Like many avid readers out there, I often find myself needing a perfect playlist to pair with the books I read. Listening to music with similar vibes helps immerse you in the environment, making you feel like you are right there with your favorite characters. As summer approaches, it’s the perfect time to make road trip plans and break open your summer reads. While you cannot physically visit your favorite book settings, you can in your imagination. Check out these playlists inspired by fictional literary destinations to listen to on the road.
Cousin’s Beach — The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Playlist: coastal gal
If your summer escape of choice is a small beach town (bonus points if it is on the East Coast), this playlist is perfect for you. These songs will transport you to a world of nostalgia, adolescence, and romance. Staying true to the TV show adaptation’s soundtrack, this playlist is heavy on Taylor Swift love songs. Who knows, maybe you accidentally find yourself in a love triangle between two brothers along the way.
Playlist by Spotify user campbell renée
Tom Lake — Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Playlist: early spring mornings in the orchard
Tom Lake is all about family, the passage of time, and bittersweet memories. The book is set in Michigan during the summer at a cherry farm with flashbacks to a nearby summer stock theatre during the 1980s. The playlist is filled with sweet songs like Little Sparrow by Paul Alan Morris and Bloom by Paper Kites. Beware, these songs may make you feel sentimental and like sharing your entire life story with your loved ones.
Playlist by Spotify user hannah genese
The Woods of Ancient Athens — A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Playlist: Rose Hip
Reconnecting with nature this summer? This playlist (made by yours truly) will make any trip to the woods ten times more magical. Based on the iconic A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which occurs in a forest of disarray and mayhem, these songs epitomize ethereal and sublime sensations. While listening, look out for any fairies and love potions that may appear along the way.
Playlist by Spotify user elisabethsiegel
Island of Aeaea — Circe by Madeline Miller
Playlist: reading circe at 2am
Aeaea is an isolated, mythological island, rich with dense woods and a palace. Residing there was Circe, a powerful goddess known for turning Odysseus’s men into swine in the Odyssey. Madeline Miller tells Circe’s story from her female perspective, adding depth to the original myth and giving a new significance to the island. This playlist is, therefore, filled with empowering, energetic yet mysterious songs that would be perfect to listen to if you are traveling solo or on a journey of self-discovery this summer.
Playlist by Spotify user camille
Wonderland — Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Playlist: adventures in wonderland
Youthful, surreal, imaginative — Wonderland is anything but ordinary. This playlist is perfect to listen to while staring out the window on the drive, lost in your own world. The eclectic mix of artists like Ethel Cain, Adrienne Lenker, and Have A Nice Life will have you feel like you are stepping right into the mysteries of Alice’s adventures. If you easily get bored on the road, daydreaming to this playlist will help you transform any ordinary trip into a whimsical experience.
By pairing your journey with playlists inspired by literary destinations, you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of those fictional places, from coastal towns to enchanted forests. These curated playlists enhance your travels, transporting you into the moods of the stories and making every mile feel like an adventure in itself. Whether you’re longing for nostalgia, romance, or a bit of magic, you can match the vibe of your trip by matching it to these iconic literary destinations.
Want a book to pair with your favorite music? Check out The Biggest Albums of 2024 And Their Book Pairing.
Stream more curated playlists on our Spotify.
