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When You Need a Vacation… Reading Makes a Great Getaway
Savor your vacation reading beyond the words.
The books you read on vacation don’t just pass the time—they soften an afternoon, relieve the aches of a long travel day, or add a sense of comfort and understanding to the place you’ve landed.
At Beyond Beaches, we love the way reading shapes your every vacation day, shifting your mood, leading your way, and tickling your curiosity…and love exploring books perfect for the way you want to experience your vacation.
Literary Cats
Well-Read, Well-Traveled, Good-Humored
Always Curious
Literary Cats serve as the collective voice of Beyond Beaches and act as thoughtful, well-read hosts who guide you toward stories that match the rhythm of your trip—whether you’re in the mood for something light and relaxing, absorbing and reflective, or something that uncovers the cultural sense of place.
We don’t review books or tell you what to read.
We simply help readers discover stories that add a touch extra to ordinary vacations.
Find the Right Books for Your Vacation
Surprise your ordinary vacation with books that quietly help you make the most of every minute. The right book not only lets you escape from where you are…reading gets you wherever you wish to be.
As any Literary Cat can tell you…
"Once you open a book's cover, the story inside whisks you away quicker than an airplane takes flight."
Cherry-Pick Books Right for Your Vacation
Here at Beyond Beaches, we plan vacations with books in mind so you can knock the socks off ordinary vacations—reading beyond where you go and traveling beyond the words you read.
Discover Books that Make you Happy
We may be letting the cat out of the literary bag, but it's true — vacation reading doesn’t just happen between the lines of literary novels.
For some vacations, the right story may be in a comic book, cozy mystery, or graphic novel…or appear on paper, on screen, or in your ear.
There is no wrong way to travel with a book at hand.
Beach Books and Beyond
Living near Alabama beaches, Literary Cats can spill the beach vacation beans: a beach book can tell any kind of story and take you almost anywhere.
Think beach reading begins and ends with one type of book? Think again.
Vacation Reading in Southern Settings
Southern books open the door to places you can go to someday—or visit today, reading one page at a time.
The warmth and rhythm of hidden tension throbs beneath the surface of a Southern story—uncovering rich settings, unforgettable characters, and a sense of place. Details unfold beneath moss-draped oaks, along quiet back roads, and in towns where history and heart shape the people who live there.
Boldly Go Where You Have Read
Some stories jump from pages, sparking curiosity and tickling imaginations…and then quietly grow into vacation journeys. Novels rooted in a vivid place—whether it’s a coastal Southern town, the streets of Paris, or the wide openness of Australia—can stir a desire to see those landscapes firsthand.
If a book’s setting has ever called your name to visit some irresistible destination, our Literary Cats want to hear about your book-inspired vacation.
The Right Book Changes Everything
The stories you bring along on vacation often shape how you remember a place, a journey, or a moment of rest. Reading becomes a travel companion…so choosing a book to share your vacation requires mindful consideration. Beyond Beaches exists to help you choose those companions with care, so your reading doesn’t compete with your vacation, but gently layers enjoyment into your memories.
Susan Rowlett
Curious About Most Everything
Susan, a lifelong reader, enjoys pairing literary settings with travel destinations and helping readers improve vacation experiences. Since 2001, she has enjoyed several book-inspired journeys, internationally and across America, often meeting fellow travelers who share the joy of reading stories that reflect the culture, history, and character of places visited. These experiences give voice to the Literary Cats who host her Beyond Beaches website, revealing insights and anecdotes learned along the way. The Thorn Birds first sparked Susan's desire to travel; continuing to read keeps her going.
We help you discover those books.