Beyond The Pages
Books shape our perspective on the world. They might also determine your next vacation spot. Imagine walking the same streets as beloved characters or seeing views that inspired famous authors. That’s literature in action.
Book Lovers By Emily Henry: Asheville, North Carolina
Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is the best backdrop to reenact your own Emily Henry romance. Though Sunshine Falls is fictional, the charming small mountain towns surrounding Asheville inspired this literary setting. The city's natural scenery creates that cozy, small-town feel.
Asheville, North Carolina
That is precisely what made readers fall in love with Nora and Charlie's story. Be sure to visit Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe while you're downtown. It's the real-life version of Goode Books from the novel. After browsing for your next read, explore the magnificent Biltmore Estate.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry - Book Review by nikki's book nook
The Nightingale By Kristin Hannah: Paris, France
The history of Paris during WWII comes alive when you've read Kristin Hannah's unforgettable novel about resistance fighters. Start your literary pilgrimage at the Museum of the Liberation of Paris, which chronicles the Nazi occupation and the brave Parisians who fought back.
THE NIGHTINGALE BY KRISTIN HANNAH [BOOK REVIEW!!!] by Bookables
Paris, France
This is similar to Vianne and Isabelle in the book. The museum's artifacts and personal stories provide profound context for the fictional struggles in the novel. Wandering the streets of Paris today, it's hard to imagine the hardships depicted in The Nightingale, but historic sites remain as proof.
William Jexpire, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons
Every Summer After By Carley Fortune: Barry's Bay, Ontario
What makes Carley Fortune's romance novel so thrilling is that Barry's Bay is a real place you can visit. This idyllic lakeside town in Ontario served as the setting for Percy and Sam's summer love story. Barry's Bay provides the authentic Canadian cottage country experience.
book besties in barry's bay: living
Barry's Bay, Ontario
While swimming in Kamaniskeg Lake, you'll understand why Percy was so drawn to these waters year after year. The locals are friendly and welcoming, just as they're portrayed in the book. Rent a cottage on the lake to truly immerse yourself in the environment.
Normal People By Sally Rooney: Dublin, Ireland
Trinity College Dublin forms the heart of Sally Rooney's acclaimed novel. It shapes the complex relationship between Connell and Marianne. Walking through the historic campus, with its cobblestone pathways and 18th-century architecture, you'll feel an immediate connection to the characters' formative college years.
Normal People by Sally Rooney - Book Review by nikki's book nook
Dublin, Ireland
The Long Room library, with its barrel-vaulted ceiling and 250,000 ancient books, personifies the intellectual world in which Marianne thrives. Beyond Trinity, Dublin has numerous places to channel your inner Rooney character. Don’t forget to visit Grogan's Castle Lounge, a traditional Irish pub.
Rafa Esteve, Wikimedia Commons
A Court Of Thorns And Roses By Sarah J Maas: Zermatt, Switzerland
Though you can't visit the magical Night Court from Sarah J Maas's series, Zermatt's dramatic alpine scenery evokes Velaris with its beauty. The car-free village, featuring cute shops and a winding river, has the vibe that made readers totally fall for Rhysand's domain.
I FINALLY READ A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES BY SARAH J. MAAS by Shelly Swearingen
Zermatt, Switzerland
For the whole magical experience, take the Gornergrat Railway up the mountain for panoramic views that will make you feel like you're soaring above the clouds with Illyrian wings. In summer, you can hike among wildflower meadows that are reminiscent of the Spring Court.
The Perfect Couple By Elin Hilderbrand: Nantucket, Massachusetts
Few murder mysteries combine glamour and suspense quite like Elin Hilderbrand's Nantucket-based thriller. The island's rustic gray cedar-shingled homes and private beaches set the stage for the wealthy Winbury family's wedding weekend that goes wrong. Hilderbrand is often referred to as the “Queen of Beach Reads”.
First Page Friday: The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand by OnDemandInstruction
Nantucket, Massachusetts
This is because she has written around 24 novels featuring Nantucket. While cycling to Siasconset, you'll pass by the cranberry bogs and conservation lands that form the backdrop of Hilderbrand's novels. Also, don't miss Brant Point Lighthouse, where pivotal scenes in the book take place.
Remarkably Bright Creatures By Shelby Van Pelt: Port Townsend, Washington
If you’re a Marine biology enthusiast, you will quickly connect with the soul of this text. It features Marcellus, an octopus narrator with remarkable intelligence and insights. Port Townsend, in Washington, closely resembles the fictional Sowell Bay, where the story unfolds.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Full Review! by BIBLIOBIBULI
Port Townsend, Washington
The Olympic Peninsula's diverse habitats support the kind of vibrant sea life that Van Pelt describes. Besides, you get to discover your own connection to marine life by visiting the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. They teach you about the cognitive abilities of octopuses.
