit favorite places through fiction
There’s no pressure to complete every month perfectly. This challenge is about curiosity, discovery, and enjoying the journey.
Every product on this page was carefully chosen. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through a link at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure.
Monthly Reading Prompts
January: Bookish Escapes
There’s something comforting about stories set among shelves of books, quiet corners, and literary discoveries.
Choose one:
- A book set in a bookshop
- A book about books or reading
- A story set in a library
Book Suggestions:
- The Little Paris Bookshop By Nina George
- The Bookshop On The Corner By Jenny Colgan
- Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore By Robin Sloan
More Book Suggestions: Best Books Set in Bookshops
February: India & South Asia
Travel to India and South Asia through rich storytelling, history, food, family, and culture.
Choose one:
- A book set in India
- A book by a South Asian author
- A story exploring South Asian culture
Book Suggestions:
- The Henna Artist By Alka Joshi
- Murder In Old Bombay By Nev March
Reading Suggestions: Best Books Set in India
March: Islands & Remote Places
Escape to islands, isolated communities, and coastal settings far from everyday life.
Choose one:
- A book set on an island
- A remote or isolated setting
- A coastal escape
Book Suggestions:
- A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid (Antigua)
- Simmer Down By Sarah Smith (Maui)
- The Unhoneymooners By Christina Lauren (Hawaii)
Perfect if you love atmospheric, escapist settings.
April: Wilderness & Wide Open Spaces
This month is all about nature, remote landscapes, and untamed settings.
Choose one:
- A wilderness or survival story
- A book set in Canada or Alaska
- A nature-focused read
Book Suggestions:
- Lives Of Girls And Women By Alice Munro
- The Call Of The Wild By Jack London
More ideas:
May: Travel & Journeys
Road trips, train journeys, and stories are constantly in motion.
Choose one:
- A book set on a train
- A journey or road trip story
- A travel-focused novel
Book Suggestions:
- Strangers On A Train By Patricia Highsmith
- 4:50 From Paddington By Agatha Christie
Reading Suggestions: Best Books Set On Trains
June: Southeast Asia
Visit vibrant cities, rich cultures, and unforgettable landscapes across Southeast Asia.
Choose one:
- A book set in Bangkok
- A book set anywhere in Southeast Asia
- A culturally immersive setting
Book Suggestions:
- The Blind Earthworm In The Labyrinth By Veeraporn Nitiprapha
- Many Lives By Kukrit Pramoj
- Bangkok Wakes To Rain By Pitchaya Sudbanthad
Reading Suggestions: Best Books Set in Bangkok
July: Dream Destinations
Choose a book set somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit.
Choose one:
- A destination-based title
- A book set somewhere you’d love to visit
- A travel-inspired story
Book Suggestions:
- The Last Watchman Of Old Cairo By Michael David Lukas
- Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks
This is the perfect month to follow your wanderlust.
August: The UK & Ireland
From windswept coastlines to quiet villages and dramatic landscapes, August is all about atmospheric settings.
Choose one:
- A book set in the UK or Ireland
- A story set in the English countryside
- A Scottish or Irish setting
Book Suggestions:
- Outlander By Diana Gabaldon
- Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine By Gail Honeyman
- To The Lighthouse By Virginia Woolf
More ideas:
September: Coastal & Beach Reads
Enjoy a seaside escape with a book set by the ocean.
Choose one:
- A beach read
- A coastal setting
- A summer or holiday story
Book Suggestions:
- The Beach by Alex Garland
- Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman
More ideas:
October: Other Worlds
Step completely outside reality with immersive fantasy and magical settings.
Choose one:
- A fantasy book set in another world
- A magical realism story
- A book with strong world-building
Book Suggestions:
- We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
- The Last Watch by J. S. Dewes
Perfect for readers who love escapism and imaginative settings.
November: Cities That Never Sleep
Explore fast-paced urban settings filled with energy, complexity, and atmosphere.
Choose one:
- A book set in a major city
- An urban literary novel
- A city you’d love to visit
Book Suggestions:
- Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
More ideas:
December: Seasonal & Cozy Reads
End the year with comfort reads and seasonal atmospheres.
Choose one:
- A seasonal title
- A winter or holiday setting
- A cozy, comforting story
Book Suggestions:
- Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin
- Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews
Perfect for slow reading days and cozy evenings.
Reader-Favorite Travel Reads
If you’re not sure where to begin, try one of these reader favorites:
- The Henna Artist
- Outlander
- The Beach
- The Little Paris Bookshop
- The Unhoneymooners
These books combine immersive settings with unforgettable storytelling.
Track Your Reading Journey
One of the best parts of a reading challenge is seeing where your books take you. You could:
- keep a notebook of the places you visit through books
- create a StoryGraph shelf for the challenge
- track how many countries or settings you explored
- rate your favorite literary destinations
Even one book can transport you somewhere completely new.
Final Thoughts
One of the best things about reading is how easily it lets us travel — across countries, cultures, landscapes, and entirely different worlds.
Whether you complete every prompt or simply pick a few destinations that interest you, this challenge is all about discovery and escape through stories.
Wherever your reading takes you this year, enjoy the journey. And if you take part in the challenge, I’d love to hear what books you choose along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I choose my own book? Yes! Choose any book that meets the challenge prompt for that month. In fact, if you really enjoy a book, we’d love to hear about it.
Do I need to follow the months in order? Not at all. You can jump around the challenge however you like.
Can I join the challenge after January? You can join our year-long reading challenge at any time. Simply jump into the current month, or start at the beginning. How you choose to participate is up to you; any month is a great time to start!
Can I recommend a book for a future month? Absolutely. Book recommendations are always welcome, especially if you’ve read and loved them.
These prompts sound great, I will be joining this challenge for the first time! I think I can get to all of them though I may not get to it in the right month. I’m really looking to read more books set in other countries this year.
Awesome!!
Please keep us updated on how you get on. We would love to know what books you choose.
Thx!