As a frequent traveler and full-time digital nomad, I’ve flown tens of thousands of miles over the past few years. I take my Kindle Paperwhite with me everywhere I go, and spend a lot of time thinking about what book to choose for plane rides. The last thing you want when you’re stuck in a plane for hours on end, especially when there’s no Wi-Fi, is to be trudging through a slow read. You want a book that’s a page-turner, and keeps you interested the entire way through.
Need a few recommendations for your next trip? We’re here to help. Below, 17 captivating books you can start and finish on your next long-haul flight, organized by length, starting with the shortest read. (To approximate how long it will take the average reader to finish a book, we assumed an average reading speed of 300 words per minute, then divided the number of words of a chosen book by 300 to get an average reading time in minutes.)
These book recommendations are a mix of favorites of mine and fellow travelers, from coming of age novels and chilling memoirs to unique thrillers that will have you on the edge of your seat. They take between four and 13 hours to read, so whether you’re going cross-country or skipping continents, there’s a book to fill the time. You’ll notice a mix of contemporary novels and classics that are readily available at major airport bookshops, should you need to pick up a last-minute read, as well as on your e-reader of choice.
Looking for more of our favorite books for travelers? Check out the most recent installment of the Women Who Travel book club.
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