time travel adventure books

40 Best Time Travel Books To Read Right Now (2024)

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Travel back in time with the best time travel books, including engrossing thrillers, romance, contemporary lit, and mind-bending sci-fi.

Table of Contents

Best Time Travel Books

Books about time travel promise to not only transport you across time periods and space – Doctor Who-style – but also tesser you into new dimensions and around the world. Most readers already know about classics like The Time Traveler’s Wife , A Christmas Carol , and The Time Machine .

For romance time travel, grab In A Holidaze or One Last Stop . For contemporary and new time travel books, Haig’s The Midnight Library and Serle’s In Five Years captivated our hearts and minds.

Recursion re-kindled our love for science fiction, and Ruby Red transported us to 18th-century London. Books like Displacement promise intuitive and raw commentary about generational trauma and racism in graphic novel form.

Below, find the best time travel novels across genres for adults and teens, including history, romance, classics, sci-fi, YA, and thrilling fiction. Get ready to travel in the blink of an eye, and be sure to let us know your favorites in the comments. Let’s get started!

Contemporary & Literary Fiction

If you enjoy contemporary and literary fiction filled with strong main characters, these are some of the best books in the time travel genre. Uncover new releases as well as books on the bestseller lists. Of course, we’ll share a few lesser-known gems too.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

Would your life change if you had one seemingly real dream or premonition? What if some key facts were missing but you had no idea? Can we change the future?

One of the best books about time travel and friendship, don’t skip In Five Years . In fact, we read this New York City-based novel in half a day. Have the tissue box ready.

Dannie nails an important job interview and is hoping to get engaged. Of course, this is all a part of her perfect 5-year plan. Dannie has arranged every minute of her life ever since her brother died in a drunk driving accident.

On the night of Dannie’s “scheduled” engagement, she falls asleep only to have a vision of herself 5 years into the future in the arms of another man. Did she just time travel or could this be a dream? When Dannie arrives back in 2020, her life goes back to normal. …That is until she meets the man from her dream.

We were expecting In Five Years to be a time travel romance story; however, this is a different type of love and one of the best books about strong friendships .

Read In Five Years : Amazon | Goodreads

Before the coffee gets cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Translated by Geoffrey Trousselot | We just love Japanese literature . One of the most debated time travel books among our readers – you’ll either love it or hate it – Before the coffee gets cold takes place at a cafe in Tokyo, Japan.

Along with coffee, this 140-year-old, back-alley cafe lets visitors travel back in time. Four visitors at the cafe are hoping to time travel to see someone for the last (or first) time. The way each patron views the cafe says a lot about them. The details and repetition are everything.

True to the title, visits may only last as long as it takes for the coffee to grow cold. If they don’t finish their coffee in time, there are ghostly consequences.

Before the coffee gets cold asks, who would you want to see one last time, and what issues you would confront?

Along with the many rules of time travel, these visitors are warned that the present will not change. Would you still travel back knowing this? Can something, anything, still change – even within you?

The story has a drop of humor with a beautiful message. We shed a tear or two. Discover even more terrific and thought-provoking Japanese fantasy novels here .

Read Before the coffee gets cold : Amazon | Goodreads

If you are looking for the most inspiring take on time travel in books, Haig’s The Midnight Library is it. This is one of those profound stories that make you think more deeply . TWs for pet death (early on) and suicide ideation.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Imagine if you could see your other possible lives and fix your regrets. Would that path be better? Would these changes make you happier?

Set in Bedford, England, and at a library , Nora answers these questions as she intentionally overdoses on pills. Caught in the Midnight Library – a purgatory of sorts – Nora explores books filled with the ways her life could have turned out. She tries on these alternative lives, pursuing different dreams, marrying different people, and realizing that some parts of her root life were not as they seemed on the surface.

Find hope and simplicity in one of the most authentic and heaviest time travel novels on this list. Haig addresses mental health through a new lens that is both beautiful and moving.

With a team full of avid readers and librarians, discover our top selections featuring more books about books .

Read The Midnight Library : Amazon | Goodreads

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver

Some of the best time travel books are those with alternate realities, including The Two Lives of Lydia Bird . There are content warnings for prescription pill addiction and more.

Set in England, Lydia and Freddie are planning their marriage when the unthinkable happens. Freddie dies in a car accident on the way to Lydia’s birthday dinner. In a matter of seconds, Lydia’s world falls apart. She isn’t sure how she will survive. When Lydia starts taking magical pink sleeping pills, she enters an alternate universe where Freddie is alive and well.

Caught between her dream world and real life, Lydia must decide if she will give in to her addiction – living in a temporary fantasy world – or give it up completely.

While the repetitive and predictable plot drags a bit – slightly hurting the pacing – the overall story shows emotional growth and the nature of healing after loss. And, as Lydia soon learns via her dreams, no love is perfect. Maybe her future was destined to be different anyway, which is reminiscent of Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library .

Read The Two Lives of Lydia Bird Jose Silver : Amazon | Goodreads

The First Fifteen Lives Of Harry August by Claire North

If you are looking for more suspenseful books about time travel and like Groundhog Day , check out The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. However, this is not just one day on repeat; instead, this is a lifetime.

Harry August is repeatedly reborn into the same life, retaining his memories each time. No matter what Harry does or says, when he lands on his deathbed, he always returns back to his childhood, again and again. On the verge of his eleventh death, though, a girl changes the course of his life. He must use his accumulated wisdom to prevent catastrophe.

Read The First Fifteen Lives Of Harry August : Amazon | Goodreads

An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim

When it comes to time travel books, An Ocean of Minutes is one of the most original takes about time travel’s effects on alternate history.

Polly and Frank are deeply in love in 1981 when a pandemic devastates the planet. By the end of 1981, time travel (invented in this alternate reality in 1993) has been made available.

Because of this invention, individuals can sign on to work for the TimeRaiser corporation in order to escape or save their loved ones in the present. Due to a flaw in the technology, though, they can only transport people for 12 years. This prevents them from stopping the pandemic by just 6 months.

When Frank gets ill, Polly signs up, both agreeing they will meet back up in 1993. Now alone in the future, Polly has to learn to navigate a world she has less than zero preparation for. In this world, she is a time refugee, bonded to TimeRaiser without a physical cent to her name.

Lim uses the time travel mechanic to cleverly explore the subject of immigration, forcing the reader to follow Polly blindly into a world they should know, but don’t. This is what makes An Ocean of Minutes one of the most unique time travel novels on this reading list.

Read An Ocean of Minutes : Amazon | Goodreads

Time Travel In Science Fiction

For fantasy and sci-fi lovers, take a quantum leap into fictional worlds, quantum physics, possible futures, black holes, and endless possibilities. See if you can tell the difference between the real world and new dimensions.

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Recursion is one of our all-time favorite time travel books to gift to dads who love sci-fi. Can you tell what we gave our dad for Christmas one year?

In Recursion, no one actually physically time travels – well, sort of. Instead, memories become the time-traveling reality.

Detective Barry Sutton is investigating False Memory Syndrome. Neuroscientist Helena Smith might have the answers he needs. The disease drives people crazy – and to their deaths – by causing them to remember entire lives that aren’t theirs. Or are they!?

All goes to heck when the government gets its hands on this mind-blowing technology. Can Barry and Helena stop this endless loop?

Recursion is also a (2019) Goodreads Best Book for Science Fiction.

Read Recursion : Amazon | Goodreads

This Is How You Lose The War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar 

A Goodreads runner-up for one of the best science fiction novels (of 2019) – and one of the shortest time travel novels on this list – This Is How You Lose The Time War follows two warring time-traveling agents falling in love through a letter exchange.

Red and Blue have nothing in common except that they travel across time and space and are alone. Their growing and forbidden love is punishable by death and their agencies might be onto them.

In a somewhat beautiful yet bizarre story, we watch as Red and Blue slowly fall for each other and confess their love. They engage in playful banter and nicknames. Every shade of red and blue reminds them of each other.

The first half of the novel is a bit abstract. You might wonder what the heck you’ve gotten yourself into. However, once you get your feet planted firmly on the ground of the plot, the story picks up and starts making more sense.

We can’t promise you’ll love or even understand This Is How You Lose The Time War – we aren’t sure we do. However, this is truly one of the most unique sci-fi and LGBTQ+ time travel romance books on this reading list – written by two authors. Also, maybe crack out the dictionary…

Explore even more of the best LGBTQ+ fantasy books to read next.

Read This Is How You Lose The War : Amazon | Goodreads

All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai

A debut novel, All Our Wrong Todays is both a humorous and entertaining time travel book that speaks to how we become who we are.

In 2016, technology perfected the world for Tom Barren. However, we all know that perfection doesn’t equate to happiness. Barren has lost his girlfriend, and he just happens to own a time machine… Now, Barren has to decide if he wants to keep his new, manipulated future or if he just wants to go back home to his depressing but normal life.

Read All Our Wrong Todays : Amazon | Goodreads

Here And Now And Then by Mike Chen

Imagine getting trapped in time and starting over. That’s exactly what happens to IT worker, Kin Stewart, in one of the bestselling science fiction time travel books, Here And Now And Then .

Stewart has two lives since he is a displaced time-traveling agent stuck in San Francisco in the 1990s. He has a family that knows nothing about his past; or, should we say future. When a rescue team arrives to take him back, Stewart has to decide what he is willing to risk for his new family.

Here And Now And Then is a time travel book filled with emotional depth surrounding themes of bonds, identity, and sacrifice. Find even more books set in San Francisco, California (and more!).

Read Here And Now And Then : Amazon | Goodreads

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe is one of the most unusual books about time travel out there.

Our protagonist Charles Yu lives in a world where time travel exists and is readily available to the average person. And yes, he is named after the author, and yes, it is as meta as it sounds; and yes, this is just the beginning of this speculative fiction time travel book.

Charles Yu’s day job is spent repairing time machines for Time Warner Time. But in his free time, he tries to help the people who use time travel to do so safely and to counsel them if things have gone wrong.

It’s no surprise that Charles’ entire life revolves around time travel since his father invented the technology many years ago. And then he disappeared. In fact, Charles is also trying to find out just what happened to his dad, and where – or when – he’s gone.

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe won’t be for everyone, but it’s one of the best time travel books if you want delightfully meta, fantastically non-linear, and very very weird.

Read How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe : Amazon | Goodreads

The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez

For beautiful, lyrical time travel novels about found family and love, The Vanished Birds is a must-read.

Nia Imani exists outside of time and space. She travels in and out of the world through a pocket of time with her space crew. They emerge to trade or sell goods every eight months. But eight months for them is 15 years for everyone else.

She has lived this way for hundreds of years. Though she has her crew, and there are people she shares connections with sporadically throughout their lives, she is lonely. And although she barely ages, she watches friends and lovers grow old and die.

One such person is Kaeda, who meets Nia for the first time when he is 7. The next time he sees her, he has aged 15 years, while she is only months older. She continues to come every 15 years of his life, always looking the same.

Then one day a mysterious, mute boy falls from the sky into Nia’s life. His name is Ahro, and there’s something extra special about him. Something that could revolutionize space travel forever. And now there might be people after Ahro who won’t love him the way Nia does.

If you love a character-driven book with exquisite prose – and a few time warps – this is one of the best time travel books for you.

Read The Vanished Birds : Amazon | Goodreads

Night Watch by Terry Pratchett

Night Watch is one of the most fun and thrilling books about time travel. It’s also a bit ridiculous and very very British.

Why can’t policing just be simple? All Sam Vimes wanted to do was capture and arrest a dangerous murderer. But thanks to those damned wizards and their experiments, he and the killer have both been accidentally thrown back in time thirty years.

And to top it off, the man who would have become a mentor to young Sam Vimes in the past has been killed in the process! How’s Vimes going to get this all sorted out?

The City Watch he’s spent years improving is just a bunch of semi-competent volunteers at this point. He’s got no money, no clothes, and no friends. But at least he’s making enemies fast. Can he catch the killer, stop history from not repeating itself, and get home to his family? Oh, and the city’s about to dissolve into civil war. Typical.

Night Watch is perfect if you prefer your time travel books to be fantasy-based.

P.S. There may be mild spoilers for previous books in the Discworld series, but this can be read as a standalone. And if you only ever read one Discworld novel, this is one of the best there is – and so far the only one of the Discworld books with time travel!

Read Night Watch : Amazon | Goodreads

The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz

The Future of Another Timeline is one of the few time travel books to explore history through a feminist lens.

In 1992, Beth – a high school senior – and her friends Heather, Lizzy, and Soojin attend a riot grrl concert with Heather’s boyfriend Scott. But afterward, one of Scott’s not-so-funny sexist jokes gets out of hand and Lizzy accidentally kills him. Now they’re on the run, and the bodies just keep piling up.

Meanwhile, in 2022, Tess is part of a group of women and non-binary people working together to change history. They have the use of five time devices which only allow them to travel backward and back to the present day – but never forwards.

Beth and Tess come from two wildly different times (1992, and 2022, respectively). But, while Beth is busy making history, Tess is quite literally trying to change it. However, both of them want the same thing: a better world. When their worlds collide, will they be able to save each other – and the world?

The Future of Another Timeline is a time travel fiction celebration of feminism and queerness with lots of sci-fi and punk rock thrown in. This is one of the best time travel novels for those who enjoy stellar women making history .

Read The Future of Another Timeline : Amazon | Goodreads

The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley

The Kingdoms is wildly imaginative and sure to enchant fans of time travel books, alternative history stories, and tales about parallel universes.

In 1898 Joe Tournier steps off a train and suddenly can’t remember anything that comes before that moment. The world he now finds himself in is as foreign to him as it is to us: an alternate history/reality where the UK lost the Battle of Trafalgar and is now a French colony.

In this world, the British are kept as slaves. Napoleon is a popular name for pets, and tartan is outlawed. Since Joe arrives on a train from Glasgow speaking English and wearing tartan, there is some speculation he might be from The Saints, a terrorist group based in Edinburgh fighting for freedom.

But all Joe remembers is the fading image of a woman and the name Madeline. Although he is identified by his owner and brought “home,” Joe is determined to find this Madeline. And his resolve is only strengthened when he receives a postcard signed ‘– M’ and dated 90 years in the past.

Discover even more books about Scottish culture, history, and everyday life.

Read The Kingdoms : Amazon | Goodreads

The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley

The Light Brigade is one of the best time travel stories for anyone who loves character-driven tales or books about war and conflict.

As war wages on Mars, the military has devised the perfect soldier to fight on the frontlines: being made of light. The Light Brigade, as they’re called back home, is made up of soldiers who have undergone a procedure that breaks them down into atoms capable of traveling at the speed of light. They are the perfect soldiers, but broken people.

The book follows one such soldier, Dietz, an eager new recruit who is experiencing battle out of sync with everyone else. Because of this, she – and we – see a different reality of the war than the one presented by the Corporate Corps. As Dietz becomes more and more unstuck in time, she becomes more and more unsure of her own sanity and the role she is playing in this war.

Read The Light Brigade : Amazon | Goodreads

The Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way

You Look Like Death Volume 1 | Now a popular (and excellent) Netflix TV show, The Umbrella Academy is one of the best time travel books of all time.

One day, forty-seven children are suddenly and inexplicably born to women who were not previously pregnant. Eccentric millionaire Reginald Hargreeves goes around the world buying as many of the surviving children as he possibly can. He is able to get seven.

These children, it turns out, all have superpowers (except, it seems, for the unremarkable Number Seven aka Vanya). They become the crime-fighting group: The Umbrella Academy.

Fast forward several years, and Number Five, whose special power is that he can travel in time a few seconds or minutes per go, has mysteriously appeared after Hargreeves dies. And now he brings warning of an apocalypse – one which he insists none of his siblings will survive.

The Umbrella Academy series currently has three volumes, all packed with tales of time travel, parallel worlds, family drama, and lots of epic battles. We’ve absolutely loved this time travel book series so far; we can’t wait to see what Gerard Way does with future installments.

Discover even more great books with music, musicians, and bands.

Read The Umbrella Academy : Amazon | Goodreads

Historical Fiction

Travel back in time to witness wars and history. See what happens if you try to rewrite the future. Many of these historical fiction books with time travel promise to teach you more.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

We have a plethora of Agatha Christie fans amongst our Uncorked Readers , and Turton’s The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evenlyn Hardcastle is inspired by Christie.

