For the last couple of years, I've shared the perfect books to travel the world from your own couch (check out my other Top Holidays Reads here) so today I am bringing you a brand new list with 10 stories set all around the world. Get ready to discover some amazing new places! 

If you also love travelling through books, don't miss our route. There's a book for everyone:

Somewhere Beyond the Sea: St Ives, Cornwall (UK).

Miranda Dickinson's latest book is a gorgeous story about love, family and hope. But it is also a love letter to St Ives and its beautiful beaches. This story really reminded me how to appreciate the little things and the joy they bring and let me discover a part of the UK that I haven't had the pleasure of visiting yet (stress on the YET). 

Read my 5 stars review here | Get it now!

The Temptation of Gracie: Tuscany, Italy.

Santa Montefiore's new book is set in a stunning castle in Tuscany. With its dual time line, you get to discover this magical place both nowadays and the sixties and it is impossible not to fall in love with it. The descriptions of the stunning scenery and delicious food are generous and detailed and you can easily picture the castle and the village next to it in your mind perfectly.

Read my 4 stars review here | Get it now!

You Me Everything: the South of France.

This story by Catherine Isaac is one of my favorite books of the year so far. I loved the plot, I loved the characters and I loved the setting. Well, I loved everything. The story is about single mum Jess and her ten-year-old son William and their summer in France, where William's father has renovated a castle as a holiday resort. It's easy get lost in the stunning scenery of Château de Roussignol. A beautiful story about love, about family, about friendship, about life...

Read my 5 stars review here | Get it now!

The Hideaway: Valencia, Spain.

In her latest book, Sheila O'Flanagan takes us to Spain. Main character, Juno, is grieving the loss of a very important person for her so she decides to take some time off and stay at the family villa of a friend in Valencia. Villa Naranja is not in the coast but a bit inland and has its own swimming pool and orange grove. The highlight of this story was the setting for me. Juno got to discover the local festivities and enjoy the Spanish way of live. 

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One Thousand Stars and You: Sri Lanka.

I couldn't do a holiday reads list without including one of Isabelle Broom's amazing stories. In her latest book, she takes us on a stunning tour of Sri Lanka. Full of magical moments, heart-melting romance and intense emotions, One Thousand Stars and You is unmissable. I felt completely in love with this story and its characters and I am now 100 % obsessed with Sri Lanka and its food. 

Read my 5 stars review here | Get it now!

Chasing the Sun: Great Ocean Road & Sydney, Australia

This is the fourth book in The Lonely Hearts Travel Club Series and after loving Georgia's adventures all around the globe, I was really looking forwards to joining her in her new trip down under. From the worst hostel ever and a certain big Willy in her road trip to the crazy wedding in Sydney, Georgia is definitely in for the adventure of a life time. 

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The Summer of Impossible Things: New York

Rowan Coleman makes us believe that the impossible is possible and takes us in a journey like no other. We follow Luna and her sister to Brooklyn after their mother's death. For some inexplicable reason, Luna discovers that she is able to travel to 1977, the year that changed their mother's life forever. I loved discovering the seventies through her eyes. I could easily picture a disco obsessed Brooklyn getting ready for the release of Saturday Night Fever. A truly magical novel.

Still Me: New York

And if you enjoyed discovering Brooklyn with The Summer of Impossible Things, then you will love discovering Manhattan with Jojo Moyes' latest addition to the Me Before You Series. Louisa Clark arrives in New York ready to start a new life, thanks to her job with a superrich family, she begins to mix in New York high society. I loved discovering this more glamorous part of the city and the story was full of heart. Louisa is always there to remind us to live boldly.

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The Wonder of Us: Eurotrip 

If you don't have time to read all the books above to do some couch-traveling, then I highly recommend you pick Kim Culbertson's new book. Riya and Abby travel all around Europe to discover its hidden wonder. With stops at Milan, Zurich, Berlin, Edinburgh, Reykjavik and London, The Wonder of Us is a fun coming of age tale that will make you want to pack your suitcases and join these two in their euroadventures. 

