I’ll admit it—I’m something of an anxious traveler, especially when it comes to flying. When I flew this past Labor Day weekend, everything actually went as smoothly as any trip I’ve ever taken, and I should remind myself of this the next time I have to book a flight. Instead, I’ll probably remember when I missed my connecting flight going to and coming home from London in 2019, and the time I stood in the security line for over 2 hours at LaGuardia.

But even the worst airport experience can be made better with the right book. On the above-mentioned New York trip, I had an old favorite, Captive Prince by C. S. Pacat, to keep me company, and that helped the time go more quickly. And if I hadn’t brought that along with me, I suppose I could’ve bought something at the airport bookstore. But there is, of course, an even better option when you’re traveling—get a book on the Libby app without paying anything.

On my Labor Day trip, I listened to Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin (translated by Hildegarde Serle). An audiobook turned out to be a great choice, actually. It managed to drown out the guy watching TikTok videos on his phone without headphones in front of me on the plane. Honestly, I’m always going to make sure I have two or three audiobooks to choose from on any trip in the future.

So, if you’re going to be making your way through an airport this holiday season, I suggest you also load your Libby to cover any delay, annoyance or general boredom you might encounter. Plus, this way you can save the money you would’ve spent at the airport bookstore. Use that money to buy more tacky presents, because who doesn’t love another regional magnet or shot glass? Below are a few titles you’ll likely spot at the airport if you’re traveling soon, but I’d suggest checking them out on Libby instead.

Fiction

The Exchange by John Grisham

Does anything say “airport bookstore” quite like a new John Grisham? He’s been a staple of every terminal in the world since the release of The Firm in 1991, and now he’s back with a follow up to that book. The Exchange picks up with Mitch and Abby McDeere in Manhattan 15 years after the thrilling organized crime escapades of The Firm. And Mitch’s career couldn’t be going better, that is until he takes a work trip to Rome and finds himself in the middle of trouble once again, but now on a worldwide scale.

Trust by Hernan Diaz

This year’s Pulitzer Prize for Fiction was shared by Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead and this book by Hernan Diaz. Trust is ostensibly the story about one of the great industrialist families in America and the early days of the U.S. stock market. But so many layers are revealed in this story that you’re never entirely sure what’s true, and well, who you can trust, until you reach the very end. At which point, you might want to go back and reread the whole thing, which, if you have an extra-long layover, might be just the thing you need.

Genre fiction

The Fragile Threads of Power by V. E. Schwab

Gaslamp fantasy fans rejoice! V. E. Schwab returns to her Shades of Magic universe in a new series exploring the power struggles of four parallel Regency Era Londons. Many familiar characters and magic systems are at play here, but new characters and magic are also introduced. This includes a tinkerer who possesses the rare ability to see threads of magic and use them to repair what’s broken. There are revolutionaries, in fact, who hope she can repair a box that will allow them to pass between the various Londons. Sounds decidedly faster than air travel.

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

Hockey romance is ice-meltingly hot right now, and Icebreaker is definitely a fan favorite. The set up is as great as it is simple: What happens when a scheduling mishap means competitive figure skaters have to share ice time with the hockey team? Clearly, sparks flying from all the opposites-attract chemistry is what! And if you love this, Icebreaker is just the first in the Maple Hills series; you can check out Wildfire if you aren’t quite home yet and need more to read.

Nonfiction

Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson

One of the most beloved living biographers tackles the life of one of the most talked-about men on earth. You might think you know the tech visionary behind SpaceX, Tesla and Twitter/X, but Isaacson delves beyond the public persona. Whatever your opinion on Musk, you’re unlikely to get bored reading this one. You might even hope for a flight delay.

American Prometheus by Kai Bird

Thanks to this year’s Christopher Nolan movie, there’s been a resurgence of interest in physicist Robert Oppenheimer. Known as the father of the atomic bomb, Oppenheimer was a complex man both before and after the Manhattan Project, as Bird thoroughly examines in this Pulitzer Prize winner. And this book will get you through a lot of travel time, too—the audiobook is over 26 hours, so that will safely get you to the other side of the world and back.

BookTok faves

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The titles that are hot on BookTok are not always my cup of tea, but I will 100% admit that I love, love, love The Song of Achilles. In fact, just between us, I may have been forced to lay down and cry for the last hour or so of the audiobook. You know, given that, if you still haven’t caught up with this amazing book, maybe it isn’t the best travel choice. Then again, airports have made me cry before, so perhaps you will blend right in as you get absorbed in this beautiful retelling of Achilles and Patroclus.

Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Armentrout is one of the hottest romantasy authors out there today, and BookTok just loves her. Her latest book is a series starter for a new imprint at Tor called Bramble that’s all about sci-fi and fantasy romance. It’s set in a world where only nine cities survived the destruction wrought by the gods. Calista has the gift of intuition and foresight, but in this world, that gift's dangerous, so she must use it for the benefit of the baron who's promised her protection from the rest of the world. But when the rebellion starts, will anything or anyone be able to keep her safe? And more importantly, will she be able to provide me with a flight ETA?

A little off the beaten path

Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica, translated by Sarah Moses

When I was traveling a few months back, even though I didn’t pick up anything in the airport bookstores, I still browsed. And I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised at the variety of books beyond popular thrillers, including some works in translation. One was Tender Is the Flesh, a novel set in a dystopian future where the animals people have always eaten have all become toxic and inedible. The only meat still fit for human consumption is, well, human. Or is there more to what’s happening in the world? You might want to skip the in-flight meal while reading.

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama, translated by Alison Watts

And the winner for best title goes to Michiko Aoyama! Because, truly, what you're looking for is most likely in the library, both physically and virtually on Libby. This novel is specifically about a Tokyo librarian with a gift to do more than just provide good book recommendations. She’s able to sense not just what people want to read, but what each person's truly looking for in life, and she gives them the exact book they need to achieve their dreams. Makes you want to hop on a plane to Japan, doesn’t it?

If you don’t want to buy at the airport, save your cash and borrow in the Libby app instead.

Safe travels!