Not all great adventures begin with a plane ticket. Some begin with the right book.
Whether you're already living abroad, planning your move, or simply dreaming of a life that stretches beyond the familiar.
The Expat Pursuit Book Club is your curated companion for the journey.
Every month, we recommend books for expats and global travelers that do what no relocation checklist ever could: they show you what it feels like to uproot your life, adapt to a new culture, fall in love with a foreign place, and build something meaningful far from home.
Told through the voices of writers who lived it, from the vineyards of Tuscany to the back streets of Casablanca, these are the reads that expand your perspective, challenge your comfort zone, and remind you why you wanted this life in the first place.
River Town by Peter Hessler
This book shows the everyday life, culture, and challenges of being an expat in a small town in China with language and culture barriers. It helps readers understand how it feels to adapt to a new place and build connections. It is a great read for anyone interested in travel, culture, and expat experiences.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
This book follows Santiago, a young shepherd who dreams of finding treasure in Egypt. Along his journey, he meets different people who teach him about listening to his heart and following his dreams. The story shows how taking risks and trusting yourself can lead to personal growth and discovery. It is ideal for those who love travel because the journey across different countries and cultures is central to the story and inspires a sense of adventure.
Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
After a painful divorce, American writer Frances Mayes impulsively buys a dilapidated 500-year-old villa in Tuscany and begins restoring it with her partner while immersing herself in the rhythms of Italian village life, food, and community. Through the changing seasons, she reflects on love, loss, and renewal, discovering what it truly means to feel at home in a foreign place. The 2003 film adaptation starring Diane Lane is a looser, more romantic version focused on finding love and a fresh start. Travelers and expats especially enjoy the book for its honest and heartfelt portrayal of the challenges, wonders, and deep satisfaction of building a new life abroad.
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
In this book a British couple impulsively buy a 200-year-old stone farmhouse in the Luberon region of southern France and move there to start a new life. The book charmingly chronicles their first year as they renovate the crumbling property, battle with unreliable builders, and slowly adapt to the rhythms of Provençal village life. Through the seasons, Mayle humorously observes the local customs, food, weather, and colorful characters that make up daily life in rural France.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
This book tells the story of the Price family, who move from the United States to the Congo in 1959 so the father can work as a missionary. The family struggles to adapt to a new culture, environment, and political changes, and each family member reacts differently to their experience. Over time, tragedy and conflict change their lives, and the daughters grow and choose very different paths. Travellers should read it because it gives a powerful insight into life in another country and shows how culture, history, and place can shape people’s experiences.
The Caliph’s House by Tahir Shah
In The Caliph’s House, British author Tahir Shah impulsively buys a crumbling mansion in Casablanca, Morocco, and embarks on a chaotic yet hilarious journey to restore it while navigating unreliable builders, eccentric locals, and ancient superstitions. Through the process, he gradually immerses himself in Moroccan culture, customs, and daily life. Travelers and expats especially enjoy this book for its honest and humorous portrayal of the challenges, surprises, and deep rewards of starting a new life in a foreign country.
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