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I have just finished this lovely book and although it is set in the fictional Cornish village of Polwhipple, this story captures perfectly the beauty of the Cornish scenery: golden sandy beaches, ice-cream parlours, surfers and a great community spirit. It also mentions real locations like neighbouring town Newquay or the historical Bodmin railway with it murder mystery nights.

A truly special and magical story that will bring lots of sunshine to your life. Mojácar is a little town on the south coast of Spain and a hidden gem full of stories, laughs, love, beautiful views and a bit of magic. I had never heard about it before reading this story, but as usual, Isabelle Broom has convinced me to visit asap.

The Legacy of Lucy Harte: South of France

This novel by Emma Heatherington is one of those stories that not only touches you but also inspires you to enjoy life and don't get lost in the minor details and obstacles. It also raises awareness in a very important issue, that is organ donors. And a great part of it is set in the beautiful south of France, with the amazing Millau Viaduct playing a big role. 

This is a very heart-warming and fun story by debut author Jenna Evans Welch that will make you want to take the first plane to Italy. The characters are very well developed and interesting and thanks to them we get to discover the beautiful Tuscany and the stunning Florence. Reading about their adventures in the north of Italy is a real treat and you really feel like you are there with them.

If you also love travelling through time, then you'll love Dinah Jefferies' new book. With Before the Rains she takes us to India in the twenties. With her generous and mesmerising descriptions, it's easy to picture that era, with its rich royal families and water palaces, all contrasting with the extreme poverty of its people. A mesmerising read.

Read my 5 stars review here | Get it now!

If you are looking for a darker read but you still want to explore a new country, then this is perfect for you. With a really face paced and descriptive narrative, C.L. Taylor takes you in a dark and scary journey to Nepal. As you read (a better way to put it would be devour) this thriller, you soon realise that you have no idea what is going to happen next, and even less who you can trust.

With Paige Toon's latest book, we get to visit not only one destination but two! Half the book is set in beautiful Cornwall and a very important part is set in stunning Thailand. Perfect, isn't it? Plus, this book and its characters are brilliant. A story like no other. It made me cry, it made me laugh, but above all, it made me care.

Read my 5 stars review here | Get it now!

This is the third book in The Lonely Hearts Travel Club Series and after loving Georgia's adventures in Thailand and in India, I was really looking forwards to joining her in her new adventure. Katy Colins does a great job describing this new place to us. She has a special way of making you picture yourself there, walking in the streets of Santiago or taking selfies with a llama. She certainly knows how to spark my wanderlust.

The first time I went up The Top of the Rock, I fell a bit in love with this city.

The Hamptons - Urlaubguru

July is here! How did this even happen? Oh well, this means that with the new month, new books are coming our way! I have the impression that this month doesn't have that many new releases (probably everyone is on holiday) but there are a few that have me really excited:

The Summer of Serendipity by Ali McNamara - July 13th

You'll find a warm welcome in the latest novel from Ali McNamara, bestselling author of The Little Flower Shop by the Sea and From Notting Hill with Love, Actually

One summer, property seeker, Serendipity Parker finds herself on the beautiful west coast of Ireland, hunting for a home for a wealthy Irish client. But when she finds the perfect house in the small town of Ballykiltara, there's a problem; nobody seems to know who owns it.

'The Welcome House' is a local legend. Its front door is always open for those in need of shelter, and there's always a plentiful supply of food in the cupboards for the hungry or poor. 

While Ren desperately tries to find the owner to see if she can negotiate a sale, she begins to delve deeper into the history and legends that surround the old house and the town. But for a woman who has always been focussed on her work, she's remarkably distracted by Finn, the attractive manager of the local hotel.

But will she ever discover the real truth behind the mysterious 'Welcome House'? Or will the house cast its magical spell over Ren and help her to find true happiness?

