15 BookTok Reads That Are Perfect for Solo Travel (or Your Next Solo

The other day, I took myself out on a solo date to a restaurant. No small talk, no distractions. I was nervous to do something like that, but honestly, it was so nice.

Solo moments like that, whether you’re traveling, reading, dining, or wandering. are underrated. They create space to think, heal, imagine, and get to know yourself again. Bringing a book along is like inviting the perfect travel companion who doesn’t talk over your thoughts, but gently expands them, making it a necessity.

That’s why I’ve curated this list of BookTok-beloved books to take with you when you’re doing things alone. Whether you’re sitting in a beachside café, waiting at a train station, or treating yourself to a solo sunset dinner, these reads will keep you company, and maybe even change your life a little.

Doing things alone isn’t lonely; it’s powerful.

If you want a little romance (and a lot of serotonin):

1. Love and Other Words – Christina Lauren

Childhood friends turned strangers reconnect after a decade apart. This will make your heart ache in the best way. You’ll remember what it felt like to have a crush that grew up with you.

2. Happy Place – Emily Henry

A couple fakes being together during a weeklong vacation with friends—even though they broke up.

This one is bittersweet but full of heart. This is perfect if you’re reflecting on relationships and how people change.

3. The Spanish Love Deception – Elena Armas

She needs a fake boyfriend for a wedding in Spain. Cue the grumpy-sunshine tension. This one is filled with serious rom-com energy and will make you smile to yourself in public places— ideal for long layovers or when you need a boost of joy.

If you want to think about life (and cry a little):

4. It Ends With Us – Colleen Hoover

A young woman falls in love, but must confront trauma from her past. This one is emotionally intense.

Great if you want to feel deeply and reflect on patterns, boundaries, and strength.

5. Everything I Know About Love – Dolly Alderton

A memoir about growing up, dating, female friendship, and self-worth. It feels like having wine with your smartest, most emotionally honest friend.

6. The Anthropocene Reviewed – John Green

Essays reviewing random things (like sunsets, scratch-and-sniff stickers, etc.) with surprising emotional resonance.

This will make you appreciate small, ordinary moments— like the way your coffee tastes at a foreign café or how quiet a train station feels at night.

If you want fantasy escapism while people-watching:

7. Fourth Wing – Rebecca Yarros

A deadly war college for dragon riders, a fierce protagonist, and a high-stakes romance.

You won’t be able to put it down. This book is addictive— perfect if you want something fast-paced and immersive.

8. Daughter of the Moon Goddess – Sue Lynn Tan

Inspired by Chinese mythology, a girl leaves her celestial home to save her mother.

This feels like reading a Studio Ghibli film—lush, romantic, and otherworldly. Great for solo nighttime reading.

If you want mystery, thrill, or dark academia:

9. The Secret History – Donna Tartt

A group of elite classics students commit a murder and slowly unravel.

This makes you feel smart and sinister. This book is perfect for moody European solo trips or when you want to disappear into a dark academic world.

10. Verity – Colleen Hoover

A struggling writer uncovers terrifying secrets in a bestselling author’s unfinished manuscript.

This book is best described as disturbing, fast, and wildly addictive. It will keep you awake in your hostel bed, heart pounding.

11. Babel – R.F. Kuang

A dark academia epic about language, colonialism, and rebellion at Oxford.

I appreciate how it is intellectually satisfying and emotionally devastating. This is ideal for long train rides when you want to feel everything and learn something too.

If you want quiet, comforting reads that feel like a warm hug:

12. The House in the Cerulean Sea – TJ Klune

A caseworker for magical children visits a mysterious orphanage and finds unexpected love and purpose.

This book is like a fairy tale for grown-ups— wholesome, kind, and emotionally healing.

13. Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert

A nonfiction book about creativity, fear, and making art anyway.

I love how inspiring and gentle this book is. This is great if you’re traveling solo to reflect, start a project, or reconnect with yourself.

If you’re going through a personal transition or soul-searching:

14. Crying in H Mart – Michelle Zauner

A memoir about grief, food, and Korean-American identity.

This book will make you miss your mom, your culture, and everyone you’ve ever loved—but also help you feel seen.

15. Tiny Beautiful Things – Cheryl Strayed

A collection of advice columns written under the pseudonym “Sugar.”

This reads like handwritten letters from someone who’s been through everything and survived. Perfect for some solo travel.