Similar to Levithan’s Every Day , each day, Aiden wakes up in a different body from the guests of the Blackheath Manor. Trapped in a time loop, Aiden must solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder to escape. In the process, he navigates the tangled web of secrets, lies, and interconnected lives of the guests. Can he identify the killer and break the cycle?

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is an award-winning historical thriller and one of the best time travel novels if you enjoy Downton Abbey and Groundhog’s Day . Discover even more great books set at hotels, mansions, and more.

Read The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle : Amazon | Goodreads

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Travel back in time to Scotland in one of the most well-known time travel book series (and now TV series) of all time. Outlander is a part of pop culture. A New York Times bestseller and one of the top 10 most loved books according to The Great America Read, get ready to enter Scotland in 1743.

Claire Randall, a former British combat nurse, walks through an ancient circle of stones and is transported into a world of love, death, and war. This is a place of political intrigue, clan conflicts, and romantic entanglements. Claire must navigate the unfamiliar landscape while grappling with her feelings for the dashing Jamie Fraser.

Encounter even more cult-classic books from the ’90s like A Game Of Thrones , which is perfect for fantasy map lovers .

Read Outlander : Amazon | Goodreads

11/22/63: A Novel by Stephen King

Written by bestselling author, Stephen King, 11/22/63 is one of the best award-winning time travel books for historical fiction lovers. Set in 1963 when President Kennedy is shot, 11/22/63 begs the question: what if you could go back in time and change history?

Enter Jake Epping in Lisbon Falls, Maine.  Epping asks his students to write about a time that altered the course of their lives. Inspired by one of those haunting essays, Epping enlists to prevent Kennedy’s assassination.  How is this time travel possible? With the discovery of a time portal in a local diner’s storeroom…

11/22/63 is one of the most thrilling and realistic books about time travel, according to both critics and readers.

Read 11/22/63 : Amazon | Goodreads

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

If you are looking for historical fiction novels about time travel that address slavery and racism, be sure to check out Butler’s Kindred. This is also one of the best books published in the 1970s .

One minute Dana is celebrating her birthday in modern-day California. The next, she finds herself in the Antebellum South on a Pre-Civil War Maryland plantation. Dana is expected to save the plantation owner’s son from drowning. Each time Dana finds herself back in this time period as well as the slave quarters, her stays grow longer and longer as well as more dangerous.

Examine the haunting legacy and trauma of slavery across time. For younger readers, there is also a graphic novel adaptation . Discover more books that will transport you to the South .

Read Kindred : Amazon | Goodreads

What The Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

A bestseller and Goodreads top choice book, if you devour historical Irish fiction, What The Wind Knows will transport you to Ireland in the 1920s.

Anne Gallagher heads to Ireland to spread her grandfather’s ashes. Devastated, her grief pulls her into another time. Ireland is on the verge of entering a war, and Anne embraces a case of mistaken identity. She finds herself pulled into Ireland’s fight for Independence at the risk of losing her future life. She also falls for another main character and doctor, Thomas Smith.

What The Wind Knows is one of the best time travel novels that both romance and fantasy readers can appreciate. Witness connections that transcend time.

Read What The Wind Knows : Amazon | Goodreads

The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes

Known for being one of the best time travel books for thriller lovers, The Shining Girls also has the reputation as the spookiest novel on this reading list.

Kirby Mazrachi is the last shining girl – a girl with a future and so much potential. Harper Curtis is a murderer from the past meant to kill Mazrachi. However, Kirby is not about to easily go out without a fight, leading her on one violent quantum leap through multiple decades.

As Kirby races against time to track down a serial killer and unravel the mysteries of the House, encounter themes of resilience, fate, and the shining spirit that can transcend even the darkest forces.

Read The Shining Girls : Amazon | Goodreads

Time Travel Romance Books

We love a good time-travel romance novel, but we also understand how hard it can be to hold onto love when time is so unstable. From queer love stories set on trains to holiday celebrations, fall in love across time with these books.

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

From bestselling author, Casey McQuiston of Red, White, & Royal Blue – one of our favorite LGBTQ+ books for new adults – don’t miss the most-talked-about book (from 2021), One Last Stop.

Twenty-three-year-old August is quite the cynic and living in New York City. Up until now, August has jumped schools and towns as often as you change a pair of socks. August has also never been in a serious relationship and wants to find “her person.” August’s life suddenly changes, though, when she meets a beautiful and mysterious woman on the train.

Jane looks a little…out of date… and for good reason; she’s from the 1970s and trapped in the train’s energy. August wants nothing more than to help Jane leave the train, but does that mean leaving her too?

A feel-good, older coming-of-age story, laugh out loud and be utterly dazzled as you follow love across time and space. You’ll cozy (and drink) up in the parties and community surrounding August. One Last Stop is one of the all-time best LGBTQ+ time travel books – and perfect if you enjoy books that take place on trains .

Read One Last Stop : Amazon | Goodreads

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

The Time Traveler’s Wife is one the top time travel romance novels – and not just because the story features a librarian . We are so biased.

Henry and Clare have loved each other pretty much forever. Unfortunately, Henry has Chrono-Displacement Disorder, sporadically misplacing him in time. Of course, this time-traveling dilemma makes Clare’s and Henry’s marriage and future together pretty darn interesting.

Grab some Kleenex as they attempt to live normal lives and survive impending devastation. The Time Traveler’s Wife has also been made into a romantic movie classic . Watch even more fantasy movies with romance .

Read The Time Traveler’s Wife : Amazon | Goodreads

In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren

If you are looking for a sweet and sexy holiday rom-com set in Utah, grab In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren.

Mae leaves her family and friend’s Christmas vacation home after drunkenly making out with an old childhood friend. Blame the spiked eggnog. Unfortunately, Mae’s secretly in love with her best friend’s brother, Andrew. On the ride to the airport, Mae wishes for happiness just as a truck hits her parent’s car. 

Mae lands in a time-travel loop where her dreams start coming true.  Is it too good to last?   What happens when she isn’t happy once again? Is she trapped?

For holiday books about time travel, this one is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit if you enjoy movies like Holidates  or  Groundhog’s Day . It’s light with a happy ending – typical of this author duo. We also recommend In A Holidaze if you are looking for Christmas family gathering books – a big request we see here at TUL.

P.S. Did you know that Christina Lauren is a pen name for a writing duo, Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings? Christina Lauren also wrote The Unhoneymooners , which was also hilariously enjoyable and set on an island .

Read In A Holidaze : Amazon | Goodreads

A Knight In Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux

For cozy time travel romance books and a feminist tale set abroad, try A Knight In Shining Armor .

Dougless Montgomery is weeping on top of a tombstone when Nicholas Stafford, Earl of Thornwyck, appears. Although this armor-clad hunk allegedly died in 1564, he stands before her about to embark on a journey to clear his name. Convicted of treason, Montgomery vows to help her soon-to-be lover find his accuser and set the record straight.

Read A Knight In Shining Armor : Amazon | Goodreads

The Night Mark by Tiffany Reisz

Set in South Carolina, if you love lighthouses and beach vibes, you’ll find something enjoyable in the time travel romance, The Night Mark .

After Faye’s husband dies, she cannot move on and recover. Accepting a photographer job in SC, Faye becomes obsessed with the local lighthouse’s myth, The Lady of the Light.

Back in 1921, the lighthouse keeper’s daughter mysteriously drowned. Faye is drawn into a love story that isn’t hers and becomes entangled in a passionate and forbidden love affair.

Read The Night Mark : Amazon | Goodreads

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

Anyone who likes their time travel books to have a magical love story should pick up The Seven Year Slip for their next read. It’s one of our favorite magical realism novels .

When Clementine’s aunt dies, she inherits her fancy New York apartment on the Upper East Side. Although Clementine would really rather have her aunt back and can’t imagine living in her home, she eventually forces herself to move in and inhabit her aunt’s space.

And not long after, she wakes up to discover a strange man in her living room… except it’s not her living room, it’s her aunt’s… from seven years ago. Clementine’s aunt always said her apartment held a touch of magic; sometimes it created time slips that brought two people together when they were at a crossroads.

But what happens when you start to fall for someone stuck seven years in the past? Clementine knows there’s no future together, but she also can’t let go of this link to her aunt.

Like her previous speculative fiction romance, The Dead Romantics , Ashely Poston’s unique time travel tale is full of heartache and grief. However, it will also make you swoon. Basically, this one is a must if you are a fan of time travel romance books.

Read The Seven Year Slip : Amazon | Goodreads

Classic Books

No time travel reading list would be complete without the classics. Below, uncover just a few great time travel novels that started it all.

The End of Eternity by Issac Asimov

The End of Eternity is said to be one of Asimov’s science fiction masterpieces. This is also one of the most spellbinding books about time travel – although some criticize the story for its loopholes.

Harlan is a member of the elite future known as an Eternal. He lives and works in Eternity, which like any good time travel novel, is located separately from time and space.

Harlan makes small changes in the timeline in order to better history. Of course, altering the course of the world is dangerous and comes with repercussions, especially when Harlan falls in love.

Read The End of Eternity : Amazon | Goodreads

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

It goes without saying that Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol is one of the most famous and best time travel books for classic lovers – and a literary canon-worthy Christmas novel.

Ebenezer Scrooge is a greedy, lonely, and cruel man who truly has no Christmas spirit. Haunted by the ghosts of the past, present, and future, Scrooge must find the ultimate redemption before it’s too late. Does he have a heart?

Find even more classic and contemporary ghost books , including a few unique takes on ghosts.

Read A Christmas Carol : Amazon | Goodreads

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Slaughterhouse-Five is a somewhat bizarre time travel book about finding meaning in our sometimes fractured and broken lives. It’s also one of the most popular books published in the ’60s .

Similar to The Time Traveler’s Wife, Billy Pilgrim is “unstuck” in time in Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five. Drafted into World War II, Pilgrim serves as a Chaplain’s assistant until he is captured by the Germans. He survives the bombing at Dresden and ultimately becomes a married optometrist. Things get a little wild…

Suffering from PTSD, Billy claims that he is kidnapped by aliens in a different dimension. Like most time travel novels, the story is out of order and Billy travels to different parts of his life.

Aliens come in all shapes and sizes; have more alien encounters with this reading list .

Read Slaughterhouse-Five : Amazon | Goodreads

A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain

First published in 1889, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is one of the most popular classic and satirical time travel novels that’s set close to our childhood home. Having grown up in CT close to the old Colt factory, this story makes us smile.

Hank Morgan supervises the gun factory and is knocked unconscious. Upon waking, he finds himself in Britain about to be executed by the Knights of King Arthur’s Round Table in Camelot.

Morgan uses his future knowledge to his advantage, making him a powerful and revered wizard, which unfortunately doesn’t quite save him as he hopes. Not to mention that Morgan tries to introduce modern-day conveniences and luxuries to a time period that isn’t quite ready for them.

Read A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court : Amazon | Goodreads

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

The Time Machine is one of the best frontrunner time travel books of all time. Published in 1895, the Time Traveler recalls his exhausting time travel adventures to incredulous believers. He even disappears in front of them.

Blended with fantasy and science fiction over the course of 800,000 years, the Time Traveler battles “bad guys.” He also loses his time machine, debatably falls in love, and meets the underground dwelling Morlocks.

Read The Time Machine : Amazon | Goodreads

Young Adults Books

For young adults and teens – plus adults who appreciate YA – read the best middle-grade and high school time travel books. We’ve included more time travel graphic novels and manga here too.

Displacement by Kiku Hughes

For historical YA graphic novels , Displacement is one of the must-read books about time travel that will teach young readers about generational trauma, racism, politics, and war.

Follow Kiku, who is displaced in time, back to the period of U.S. Japanese incarceration [internment] camps – essentially glorified prisons – during WW2. Kiku begins learning more about her deceased grandmother’s history, which mirrors the horrid actions under former President Donald Trump. How can Kiku help stop the past from repeating itself, and more so, how can we?

In a simplistic but powerful style of storytelling, Hughes’s emotional YA WW2 book is accessible to young readers. Displacement is also one of the shorter and quicker books with time travel on this list. Find even more LGBT+ graphic novels to read – one of our favorite genres.

Read Displacement : Amazon | Goodreads

The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

Changing the past can be pretty tempting. We’ve even seen that The Flash cannot resist. However, altering the course of history can be dangerous…

The first of two YA time travel books, Nix is the daughter of a time traveler. Her dad can sail anywhere on his ship, The Temptation. Her dad has his own temptation, though: to travel back to Honolulu in 1868, the year before her mom dies in childbirth. Nix’s father threatens to possibly erase her life and destroy a relationship with her only friend.

Discover even more great books about maps. Or, travel via armchair with these ship books.

Read The Girl From Everywhere : Amazon | Goodreads

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Translated by Anthea Bell | If you are looking for time travel in books and enjoy YA historical fiction, try Ruby Red , which is the first in the Ruby Red Trilogy.

Gwyneth Shepherd quickly learns that she can easily time travel, unlike her cousin who has been preparing her entire life for the feat. Gwyneth wants to know why such a secret was kept from her. There are so many lies. Gwyneth time travels with the handsome Gideon back and forth between modern-day and 18th-century London to uncover secrets from the past.

Back in our MLIS and library days, Ruby Red was one of our favorite YA time travel books to recommend since so few knew about the series. Just a small warning that this enemies-to-lovers trope is a tad sexist, though. Find books like Ruby Red on our books with red (and more colors) in the title reading list .

Read Ruby Red : Amazon | Goodreads

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

A little creepier for young adult time travel novels, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is all about time loops. We’ve only read the first in this eerie series that mixes manipulated vintage photography with a suspenseful and chilling story.

Jacob discovers a decaying orphanage on a mysterious island off the coast of Wales. Known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, the building isn’t exactly abandoned… Jacob runs into peculiar children who might be more than just ghosts.

If you are looking for Kurt Vonnegut-esque time travel books for teenagers, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is for you. Find even more great adult and YA haunted house books to add to your reading list .

Read Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children : Amazon | Goodreads

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle

One of the most well-known books about time travel for families – made even more popular by Oprah and Mindy Kaling, A Wrinkle In Time , is the first book in The Time Quintet .

Although a time travel book series for elementary and middle-grade students – and also a 1963 Newbery Medal winner – adults will love the lessons and whimsical sci-fi quality of A Wrinkle In Time.

Meg Murray and her brother, Charles Wallace, go on an adventure in time to find and rescue their father. Their dad disappeared while working for the government on a mysterious tesseract project.

Watch this thrilling time travel adventure mixed with a coming-of-age story and a little girl power, too.

Read A Wrinkle in Time : Amazon | Goodreads

Orange by Ichigo Takano

Translated by Lasse Christian Christiansen and Amber Tamosaitis | This YA sci-fi romance manga is one of the most endearing time travel books you’ll ever read.

On the first day of 11th grade, Naho oversleeps for the first time ever. She also receives a letter that claims to be sent from herself 10 years in the future. The letter tells her both of the two big things that will happen to her that day as proof of sender: she will be late, and there will be a new kid in class named Naruse Kakeru from Tokyo who will sit next to her.

Naho is unsure if she trusts the letter, or whether or not she should heed its warnings – especially since it talks about past regrets and trying to undo them.

Orange is an adorable, but heartbreaking time travel manga that teaches us the meaning of friendship, love, regret, and so much more. If you’re looking for the best books about time travel for teens, Orange is the perfect option (and adults will love it too).

Read Orange : Amazon | Goodreads

If you devour the time travel genre, don’t miss these great movies…

If you enjoy books that take you back in time, you might also appreciate these top movies with time loops . Would you be able to fix past mistakes, fall in love, and you know, maybe not die this time? Find out if these protagonists succeed.

Travel Back In Time With These Reading Lists:

• Best ’90s Books
• Iconic ’80s Books
• Best WWII Historical Fiction

Christine Frascarelli

Dagney McKinney

45 Comments

Hi, nice list but just FYI you have one of the novels named incorrectly: it should be All Our Wrong Todays, not All Our Wrongs Today.

Thanks for letting us know! Every year, this list grows, and sometimes we miss a few mistakes.

The Things Are Bad Series by Paul L Giles is the funniest, most insightful time travel books I’ve ever read. It has everything!

Thanks so much for the review and rec!

Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain is an engrossing time travel book that I enjoyed immensely.