Why so excited: well, her Actually series is still one of my favorite series ever, so whenever Ali McNamara releases a new book, I'm always really curious. It sounds like a lovely story.

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Coming Home to Cuckoo's Cottage by Heidi Swain - July 13th

From the bestelling author of Mince Pies and Mistletoe at the Christmas Market and The Cherry Tree Café comes a glorious summer treat of glamping, vintage tearooms and love ...

When Lottie Foster’s grandmother’s best friend Gwen dies, she leaves Lottie her lovely home, Cuckoo Cottage.

Lottie loves the cottage but Matt, a charming local builder, points out that beneath its charm it is falling apart. Luckily he is always on hand to help with the problems that somehow seem to keep cropping up. But is he just a bit too good to be true? Certainly Will, Lottie’s closest neighbour, seems to think so.

Lottie plans to set up her own business renovating vintage caravans. She hasn’t told anyone about the project she has cooked up with Jemma from The Cherry Tree Café to repurpose Gwen’s old caravan and turn it into a gorgeous tearoom.

But before she can finally enjoy living with her legacy she must uncover who she can trust, and who to avoid. And with two men vying for her attention, will she also find love?

Why so excited: although I didn't read Heidi Swain's festive book last year, I did enjoy a lot her previous summer reads so I'm really looking forward to discovering Cuckoo Cottage and its lovely characters. 

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Together by Julie Cohen - July 13th

Is this a great love story?

Or a story about great love?

You decide.

On a morning that seems just like any other, Robbie wakes in his bed, his wife Emily asleep beside him, as always. He rises and dresses, makes his coffee, feeds his dogs, just as he usually would. But then he leaves Emily a letter and does something that will break her heart. As the years go back all the way to 1962, Robbie's actions become clearer as we discover the story of a couple with a terrible secret - one they will do absolutely anything to protect.

Why so excited: Julie Cohen's stories are always really special and she always surprises me with unexpected twists and fascinating characters and this new book looks and sounds very promising.

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A powerfully told story of the love between two brothers in the aftermath of a family tragedy

Griff and Dylan are driving into Manhattan with their parents when the worst happens. There is a terrible car accident and Dylan and Griff¹s parents are killed.

The boys are suddenly orphans with nowhere to go, until a kind aunt and uncle give them a new home in Wales. Now Dylan and Griff have everything they need ­ love, a happy home and a future. But Dylan is worried about Griff: whether he is OK, whether he is coping with his grief. He doesn¹t seem to want to speak about it or really acknowledge the loss of their parents.

But Dylan needs to be even braver than Griff, because there is something very important he needs to face up to before he can move on.

The heartbreaking new novel from award-winning author Hayley Long.

Why so excited: Quite surprisingly I have never read a book by Hayley Long, but given that this year I am enjoying YA immensely and that I have only heard great about this author, I have decided to read this one. Plus, how beautiful is the cover?

Chasing the Sun by Katy Colins - July 27th

Georgia Green is on the conveyor belt to happiness.

Live-in boyfriend, perfect career and great friends, it seems like Georgia is only a Tiffany box away from her happily ever after. But when she arrives in Australia for her best friend’s wedding and is faced with the bridezilla from hell, she starts to realise that she might not want the cookie-cutter ending she thought.

What was meant to be a trip full of sunny days at the beach and wedding planning over cocktails, has turned into another problem for her to fix – just like the ones she’d left behind. With hardly any time for her boyfriend, let alone herself, it feels like there is just too much to juggle. It might be time for Georgia to step off the conveyor belt to find the balance in life and see if she really can have it all…

Why so excited: remember Georgia Green? We followed her to Thailand, India and Chile in The Lonely Hearts Travel Club series and now she is taking us to Australia. Georgia is a character that I love and Katy Colins' fun and fresh style make this the perfect summer read. Who's coming to Australia with us?

Order it now! 

