Summer Reading for Happy Trails

All it took was Year 2 of a global pandemic, combined with a great deal on Amazon Prime Day, for me to finally break down and purchase a Kindle e-reader. (I may have been the last person in Seattle without one.) The ability to borrow library books digitally is hugely useful for my nomadic lifestyle, but I still prefer print media — even though my husband rolls his eyes alarming back into his head at my teetering piles of magazines, newspapers, hardcovers and paperbacks. Taking up precious luggage space, no less!

In my defense, however, I often meet interesting people on our travels through the ice-breaker of comparing what we’re physically reading — something you can’t very well do when you’re staring at glowing screens — and my load gets lighter as I bequeath my dead tree materials to my new friends or leave them behind the next crop of hotel guests to enjoy.

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I’ve gravitated towards historical fiction and memoirs, especially with descriptive language about the food and scenery. When considering a selection of summer reading recs for or about trailing spouses, here’s a diverse list with something for everyone, with links to their Goodreads descriptions:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

We’ve already run a blog post by Kristin Duncombe about how she triumphed over her tough newlywed years with her husband’s Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières projects in East Africa; check back in July for updates from author Katie Crouch on how her Namibia experiences inspired her novel; artist P.K. Mahanandia on what happened after he and his bicycle arrived in Sweden; and Marcie Mayfield on her “compelling, non-linear” storytelling.

In the meantime, here are my 2-sentence reviews:

Embassy Wife
Fun, twisty, Namibia-based “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” for expats — and the exasperated locals who often humor them. (Also a good palate cleanser after watching “The White Lotus.”) Check out author Katie Crouch’s Q&A for more on how her experiences inspired the novel.

The Amazing Story of the Man Who Cycled From India to Europe for Love
Great story, but title misleads and parts get lost in translation. Would make a better Bollywood movie or Netflix miniseries (perhaps starring “The White Tiger” lead Adarsh Gourav).

Trailing: A Memoir
No punches pulled. Read this to feel better about your own tough relocation!

The Heir Affair (sequel to The Royal We)
Leaving your country and career behind is hard enough for any trailing spouse; imagine also giving up your freedom and privacy? Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle fans (if not the duchesses themselves) will enjoy this alternate-universe version of the British royal family.

Em’s Awful Good Fortune
Rock chick weds roadie — then deals with two decades of family separations and overseas moves for his career. Inspired by real life (check out Marcie Maxfield’s blog post) and inspires reader introspection about all the compromises we make as “tagalong” partners.

What’s on your shelf? Got a recommendation for our readers? Comment below or reach out to our team at hello@trailing-spouse.com.