Our readers and contributors are big Diane Chamberlain fans. Thanks!

A huge time travel fan. A great list. Another time travel book recommendation: Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montemore. Wonderful story.

Thank you so much for the kind words and recommendation! We’ll have to check it out.

Great list, thanks. I also love seeing all the recommendations in the comments. I would add the Chronos Files series to your list. And, of course, the film ABOUT TIME, which is fantastic!

Thanks so much for the recommendations. We appreciate it!

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20 Must-Read Time Travel Books

Dana lives in East Haven, CT. She works for that Ivy League institution down the street and tries to read as many books as possible in her free time. Audiobooks and print books get equal love. Also, she unapologetically judges books by their covers and makes way too many playlists (c'mon, books need a soundtrack too!). Follow her on Twitter @lucyhenley115 .

View All posts by Dana Lee

Hear me out, there’s a sub-genre of sci-fi that that has a touch of anything you could ever want: time travel books. The best time travel books come in all packages: adventure, historical fiction, romance, social commentary, mystery, humor, poetry. It really has it all. So, if you can still recite the opening credits of Quantum Leap from memory, this list is for you. Enjoy these must-read time travel books.

Here and Now and Then  by Mike Chen

Kin is a time-traveling agent from the year 2142 who gets stuck in 1990s San Francisco after a botched mission, and his rescue team shows up 18 years too late after he’s already built a life for himself. Here and Now and Then has all those warm and fuzzy sci-fi feels with just the right amount of Doctor Who level angst . Kin dealing with the circumstances of time travel and the consequences it brings about is super compelling and emotional and so, so worthy of a Murray Gold score.

The Future of Another Timeline  by Annalee Newitz

In the world of Another Timeline , time travel has been around since forever in the form of a geologic phenomena known as the “Machines.” Tess belongs to a group called the Daughters of Harriett, determined to make the future better for women by editing the timeline at key moments in history. They run up against the misogynistic group called the Comstockers working towards the opposite goal. There’s time travel, murder, punk rock concerts, nerd references, and an edit war. As Newitz recently said in an extra of their podcast, Our Opinions Are Correct , history is a  “synthesis of good fuckery” and I can’t think of a better phrase to describe this book than that.

An Ocean of Minutes  by Thea Lim

There is a deadly flu pandemic in America. Polly’s boyfriend Frank gets sick and she signs up for a one-way ticket to the future to work off the cost of Frank’s cure. They agree to meet up in the future, but Polly is rerouted to a later time where America is divided and she has no connections and no money. This is a really gorgeously written and heart-wrenching story about time travel, dystopian society, the brutality of survival in an unfamiliar world, and a character study of a normal person dealing with it all.

Kindred  by Octavia Butler

Dana is an African American woman celebrating her birthday in 1976 California when she is pulled through time to Antebellum Maryland. She saves a young white boy named Rufus from drowning and finds herself staring down the barrel of his father’s rifle. She is pulled back to her present just in time to save her life, appearing back in her living room soaked and muddy. She is repeatedly pulled back to the past encountering the same young man.  Over the course of these harrowing episodes, Dana realizes her connection to Rufus and the challenge she is faced with. This is a brilliant, thought-provoking, and intense book that is required reading for so many reasons least of which is time travel.

Alice Payne Arrives  by Kate Heartfield

Alice Payne Arrives is a quick romp through time with some truly amazing female characters. Alice Payne is a half-black queer woman in 1788 England living in her father’s deteriorating mansion. She’s also a notorious masked highway robber and her partner is an inventor. Prudence is a professional time traveler from the 22nd century working fruitlessly to try and change one small event in 1884. The two women cross paths and work together to put Prudence’s plan to end time travel in motion. This novella packs a lot of action and time travel goodness and there’s a sequel called Alice Payne Rides . It also contains one of the realest lines of any of the time travel books I’ve read: “2016’s completely fucked.”

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe  by Charles Yu

Charles Yu is a time machine repairman searching for his missing father, “accompanied by TAMMY, an operating system with low self-esteem, and Ed, a nonexistent but ontologically valid dog.” He receives a book from his future self that could help him locate his father. The book is called How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe and he wrote it. Hi, this book is super cool, fun, clever, and weird in the best ways. It has the highest distinction I can give a sci-fi book and that is warm and fuzzy.

The Psychology of Time Travel  by Kate Mascarenhas

Four female scientists invent time travel in 1967. One of the scientists, Bee,  suffers a mental breakdown just before they’re about to go public with their findings. The other three exile Bee from the project to save face. Fifty years later time travel is a normal part of life and a huge business. It’s regulated by the Conclave, founded by three of the original scientists, which seeks to self govern all aspects of time travel. The Psychology of Time Travel  serves up time travel with a locked-door mystery and the payoff of alternating perspectives and timelines slowly coming together.

The River of No Return  by Bee Ridgeway

At the moment of his death on a Napoleonic battlefield, Lord Nicholas Falcott wakes up in the 21st century. He’s recruited by a time travel agency known as The Guild for training. Julia Percy lives in 1815 England and after the death of her grandfather seeks to find her place in a world where meddling with time is commonplace. There’s a whole lot going on here: romance, betrayal, double-agents, and drawing on emotion to facilitate time jumps, leading to my favorite line: “Though really they were probably both insane. Two grown men dressed up like Mr. Darcy, holding hands behind a tree, trying to pull themselves by the heart strings back to the long ago.”

This is How You Lose the Time War  by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Blue and Red are fighting on opposite sides of an endless time war. They begin to exchange letters on the battlefield, first as a boast, then as an exploration of friendship across enemy lines, and finally as a romance. I have previously described this as “poetic sci-fi realness.” I could be more professional and say that this is an epistolary work of rival agents forming a bond despite their opposition, but like I can’t okay. This book is so intricate and beautiful and the letters are not on paper, they could be in the dregs of a teacup or the rings of a tree, and I’m not crying you’re crying.

All Our Wrong Todays  by Elan Mastai

Tom is a misfit in a utopian world, and he goes back in time and accidentally screws up the future. This mishap leaves him stranded in our 2016, but what we think of as the real world is a dystopian wasteland to Tom. He eventually finds different versions of everything he knows and maybe even his soulmate. Tom has to decide whether to fix the timeline and bring back utopia or live in this new version of the world he’s created. Probably me as a time traveler, tbh.

The Fire Opal Mechanism by Fran Wilde

The Fire Opal Mechanism  is technically a sequel to The Jewel and Her Lapidary , but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. Ania is a librarian at the last university desperately trying to save as many books as she can. All the other universities have fallen to the Pressman, an extremist group bent on destroying all the world’s books and replacing them with a generic, self-updating compendium available to everyone regardless of economic class. Jorit, branded a thief, is on the run just trying to survive long enough to afford passage on a ship away from all these problems. They team up and inadvertently discover time travel, but will it help them fix the present? This is really beautifully written, especially the passages about books: “Touching a book, for Ania, was like touching a person’s fingertips across the years. She could feel a pulse, a passion for the knowledge the book contained.”

The Silver Wind  by Nina Allan

The Silver Wind  is a series of stories linked by the character Martin Newland. Each story is like an alternate universe brought about by time machines and time travel. As Allan describes on her website : “While the overarching theme of this book might properly be found in Martin’s struggle with infinity, its individual chapters deal with those small acts of creative defiance that determine our transcendence of ordinary mortality.” A thoroughly thought-provoking déjà vu experience.

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

Anne Gallagher travels to Ireland to scatter the ashes of her beloved grandfather. She is pulled back in time to the Ireland of 1921 and is mistaken as the long-lost mother of a young boy. She assumes this identity and is drawn into the lives of those around her and the political unrest of the time. It’s a historical romance perfect for fans of Outlander.

The Shining Girls  by Lauren Beukes

What if time travel fell into the hands of a criminal?  The Shining Girls  is the story of serial killer named Harper Curtis who stumbles upon an abandoned house in Depression-era Chicago that allows him to travel in time. He chooses his victims and visits them at different times of their lives before returning for the kill. Kirby survives Harper’s attack and, along with a former homicide reporter, tries to unravel the mystery before anyone else dies. This book is wild, W-I-L-D. There’s a lot of violence, so it might not be for everyone, but it’s such an interesting take on the time travel story.

Version Control  by Dexter Palmer

Set in the near-future, Rebecca works in the customer support department of the dating site where she met her husband Phillip. He is a scientist building a causality violation device (definitely not a time machine!). But Rebecca can’t help but feel that there’s something wrong with the present. So, this is kind of about living with technology and kind of about relationships and overcoming tragedy and also time travel. Intelligent and poignant but make it sci-fi.

How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler  by Ryan North

Starting out with an FAQ guide to your rented time machine, How to Invent Everything humorously goes through the history of well, everything. From how to determine what time period you have landed and are now stuck in to inventing language and electricity it’s a very Hitchhiker’s Guide -ish look at history presented as a guide for creating the things you’ll miss when you’re stranded in an earlier timeline than your own.

Time After Time  by Lisa Grunwald

It’s 1937 and Joe Reynolds is a hard-working railroad man at Grand Central Station. Nora Lansing is an aspiring artist and the last thing she remembers is her train crashing in 1925. They meet at the big clock and Joe walks Nora home, but she disappears in the street. She reappears one year later and meets Joe again. Realizing she’s jumping in time and trapped in Grand Central for mysterious reasons that might have something to do with Manhattanhenge, Nora and Joe try to unravel the mystery before she disappears again. For me this was a time travel books mashup of The Clock meets Kate & Leopold meets Gentleman in Moscow and I was very about it.

TimeKeeper  by Tara Sim

TimeKeeper takes place in an alternate Victorian world where time is controlled by clock towers. Danny is a young clock mechanic enamored with his new apprentice, who turns out to be the Enfield clock spirit, Colton. Bombings at other towers start to occur and broken clocks mean the towns they oversee will be frozen in time. The romance between Danny and Colton is very adorable and the race against literal time is an exciting backdrop. It’s the first in a trilogy.

Bones of the Earth by Michael Swanwick

If you’re a time travel fan then this sentence from the publisher’s summary is sure to get you excited, “World-renowned paleontologist Richard Leyster’s universe changed forever the day a stranger named Griffin walked into his office with a remarkable job offer…and an ice cooler containing the head of a freshly killed Stegosaurus.” Time travel allows a group of scientists to go back and study dinosaurs up close in their natural environment. If you are now humming the Jurassic Park theme, please know, So. Am. I.

Just One Damned Thing After Another (Chronicles of St. Mary’s) by Jodi Taylor

There is so much going on in this whirlwind adventure that if you blink you’ll miss a major plot point.  Just One Damned Thing After Another  is just the first book in a series of the adventures of St. Mary’s Institute of Historical Research as they rattle around through time trying to answer history’s unanswered questions. There are currently 11 books published and forthcoming and a ton of short stories that fill in the blanks between adventures. Taylor also has a spinoff time travel series, The Time Police, with the first book just out called Doing Time .  It follows three hapless new time police recruits as they try to keep the timeline straight.

Looking for more of the best time travel books? Check out these timey-wimey posts:

Time Travel Romances

7 of the Best Alternate Timeline Books

The Lack of Black Characters in Time Travel Romance

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Best Time Travel Books

Embark on a journey through time with this list of widely acclaimed time travel books. whether for adventure, historical exploration, or quantum conundrums, these titles have been recognized and repeatedly highlighted by top science fiction reviewers and readers alike..

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The 30 Best Fiction Books About Time Travel, Ranked By Readers

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Time travel has long fascinated readers and writers alike, offering a narrative escape hatch to the past or future, where the possibilities are as limitless as the imagination. This fascination is abundantly reflected in the myriad of fiction books about time travel that span genres, styles, and epochs. From the speculative to the historical, good time travel books invite readers on journeys that defy the linear constraints of time, allowing us to explore what-if scenarios, alternate histories, and the complex web of cause and effect. Our list, curated by sci-fi book enthusiasts and ranked from best to worst by Goodreads review averages, is a testament to the enduring allure of time travel in literature.

Among the standout titles is Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, a compelling blend of historical fiction and science fiction that offers a poignant exploration of race, power, and identity through the lens of time travel. 11/22/63 by Stephen King combines meticulous historical research with the author’s signature storytelling prowess to reimagine the events leading to the assassination of JFK. Meanwhile, Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut uses the motif of time travel to craft a deeply moving anti-war narrative, showcasing the genre’s capacity to tackle profound themes.

Curated with the input of dedicated sci-fi book enthusiasts, our list aims to guide readers through the vast and varied landscape of time travel fiction. Whether you’re a seasoned time traveler or a newcomer to the genre, these books promise to transport you beyond the boundaries of time and reality, challenging your perceptions and igniting your imagination. Below, find the top fiction books about time travel, ranked by their Goodreads review averages.

Note: These Goodreads ratings are subject to change and are accurate as of 2/5/24.

1 Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Goodreads:  4.41

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is a seminal work in American literature, blending science fiction, satire, and war memoir to explore the themes of free will, fatalism, and the absurdity of human conflict. It’s often mentioned on lists of the best sci-fi books of all time. The book tells the story of Billy Pilgrim, a World War II veteran and POW survivor of the Dresden bombing, who becomes “unstuck in time” and experiences moments of his life out of sequence. This non-linear narrative structure allows Vonnegut to weave together the past, present, and future, including Billy’s abduction by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore. Since its release in 1969, Slaughterhouse-Five has received widespread acclaim, cementing its place in the literary canon. While it has not won specific awards, its impact and significance have been recognized through its inclusion in various lists of the greatest books ever written and its enduring presence in academic and literary discussions.

The novel’s distinction as one of the best books about time travel stems not from its depiction of time travel as a technological or fantastical phenomenon but from its innovative use of the concept as a narrative device to explore the human condition. Vonnegut’s portrayal of time travel reflects the fragmented nature of memory and the human psyche, particularly in response to trauma and the incomprehensibility of war. Through Billy Pilgrim’s journeys across time, Slaughterhouse-Five challenges readers to reconsider linear narratives and confront the cyclic nature of violence and despair. This philosophical and existential approach to time travel, combined with Vonnegut’s sharp wit and profound insights into the absurdities of human existence, secures the novel’s place as a timeless masterpiece in the genre.

2 11/22/63 by Stephen King

Goodreads:  4.33

11/22/6 3 by Stephen King is a riveting novel that merges elements of historical fiction, science fiction, and thriller. The plot centers around Jake Epping, a high school English teacher who discovers a time portal in a local diner that leads back to September 9, 1958. With the guidance of the diner’s owner, Al, Jake embarks on a mission to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, believing that changing this one event could positively alter the course of history. Throughout his journey, Jake encounters the complexities of living in the past, falls in love, and faces the moral and ethical dilemmas of changing history. The book has been acclaimed for its detailed research and compelling narrative, earning it a spot on The New York Times Best Seller list and notable recognition among readers and critics alike.

Considered one of the best books about time travel, 11/22/63 stands out for its intricate plot, deep character development, and the thought-provoking exploration of the “butterfly effect” — the idea that small changes can have large, unforeseen consequences. Stephen King masterfully combines historical accuracy with speculative fiction, creating a vivid portrayal of the late 1950s and early 1960s in America. The novel’s ability to blend real historical events with the fictional journey of its protagonist offers readers a unique and immersive experience. King’s exploration of themes such as love, loss, and the weight of history, coupled with his skillful narrative construction, makes 11/22/63 a standout work in the genre of time travel fiction, resonating with readers long after they turn the last page.

3 Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Goodreads:  4.30

Kindred, authored by Octavia E. Butler, stands as a profound and pioneering work within the science fiction genre, melding elements of time travel with a stark examination of American history. The novel follows Dana, a young African-American woman in the 1970s who finds herself repeatedly transported back in time to the early 19th century. In this antebellum Maryland, she encounters her ancestors: a white slave owner and a black woman who is one of his slaves. While Kindred has not been awarded in the traditional sense often associated with science fiction, its impact and significance have been recognized through its inclusion in academic curricula and its influence on subsequent generations of writers. It is celebrated not only for its innovative use of the time travel trope but also for its unflinching confrontation with the complexities of race, slavery, and power dynamics.