Steven Pavlov, Wikimedia Commons
Pineapple Street By Jenny Jackson: Brooklyn Heights, New York
Those brownstones of Brooklyn Heights stand as silent witnesses to generations of old-money families. For instance, the fictional Stocktons in Jackson's sharp social satire. This historic neighborhood, New York City's first designated historic district, has over 600 pre-Civil War structures.
Brooklyn Heights, New York
It has been home to the likes of Walt Whitman and many others. To truly understand the old-money world Jackson dissects, visit the Brooklyn Historical Society, housed in an 1881 Queen Anne-style building. For an authentic taste of the lifestyle, grab breakfast at L'Appartement 4F.
Chochol00, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Wedding People By Alison Espach: Newport, Rhode Island
The Gilded Age never really ended in Newport. Here, America's wealthiest families built "summer cottages" that were, in fact, marble palaces by the sea. Espach's text brilliantly summarizes the surreal experience of working-class people serving at high-society weddings in this playground of the ultra-rich.
Book Of The Month VLOG: The Wedding People by Alison Espach 💍 🥂 by Kelli Jo
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport hosts approximately 2,000 weddings annually, with luxury venues charging upwards of $50,000 for a single evening. Anyway, begin your Newport literary journey with a tour of The Breakers, the most opulent of the mansions. This 125,000-square-foot Italian Renaissance-style palazzo was built in 1893.
User:MVASCO, Wikimedia Commons
Tom Lake By Ann Patchett: Traverse City, Michigan
The rhythms of farm life catch hold of the essence of Ann Patchett's poignant novel. This book talks about a family on a Michigan cherry farm. Traverse City, known as the "Cherry Capital of the World," produces about 40% of the nation's tart cherries.
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett | Book Review by rincey reads
Traverse City, Michigan
This very fact crafted the ideal scenario for the story of three daughters returning home during COVID-19 to help with the harvest. July's National Cherry Festival brings to life the agricultural setting of Tom Lake. Stay at a working farm B&B to experience cherry-picking firsthand.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Levi Read, Wikimedia Commons
The Paradise Problem By Christina Lauren: Bali, Indonesia
Sacred water purification rituals form a spiritual cornerstone of Balinese Hindu culture. This is something the characters in Lauren's romantic comedy uncover during their trip to Indonesia. At Tirta Empul temple, locals and visitors participate in traditional cleansing ceremonies in spring-fed pools
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The Paradise Problem and Here We Go Again | spoiler free romance book reviews ❤️ by ry reads
Bali, Indonesia
These are believed to have magical healing properties. The temple's ancient stone carvings and mist-shrouded courtyards bring about a mystical atmosphere that changes the protagonists' journey. Ubud, Bali's cultural heart, is the ideal base for exploring the island beyond its beaches.
Daisy Jones And The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Los Angeles, California
Rock 'n' roll history saturates the Sunset Strip, where fictional bands like Daisy Jones and The Six found their sound amid real music legends. The Troubadour, an iconic West Hollywood venue operating since 1957, launched careers from Elton John to Guns N' Roses.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid by WarrenNewportPL
Los Angeles, California
This place also serves as the novel's main setting where producer Teddy Price first sees the band perform. Music historians confirm the novel accurately captures the chaotic creative energy of 1970s Los Angeles, when Laurel Canyon housed a generation of singer-songwriters.
Alek Leckszas, Wikimedia Commons
Anne Of Green Gables By L M Montgomery: Prince Edward Island, Canada
These iron oxide-rich soils, contrasting dramatically with the meadows and sapphire waters, form the backdrop for Anne Shirley's adventures. Montgomery herself was deeply connected to the land, setting 19 of her 20 novels on the island and drawing extensively from her own experiences in rural communities.
Prince Edward Island, Canada
Cavendish, the inspiration for fictional Avonlea, welcomes over 125,000 literary pilgrims annually to Green Gables Heritage Place. The preserved 19th-century farm includes the Haunted Wood Trail and Lover's Lane, exactly as described in the books. Visit in July to see the island's lupines in full bloom.
Love In The Time Of Cholera By Gabriel Garcia Marquez: Cartagena, Colombia
Colonial-era love letters inspired Marquez's epic romance spanning 51 years, 9 months, and 4 days of patient devotion. The Nobel Prize-winning author was so enamored with Cartagena that before his death, he requested his ashes be divided between Mexico City and this Colombian coastal gem.
LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA by Gabriel Garcia Marquez - Review by A Booktube Channel
Cartagena, Colombia
The city’s 13-kilometer stone walls, built over two hundred years to keep pirates out, make for some great walking paths. Within the walled city, you should go to the Palace of the Inquisition, the baroque building where characters attend society functions in the novel.
Miss Benson’s Beetle By Rachel Joyce: Noumea, New Caledonia
Miss Benson’s Beetle is set partly in Noumea, a French territory in the South Pacific. The story follows Margery Benso, who goes on an entomological expedition to New Caledonia in search of proof of the elusive golden beetle she first dreamed of as a child.
Book Talk: Miss Benson's Beetle by Forsyth County Public Library
Noumea, New Caledonia (Cont.)
