5 Books to Bring on Your Honeymoon

Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell
Eleanor and Park are high school misfits madly in love. As anyone who hasn’t blocked out their high school years will remember, there is no love more vibrant, more earth-shaking, or more heart-rending than the love that is sparked between study hall and gym class. Eleanor and Park are as entranced by their differences from one another as their are their similarities, and must help one another navigate increasingly complex lives in order to give their union a fighting chance. Be prepared for this book to transport you back to the moment you came face to face with love for the first time, and then make you thank your lucky stars you never have to go back to high school.

Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walter
Looking for travel, wonder, excitement, and a love that spans decades and continents? Look no further than this epic tale from the never-disappointing Jess Walter. This big-budget story begins with a missed opportunity in the Italian Riviera in 1962, and picks up again half a century later in Hollywood. Readers are taken on a joyride of a love story that will make you wish you could stay on vacation with your true love forever. With its windswept pacing, glamour-filled settings, and vivacious characters, this novel hits all the marks for prime honeymoon reading material. We recommend cracking it open on the plane to get your whirlwind honeymoon vibe on ASAP.

Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts
At first glance, this book might seem a little heavy for a honeymoon pick. Indeed, it does feature some serious subject matter—after all, the lead character, Lin, is an escaped convict who has a knack for entangling himself with a criminal element. But don’t be fooled, since at its heart, the novel is really about two things: love and freedom. Lin’s lot is constrained by his circumstances; he’s on the run from the law in 1980s Bombay with seriously limited resources. Yet somehow, he manages to embrace a sense of optimism, compassion, and adventure, stopping along the way to fall passionately in love with a mysterious stranger. Although Lin’s luck is unpredictable and quick to desert him, he proves again and again that love is the only antidote to suffering. This novel is sure to leave its mark on your inner world, and it’s so good you just might have to read it again before your first anniversary.

Far From the Madding Crowd, by Thomas Hardy
This classic tale follows the life and times of one Bathsheba Everdene, a ferociously independent young women determined to run her inherited farm on her own. As though she didn’t have enough on her hands, Bathsheba can barely keep up with the constant parade of suitors marching onto the scene. What follows is an unrelenting competition for Bathsheba’s hand, complete with wounded egos, broken hearts, and one actual murder. The reader can decide if the marriage that at last takes place has been worth the chaos. The first of master auteur Hardy’s novels to be set in his fictional English county of Wessex, this novel conjures up the spirit of a gritty, passionate way of rural life that thrived before the rise of industry.

The Best of Me, by Nicholas Sparks
What would a honeymoon reading list be without a healthy dose of Nicholas Sparks? The author of The Notebook is truly one of the masters of the contemporary love story, and The Best of Me is one of his most poignant works. Amanda and Dawson are from opposite sides of town—so much so that only fate could have brought them together. They’re instantly smitten and determined to live happily ever after, until an unforeseen event appears to pry their destinies apart forever. Reunited years later, will they be able to bridge the divide between their two worlds? Grab a chaise lounge and some sunscreen and find out for yourself.
What are you bringing to read on your honeymoon?