The acclaim of Kindred as one of the best books about time travel stems not only from its imaginative narrative structure but also from its ability to leverage the time-traveling experience as a powerful lens through which the enduring effects of slavery and racism in America are explored. Butler’s novel is distinguished by its emotional depth, compelling character development, and the seamless integration of historical fact with speculative fiction elements. This unique combination allows readers to engage with the historical past in a deeply personal and reflective manner. The book’s enduring popularity and relevance are testament to its standing as a seminal work that transcends the typical boundaries of genre to offer insights into the human condition and the cyclical nature of history.

4 Hyperion by Dan Simmons

Goodreads:  4.26

Hyperion by Dan Simmons is a towering achievement in the science fiction genre, weaving together the tales of seven pilgrims who journey across a far-future universe to the distant world of Hyperion. On the eve of an interstellar war, these characters—each with a unique story that is gradually unveiled—seek the answers to their deepest questions before the mysterious and deadly entity known as the Shrike. This Hugo Award-winning novel, released in 1989, masterfully combines elements of space opera with deep philosophical questions and a richly imagined universe, showcasing Simmons’ prowess in storytelling and world-building.

Considered one of the best books about time travel, Hyperion stands out due to its innovative use of time travel as a central plot device. The novel intricately explores the concept through the Shrike and the Time Tombs, around which much of the story’s mystery revolves. Simmons employs time travel not just as a means of moving characters through space and time but as a profound element that affects the narrative’s structure, themes, and the characters’ fates. The way time travel is woven into the plot highlights the complexities of causality, destiny, and personal choice, making Hyperion a compelling and thought-provoking read that pushes the boundaries of the genre and offers a unique perspective on the consequences and paradoxes of time travel.

5 Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon is not just a novel; it’s a sprawling journey across time that marries elements of historical fiction, romance , and adventure. First published in 1991, the story introduces readers to Claire Randall, a former World War II nurse who, while on a second honeymoon in Scotland with her husband Frank, is mysteriously transported back in time to 1743. Thrust into a world of clan politics, stark landscapes, and looming conflict, Claire encounters Jamie Fraser, a gallant and chivalrous young Scots warrior, and her life becomes irrevocably intertwined with his. As she navigates the dangers of a bygone era, Claire is torn between her fidelity to the future and the love she discovers in the past. Outlander has captivated millions with its rich historical detail, compelling characters, and thrilling narrative, earning Gabaldon a dedicated fanbase and several awards, including the Quill Award and the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Best Romance of 1991.

Considered one of the top time travel romance books of all time, Outlander stands out for its unique blend of historical accuracy, time travel, and deep, enduring romance. Gabaldon’s meticulous research into the period brings 18th-century Scotland to vivid life, providing a lush backdrop for the passionate relationship between Claire and Jamie. Unlike many time travel stories that focus solely on the mechanics of time travel or the butterfly effect, Outlander delves into the human element—exploring the complexities of love and loyalty across different times. This novel transcends the genre by focusing on the emotional journey of its characters, making it a quintessential read for fans of romance and time travel alike.

6 The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov

Goodreads:  4.24

The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov is a quintessential piece of science fiction literature that delves into the complex themes of time travel and its far-reaching consequences. Published in 1955, the novel introduces readers to The Eternity, a secretive organization that exists outside conventional time, with the ability to manipulate and alter historical events to prevent human suffering and catastrophe. The story follows Andrew Harlan, a Technician in Eternity who specializes in making these delicate temporal adjustments, as he navigates the moral and ethical dilemmas posed by manipulating time. Despite its critical acclaim and the way it showcases Asimov’s prowess in building intricate, thought-provoking narratives, The End of Eternity did not receive contemporary awards at the time of its release. However, its enduring popularity and influence on the science fiction genre underscore its significance and the way it captures the imagination of readers, illustrating Asimov’s masterful exploration of time travel’s complexities and its impact on humanity.

7 Replay by Ken Grimwood

Goodreads:  4.15

Replay by Ken Grimwood is an intriguing exploration of time travel, life’s possibilities, and the concept of destiny. The novel follows Jeff Winston, a radio journalist who dies of a heart attack at 43 and inexplicably wakes up in his 18-year-old body in 1963, with all his memories intact. As Jeff lives his life over and over, he experiences different paths and choices, each “replay” offering new opportunities, challenges, and insights into the human condition. Despite its fantastical premise, the book delves deeply into themes of love, regret, and the significance of the choices we make.

Since its release, Replay has been acclaimed for its originality and depth, winning the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1988. It remains a cherished work for its profound narrative and the emotional journey it offers readers, making it a standout title in the time travel genre.

8 To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

Goodreads:  4.11

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis is a delightful foray into the world of time travel, combining wit, historical intrigue, and a dash of romance. The novel follows Ned Henry, a time-traveling historian who is sent back to the Victorian era to correct an anomaly that threatens to alter history. His mission becomes entangled with that of fellow historian Verity Kindle, leading to a series of comedic and chaotic adventures as they navigate the complexities of 19th-century social etiquette, all while trying to ensure the future remains unchanged.

Willis masterfully blends elements of science fiction with the historical setting, creating a rich and engaging narrative. Upon its release, the book was met with critical acclaim and went on to win both the Hugo and Locus Awards for Best Science Fiction Novel, cementing its place as a cherished work in the genre.

9 Lightning by Dean Koontz

Goodreads:  4.09

Lightning, a novel by Dean Koontz, stands out as an intriguing blend of science fiction and suspense, masterfully weaving the concept of time travel into a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling. The story follows Laura Shane, a woman whose life is intermittently saved by a mysterious stranger, who we come to learn is a time traveler from Nazi Germany. This stranger’s interventions are pivotal at various junctures in Laura’s life, leading to revelations about destiny, the nature of good and evil, and the intricate fabric of time itself. Since its release, Lightning has captivated readers with its unique plot and compelling characters, although it hasn’t been specifically highlighted for literary awards, its enduring popularity and critical acclaim underscore Koontz’s prowess in crafting suspenseful narratives with a science fiction twist. The book remains a standout example of Koontz’s ability to blend genres seamlessly, making it a must-read for fans of time travel fiction and suspense alike.

10 Doomsday Book by Connie Willis

Goodreads:  4.03

Doomsday Book by Connie Willis is an exceptional foray into the realm of time travel, seamlessly blending historical fiction with science fiction elements. The novel follows Kivrin Engle, a young historian who, through the use of futuristic time travel technology, is sent back to the 14th century. However, what was intended to be a meticulous academic observation turns into a harrowing journey of survival when she arrives during the onset of the Black Plague. Willis’s detailed depiction of medieval England, along with the parallel narrative of Kivrin’s colleagues in the 21st century grappling with a deadly influenza outbreak, creates a compelling exploration of humanity, resilience, and the interconnectedness of history and the present. Doomsday Book has garnered critical acclaim for its intricate plot and emotional depth, winning both the Nebula and Hugo Awards for Best Novel, affirming its status as a masterpiece in the science fiction genre.

11 The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North is a captivating exploration of immortality and the infinite possibilities of life. The novel follows its titular character, Harry August, who lives his life over and over again with full memory of his previous existences. Each time Harry dies, he is reborn into the same life but with the opportunity to make different choices, leading to varied outcomes. This cycle allows Harry to experience the 20th century multiple times, witnessing its major events and technological advancements firsthand. However, the equilibrium of his perpetual rebirths is threatened when he receives a message from the future indicating a looming catastrophe that only he can prevent. This unique take on time travel and reincarnation has not only captivated readers worldwide but also earned critical acclaim.

Since its release, the book has been recognized for its originality and depth, including being nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke Award and winning the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. North’s novel stands out for its philosophical musings on time, memory, and the human condition, making it a significant contribution to the genre.

12 The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Goodreads:  3.99

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger is a uniquely crafted narrative that intertwines romance, science fiction, and the raw complexities of human relationships through the lens of time travel. The novel introduces readers to Clare and Henry, an artist and a librarian who have an unconventional love story shaped by Henry’s rare genetic disorder that causes him to involuntarily travel through time. This condition presents both profound connections and heartbreaking challenges as they navigate their lives together, often out of sync in time yet deeply bonded by love. Since its release in 2003, the book has captivated audiences with its emotional depth and innovative storytelling, earning it widespread acclaim.

Although it did not win major literary awards, The Time Traveler’s Wife achieved significant commercial success, became a New York Times bestseller, and was adapted into a film and a television series, highlighting its lasting impact and appeal to both readers and viewers alike.

13 A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Goodreads:  3.98

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle is a groundbreaking work of science fiction and fantasy that has captured the imaginations of readers since its publication in 1962. The novel follows the adventures of Meg Murry, her younger brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O’Keefe as they embark on a perilous journey through space and time to rescue Meg’s father, a scientist trapped on a distant planet by a malevolent force known as IT.

L’Engle masterfully combines elements of science fiction, fantasy, and coming-of-age narrative, exploring themes of love, courage, and the battle between good and evil. A Wrinkle in Time has received widespread acclaim, including the prestigious Newbery Medal in 1963, recognizing it as a significant contribution to American children’s literature. Its enduring popularity has established it as a classic, inspiring generations of readers to look beyond the confines of their reality.

14 Time and Again by Jack Finney

Goodreads:  3.94

Time and Again by Jack Finney is a classic in the genre of time travel literature, first published in 1970. The novel follows Simon Morley, a young advertising artist who enlists in a secret government project that enables him to travel back in time to New York City in 1882. Using his artistic skills, Morley immerses himself in the past, exploring the rich tapestry of late 19th-century life with an eye for detail that brings the era to vivid life. As he becomes entangled in the lives of the people he encounters, Morley finds himself faced with choices that have the power to alter history. Time and Again ‘s enduring popularity and critical acclaim have cemented its status as a beloved masterpiece of time travel fiction. The novel is celebrated for its meticulous historical research, engaging plot, and the philosophical questions it raises about the nature of time and our place within it.

15 The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch

Goodreads:  3.93

The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch is a mesmerizing entry in the realm of books about time travel, blending elements of science fiction, mystery, and thriller genres to create a gripping narrative. The story follows NCIS Special Agent Shannon Moss as she investigates the murder of a Navy SEAL’s family and the disappearance of his teenage daughter. Moss is part of a secretive military division that investigates crimes by traveling to future timelines. Her quest for answers leads her to a future that should never happen and reveals a terrifying world-ending event known as the Terminus.

Sweterlitsch masterfully constructs a complex, multi-layered plot that challenges the boundaries of time and space, inviting readers to contemplate the implications of diving into the unknown and the impact of our choices on the future.

16 Lest Darkness Fall by L. Sprague de Camp

Goodreads:  3.92

Lest Darkness Fall by L. Sprague de Camp is often heralded as one of the top books about time travel, thanks to its inventive plot and engaging narrative. This classic novel transports its protagonist, Martin Padway, to sixth-century Rome, just before the onset of the Dark Ages. Armed with his knowledge of modern technology and historical events, Padway endeavors to alter the course of history to prevent the impending collapse of civilization. Through his attempts to introduce advancements and thwart the fall of Rome, the book explores themes of innovation, cultural impact, and the intricate dance of cause and effect. De Camp’s meticulous attention to historical detail, combined with his imaginative speculation, makes Lest Darkness Fall a standout tale in the time travel genre, engaging readers with its blend of history, science fiction, and adventure.

17 The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers

Goodreads:  3.90

The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers is a riveting entry in the pantheon of top books about time travel, masterfully blending historical fiction, fantasy, and science fiction into a cohesive and enthralling narrative. The story transports readers to 19th-century London, where a modern-day scholar finds himself caught up in a dark and complex plot involving ancient Egyptian magic, body-swapping, and a secret society of time travelers. Powers crafts a meticulously researched Victorian London as the backdrop for this adventure, weaving real historical figures and events with fantastical elements. The novel’s richly detailed world, combined with its intricate plot and compelling characters, makes The Anubis Gates not just a journey through time but an immersive dive into a past as dangerous as it is enchanting, solidifying its status among the top books about time travel.

18 The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

Goodreads:  3.89

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom is a thought-provoking addition to the genre of time travel literature, weaving a narrative that stands out among the top books about time travel. This novel introduces readers to Dor, the first person to measure time, who is punished for trying to quantify life’s moments. Banished to a cave for centuries, he is forced to listen to the world’s pleas for more time. It is not until he is granted his freedom, with a mission to teach two earthly souls the true meaning of time, that Dor can truly understand the depth and complexities of his invention. Albom’s storytelling is both unique and insightful, exploring the profound impact time has on human experiences and relationships. Through Dor’s journey, The Time Keeper delves into the essence of time’s value, making it a poignant and memorable read in the exploration of time travel’s narrative possibilities.

19 The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells stands as a cornerstone in the pantheon of classic time travel books, setting the foundation for the genre with its innovative concept and imaginative exploration of the future. In this seminal work, Wells introduces readers to the Time Traveller, a scientist who invents a machine that enables him to journey into the distant future. There, he encounters the Eloi and the Morlocks, two divergent species evolved from humanity, offering a stark, evolutionary vision of Earth’s fate. Through its vividly imagined future and philosophical underpinnings, The Time Machine not only captivates with its adventurous plot but also invites reflection on the social and scientific implications of time travel, cementing its status as a timeless masterpiece in science fiction literature.

20 Timeline by Michael Crichton

Goodreads:  3.86

Timeline by Michael Crichton stands as a noteworthy entry among classic time travel books, masterfully weaving historical fiction with cutting-edge science fiction. The novel plunges its characters—and readers—into the heart of medieval France, where a group of archaeologists and historians from a modern-day technological corporation use quantum technology to travel back in time. Their mission is to rescue their professor, who has become stranded in the 14th century amidst the feudal conflicts and the stark realities of medieval life.

Crichton’s meticulous research into the period brings an authenticity to the adventure, while his exploration of quantum mechanics adds a plausible scientific foundation to the time travel narrative. Timeline captivates with its thrilling plot, rich historical detail, and the timeless allure of journeying into the past, marking it as a must-read for fans of the genre.

21 Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis

Goodreads:  3.85

Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis is an ambitious duo of time travel novels that masterfully blend historical detail with the speculative intrigue of time travel. Set against the backdrop of World War II, the story follows a group of historians from 2060 who travel back to the 1940s to observe and document the everyday lives of those who lived through the Blitz, the evacuation of Dunkirk, and other pivotal moments of the war.

However, their mission takes a perilous turn when they become trapped in the past, unable to return to their own time. Willis’s meticulous research and vivid storytelling immerse readers in the era, while the novel’s exploration of history, memory, and the human experience through the lens of time travel offers a poignant reflection on the resilience and courage of those who faced the uncertainties of war.

22 The Man Who Folded Himself by David Gerrold

Goodreads:  3.81

The Man Who Folded Himself by David Gerrold is a time travel novel that delves into the mind-bending possibilities of self-interaction across different timelines. This narrative follows Daniel Eakins, a young man who inherits a time belt from his uncle, granting him the power to travel through time. Unlike typical time travel stories that focus on altering historical events or exploring the future, Gerrold’s novel takes a more introspective approach. Daniel uses the time belt to visit different periods in history, meet versions of himself from alternative timelines, and even attend his own parties, leading to profound existential questions and the exploration of free will, identity, and the human condition. Gerrold’s ingenious plotting and philosophical insights make The Man Who Folded Himself a standout in the genre, offering a unique take on the consequences and paradoxes of time travel.

23 All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai

Goodreads:  3.75

All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai is a captivating time travel novel that skillfully blends elements of science fiction and romance to explore the consequences of technology and the complexity of human emotions through the lens of time travel. The story is set in a 2016 that feels like the utopian future people in the 1950s imagined we would have, complete with flying cars, moving sidewalks, and no pollution. It follows Tom Barren, who, after a time travel experiment goes awry, finds himself in a starkly different 2016—the one we know. As Tom navigates this alternate reality, he is confronted with the profound impact of his actions on the world and the lives of those he loves. Mastai’s novel is a thought-provoking journey that questions the idea of perfection, the value of imperfection, and the intricate paths that lead us to the lives we are meant to live.

24 Version Control by Dexter Palmer

Goodreads:  3.73

Version Control by Dexter Palmer is a thought-provoking time travel novel that delves into the complexities of reality, the impact of technology on human relationships, and the nature of time itself. The story centers around Rebecca Wright, who suspects her world feels off-kilter and not quite real following a personal tragedy. Her husband, Philip, is a physicist working on a causality violation device, which is ostensibly not a time machine but begins to hint at the possibility of altering timelines. As the narrative unfolds, Palmer explores the subtle yet profound effects of technology on everyday life and the concept of “version control” in both software development and the fabric of the universe. This novel stands out for its deep philosophical inquiries, its critique of modern life, and the way it seamlessly blends science fiction with the emotional depth of its characters’ personal lives, making it a unique and compelling read within the time travel genre.