The Lonely Hearts Travel Club is back! This time, our favourite backpacker, Georgia Green, travels to Chile with boyfriend Ben to take part in a reality show. I had a lot of fun following them around and I cannot wait for more adventures with her. Read my thought of Destination Chile here:

Title: Destination Chile (The Lonely Hearts Travel Club #3)

Author: Katy Colins

Published: September 22nd 2016 by Carina

Amazon | Amazon UK

Review: This series is just getting better and better. After loving Georgia's adventures in Thailand and in India, I was really looking forwards to joining her in her new adventure: Chile. This time though, she is not travelling alone as it seems that things with new boyfriend Ben are going well and both of them are invited to take part in a reality show that will take them to this beautiful country. The reality is about couple who have a business together and during their stay in Chile there are several challenges, where the couples have to compete with each other.

As you can imagine, the whole thing doesn't go as smoothly as they first thought and you find yourself laughing out loud almost non-stop. I really enjoyed reading about the whole experience, especially discovering this new side of Georgia, as part of a couple and of a team. We know that after everything she's gone through, she doesn't trust easily so I was really curious to see how well (or bad) Georgia and Ben worked together.

But the book is not only about the show, Katy Colins takes us to Chile and as usual, she does a great job describing this new place to us (at least new to me, as I've never been there but now I'd love to visit it!). She has a special way of making you picture yourself there, walking in the streets of Santiago or taking selfies with a llama. She also has the power of making me check flights to the other end of the world every time I read one of her books. She certainly knows how to spark my wanderlust.

Destination Chile is another winner by Katy Colins. It's full of surprises, laughs and craziness but it also has a more serious part that balances the story perfectly. If you haven't met Georgia Green yet, you are missing out. She is one of the most fun characters you can find and I'm absolutely loving discovering the world through her eyes. I'm already looking forward to a new adventure.  

Rating: 5 stars

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

September is around the corner and it comes packed with new and exciting titles. I've had the pleasure of already reading some of them and I can't tell you how good they are. I'm also really excited to read new installments in some of my favourite series and also to start with my Christmas reading! 

Alex loves his family, and yet he struggles to connect with his eight-year-old autistic son, Sam. The strain has pushed his marriage to the breaking point. So Alex moves in with his merrily irresponsible best friend on the world’s most uncomfortable blow-up bed.

As Alex navigates single life, long-buried family secrets, and part-time fatherhood, his son begins playing Minecraft. Sam’s imagination blossoms and the game opens up a whole new world for father and son to share. Together, they discover that sometimes life must fall apart before you can build a better one.

Inspired by the author’s own relationship with his autistic son, A Boy Made of Blocks is a tear-jerking, funny, and, most, of all true-to-life novel about the power of difference and one very special little boy.

Why so excited: This is unmissable. I've already read it and I can tell you that it will be one of my books of the year. A very special story that will touch many hearts. 

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Autumn at the Star and Sixpence by Holly Hepburn - September 6th

As autumn starts to draw in and the nights are getting darker, the fire is lit at the Star and Sixpence and Nessie and Sam start to turn their thoughts to the annual bonfire night. The village comes together every year to celebrate the turning of the season and this year is going to be extra-special.

Why so excited: This is the 4th installment in the Star and Sixpence series. I really enjoyed the first three parts so I'm really curious to find out what happens next! 

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The Girl from the Savoy by Hazel Gaynor - September 8th 

The new rich and compelling novel from the author of The Girl Who Came Home. Perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Rachel Hore.

Dolly Lane is a dreamer; a downtrodden maid who longs to dance on the London stage, but the outbreak of war takes everything from her: Teddy, the man she loves – and her hopes of a better life.

When she secures employment as a chambermaid at London’s grandest hotel, The Savoy, Dolly’s proximity to the dazzling guests makes her yearn for a life beyond the grey drudgery she was born into. Her fortunes take an unexpected turn when she responds to an unusual newspaper advert and finds herself thrust into the heady atmosphere of London’s glittering theatre scene and into the sphere of the celebrated actress, Loretta May, and her brother, Perry.

