Reading while traveling is one of my favorite ways to pass the time, especially during those long hours in transit. Whether I'm lounging in the airport before a flight or settling in for a long-haul journey, a good book is always a must. In fact, on especially lengthy transatlantic or transpacific flights, I’ve been known to read up to three books in one sitting.

When it comes to choosing a genre, romance is my go-to. It’s the perfect companion for travel—light, engaging, and always uplifting. I love the familiarity of the formula and tropes (especially grumpy/sunshine; I’m the grump), knowing that no matter what, I’m guaranteed a happy ending. Plus, romance novels have evolved to be more inclusive than a lot of other genres, offering a wider range of stories featuring queer couples, interracial relationships, neurodivergent characters, and more. This inclusivity makes the genre feel more relatable and comforting.

For me, reading romance is low stress and a huge anxiety reliever. It’s a genre where I can relax, enjoy the journey, and escape into another world immediately. Whether I’m waiting for my flight to board or cruising at 35,000 feet, a romance novel always makes the journey more enjoyable.

Here is a selection of some of my favorite travel-themed romance novels to consider downloading to your Kindle or picking up at Hudson News (or any other airport bookstore).

You can also find a much more extended suggested list over on my Bookshop.com homepage.

Just a heads-up: Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links. That means if you click on a product link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. (And I will be most appreciative.) Rest assured, I only share products and brands I genuinely love and think you will too.

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

The first book in this series (Get a Life, Chloe Brown)always gets the most attention, but the third installment/sister is my favorite Eve Brown, the walking disaster, crashes into an English countryside B&B—and the grumpy owner—like a hot mess express. It's clumsy, it’s chaotic, and it’s somehow a masterclass in adorable banter. Warning: You’ll feel attacked by just how relatable Eve is, especially if you’re also out here pretending to adult.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

I’m not always a fan of books about writers (because there are just SO many of them), and I’m also not always on the Emily Henry fangirl train either. (I did not get the hype around People We Meet on Vacation, but I digress.) That said, I LOVED this book. Take all the rom-com tropes and flip them upside down. Emily Henry drags the "city girl in the small town" cliché through the mud—by making it a love story between two ruthless literary agents. It’s a self-aware, delightfully snarky rom-com where even the so-called villains get the swoon-worthy spotlight.

Float Plan by Trish Doller

It’s said we’re more likely to cry in the air given the altitude and whatnot, and this book will definitely give you the ugly cry. I was sobbing during boarding for a red-eye from LAX to JFK because of this book. The truth is that it’s a grief book disguised as an "I’m going to sail the world" romance. Sure, you’ll get the nautical adventure, but mostly you’ll get hit over the head with an emotional tidal wave—just in case you forgot to bring tissues.

Fly With Me by Andie Burke

Forget cruising to the marathon—this road trip is more about dodging emotional landmines. With snappy banter and unexpected feels at every rest stop, the journey’s packed with enough chemistry to make the destination almost irrelevant. (Although the destination is a Disney World marathon.) It’s a bit of a slow burn, and while some people are into that trope, I am not. But the two leads have enough chemistry to keep you reading.

Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun

If you ever wondered what it’s like to fall in love while doing the emotional equivalent of a chaotic time loop, here’s your answer. Cochrun spins a second-chance romance that feels like a heartwarming, queer version of Groundhog Day—only this time, it’s less about changing the past and more about finding yourself.

Island Time by Georgia Clark

A tropical vacation sounds like paradise, right? Wrong. In Island Time, everyone’s stuck with each other and their personal baggage, turning the beach getaway into a soap opera of clashing personalities and sexual tension. Equal parts tropical vibes and family drama, Island Time proves that being trapped on a deserted island is the ultimate backdrop for awkward hookups and overdue self-discovery.

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings

It’s the rom-com equivalent of a coming-of-age story—only the main character is late to the party. But don’t worry, she’ll fumble her way through awkward flirtations, existential dread, and every dating faux pas in the book. Mazey Eddings gives us a romance for the neurodivergent crowd, and thank God for that. Late Bloomer is quirky, heartfelt, and surprisingly funny as it tackles love and adulthood for those who never seem to follow the “normal” timeline.

Life's Too Short by Abby Jimenez

I’m a huge fan of all of Abby Jimenez’s books, so you can’t go wrong with any of them. And if you’re looking for a romance between a cinnamon roll and a down-to-earth (but very successful) influencer, then this is the book for you. This book is one part emotional wreckage, two parts rom-com, and somehow it works. Jimenez serves up all the feels, with just enough humor to keep you from curling into a ball of angst. And yes, life’s too short—but apparently not too short for multiple breakdowns, a dash of cute dog antics, and some swoon-worthy romance.

Love and Other Flight Delays by Denise Williams

Airports are where patience goes to die, but somehow Denise Williams finds the romance in missed connections and TSA lines. A love story where emotional baggage gets unpacked just as much as the carry-ons, Love and Other Flight Delays will make you rethink your next airport layover.

Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher

Think a dreamy tropical escape would be all sunshine and relaxation? Not in this book. Set on the Caribbean island of Saba, it’s a whirlwind of grief, sibling drama, and emotional baggage with a side of romance. Come for the sunshine, stay for the tissue box you’ll need by chapter ten.

Meet Me in Tahiti by Georgia Toffolo

Normally I hate books about journalists, but this one about a travel writer thoroughly charmed me. This isn’t your average island love story—it's more like a brochure for a tropical resort with bonus emotional baggage. It’s escapism at its finest, with all the sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and unresolved romantic tension you could ever hope for. A little predictable? Sure. (All of these books are!) But if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

No Words by Meg Cabot

Since I keep recommending books about writers, you probably don’t believe me that I don’t like books about writers. But I’m just recommending the best ones! This one is set at a book festival in the Florida Keys—and also part of a fun series, this being one of the later installments. Expect a lot of witty banter and awkward encounters between two writers who clearly hate-love each other. No Words has Cabot’s signature charm and wit, plus the added bonus of plenty of inside jokes for anyone who’s ever suffered through a book signing or author Q&A.

Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory

Another writer whose books I adore. In this installment of her first series (led by The Wedding Date,) a lawyer and a senator walk into a romance novel, and what follows is a witty, swoon-worthy love story that somehow makes politics sexy. Party of Two is sharp, funny, and full of heart, proving that love can happen even when you least expect it—like during a heated policy debate.

Running Wild by K. A. Tucker

It might seem hard to sympathize at all for a pampered and spoiled (and unemployed) influencer from Toronto. But you find yourself feeling for the FMC when she’s clearly a fish out of water in the Alaskan wilderness trying to do her best. But don’t let the scenery fool you—this book is all about running away from emotions, not grizzlies. It’s got the slow-burn tension down pat, but by the end, you’ll wish the characters had stopped running and started communicating already.

Shipped by Angie Hockman

Take two marketing employees who can’t stand each other, throw them into a high-stakes project to revamp a Galapagos cruise itinerary, and watch the sparks fly. She’s based in the Seattle headquarters, while he’s dialing in remotely from Michigan—cue the snarky emails and tension-filled Zoom calls. When they’re forced to work together on the ground in the Galapagos, it’s enemies-to-lovers gold as they clash over ideas before eventually realizing they’re better as a team. The tropical backdrop may be stunning, but the real fireworks happen when they start setting aside their differences and, well, start liking each other.

Simmer Down by Sarah Echavarre Smith

Food trucks and fierce competition from Hawaii to London make for a surprisingly delicious romance. Sarah Smith has an incredible knack for writing plot and dialogue with a captivating story—every time. Simmer Down is a battle of wits, recipes, and sizzling tension, all wrapped up in a charming enemies-to-lovers trope that leaves you hungry for more (and maybe craving some street food on the side).

That Summer Feeling by Bridget Morrissey

Summer camp for adults? Sure, it sounds like a joke, but Morrissey makes it work with a whimsical romance about rekindling youthful joy and, of course, finding love along the way. It’s light, it’s fun, and it’ll leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy—without a single mosquito bite in sight. (Also another great late-in-life discovery about sexual identity.)

The Layover by Lacie Waldon

Imagine a crew of flight attendants flying down the West Coast on a Southwest-like carrier from Portland to Belize, where the real turbulence happens between coworkers. Waldon gives you more than just a workplace enemies-to-lovers romance—she pulls back the curtain on what it’s like to be a flight attendant, from dealing with passengers to navigating crew dynamics at 35,000 feet. The romance is spicy, but the insider look at the chaotic, often hilarious world of flight attendants steals the show.

The Player in New Zealand by Liz Alden

Grumpy-sunshine at its finest, this romance is set in a Wellington bar co-owned by a former rugby star who’s still nursing his bruised ego after a career-ending injury. Enter the American heroine, fresh in town thanks to the under-age 30 visa program (which I wish I knew about before I was 30), who takes a job at the bar and has zero idea he’s basically a god in New Zealand. (Because most Americans know nothing about rugby, but thankfully Ilona Maher is changing that.) Their chemistry crackles, with her optimism clashing against his brooding, making for a delicious slow burn.

The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler

Alaska? Romance? And a grumpy diner owner who somehow steals your heart? Of course. I love a good romance novel formula—the math always checks out. The Tourist Attraction is a charming small-town love story, complete with quirky locals, a moose or two, and a romance that’ll make you want to book a ticket to Alaska, stat.

Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

A queer Pride and Prejudice retelling set in Seattle that’s all snark, sparks, and fake dating gone wildly right. Written in the Stars is charmingly nerdy, ridiculously cute, and unapologetically swoony—perfect for anyone who’s ever wanted a rom-com where both heroines get to shine.

Favorite Travel Reads: Romance Novels