25 The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman

Goodreads: 3.72

The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman is a compelling science fiction novel that explores the adventures of Matt Fuller, a lab assistant at MIT, who stumbles upon a time machine quite by accident. As Fuller uses the device to leap forward in time, he encounters various futures, each more bizarre and fascinating than the last. The plot weaves through these temporal shifts, delivering a narrative rich in speculative science, social commentary, and the human condition. Upon its release, the book received positive reviews for its imaginative storytelling, Haldeman’s crisp writing, and the engaging way it addresses the consequences of time travel. While The Accidental Time Machine did not win major science fiction awards like the Hugo or Nebula, it further cemented Joe Haldeman’s reputation as a master storyteller in the genre, capturing the interest of readers and critics alike for its inventive take on the time travel theme.

26 The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas

Goodreads:  3.71

The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas weaves an intricate narrative that explores the ramifications of time travel on human psychology and relationships. Published in 2018, the book introduces readers to a unique world where time travel is not only possible but has also created a complex society with its own rules and norms. The plot unfolds through the perspectives of multiple characters across different timelines, showcasing Mascarenhas’s skill in handling non-linear storytelling. This debut novel has been well-received for its innovative approach to science fiction, blending mystery, and feminist themes seamlessly. Critics have praised Mascarenhas for her thought-provoking exploration of how time travel might affect mental health, power dynamics, and interpersonal connections. While The Psychology of Time Travel has not been highlighted by major award wins, its positive reception and unique contributions to the science fiction genre have made it a noteworthy read for enthusiasts and casual readers alike, marking Mascarenhas as an author to watch.

27 The Chronoliths by Robert Charles Wilson

Goodreads:  3.68

The Chronoliths, penned by Robert Charles Wilson, unfolds around the enigmatic appearance of massive monuments, known as Chronoliths, which materialize across the globe. These monuments, inscribed with dates 20 years in the future, herald the military victories of a leader named Kuin. The narrative centers on Scott Warden, a man who finds himself intricately linked to these phenomena and the global efforts to decipher their origins and implications. The novel adeptly blends the elements of science fiction with deep psychological and sociopolitical themes, exploring how humanity grapples with the known and the unknown, destiny, and the concept of free will. Upon its release, The Chronoliths was met with critical acclaim for its originality, compelling storytelling, and the depth of its character development. It not only received praise for its thought-provoking content but also clinched the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel in 2002, solidifying Wilson’s reputation as a distinguished voice in the science fiction genre.

28 Bones of the Earth by Michael Swanwick

Goodreads:  3.49

Bones of the Earth by Michael Swanwick is a sci-fi novel that intricately weaves together themes of time travel, paleontology, and the ethics of scientific discovery. The plot centers around a group of paleontologists who are given the opportunity to study dinosaurs in their natural habitats, thanks to the advent of time travel. However, as they delve deeper into the prehistoric past, they uncover mysteries that challenge their understanding of time and existence itself. Upon its release, the book was met with critical acclaim for its imaginative storytelling and thorough research into dinosaur science, earning Swanwick praise for blending hard science fiction with engaging narrative elements.

Bones of the Earth was nominated for several prestigious awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Awards for Best Novel, showcasing its impact within the science fiction community and affirming Swanwick’s reputation as a masterful storyteller.

29 How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu

Goodreads:  3.45

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe , penned by Charles Yu, unfolds within a universe where time travel is not just possible but has become an integral part of the fabric of existence. The narrative follows the life of a time machine repairman named Charles Yu, who shares the author’s name. Trapped in a time loop, the protagonist embarks on a deeply introspective journey, exploring themes of loneliness, family dynamics, and the quest for meaning within the confines of a meticulously constructed science fictional setting.

Upon its release, the book garnered attention for its innovative blend of science fiction elements with poignant, introspective storytelling, earning praise for Yu’s unique voice and imaginative approach to the genre. Critics lauded its clever use of metafiction and the ways it grapples with the complexities of human emotion against a backdrop of time travel and theoretical physics. Although it didn’t snag any major science fiction awards, it firmly established Charles Yu as a significant voice in contemporary science fiction, receiving critical acclaim and a warm reception from readers who appreciated its thoughtful exploration of the human condition through the lens of science fiction.

30 The Map of Time by Félix J. Palma

Goodreads:  3.39

The Map of Time by Félix J. Palma is a riveting novel that intricately weaves together history, science fiction, and romance into a captivating narrative. Set in Victorian London, it explores the concept of time travel through the lives of its characters, intertwining their stories with real historical figures such as H.G. Wells. The plot is rich with twists and turns, offering readers a blend of suspense, mystery, and a deep reflection on the nature of time and love. Upon its release, the book received critical acclaim for its imaginative storytelling, detailed historical research, and the ability to blend genres seamlessly. Critics praised Palma’s skillful narrative and the novel’s complex character development. While The Map of Time has been celebrated for its innovation and depth, it is more noted for its literary achievements and storytelling prowess than for winning specific awards. Nonetheless, its reception among readers and critics alike cements its status as a standout work in speculative fiction.

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The 35 Best Books About Time Travel

Here's what to read after you finish Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series.

Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Gabaldon first published Outlander —the book that would eventually inspire the television series starring Caitriona Balfe as Claire and Sam Heughan as Jamie —in 1991, and the ninth novel in the series, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone , came out in November 2021.

Ahead of the seventh season of Outlander , now's the perfect time (ha) to dive into time travel books. From time traveling romance to alternate realities to murder mysteries, there's something for everyone here.

The Time Traveler's Wife

Any list about time travel books must begin with The Time Traveler's Wife , right? This bestselling novel tells the love story of Henry DeTamble, a dashing, adventuresome librarian who inadvertently travels through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Plot sound familiar? The book was adapted into a 2009 film starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana, and a 2022 TV show starring Theo James and Rose Leslie .

Read more: 20 of the best Time Travel Films Ever Made

A Murder in Time

Kendra Donovan is a rising star at the FBI, until one disastrous raid when half her team is murdered and a mole in the FBI is uncovered. After she recovers from her wounds, she's determined to find the man responsible for the death of her team—yet upon her arrival in England, she stumbles back in time to 1815. Mistaken for a lady's maid, Kendra is forced to quickly adapt to the period as she figures out how to get back to her own timeline. There are five books in the Kendra Donovan series , so if you love a time travel mystery, don't miss these.

Author Octavia Butler is a queen of science fiction, and Kindred is her bestselling novel about time travel. In it, she tells the story of Dana, a Black woman, who is celebrating her 26th birthday in 1976. Abruptly, she's transported back to Maryland, circa 1815, where she's on a plantation and has to save Rufus, the white son of the plantation owner. It's not just a time travel book, but one that expertly weaves in narratives of enslaved people and explores the Antebellum South.

Faye, Faraway

Diana Gabaldon herself called Faye, Faraway "a lovely, deeply moving story of loss and love and memory made real , " so you know it's going to be good. The plot focuses on Faye, a mother of two, who lost her own mother, Jeanie, when she was just 8 years old. When Faye suddenly finds herself transported back in time, she befriends her mother—but doesn't let on who she really is. Eventually, she has to choose between her past and her future.

The Eyre Affair

In this version of Great Britain circa 1985, time travel is routine. Our protagonist is Thursday Next, a literary detective, who is placed on a case when someone begins kidnapping characters from works of literature and plucks Jane Eyre from the pages of Brontë's novel.

Bonus: The Eyre Affair is the first in a seven book series following Thursday.

The River of No Return: A Novel

Lord Nicholas Davenant is about to die in the Napoleonic Wars in 1812, and wakes up 200 years later. But he longs to return back in time to his love, Julia. When he arrives in modern society, a mysterious organization called the Guild tells him "there is no return," until one day, they summon him to London and he learns it's possible to travel back through time. A spy thriller that's also historical romance that's also time travel... Say less.

One Last Stop

Casey McQuiston's second novel ( following Red, White, and Royal blue, which is going to be a major motion picture this summer ) is a queer time-loop romance set on the Q train in New York City, and it's riveting. August is 23, working at a 24-hour diner, and meets a gorgeous, charming girl on the train: Jane. But she can't seem to meet up with her off the Q train—until they figure out Jane is stuck in time from the 1970s. How did she travel through time? Can August get Jane unstuck? Will they live happily ever after!? The questions abound.

What the Wind Knows

Anne Gallagher grew up hearing her grandfather’s stories of Ireland. When she returns to the country to spread his ashes, she is transported back in time to 1921—and is drawn into the struggle for Irish independence. There, she meets Dr. Thomas Smith, and must decide whether or not she should return to her own timeline or stay in the past. As one reviewer wrote on Amazon, What the Wind Knows is a "spectacular time travel journey filled with love and loss."

The Midnight Library: A Novel

Imagine a library with an infinite number of books—each containing an alternate reality about your life. That's the plot of The Midnight Library , where our protagonist Nora Seed enters different versions of her life. She undoes old breakups, follows her dream of becoming a glaciologist, and so much more—but what happens to her original life?

The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.: A Novel

In this novel from Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland, magic existed—until 1851. A secret government organization, the Department of Diachronic Operations (or D.O.D.O. for short), is dedicated to bringing magic back, and its members will travel through time to change history to do so. As Kirkus Reviews wrote , the novel "blend[s] time travel with Bourne-worthy skulduggery." It's a delight for any fans of science fiction, with a slow burn romance between military intelligence operator Tristan Lyons and linguist Melisande Stokes.

This Is How You Lose the Time War

Cowritten by two beloved and award-winning sci-fi writers, this epistolary romantic novel tells the story of two time-traveling rivals who fall in love. Agents Red and Blue travel back and forth throughout time, trying to alter universes on behalf of their warring empires—and start to leave each other messages. The messages begin taunting but soon turn flirtatious—and when Red's commander discovers her affection for Blue, they soon embark down a timeline they can't change.

The House on the Strand

Set at an ancient Cornish house called Kilmarth, where Daphne du Maurier lived from 1967, The House on the Strand story follows Dick Young, who has been offered use of Kilmarth by an old college friend, Magnus Lane. Magnus, a biophysicist, is developing a drug that enables people to travel back to the 14th century, and Dick reluctantly agrees to be a test subject. The catch: If you touch anyone, you're transported back to the present. As the story goes on, Dick's visits back to the 1300s become more frequent, and his life back in the modern world becomes unstable.

The Kingdoms

It’s 1898 and there’s a man named Joe, who lives in London, which is, in this alternate historical, a part of the French Empire as in this version of the past, Britain lost the Napoleonic Wars. Joe has gotten off a train from Scotland and cannot remember anything about who he is or where he’s from. He soon returns to his work, and after a few years, he is sent to repair a lighthouse in Eilean Mor in the Outer Hebrides. Joe then finds himself a century earlier, on a British boat with a mysterious captain, fighting the French and hoping for a future that is different than the one he came from. If you're into time travel and queer romance and alternate history, this is for you.

The Future of Another Timeline

In 1992, 17-year-old Beth agrees to help hide the dead body of her friend's abusive boyfriend. The murder sets Beth and her friends on "a path of escalating violence and vengeance" to protect other young women. In 2022, Tess decides to use time travel to fight for change around key moments in history. When Tess believes she's found a way to make an edit to history that actually sticks, she encounters a group of time travelers bent on stopping her at any cost. Tess and Beth's lives intertwine, and war breaks out across the timeline.

Shadow of Night

The sequel to A Discovery of Witches , the plot of Shadow of Night picks up right where the story left off: With Matthew, a vampire, and Diana, a witch, traveling back in time to Elizabethan London to search for an enchanted manuscript. You really need to read the first book before reading Shadow of Night , but the series by Deborah Harkness is a swoony magical romance.

And: It's now a TV show! ( Season one is streaming on Amazon Prime Video .)

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

In The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, the same day happens again and again. Each day, Evelyn Hardcastle is murdered at 11:00 p.m at Blackheath. And each day, our protagonist Aiden Bishop wakes up in the body of a different witness—and tries to solve her murder. He only has eight days, and it's a race against time to solve Evelyn's murder and to escape the time loop.

Recursion: A Novel

In 2018 New York City, detective Barry Sutton fails to talk Ann out of jumping off a building. But before Ann falls to her death, she tells him she is suffering from False Memory Syndrome—a new neurological disease where people are afflicted with memories of lives they never lived. The dissonance between their present and these memories drives them to death. This is best read unspoiled, but it's undoubtedly a time travel story you haven't read before.

On the eve of her wedding day, Shay Garrett looks into her grandmother's antique mirror and faints. When she wakes up, she's in the same house—but in the body of her grandmother, Brandy, as a young woman in 1900. And Brandy awakens in Shay's body in the present day in 1978. It's like Freaky Friday , but with time travel to the Victorian era.

Here and Now and Then

Kin Stewart is a time traveler from 2142, stuck in 1990s suburban San Francisco. A rescue team arrives to bring Kin back to his timeline—but 18 years too late. Does Kin stay with his "new" family, and the life he's built for himself in San Francisco, or does he return to his original timeline? He's stuck between two families—and ultimately, this is a time travel tale about fatherhood.

A Knight in Shining Armor

Originally published in 1989, this romance novel features a present-day heroine and a knight from the 16th century who fall in love. Per the book's description: "Abandoned by a cruel fate, lovely Dougless Montgomery lies weeping upon a cold tombstone in an English church. Suddenly, the most extraordinary man appears. It is Nicholas Stafford, Earl of Thornwyck…and according to his tombstone he died in 1564. Drawn to his side by a bond so sudden and compelling it overshadows reason, Dougless knows that Nicholas is nothing less than a miracle: a man who does not seek to change her, who finds her perfect, fascinating, just as she is. What Dougless never imagined was how strong the chains are that tie them to the past…or the grand adventure that lay before them."

Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma , a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram .

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The 20 Best Time Travel Books

Time travel fiction is a subgenre of science fiction that explores the concept of travelling through time, whether backward or forward. It delves into the possibilities and consequences of altering the past, present, or future, often raising philosophical questions about fate, causality, and the nature of reality.

What distinguishes time travel fiction from general science fiction is its focus on the manipulation of time itself as a central plot device, rather than merely incorporating futuristic technology or alien worlds. Time travel narratives often involve intricate paradoxes, alternate timelines, and the exploration of the human condition across different temporal settings.

Some great classics of time travel fiction include H.G. Wells’ “The Time Machine,” which popularized the concept of time travel in modern literature, exploring social commentary alongside its scientific premise. Another notable example is Ray Bradbury’s “A Sound of Thunder,” which emphasizes the butterfly effect and the delicate balance of history. More contemporary works like Audrey Niffenegger’s “The Time Traveler’s Wife” blend romance with time travel, showcasing its versatility as a narrative device across genres. These classics have paved the way for a rich tapestry of time travel stories, each offering unique perspectives on the complexities of temporal manipulation.

Here are twenty great time travel novels:

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (1895) In “The Time Machine,” an unnamed protagonist invents a machine that allows him to travel through time. He ventures into the distant future, where he encounters two distinct species—the peaceful Eloi and the monstrous Morlocks—and witnesses the eventual decline of human civilization. Wells’ seminal work not only popularized the concept of time travel but also serves as a social commentary on class division and the consequences of industrialization.

A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury (1952) “A Sound of Thunder” follows a group of hunters who travel back in time to hunt dinosaurs, but one member inadvertently steps off the path and alters history. This classic short story explores the concept of the butterfly effect, illustrating how seemingly small actions in the past can have significant repercussions on the future. Bradbury’s work serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of tampering with the past and the fragile interconnectedness of time.

The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov (1955) “The End of Eternity” is set in a distant future where a secret organization, known as Eternity, controls the flow of history by manipulating time. When an ambitious time traveller named Andrew Harlan falls in love with a woman from the past, he risks unravelling the fabric of time itself. Asimov’s novel is a thought-provoking exploration of the consequences of tampering with the past and the ethical implications of playing God with time.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (1962) In “A Wrinkle in Time,” siblings Meg and Charles Wallace, along with their friend Calvin, embark on a journey through space and time to rescue Meg’s father from the clutches of an evil force known as IT. Guided by three mysterious beings, they travel to different planets and dimensions, confronting darkness and discovering the power of love and individuality. L’Engle’s novel is a beloved classic of children’s literature that combines elements of science fiction, fantasy, and philosophy, offering a timeless and inspiring adventure that celebrates the triumph of good over evil.

