5 books that are your ticket to an imaginative getaway

As we grow older and wiser, the joy of travel often shifts from the physical to the imaginative. Whether it's the rolling hills of Tuscany, the bustling streets of Tokyo, or the quiet beauty of a South African vineyard, books offer a passport to places we may never visit—but can still vividly experience. For many, the perfect afternoon involves a comfortable chair, a cup of tea, and a story that opens up a world far beyond the living room window. The Libby app is your ticket to thousands of reading journeys that are rich in atmosphere, culture, and emotional depth. These books don’t just tell tales; they transport you. And for older readers, they offer something even more precious: the chance to reflect, connect, and wander through landscapes shaped by memory, history, and imagination.

💡Tip: Use Libby’s new 'Inspire Me' tool to find even more recommended reads that are available right now from your local library. Choose between fiction or nonfiction then simply pick a vibe from the available prompts like “Heartfelt”, “Spine-tingling” or “Scenic” to see instant matches. 

Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
🎧 Audiobook

After years away in London, Sonia, a British-Palestinian stage actress, returns to the Israeli port city of Haifa, with its winding streets, balconies, gardens, and old stone buildings. Seeking solace after a failed relationship and a stalled career, Sonia is unexpectedly drawn into a production of Hamlet in Ramallah in the West Bank. In contrast to Haifa, Ramallah is hemmed in by arid landscapes, dusty roads, and military occupation. Sonia becomes immersed in the lives of her fellow actors, each navigating the realities of occupation, identity, and resistance. The emotionally charged narrative, with its descriptions of sun-warmed pavements, jasmine-scented courtyards, and dusty jostling streets, provides a rare glimpse into the beautiful and fractured landscapes of contemporary Palestine. Highly recommended for lovers of political and literary fiction.

The Jam Maker by Mary-Lou Stephens
🎧 Audiobook

The Jam Maker begins in the grime and grit of Hobart in 19th-century Tasmania. Spanning several decades, it tells the story of Harriet Brown, a young girl growing up in the working-class slums along a polluted stream running through the city. Harriet disguises herself as a boy to work in the George Peacock & Sons jam factory—where girls are not allowed. At the factory Harriet meets Henry, a fellow label-paster with big dreams, and the two form a bond that endures through social upheaval, personal loss, and changing fortunes. Harriet’s work takes her from survival to self-sufficiency: from her industrial homeland to the fruit-laden apple orchards, open fields, and quiet farmhouses of rural Tasmania. As a working-class woman in a male-dominated industry, she must overcome many challenges to succeed and thrive on her own terms. The seasonal rhythms of jam production—berries in summer, apples in autumn—are a comforting backdrop to a novel boiling over with themes of renewal and possibility.

The Midnight Bookshop by Amanda James
🎧 Audiobook

Three strangers with difficult pasts, all receive a mysterious flyer for The Midnight Bookshop, a place that seems to shimmer between reality and imagination. The shop appears only under the right moonlight to those who are ready to change, but inside the shop is alive, filled with plants, carved animals, and books that seem to whisper secrets. The shopkeeper gives each character a classic novel that mirrors their own life, and the trio forms a Midnight Book Club, meeting in the shop to read, reflect, and share. Through riddles, wisdom, and subtle nudges, the shop’s magical guardian helps each character confront their past, rewrite their stories, and imagine new futures. With the sound of church bells, scent of sea air, and warm glow of lamplight, the city of Truro provides a dreamlike setting where literature and life intertwine. An enchanting read for fans of stories where everyday life is gently touched by magic—like The Night Circus and The Keeper of Lost Things.

How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair
🎧 Audiobook

Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction 2024, this is a powerful memoir about the author’s upbringing in Montego Bay and the lush, tropical landscapes of Jamaica. Sinclair recounts her experiences in a strict Rastafarian household dominated by her father. Fearful of the corrupting influence of “Babylon,” the outside world, he enforces extreme restrictions on his daughters: no pants, no makeup, no jewelry, no opinions. Outside the home, Sinclair struggles to navigate life at school, where her identity makes her feel alienated and judged. Quietly nurtured by her mother, Sinclair’s poetry becomes an act of rebellion and a tool for survival. Despite its emotional intensity, the story unfolds against a backdrop of banana trees, mountain paths, and sea breezes, offering moments of beauty and escape. Frequently compared to Educated by Tara Westover, How to Say Babylon blends poetic prose with a candid story of personal liberation. Read this for a rare insider view of Rastafarian life beyond stereotypes.

Far From Home by Danielle Steel
🎧 Audiobook

Set during the final years of World War II, this is a story about the quiet heroism of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances. Arielle von Auspeck, a half-French, half-German aristocrat, is forced to flee Paris when her husband is executed for his role in Operation Valkyrie, the failed plot to assassinate Hitler. Arielle hides in a small village in Normandy, where she meets a lawyer-turned-forger in the French Resistance. Together, he and Arielle are forced to find purpose in helping others escape the horrors of occupation. Rooted in the contrasting landscapes of wartime France and Germany, the protagonist moves from the elegant boulevards, grand homes, and cultural refinement of Paris to the rolling hills and quiet villages of Normandy. As the war intensifies, Arielle and Sebastien risk their lives forging documents, sabotaging German operations, and holding onto hope that they might one day reunite with their loved ones. Fans of historical drama may also enjoy Unsinkable by Jenni L. Walsh and The Curse of Pietro Houdini by Derek B. Miller.

*Title availability may vary.