All three are searching for something, yet the aftermath of war has cast a dark shadow over them all. A brighter future is tantalisingly close – but can a girl like Dolly ever truly leave her past behind?

Why so excited: This is a gem of a book. If had the pleasure of reading it already and I found it a very well researched story with many layers that delivers a lot more than you might expect. Highly recommended!

Order it now! 

Destination Chile by Katy Colins - September 22nd

Welcome to Paradise

Next on her bucket list Georgia Green is heading to Chile, but this time she’s not going alone…

The new favourite series for fans of The Curvy Girls Club, theShopaholic series and Eat, Pray, Love.

Join Georgia Green for a romantic trip into the sunset…

Why so excited: This is the year of Katy Colins, I am loving her The Lonely Hearts Travel Series and I can't wait to explore a new continent with her. If you haven't picked one of her books yet, you are missing out!

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The Deviants by C J Skuse - September 22nd

THEN

Ella, Max, Corey, Fallon and Zane.

The Fearless Five, inseparable as children growing up in a sleepy English seaside town. But when Max’s older sister is killed, the friendship seems to die with her.

NOW

Only Max and Ella are in touch, still best friends and a couple since they were thirteen. But Ella is hiding things – like why she’s afraid to take their relationship to the next level. And when underdog Corey is bullied, the Fearless Five are brought back together again, teaming up to wreak havoc and revenge on those who have wronged them.

But when the secrets they are keeping can no longer be kept quiet, will their fearlessness be enough to save them from themselves?

Why so excited: How cool does this look? I am very intrigued by this story and I've only heard praise about it. Luckily I've got an advance copy so I'll be diving in very soon. 

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This year spend a wonderful Christmas on Juniper Island, where love can melt even the iciest of hearts… 

Piper Chesterfield lives a glamorous life travelling the world and reviewing the finest hotels. She calls nowhere home, she works alone and that’s how she likes it. For long ago Piper decided that to protect her heart she should lock it away. 

So when Piper’s next assignment brings her to the newly opened Stardust Lake Hotel for the festive season, the last person she expects to face is Gabe Whitaker, the man who broke her heart so completely she could never love again. 

But Piper isn’t the only one who has been frozen in time by heartbreak. Gabe hasn’t forgotten the golden-eyed girl who disappeared from his world without a trace. 

Now fate has reunited them on Juniper island, can the magic of Christmas heal old wounds? And can this enchanting town be the one place Piper can finally call home?

Why so excited: With September, the first Christmas books are starting to arrive! I love Christmas stories and Holly Martin's new one couldn't sound more christmassy. I'll probably be my next read because I just can resist Holly's books! 

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Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafè by Debbie Johnson - September 23rd

Becca Fletcher hates Christmas so much, she’s considering getting ‘Bah Humbug!’ tattooed on her forehead. She has her reasons for being Little Miss Grinch; Reasons that make this the very worst time of year for her.

Now, though, she can’t avoid her version of ho-ho-hell – because she’s travelling to the Comfort Food Cafe to spend the festive season with her sister Laura, and her family. She’s expecting mulled wine, the smell of pine trees, 24-hour Christmas movie marathons and all kinds of very merry torture.

But little does Becca know that the Comfort Food Cafe is like no other place on earth. Perched on a snow-covered hill on a windswept bay, it’s a place full of friendship; a place where broken hearts can heal, and a place where new love can blossom. It’s a place where Becca’s Christmas miracle really could happen – if only she can let it…

Inviting readers new and old to pull up a cosy armchair, Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe is the novella-length follow-up to the 2016 best-seller Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe.

Why so excited: I adored Summer at the Comfort Food Cafè so I'm really excited to be back at this magical place. I hope we'll catch up with old friends but also meet new ones. I'm sure the cafè will be just as special during Christmas!

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