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut (1969) “Slaughterhouse-Five” follows the experiences of Billy Pilgrim, an optometrist who becomes “unstuck in time” and experiences various moments of his life, including his time as a prisoner of war during World War II and his encounters with aliens on the planet Tralfamadore. Vonnegut’s novel is a blend of dark humour, anti-war sentiment, and existential exploration, using time travel as a narrative device to highlight the absurdity and trauma of war.

Time and Again by Jack Finney (1970) In “Time and Again,” advertising artist Si Morley participates in a secret government experiment and finds himself transported back to New York City in 1882. As Si immerses himself in the past and becomes involved in a mystery, he must navigate the complexities of time travel and its impact on his own identity. Finney’s novel is a classic time travel tale that combines meticulous historical detail with a compelling mystery, offering a captivating glimpse into the past and the possibilities of altering history.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (1991) In “Outlander,” Claire Randall, a World War II nurse, is mysteriously transported back in time from 1945 to 1743 Scotland. Struggling to adapt to her new reality, Claire becomes entangled in the politics and conflicts of the time period, while navigating a complicated romance with the dashing Highlander, Jamie Fraser. Gabaldon’s series combines elements of historical fiction, romance, and fantasy, using time travel to transport readers to a vividly realized past filled with intrigue and adventure.

Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (1992) In “Doomsday Book,” a historian named Kivrin is sent back in time from Oxford in 2054 to the Middle Ages, but due to an error, she ends up in the midst of the Black Death in the 14th century. As Kivrin struggles to survive in a plague-ridden world, her colleagues in the future race to rescue her. Willis’ novel is a masterful blend of historical fiction and science fiction, exploring themes of mortality, resilience, and the impact of technology on human relationships.

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (1992) In “Dragonfly in Amber,” the second book in the Outlander series, Claire Randall continues her time-travelling adventures in 18th-century Scotland, while also navigating the political turmoil leading up to the Jacobite Rising of 1745. As Claire grapples with her loyalty to two different worlds and the consequences of her actions, Gabaldon weaves a captivating tale of love, loss, and resilience across time periods, further expanding the rich tapestry of her Outlander universe.

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis (1997) In “To Say Nothing of the Dog,” time traveller Ned Henry is sent to Victorian England to retrieve a valuable artifact, but his mission is complicated by a series of misadventures and a meddling cat. As Ned navigates the quirks of the past and tries to maintain the integrity of the timeline, he finds himself entangled in a web of comedic misunderstandings and romantic entanglements. Willis’ novel is a delightful blend of historical fiction, comedy, and time travel, offering a charming and witty exploration of the complexities of causality.

Timeline by Michael Crichton (1999) In “Timeline,” a team of archaeologists and historians travel back in time to 14th-century France to rescue their colleague who is trapped in the past. As they navigate the dangers of the medieval world, they uncover a conspiracy that threatens to alter the course of history. Crichton’s novel is a thrilling adventure that combines elements of science fiction, historical fiction, and action-packed suspense, offering a gripping exploration of the perils of time travel.

The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (2003) In “The Time Traveller’s Wife,” Henry suffers from a rare genetic disorder that causes him to involuntarily time travel. The novel follows his nonlinear relationship with Clare, who he meets at different stages of her life while he jumps through time. Niffenegger’s novel is a poignant exploration of love, fate, and the complexities of temporal displacement, presenting time travel as both a blessing and a curse that shapes the characters’ lives in unexpected ways.

11/22/63 by Stephen King (2011) In “11/22/63,” high school English teacher Jake Epping discovers a time portal that leads to 1958, with the aim of preventing the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. As Jake navigates the complexities of altering the past, he faces numerous obstacles and moral dilemmas. King’s novel intricately weaves together historical events with elements of science fiction, offering a gripping tale of time travel and its potential consequences.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (2015) In “Before the Coffee Gets Cold,” customers at a quaint café in Tokyo have the opportunity to travel back in time to revisit moments from their past, but there are strict rules and limitations to the experience. As each character grapples with their regrets and desires, they discover profound truths about themselves and the nature of life. Kawaguchi’s novel is a tender and introspective exploration of love, loss, and the fleeting nature of time, offering a gentle reminder to cherish every moment before it slips away.

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (2018) In “The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle,” the protagonist is trapped in a time loop, forced to relive the same day and solve a murder mystery. Each day, he wakes up in the body of a different guest at a party, trying to uncover the truth behind Evelyn Hardcastle’s death. Turton’s novel is a mind-bending thriller that combines elements of mystery, fantasy, and time travel, offering a unique and intricate narrative that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (2020) In “The Midnight Library,” Nora Seed finds herself in a magical library between life and death, where she can explore alternate versions of her life by undoing past regrets. As Nora travels through different realities, she grapples with existential questions about the nature of happiness, regret, and the choices that shape our lives. Haig’s novel is a poignant and thought-provoking meditation on the importance of embracing the present moment and finding meaning in the face of uncertainty.

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (2021) In “One Last Stop,” August moves to New York City and meets Jane on the subway, who seems to be displaced from the 1970s. As August falls for Jane and tries to unravel the mystery of her time displacement, she discovers the power of love to transcend time and space. McQuiston’s novel is a heartwarming and magical romance that explores themes of identity, belonging, and the bonds that connect us across different eras.

Faye, Faraway by Helen Fisher (2021) In “Faye, Faraway,” Faye, a discontented 42-year-old woman, suddenly finds herself transported to 1977 where she gets the chance to relive her youth. As she navigates the past, Faye must confront unresolved issues and make peace with her present. Fisher’s novel is a poignant exploration of regret, second chances, and the power of self-discovery, using time travel as a vehicle for personal transformation and emotional healing.

Sea of Tranquillity by Emily St. John Mandel (2022) In “Sea of Tranquillity,” a group of astronauts embarks on a mission to colonize a distant planet. However, when they arrive, they discover that they have travelled much further into the future than anticipated. As they grapple with the consequences of their journey and the collapse of civilization on Earth, they must confront their own mortality and the fragility of human existence. Mandel’s novel is a haunting meditation on time, memory, and the search for meaning in an uncertain world.

This Time Tomorrow by Tessa Bailey (2023) In “This Time Tomorrow,” time traveler Rachael Claremont is tasked with preventing disasters throughout history, but when she falls in love with a man from the past, she must choose between her duty and her heart. As Rachael navigates the complexities of time travel and romance, she learns valuable lessons about sacrifice, redemption, and the power of love to transcend time. Bailey’s novel is a captivating blend of science fiction and romance, offering a thrilling and heartfelt exploration of destiny and free will.

And that’s our list of the 20 best time travel books. What’s your take on these – any surprises, or any time travel novels not on this list that you feel should make the top 20?

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20+ Best Time Travel Books for Science Fiction Fans!

Great Scott! Since enjoying Back to the Future as a kid, I’ve loved the idea of time travel. And, to feed my science fiction addiction, I’ve made it a point to read some of the best time travel books over many years.

Here a list of 20+ of my favorite books about time travel! Some are old classics; others are more recent 2018 / 2019 releases. All of them are great sci-fi fun!

Note: I’m flexible in how I define ‘time travel’ (e.g. involving a machine, reliving past memories / days, time as a meta-narrative, and so on). However, a common thread for all these books is the treatment of time as non-linear – with characters who try to shape its flow.

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My list of the best time travel books!

11/22/63 (stephen king).

11/22/63 centers on Jack Epping. He’s your typical Average Joe – an English school teacher just trying to get by.

That is, until his friend Al shows him a secret storeroom that, lo and behold, is actually a time traveling portal.

This time portal brings Jack back to one very specific day in 1958 – an era of Elvis and big American cars.

Here, Al assigns Jack a huge history-changing task. His mission? To stop the assassination of J. F. Kennedy!

Why this time travel book is great:

I love Stephen King – so much that I wrote a full list of my favorite King books! I believe this novel marks King’s true return to his peak writing form, after a few lull years.

11/22/63 is a long read. However, I barely noticed since I was fully sucked into King’s lovingly detailed historical fiction. He made me feel I was actually living in the 1950s!

In addition, 11.22.63   sets up very concise time travel rules from the start. The story thus isn’t tied down with your typical sci-fi paradoxes. In other words, you’ll be able to focus on the sci-fi plot without too much science getting in the way.

Overall, this is easily one of the best time travel books I’ve ever read!

Recursion (Blake Crouch)

Recursion follows New York City cop Barry Sutton as he investigates a strange phenomenon known as False Memory Syndrome. This mysterious affliction causes seemingly random people to ‘remember’ entire lifetimes they’ve never actually lived. Many end up killing themselves, unable to cope with the flooding trauma of these foreign memories.

And then there’s Helena Smith – the genius scientist who’s committed her life to inventing a technology meant to help us preserve our most cherished recollections. Unfortunately, she ends up creating a machine far more powerful – and dangerous – than she ever intended.

Where do I even begin?! Recursion is among the best books about time travel I’ve ever read. It’s also my Top Three favorite reads of 2019 so far.

Recursion ‘s characters never physically travel into the past. Instead, memories create reality . Thus, in essence, bringing their minds back ‘into’ past recollections creates new and separate timelines. A genius premise that plays with Cartesian duality!

In addition, the book is very well-paced. The first half is about character development and set-up. The second ups the suspense with fast-paced action on a truly epic scale, no holds barred.

• Hardcover Book
• Crouch, Blake (Author)
• English (Publication Language)

The Time Machine (H. G. Wells)

A scientist builds a time machine. He tests it, first traveling five hours into the future. It works! He pushes the gears further, soon finding himself all the way in A.D. 802,701!

The Time Traveler soon comes across two distinct groups – the garden-loving, ineffectual Eloi, and machine-building, ape-like creatures known as the Morlocks.

A thrilling ride unfolds as the Time Traveler tries to recover his seized time machine, so as to continue on his space-time bending journey.

The Time Machine is a true classic. While Wells didn’t invent the concept per se , this book was crucial in popularizing the idea of time travel . In addition, he was the first author to coin the term ‘time machine’ as we know its meaning today.

I loved the book’s sociological aspects. At its heart, The Time Machine is Wells’ social commentary on real-world class division, told through the lens of science fiction.

Overall, The Time Machine might seem stylistically dated for some. However, to me, it’s still one of the best time travel books ever written – and certainly, among the most influential for the genre.

Fun fact: Hard sci-fi author Stephen Baxter offers his own sequel to The Time Machine called The Time Ships . It’s really good!

The Time Traveler’s Wife (Audrey Niffenegger)

Henry DeTamble is an adventure-seeking librarian who’s also an accidental time traveler. Meanwhile, Clare Abshire, his artist wife, lives at an unaffected temporal pace.

Together, the two of them take turns to tell a fantastical time traveling story. The hook here is the love they share – a romantic bond that stretches across a beautiful expanse of space and time.

I’ll be honest. Audrey Niffenegger’s prose isn’t the best. Her writing style can get a bit clumsy.

Regardless, I absolutely love her addictive plot! Henry and Clare’s relationship is both euphoric and melancholic, in all the right moments. So much so I’m happy to overlook the book’s writing flaws and more implausible time travel moments.

In short, The Time Traveler’s Wife is a great read if you enjoy mixing your time travel story with heartfelt romance. You might also want to give Time After Time by Lisa Grunwald a try, written in the same romantic spirit of The Time Traveler’s Wife .

Slaughterhouse-Five (Kurt Vonnegut)

Note: Slaughterhouse-Five isn’t about time travel in the strictest sense. However, the book definitely leans on – and breaks – many temporal tropes as an embedded part of its story.

This is a challenging novel to describe due to its intentionally polysemic nature.

On the surface, it’s a story about Billy Pilgrim, a war veteran who seems to suffer from PTSD and mental damage. Billy is also ‘unstuck in time’, traveling to different points of his life in no particular order, without control. One moment he’s at his daughter’s wedding, the next he’s being abducted by… aliens from the planet Tralfamadore?

Again, the ‘time traveling’ in Slaughterhouse-Five is not meant to be taken literally.

Rather, as stated by fans , time travel is in itself used as a narrative device. I feel it helps to illustrate the decaying state of the author’s mind – a jumbled, erratic chaos caused by trauma.

Yet, even without ‘actual’ time travel, Slaughterhouse-Five bubbles with gorgeous sci-fi absurdity. This is purposely done, especially when aliens are brought in to explain time as a non-event that’s already happened.

I know I’m being vague. But, trust me, Slaughterhouse-Five is one of those books about time travel that is better read than described. Pick it up and see what I mean!

Unhappenings (Edward Aubry)

Back to more traditional time travel books!

Nigel Walden’s life is plagued by ‘unhappenings’. Many of his relationships – particularly romantic ones – always seem to suddenly cease to exist, despite him knowing they occurred.

It isn’t until Nigel meets two mysterious time travelers that the impact of his future actions dawn upon him. He then struggles to undo the bad choices he has yet to make to avoid the catastrophic effects still to be.

But does he really have the free-will to do so?

Unhappenings is equal parts time travel novel and classic tragic opera. Like Recursion , the first half of the book is groundwork for character development and premise. Then, things really go nuts when Nigel meets Helen, fifty-two years into the future.

Some readers feel a bit letdown by the ending. However, I personally like how things wrap up. The book is an enticing blend of action, romance, and familiar time travel tropes done right.

Overall, Unhappenings is one of my favorites when it comes to books about time travel. A great page-turner!

• Aubry, Edward (Author)
• 362 Pages - 09/24/2019 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August (Claire North)

Harry is caught in a time loop he can’t get out of. No matter the choice he makes, he always gets reverted back to his childhood. Only problem is he still persistently carries the memories of his many past lives – all eleven of them!

It isn’t until the final moments of his eleventh life that he meets a little girl who, strangely, knows what’s really happening. He soon gets caught in a dilemma of having to save a past he has no control over as he tries to stop a future that’s already happened. Mind-blown!

This book presents a recurring Groundhog Day type narrative – except it’s more like Groundhog LIfe . While Harry isn’t a voluntary time traveler at the start, the novel thrives on many time travel themes (e.g. free will vs determinism) to weave its intricate tale.

I love Harry’s nuanced character arc. He begins as a man resigned to his endless life. However, he eventually discovers the key role he must play in stopping the end of the world as he knows it.

The book also explores tons of interesting ethical and existential queries – specifically, what it means to live longer than our natural life span. I think these moments are what help The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August shine with time traveling profundity.

Pilot X (Tom Merritt)

Pilot X is an Ambassador of the Alendans, a time traveling race who protects the main timeline. They are caught amid a long conflict with the Sensaurians and Progons – two alien races who try to twist time to their own benefit.

Pilot X is soon forced to make a colossal decision: undo the entire existence of all three races, or let the Universe self-destruct.

If you’re a Doctor Who fan, you’ll definitely enjoy this epic time traveling space opera! I think the two share obvious thematic similarities.

The book is very accessible to read. There’s also plenty of dry humor and nods to other classic sci-fi novels. I do feel the ending is a little predictable. However, this didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the novel’s solid pacing and rich world-building.

A Wrinkle in Time series (Madeleine L’Engle)

People often speak ill of Meg and her brother Charles, finding them odd or dumb. They also spread rumors about their scientist father, believing him to have abandoned their family.

In search of the truth, Meg and Charles – along with Calvin, their new friend – embark on an epic journey through space and time to find their dad. Their quest brings them face to face with a dark foe that threatens to unravel the very fabric of existence.

I grew up adoring A Wrinkle in Time . Now, even as an adult, I still find the time travel plot beautifully whimsical. As usual, the books are way better than the film!

I enjoyed the first book of the series the most. The later novels don’t quite live up to the original, although I still find them extremely entertaining.

Overall, A Wrinkle in Time is a shoo-in for my list of best time travel books. Classic on all counts!

Some other great books about time travel!

Here are a few more wonderful time travel books I fully enjoyed! Some novels are targeted at adults, while the rest are suitable for all ages.