While travelling to this South Pacific island, nature enthusiasts can explore the same mountainous terrain that challenged Margery and her unlikely assistant Enid Pretty. New Caledonia is essentially a blend of Melanesian Kanak culture and French influences, with Noumea as a biodiversity hotspot.
The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Society By Mary Ann Shaffer: Guernsey, Channel Islands
German occupation left a remarkable mark on Guernsey, with over 12,000 reinforced structures built across the 25-square-mile island during WWII. The novel's titular literary society was inspired by actual clandestine groups formed by islanders during the 1940-1945 Nazi occupation.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - SPOILER-FREE BOOK REVIEW by Dawn Kozak
Guernsey, Channel Islands
Today, the German Occupation Museum houses an extensive collection of occupation memorabilia. These include the actual potato peelings that desperate islanders fashioned into ersatz tobacco when supplies were cut off from mainland Britain. Literary travelers should start their island exploration in St Peter Port.
Heather Cowper, Wikimedia Commons
Guernsey, Channel Islands (Cont.)
The Priaulx Library, situated in a Regency-era building, holds historical documents that informed the creation of the novel. For spectacular coastal views similar to those described in Juliet's letters, choose to walk the rugged southern cliffs where German observation towers still stand sentinel.
The Alchemist By Paulo Coelho: Egypt
Ancient Egyptian alchemists pioneered the philosophical traditions central to Coelho's spiritual fable about following one's Personal Legend. The Royal Library of Alexandria, though destroyed in antiquity, contained the greatest collection of alchemical texts. Now, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, reopened in 2002, pays homage to this lost treasury.
Why should you read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho? by William Dozier
Egypt
Santiago's pyramid-seeking journey leads visitors to Giza, where the Great Pyramid remains the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World. Built around 2560 BCE, it contains approximately 2.3 million limestone blocks. For an experience echoing the protagonist's desert epiphanies, travel to the White Desert National Park.
Ricardo Liberato, Wikimedia Commons
Where The Crawdads Sing By Delia Owens: North Carolina Marshlands
Ecological research informed Owens' descriptions of North Carolina's coastal wetlands, creating a vivid setting. Apparently, the author, a wildlife scientist with a PhD in Animal Behavior, spent around 22 years studying elephants and lions in Africa before writing her debut novel.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - Book Review by nikki's book nook
North Carolina Marshlands
This scientific background explains the accuracy of the marsh ecology descriptions, from the tidal patterns to the complex food chains that sustain Kya's isolated existence. Eastern North Carolina's Croatan National Forest offers 160,000 acres of coastal woodlands and marshes similar to Kya's fictional home.
North Carolina Marshlands (Cont.)
Tourists can kayak through blackwater cypress swamps in the nearby Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Over 250 bird species inhabit these protected wetlands. The seaside community of Beaufort, which many believe inspired the fictional Barkley Cove, maintains its small-town atmosphere with a historic district.
ncwetlands.org, Wikimedia Commons
In A Sunburned Country By Bill Bryson: Australia
10–12 of the world's twenty most venomous snakes call Australia home. This is a startling fact that Bryson uses to both terrify and enthrall his readers. The vast emptiness of the Outback, which comprises 70% of the country, creates what he calls “the perfect setting for losing things”.
Book Review: In A Sunburned Country by getbookish
Australia
Kick-start your Australian adventure in Sydney, where Bryson's journey begins, by walking across the Harbour Bridge. This is officially the world's widest steel arch bridge, containing 52,800 tonnes of steel. For a taste of the author's more remote experiences, visit Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock).
Wuthering Heights By Emily Bronte: Yorkshire Moors, England
Peat bogs up to 7,000 years old characterize the rugged Yorkshire moorlands that inspired one of literature's most tempestuous love stories. The isolation of the region—today's North York Moors National Park encompasses 554 square miles with only 23,000 permanent residents—explains the independent spirit of its characters.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (Book Review) by Life Lessons From Books
Yorkshire Moors, England
Top Withens, a ruined farmhouse near Haworth, is widely believed to have inspired the location of the Earnshaw family home. Individuals can follow the 8.5-mile circular path from the Bronte Parsonage Museum, where Emily lived and wrote, to the ruins. The museum houses original manuscripts.
The Great Gatsby By F Scott Fitzgerald: Long Island, New York
In the 1920s, Long Island's North Shore was home to more than 500 estates built by the wealthy elite, like the Vanderbilts, Whitneys, and Guggenheims. Fitzgerald even lived in Great Neck, which inspired his idea for West Egg, renting a simple house for $400 a month.
THE GREAT GATSBY, by F. Scott Fitzgerald by Diego Cardoso - Di Cultura
Long Island, New York
The grandest estate open to tourists is Oheka Castle, a 127-room French-style chateau built in 1919. For the ultimate Gatsby experience, drive along Northern Boulevard past the gated estates while listening to 1920s jazz, then head to Sands Point Preserve, where you can tour Hempstead House.
