Sometimes a book doesn’t just tell a story — it makes you want to pack a bag and start over somewhere new. These five follow women reinventing themselves in a new place, and reading them might just talk you into doing the same.
Bonnie Garmus
Lessons in Chemistry
Fantastic — genuinely one of the best books I’ve read. I’m just not sure I’d ever reread it; it’s the kind of story that lands so completely the first time that a second pass feels unnecessary.
Ali Hazelwood
The Love Hypothesis
A good, smutty read that’s exactly as fun as everyone says. I’m genuinely excited for the movie adaptation.
Alison Espach
The Wedding People
This one found me at exactly the right time — I was on my own journey of self-discovery when I read it, and it met me there. Also just a genuinely good summer read on top of that.
Marisa Kashino
Best Offer Wins
A satirical thriller about a woman trying to buy a house that sounds absurd until you’re two days in and can’t stop. There’s no one to root for here — the main character spirals and becomes so unlikable so fast that watching her unravel is exactly what keeps you turning pages.
Rachel Lynn Solomon
What Happens in Amsterdam
I picked this up on a whim two days after getting laid off, and it turned out to be exactly the escape I needed. Dani moves to Amsterdam for a tech job that ends up being a nightmare, but finds something better waiting for her there — both in her career and in an old flame. This book met me at the right time in my life.
Marin Robinson 