All You Need Is Kill

This is the manga source material of the movie Edge of Tomorrow . Aliens, recurring time loops, epic battles, and lots of attitude make All You Need is Kill a truly memorable sci-fi odyssey.

Gideon trilogy

Time is breaking apart – ironically, due to the act of time traveling itself! A rollicking good time through rich historical eras. The trilogy mixes in elements of Quantum Leap, Back to the Future, and Harry Potter.

Night Watch

Sam Vimes finds himself helplessly jumping in time, no thanks to a bunch of time-meddling monks. A great cop time traveling story set in Discworld and filled with Pratchett’s trademark wit.

The Girl From Everywhere series

A perfect blend of mythology and science fiction. The coolest part is Nix and her father’s abilities to travel to past and future lands, both real and imagined . All it takes is finding the right map. This two-book series guarantees a fun time.

Into The Dim

A daughter travels back to the Middle Ages to save her time traveling mother. Ideal for readers who love historical sci-fi and romance! There’s quite a bit of Outlander influence, too.

The Chronos Files series

It begins with a murder – a past temporal alteration that sends ripples which impact Kate’s present-day. She must then travel back to stop this dangerous chain of events – or risk blinking out of existence altogether.

The Chronicles of St. Mary’s series

Time traveling historians who only want to ‘observe’ – but wind up messing things up, big time. These books are packed with humor, a lively character cast, and hilarious “this couldn’t possibly get worse?” situations. Brilliant!

The Shadow Hunter

A Neanderthal boy time travels to the future, only to be confounded by a culture he has no reference for. The Shadow Hunter is equal parts spiritual journey and science fiction.

Time and Again

Smart sci-fi that combines time travel, interstellar exploration, philosophy, and cautions against anthropocentrism. I think this is one of the greatest time travel books ever written.

Synchronic: 13 Tales of Time Travel

A solid collection of short time travel stories. Each tale offers a unique take on the sub-genre that’s also different from the rest. This helps to keep things fresh and your pages turning!

The Accidental Time Machine

Grad-school dropout Matt Fuller inadvertently creates his own time machine. Problem is… it only travels one-way into the future, not back. A fun sci-fi tale, reminiscent of Ray Bradbury.

Know of any more good time travel books worth including? Drop me an email and I’ll add them to the list!

Peter is an avid book reader, blogger, and social media strategist. He also has a Doctorate in Anthropology, and enjoys studying changing cultural trends, particularly in the area of media consumption.

The 25 Best Time Travel Listens to Take You on an Unforgettable Journey

Searching for your next time travel escape? With this guide, you're sure to find an exciting audiobook to transport you to the perfect place in another time.

Time travel is one of science fiction's most popular subgenres. Fans are drawn to its infinite possibilities, offering a glimpse into past cultures, societies, and pivotal events while exploring big  what if ? questions. What if you knew what would happen next in your life? What if you could go back and change history? What if you did change history?

If you’ve already listened (and re-listened) to the Outlander series and are ready to explore something new and different in time travel, check out our top 25 picks below. Varying in tone and setting, these outstanding audiobooks will take you an unforgettable trip not only across time but also around the world and into new dimensions. Happy traveling!

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Kindred is a harrowing, genre-defying classic from the trailblazing, multiple award-winning queen of science fiction, Octavia E. Butler . It begins in 1976 when Dana, a 26-year-old African American woman, is suddenly wrenched out of her life in California and transported to antebellum Maryland. She remains in the past long enough to save a white boy from drowning and then, just as suddenly, finds herself back in the present. But she's returned to encounter this young man, again and again, the tension and danger growing with every visit.

The Psychology of Time Travel

Actress and director Ellie Heydon's superb narration grounds this twisty, alternating timeline story about four female scientists whose invention changed the world forever. In 1967, four women built the first time machine—but on the cusp of its debut, the project was halted and one woman's contributions were erased from history. Flash forward 50 years: time travel is thriving—and the granddaughter of one of those women is determined to find out what really happened to its unsung pioneers. This is a must-listen for fans of novels about strong women as well as time travel adventures.

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe

Fans of whimsical, humorous, creative sci-fi will love this delightfully odd yet totally charming story about a time travel technician named Charles Yu. Minor Universe 31 is a kind of alternate reality where time travel is routine and serious business. Every day, ordinary people use time machines to tinker with the past, even when it's foolish or dangerous. Part gadget repairer and part counselor, Charles is tasked with keeping these time travelers safe. But now his father is lost somewhere in this vast story-space. Could a book, written by Charles's future self, hold the key to finding him?

The Golden Orchard

This enchanting middle grade novel mixes the wonder of time travel with the warmth of comfort food. Maya's favorite activity is cooking with her grandmother—her Halmunee—whose recipes are filled with stories and family history. One day while cooking together, Maya and her Halmunee create a memory so strong that it physically transports them back into the memory itself. As Maya soon learns, the women in her family have the gift of time travel through food. Will Maya be able to use her gift to protect the ones she loves? Narrator Kathleen Choe captures both Maya's sparkle and her Halmunee's tenderness. Not just for kids, this listen is made to be enjoyed by the whole family, especially while cooking or eating together.

The Time Traveler's Wife

In this contemporary classic, Chicago couple Clare and Henry find their lives defined by Henry's unusual ability to travel through time. Though he has no control over where and when he travels, he's often drawn to momentous or emotional periods in his past or future. Lush, vivid, and bursting with passion, The Time Traveler's Wife is both a time travel saga and an operatic love story about two ordinary people struggling to build a life together amidst extraordinary circumstances. Through their dual narration, Phoebe Strole and Fred Berman perfectly capture this loving couple and their extremely complicated relationship.

The Shining Girls

Six talented narrators capture every twist and turn of Lauren Beukes 's unpredictable and unpausable time travel thriller, The Shining Girls . Harper Curtis is a serial killer with a secret source of protection from his terrible crimes. Hiding in plain sight in Depression-era Chicago, his home base is a house that lets him disappear into other time periods after he commits a murder. Thanks to the house, Harper believes himself invincible—until one of his victims survives and makes it her mission to catch her would-be killer, no matter where or when her quest for justice takes her.

Cowritten by William Gibson , best-selling author of Neuromancer , Archangel takes time travel across two worlds. In 2016, on a different Earth than ours, the power-hungry President-for-Life Lewis Henderson is desperate to save his dying planet. His terrifying solution is a machine called the Splitter, which creates a new version of Earth—one in which none of the events that led to the apocalypse have happened yet. In a flash, our Earth, the way it was in 1945, becomes the battleground for President Henderson's plan. An Audible Original, this high-stakes sci-fi thriller is rendered even more heart-pounding by the stellar full-cast narration.

Here and Now and Then

Mike Chen 's Here and Now and Then is a warmhearted time travel adventure. Kin Stewart, a time-traveling agent from 2142, finds himself stranded in 1990s San Francisco. Making the best of being stuck in the past, he eventually settles in and builds a life for himself. Now, 18 years later, he's dealing with ordinary challenges—parenting a teenager and keeping his marriage afloat—until a rescue team from the future shows up. Their mission: to return Kin to 2142, where he's been gone only a few weeks, not years, and he has a family waiting for him. Suddenly, Kin's whole life is thrown into disarray. You'll want to hear how he sorts it all out and protects the people he loves.

This Is How You Lose the Time War

In this unusual and beautifully written epistolary time travel romance, two women, agents on opposite sides of an ancient galactic war, fall in unlikely love. Red and Blue have always been rivals, traveling through time and space as their superior officers command them, always trying to stay one step ahead of each other. But slowly, over years, their once-playful and cutting notes transform into revealing love letters—with consequences for the entire universe. Accomplished narrators Cynthia Farrell and Emily Woo Zeller bring each woman to life, with all her longing and turmoil.

Narrator Davina Porter 's flawless accent and nuanced delivery make the 30 hours of the first Outlander novel fly by. In this beloved tale of love across time, Clare Randall, a former war nurse, is on vacation in Scotland with her husband in 1945 when she is suddenly and mysteriously transported to the 18th century. As she struggles to orient herself in time—and stay alive long enough to get home—she finds herself drawn to a Scots warrior, who makes staying a hundred years in the past seem like not such a bad idea.

Oona Out of Order

New Year's Eve, 1982. At the stroke of midnight, Oona will turn 19, and she's looking forward to the year ahead. Then she faints, and wakes up in a lovely but strange house, now 51 years old. She soon learns that with each passing year, she will leap to another age and stage in her life, completely at random. That's the start of Oona Out of Order . What follows is a wild journey through time, as Oona deals with the changing world and her changing place in it. Brittany Pressley's performance adds to the magic of the story—she perfectly captures Oona at every age, subtly changing her voice while retaining the spark, passion, confusion, and hope of a 19-year-old beginning the adventure of life.

Version Control

Version Control is an intricate story about the past and the future, technology, and what we believe we know about ourselves—and each other. After a personal tragedy, Rebecca Wright met her husband on a dating app, for which she now works, and reclaimed her life. On the surface, all is well and perfectly normal. Yet, Rebecca can't shake the sense that something is not quite right in her world. She constantly feels as if she has walked into a room and has no idea why; people around her often seem to be out of place. Meanwhile, her husband is busy working on his life's passion: a machine he insists on calling a causality violation device (definitely not a time machine). Award-winning narrator January LaVoy is flawless as usual, expertly voicing Rebecca and bringing even the most minor characters and small details to life.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

Actor, author, and talented narrator Nick Offerman breathes hilarious new life into Mark Twain 's satirical classic with his pitch-perfect performance in this Audible exclusive. The story stars Hank Morgan, a modern 19th-century New Englander who is suddenly thrust back in time to Camelot and sets out to improve the lives of King Arthur and his court. Offerman and Twain are a match made in heaven; Offerman instinctively captures Hank’s straightforward manner and can-do attitude.

The Future of Another Timeline

Annalee Newitz 's gripping and thoughtful novel provides a fresh take on the classic dual-timeline time travel story. In 1992, after helping her friend hide her abusive boyfriend's body, 17-year-old Beth sets out on a quest for revenge, determined to protect other women from violence at the hands of men. In 2022, Tess has devoted her life to using time travel to make the world a better place, traveling back to important moments in history in the hopes of changing them for the better. When Tess and Beth's paths collide, it's not just their lives that will change forever, but the future of the timeline itself.

An Ocean of Minutes

An Ocean of Minutes is a moving story about love, faith, and weighing the costs of holding on to the past against letting it go. It opens as America is gripped by a deadly pandemic. When Frank catches the virus, his girlfriend, Polly, will do anything to save him—even traveling into the future where scientists have found a cure. If she signs up for a one-way trip into the future to work as a bonded laborer, the company will pay for the life-saving treatment Frank needs. Polly promises to meet Frank again in Galveston, Texas, where she will arrive in 12 years. But when she is rerouted an extra five years into the future, Frank is nowhere to be found. Alone in a changed and divided country, with no money or status, Polly must navigate a new life as she continues to search for Frank. Is he still alive? Has their love endured?

The Girl from Everywhere

Kim Mai Guest narrates this excellent duology that sweeps from 21st-century New York City to 19th-century Hawaii to timeless mythical places. It focuses on a young woman named Nix who makes her home on a ship piloted by her father, which can slip through time, providing they have a historical map to their destination. For Nix’s entire life, her father has been searching for a map of Honolulu from 1868, the very place and time her mother died in childbirth. Nix dreads the moment of his discovery. Will her father's intervention in the past risk her very existence? Heidi Heilig presents an intriguing YA saga with a clever take on time travel.

Alexander X

While not strictly a time-travel series, Edward Savio 's Battle for Forever saga follows a man named Alexander who has traveled through time as an immortal being. In recent years, he has focused on avoiding trouble and making his life as innocuous as possible. But when he and his friends are kidnapped by some very bad people, Alexander finds himself stepping out of the shadows and into a vast conspiracy across time. This Audible-exclusive series is narrated by Wil Wheaton , making it a definite must-listen.

In this trilogy , narrated by Gary Furlong, an alternate Victorian England is completely controlled by clock towers. When the clock towers break, time runs funny. When they stop altogether, so does time. It's a reality 17-year-old Danny, ace clock mechanic, knows too well. His father has been trapped in a stopped town for three years, and he's obsessed with staging a rescue. To divert his fixation, Danny's employer sends him to a town where the clock tower is plagued with problems—accompanied by a new apprentice. Danny's annoyance towards his helper soon turns to fascination. His enigmatic apprentice is a clock spirit. The Timekeeper Trilogy intertwines magic, mystery, and romance in a fully realized historical setting.

Alice Payne Arrives

A time-traveling bandit must step up and become a hero in this novella series from best-selling historical fantasy author Kate Heartfield . Skipping across time, notorious highway robber Alice Payne juggles some of the most interesting periods of history with two opposing ideologies—setting the scene for a major war! Clocking in at just over three hours per installment, this is a quick and fun listen that explores time periods often overlooked in fiction, and Jennywren Walker’s smooth narration will take you through each twist and turn.

The Very First Damned Thing

From British author Jodi Taylor , this expansive, rollicking series follows the adventures and hijinks of the historians at St. Mary’s. Proper scholars, they don’t time travel—they simply observe history by going to the settings and time periods they wish to study. But simple observation proves difficult, and they often find themselves in hot water in an attempt to not mess with timelines. This is the perfect series to dive into if you like quirky humor and dedication to favorite characters. There are 10 books in the series, plus several short stories and novellas to fill out the spaces in between, and nearly all of them are narrated by Zara Ramm. (Taylor herself narrates the prequel.) Since it’s an Audible exclusive, you’ll only find it here!

This colorful trilogy ( Ruby Red , Sapphire Blue , and Emerald Green ) was originally written in German and translated by Anthea Bell. Marissa Carlin narrates all three books, which focus on a family with the gift of time travel. Gwyneth doesn't think of herself as gifted—all her life, she’s been watching her beautiful, sophisticated cousin Charlotte prepare for her future as a time traveler. But one day, in the middle of class, Gwyneth takes an unexpected trip to a different era, She's woefully unprepared for her journeys through time. But Gwyneth will do everything it takes to learn how to harness her power—and find out why her mother would lie about her birth date to conceal her ability.

16-year-old Kate is certain her grandmother must be senile when she hands her a medallion and says she has the ability to time travel. But soon, it all becomes clear and chillingly real—when a murder in 1893 at Chicago’s World Fair rocks Kate's life in the present and threatens her very existence. And now it’s up to her to go back and right the past in order to have a future. How will Kate's actions affect her family and the fate of the entire world? Kicking off The Chronos Files , Timebound was the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award winner in 2013. All of books in the series, including spin-off novellas, are available as audiobooks, narrated by Kate Rudd.

Doomsday Book

This engaging series from acclaimed author Connie Willis is a multiple Hugo and Nebula winner. The first book follows Kivrin, a student at Oxford, and her mentor Dunworthy as they travel back to the 14th century for a chance to perform valuable research on the time period. Kivrin is also ready for an adventure—but not for being trapped in an era marked by the bubonic plague. Over in the 21st century, things are going pretty sideways for Dunworthy as well. Combining action and adventure with insights into the facts of life and human nature that connect people across time, these audiobooks, similar in length to Outlander, are the perfect picks if you’re looking to get lost in time for a while.

Beyond the Highland Mist

If you’re looking for your next romantic historical time travel series to marathon after Outlander, look no further than Highlander ! In the first installment, you'll meet Hawk, legendary Highland warrior and infamous womanizer. No woman can claim his heart until he meets Adrienne, who must certainly be a fairy because she is not of this world. In fact, she’s from modern-day Seattle, and her journey back into time is a mistake. But when she’s betrothed to Hawk, she finds a love she’ll fight for across time. Each book in the series is narrated by Phil Gigante and follows a different but connected couple in a time travel adventure.

Time and Again

One of the very foundations of the time travel narrative, Jack Finney 's 1970 classic Time and Again is a must for any listener fascinated by the curiosities of jumping through eras. Mystery, romance, and sci-fi blend in bringing to life the story of Si Morley, a young man transported from the mid-20th century to the 1880s as a result of a clandestine government project. Finney crafts a richly detailed, totally charming past, one that creates a perfect backdrop as a conflicted Morley weighs returning to his life in the present—or staying behind with the woman he’s slowly fallen in love with. Paul Hecht performs a time travel gem that continues to shine.

