17 Books To Read (and Finish) On Your Next Long-Haul Flight
As a frequent traveler and full-time digital nomad, I’ve flown tens of thousands of miles over the past few years. I take my Kindle Paperwhite with me everywhere I go, and spend a lot of time thinking about what book to choose for plane rides. The last thing you want when you’re stuck in a plane for hours on end, especially when there’s no Wi-Fi, is to be trudging through a slow read. You want a book that's a page-turner, and keeps you interested the entire way through.
Need a few recommendations for your next trip? We're here to help. Below, 17 captivating books you can start and finish on your next long-haul flight, organized by length, starting with the shortest read. (To approximate how long it will take the average reader to finish a book, we assumed an average reading speed of 300 words per minute, then divided the number of words of a chosen book by 300 to get an average reading time in minutes.)
These book recommendations are a mix of favorites of mine and fellow travelers, from coming of age novels and chilling memoirs to unique thrillers that will have you on the edge of your seat. They take between four and 13 hours to read, so whether you're going cross-country or skipping continents, there's a book to fill the time. You’ll notice a mix of contemporary novels and classics that are readily available at major airport bookshops, should you need to pick up a last-minute read, as well as on your e-reader of choice.
Looking for more of our favorite books for travelers? Check out the most recent installment of the Women Who Travel book club.
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I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Jennette McCurdy initially captured our hearts on the early 2000s hit television show iCarly, but has since gained significant praise for her memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died. Recounting her upbringing and struggles to overcome past traumas, the book has spent over 52 weeks on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list and won the 2022 Goodreads Choice Award for best memoir. McCurdy’s writing is beautiful, engaging, and chilling.
Page count: 320
Average read time: 3 hours and 35 minutes
Be Water, My Friend by Shannon Lee
Martial artist and actor Bruce Lee’s daughter, Shannon Lee, wrote this book as a guide to her father's teachings. It’s an inspirational and profound commentary on life, learning, and self. If one of your 2024 goals is self-improvement, this is an excellent choice and can easily be finished on a flight from New York City to San Francisco or London.
Page count: 240
Average read time: 3 hours and 50 minutes
Verity by Colleen Hoover
If you're not already familiar, Colleen Hoover is a mega-popular romance and young adult author with a devoted cult following. Verity is a psychological thriller about a ghostwriter who uncovers some dark secrets when finishing a series from a different author. The character development and many twists and turns keep you captivated until the last page.
Page count: 336
Average read time: 4 hours and 15 minutes
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Fourth Wing was released halfway through 2023 and almost immediately became a number one bestseller thanks to its popularity on social media platforms. It’s a fantasy novel described as a nonstop thrill ride following a cadet training to become a dragon rider. Even if this doesn’t sound like something you’d typically go for, it’s fast-paced and engaging, making it ideal for any long-haul flight. You’ll quickly see why it won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romantasy in 2023.
Page count: 500
Average read time: 4 hours and 24 minutes
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Another Goodreads Choice Award winner, this time for the best fiction book of 2023, Yellowface deals with important topics like racism, cultural appropriation, and social media. It’s all you want from a plane read—ruthless, satirical, sharp, and compelling.
Page count: 336
Average read time: 4 hours and 29 minutes
The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden
Thrillers are bound to keep you glued to the page when you’re on a flight, and The Housemaid’s Secret is no exception. Although the novel is a sequel to The Housemaid, it can be read as a standalone book. This unique thriller revolves around a maid and her quest to uncover the secrets of the family she works for.
Page count: 227
Average read time: 4 hours and 32 minutes
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reed
Taylor Jenkins Reed is one of my favorite authors. I read Daisy Jones and the Six from cover to cover on a flight from Bogota, Colombia, to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and I had no clue I’d been in the air for six hours. The book is about a fictional band in the 1970s and their path to stardom. Rather than a standard narrative, it’s structured as an interview of each bandmate, so you get different accounts of the same story.
Page count: 355
Average read time: 4 hours and 41 minutes
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
Single mom Jess Davis uses a DNA-based matchmaking company to hopefully find love. This takes a turn when she matches with the company's owner, whom she already knows and is not fond of. This lighthearted novel will keep you laughing while developing the slow burn between the characters.
Page count: 416
Average read time: 4 hours and 59 minutes
Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Gabrielle Zevin won the Goodreads Choice Award for the best fiction novel in 2022 for Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. It’s a coming-of-age novel about friends who start a video game company. Although there are romantic themes, it’s not a traditional love story and will keep you thinking long after you finish.
Page count: 416
Average read time: 5 hours and 39 minutes
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
If you’ve read Homer’s Iliad, you will appreciate Madeline Miller's creativity in The Song of Achilles. Told from the perspective of Patroclus, it tells the story of the Trojan War but centers on the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles. It’s as much a love story as it is a fantasy novel. It’s a perfect read for your next flight to Greece.
Page count: 378
Average read time: 5 hours and 46 minutes
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A classic piece of literature, Pride and Prejudice was originally published in 1813 and continues to teach new generations essential lessons about life and love. It’s beautifully written, one of the most influential books in the past few centuries, and is easily accessible at airports throughout the country. If you haven’t already read it, consider picking it up for your next trans-Atlantic flight.
Page count: 279
Average read time: 5 hours and 56 minutes
We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian
If you have been searching for an LGBTQ romance novel, this is the one. We Could Be So Good follows working-class journalist Nick Russo and his budding friendship with the son of the owner of the newspaper, Andy Fleming, in the late 1950s. I read the first half on a flight from Bogota, Colombia, to Mexico City, Mexico, and finished it on my return flight. It’s full of love, joy, heartbreak, fear, and all of the other complex emotions queer people face daily.
Page count: 384
Average read time: 6 hours and 1 minute
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reed
Another phenomenal read from Taylor Jenkins Reed, this book explains the complex life of Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo, who was married to seven husbands, and her journey to true love. It was gripping until the very last page and is filled with several twists you cannot see coming.
Page count: 391
Average read time: 6 hours and 13 minutes
We Were Liars and Family of Liars by E. Lockhart
Although these are two separate books, you’ll want to read them together on a long flight. We Were Liars is about what happens to a not-so-perfect family on their private island one summer. The prequel is set decades before when the parents were teenagers themselves. It’s filled with secrets, deceit, and confusion that won’t become clear until the final chapters.
Page count (both books): 496
Average read time: 7 hours and 4 minutes
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Former First Lady Michelle Obama shows us a different side of herself in her memoir, Becoming. It’s deeply personal and intimate and makes the reader appreciate how powerful, intelligent, and impressive she truly is. You can find this book in 24 languages in airports worldwide.
Page count: 426
Average read time: 9 hours and 38 minutes
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Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
The five-book A Court of Thorns and Roses series has gone viral in recent years. The fifth book, A Court of Silver Flames, follows Nesta Archeron after the war with Hybern and her connection with Cassian. It’s impressively long, making it perfect for an ultra-long flight.
Page count: 768
Average read time: 13 hours and 6 minutes