Best Travel Audiobooks to Inspire Your Next Adventure

We carefully selected the best travel audiobooks that allow listeners to live vicariously through both real and fictional adventures from around the world.

The Best Audiobooks for Outlander Fans

If you're looking for more historical romance series or time travel books, you've come to the right place. Here are the top series to listen to after Outlander.

Outlander: Books vs. Show

If you’re wondering about the similarities and differences between the Starz series Outlander and the series of books it's based on, check out our rundown below.

So many branches: The definitive Outlander family tree

Wondering who Jamie's father is or how the Clan MacKenzie fits into other character arcs? We're answering all of your questions with this family tree.

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Blog – Posted on Wednesday, May 01

100 best adventure books of all time.

The first adventure novel that you ever read is hard to forget: after all, we all remember the first time our imaginations were lit by whispers of buried treasure, lost worlds, and faraway jungles. As Jane Eyre says: “It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it.”

Luckily, we’ve made the act of finding action easy for you! We have 100 of the best adventure books for you in this post, ranging from rollicking journeys over land to tales of high-stakes survival on the sea. Who knows where your next book will take you? Let’s find out.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of amazing adventure books on hand, you can also take our 30-second quiz below to narrow it down quickly and get a book recommendation that's personalized for your tastes  😉

Which adventure book should you read next?

Discover the perfect adventure book for you. Takes 30 seconds!

Classic Books of Adventure

Or: the books that started it all. From Don Quixote to Treasure Island , they invented many of the tropes that we still see in adventure novels today.

1. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

Regarded as one of the greatest works in literature, Don Quixote recounts the adventures of Alonso Quixano: a middle-aged man so obsessed with chivalric books that he decides to imitate them and become a knight-errant. So begins his journey to find a faithful squire, save damsels in distress, and fight windmills.

2. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

In this classic by Dumas, a young man named d’Artagnan joins the Musketeers of the Guard. In doing so, he befriends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis — the King’s most celebrated musketeers — and embarks on a journey of his own.

3. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Written by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, this story of “buccaneers and buried gold” launched a million tropes of treasure maps, sea chests, Black Spots, and deserted islands.

4. King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard and A. C. Michael

The first English adventure novel set in Africa, this 1885 book is considered to be the origin of the Lost World literary genre. It boasts six adaptations, including a 1937 British film and a 2004 American television miniseries.

5. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

Journey to the Center of the Earth is exactly that: a trip to the inside of the world, which is where German professor Otto Lidenbrock theorizes that volcanic tubes will lead. Another one of Jules Verne’s magnum opuses — and one of the most famous examples of subterranean fiction.

6. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Part adventure story and part revenge thriller, The Count of Monte Cristo is the tale of Edmond Dantès, a man who is falsely imprisoned without trial in an island fortress off France. That is, until one day he escapes and seeks out the men who conspired against him. You’ll find yourself coming for the adventure, but staying for the vindication.

7. Ivanhoe by Walter Scott

First published in 1819, Ivanhoe is a tale of heroism set in 12th-century England after the failure of the Third Crusade. Looking for jousting tournaments, romance, kidnappings, and witch trials? Then you’ve come to the right book.

Adventures in the Jungle

There’s more to the jungle than just The Jungle Book . From boa constrictors to alligators, there’s danger lurking behind every tree in these classics.

8. Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Immortalized by the Disney adaptation, Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs launched the legend of an orphaned boy who is adopted by apes in the African jungle. Named Tarzan, the boy eventually has to prove himself on two fronts: the animal kingdom and the even more menacing world of humans.

9. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

One of the most famous and acclaimed English novels in history happens to be a grim adventure story. This 1899 novella by Joseph Conrad tells the doomed story of Charles Marlow, who wishes to leave behind the civilized world and sail up the Congo in Africa. But he does not encounter what he anticipated in his journey into the metaphorical — and very literal — heart of darkness in the middle of the jungle.

10. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Brian Robeson is only 13 years old when his bush plane crashes in the forest. Now he must survive — with nothing but a hatchet. This book won the 1987 Newberry Award and has since gone on to spawn four sequels.

Congo by Michael Crichton

Another one of Michael Crichton’s famous adventure-and-science-fiction books, Congo relates the gripping story of an expedition’s desire to find the Lost City of Zinj in Africa — despite the horrors of the jungle and previous deaths.

12. The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling published this book in 1894 as a collection of stories about a “man-cub” Mowgli who grows up with wolves in the forest. Here’s your chance to meet the original conceptions of these beloved characters yourself: from Baloo the bear to Bagheera the black panther and the villainous tiger Shere Khan.

13. The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

An expedition to an Amazon basin in South America to find prehistoric dinosaurs goes awry in this 1912 novel by Sir Arthur Doyle. Sherlock Holmes is nowhere to be found, but this book does introduce the notorious character of Professor Challenger, the founder of the mission.

Adventures of the Sea

The world is 71% sea, which might explain why so many adventure novels take place on these thrashing, unknown waters. From Moby-Dick to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, they dive under the surface to find the heart of adventure.

14. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

Hop on board Captain Nemo’s Nautilus to explore the Red Sea, Atlantis, Vigo Bay, and more — everything taking place in (as of 1870) a wild new frontier: the sea.

15. The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monsarrat

Before The Perfect Storm was The Cruel Sea . This 1951 novel, which takes place during World War II, is considered one of the foremost portrayals of the Royal Navy’s battle against both the sea and the Germans.

16. Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling

Fifteen-year-old Harvey Cheyne Jr. is the privileged, arrogant son of a powerful businessman. That is, until he almost drowns in the Atlantic Sea. Luckily, he’s saved from certain death by Portuguese fishermen. Thus begins his life onboard a ship that cares not a whit for his wealth — and his eventual journey back to America.

17. The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson

Written by Swedish writer Frans G. Bengtsson, The Long Ships today remains one of the most widely-read books in Sweden. In it, a kidnapped boy grows up as the son of a Swedish chieftain before setting out on a long adventure to find promised treasure.

18. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

Call me Ishmael , begins this epic story. Acclaimed as one of the greatest books of the sea that’s ever been written, Moby-Dick relates the timeless story of a voyage to hunt and kill the great white whale that rules the ocean and haunts cruel captain Ahab’s mind.

19. Jaws by Peter Benchley

The 1974 book that inspired Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster movie — which then made beach attendance drop dramatically in 1975. Jaws is the story of three men’s quest to kill a human-eating great white shark. It’s a high-stakes adventure on the sea, which holds more dangers than anyone could have ever imagined.

20. The Odyssey by Homer

You won’t get any story closer to a purer definition of an adventure than The Odyssey . Homer tells the famous story of Odysseus in this Greek epic poem: from the moment that Troy falls to the journey that he must take to get home over the course of ten years.

21. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe

Famed for his short stories, Edgar Allan Poe only ever wrote one actual novel: The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket . But what a thrilling adventure it is, as we follow the life of a young stowaway on a whaling ship who encounters shipwreck, cannibalism, and the South Pole along the way.

22. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Piscine Patel, nicknamed Pi, relates the story of how he lived on a small lifeboat with a spotted hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a tiger for 227 days. But is Pi telling the whole truth? This revelatory book has sold more than ten million copies worldwide and has been adapted into a Hollywood blockbuster.

23. Eric Brighteyes by Henry Rider Haggard

There is one thing that we don’t see enough in adventure fiction, and that’s Vikings. Eric Brighteyes fixes this for us. In this epic Viking saga, a young Eric Thorgrimursson (nicknamed “Brighteyes”) faces drama, love, and rousing adventure as he grows up in 10th century Iceland.

Adventures in the Desert

Remote, isolated, and desolated: what better setting for an adventure than a desert? Meet scorpions, nomadic tribes, and golden sands in the below books that feature desert adventures.

24. Dune by Frank Herbert

The first installment of the Dune series, Dune is an interstellar adventure that revolves around several different noble houses battling to control the desert island Arrakis, upon which the coveted spice mélange resides.

25. Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey

An autobiographical work, Desert Solitaire is American writer Edward Abbey’s account of his experiences in the southwestern United States — a region that remains largely swathed in desert.

26. The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers

An adventure novel that functions in the guise of spy fiction, The Riddle of the Sands is a fantastic example of how a regular yachting trip might quickly become a madcap investigation of the German’s plan to invade Britain. Plus, it’s perhaps one of the first modern thrillers ever written.

Adventures in Space and the Sky

It’s the X-factor in our knowledge of the world that has yet to be mapped: space and all that it implies. These books breach that border, and boldly go where no man has gone before.

27. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

The British phenomenon by Douglas Adams that is still widely quoted everywhere today. When Earth is destroyed, only one man survives: Arthur Dent. He is picked up by Ford Prefect, an alien writer who’s working on an electronic book called The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy . What follows is an adventure through the grandest landscape of all: the galaxy.

28. Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

If you had a spare 80 days, what would you do with it? Phileas Fogg and his valet Passepartout decided to use the time to circumnavigate the world. The £20,000 wager helps, of course — but so does the adventure that lies ahead of them. Another shining adventure story that Jules Verne (him again!) published.

\n From \'America’s nerviest journalist\' ( Newsweek )--a breath-taking epic, a magnificent adventure story, and an investigation into the true heroism and courage of the first Americans to conquer space. \'Tom Wolfe at his very best\' ( The New York Times Book Review ) \n

29. The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe

The Right Stuff directly confronts the unknown, as a group of American pilots engage in the space race against Russia. Inspired by the launch of Apollo 17, Tom Wolfe wrote this book to explore the courage that propels an astronaut to take to the air.

30. Children of the Comet by Donald Moffitt

In the far future, a small community resides in space and harvests frozen air to make a living. But what happens when hunters from neighboring comets — and humans on starships — appear on the scene? This is a cosmic adventure in a very literal sense, as our young hero, Torris, tries to survive on a comet made entirely of ice.

31. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Becky Chambers fundraised this adventure via a successful Kickstarter campaign . Re-published by Hodder & Stroughton, it tells the tale of a human named Rosemary Harper who joins the crew of the Wayfarer as a file clerk. Accidents and adventures ensue!

The Martian by Andy Weir

In the year 2035, a surprise dust storm traps botanist Mark Watney alone on the planet of Mars. Discover how Mark survives alone on this unexplored frontier in this book that took the literary world by a storm when it was self-published in 2011.

Adventures Featuring Animals

What’s better than a regular old tale of adventure, you might ask? Well, an adventure with animals. These books take readers on a journey into another world: where nature reigns supreme and a blade of grass can be the height of the Empire State Building.

33. The Call of the Wild by Jack London

Set in Canada during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, this story recounts the adventures of a dog named Buck, who must survive other dogs, nature, and man’s cruelty, to answer the call of the wild.

34. White Fang by Jack London

Considered to be a thematic mirror of The Call of the Wild , Jack London’s White Fang is about a titular wolfdog who is dragged from the wild into domestication — and all that that entails along the way.

35. Watership Down by Richard Adams

Rabbits? What on earth could be exciting or adventurous about rabbits? As it turns out, many things. When Hazel, Fiver, and company escape their warren and struggle their way to Watership Down in this classic book of valor, you’ll find yourself rooting hard for this brave, resourceful group of hoppy adventurers.

36. Raptor Red by Robert T. Bakker

Unlike any other book out there, Raptor Red is told entirely from the third-person point of view of Raptor Red, a female Utahraptor. Robert T. Bakker, the author, expertly draws upon heartfelt research about the Cretaceous Period to bring a prehistoric Earth to life as Raptor Red struggles to survive in a dinosaur-eat-dinosaur world.

Adventures of Identity

By day, you might be another nameless clerk at a nameless company. But when you put on the mask, the Earth opens up to you — along with a whole world of adventures.

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore: A Novel by Robin Sloan

The US book cover of Mr Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore glows in the dark. Not already enough adventure for you? Then you can dive into the story to follow Clay Jannon’s sojourn as a worker for Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore — which is not, as you might expect, all that it may seem.

38. The Mark of Zorro by Johnston McCulley

Originally published as The Curse of Capistrano , this is the first book to feature Señor Zorro: a mysterious, masked vigilante who defends the people of 19th-century California against villains like Captain Ramon and Sergeant Gonzales.

39. Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini

A romantic adventure against the backdrop of the French Revolution. Scaramouche is named after its hero, a lawyer who becomes a revolutionary and an actor playing “Scaramouche,” or a stock clown character in comic theatre.

Shipwrecked Island Adventures

You might think that you’re lucky to have survived a plane crash or shipwreck… until you realize that you’ve got a whole other problem on your hands: you now have to survive on an inaccessible island, with no rescue in sight.

40. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

A group of stranded schoolboys. One island. Limited resources. The adventure of a lifetime. What could go wrong? As it turns out, many things, as William Golding’s classic novel brilliantly and darkly illustrates.

41. The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss

Written by Swiss pastor Johann David Wyss, this book about a family shipwrecked in the East Indies ignited Europe’s imagination in 1812. Read it if you like your adventure stories with a dose of family values and moral lessons.

42. The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne

Another adventure story by Jules Vernes, The Mysterious Island is actually a crossover sequel to Verne’s famous Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and In Search of the Castaways . Five prisoners of war escape by balloon but crash onto an unknown island off the coast of New Zealand. There they try to survive, not knowing that they may soon get a visitor: for they are residing on (spoiler alert) Captain Nemo’s home port for the Nautilus .

43. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

The full title of this acclaimed 1886 book by Robert Louis Stevenson is (deep breath): Kidnapped: Being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: How he was Kidnapped and Cast away; his Sufferings in a Desert Isle; his Journey in the Wild Highlands; his acquaintance with Alan Breck Stewart and other notorious Highland Jacobites; with all that he Suffered at the hands of his Uncle, Ebenezer Balfour of Shaws, falsely so-called: Written by Himself and now set forth by Robert Louis Stevenson . That tells you nearly everything you need to know about this book — except that every page of it is a great adventure.

Robinson Crusoe (Signet Classics) by Daniel Defoe

The full title of this book is (another deep breath): The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Of York, Mariner: Who lived Eight and Twenty Years, all alone in an un-inhabited Island on the Coast of America, near the Mouth of the Great River of Oroonoque; Having been cast on Shore by Shipwreck, wherein all the Men perished but himself. With An Account how he was at last as strangely deliver'd by Pyrates. Again, we think that this tells you just about all that you have to know about the novel before you start reading it. But, as a sidenote, it’s good to mention that this might perhaps be the first English work of realistic fiction ever written.

Adventure Taken by Foot

When human beings didn’t have planes, trains, or automobiles to travel, they still had their feet. These novels feature adventures that were all taken by putting one foot in front of the other.

45. The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper

The second installment in James Fenimore Cooper’s The Leatherstocking Tales and perhaps the most famous, The Last of the Mohicans recounts the journey of Alice and Cora Munro to Fort William Henry. Mark Twain once wrote a scathing review of Cooper’s dubious writing abilities , but the spirit of adventure in this book remains true.

46. True Grit: A Novel by Charles Portis

You might have watched the Academy Award-winning movie already — but, as always, the book is better! 14-year old Mattie Ross’s quest to avenge her father’s death takes her from one end of Arkansas to the other.

47. The Road by Cormac McCarthy

If you like your adventures grim, The Road might be the book for you. In this 2006 novel by Cormac McCarthy, an unnamed father and his son walk through a bleak and desolate post-apocalyptic landscape. What will happen to them along the way is anyone’s guess.

48. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn might be a cutting satire of society and racism, but at its heart, it is just that: a young boy’s adventure along the Mississippi River. Frequently called one of the Great American Novels, it’s one that you don’t want to miss.

49. The Man Who Would Be King by Rudyard Kipling

The tin on this 1888 story written by Rudyard Kipling says it all. Two British explorers venture out in India, not knowing that one day they might end up being kings in Afghanistan.

Adventures Set in Foreign Countries

If you’re dreaming of escaping to another country, look no further than these adventure books, which can transport you anywhere from Transylvania to India.

50. A Passage to India by E.M. Forster

Adela Quested and Mrs. Moore travel to India in the 1920s, where Adela is to be engaged to Ronny Moore in Chandrapore. Set against the backdrop of the Indian independence movement, this is a formative text that deals not only with adventure but also with postcolonial discourse.

51. Kim by Rudyard Kipling

Kimball O’Hara, Kim for short, is an orphaned white boy scraping by in the streets of Lahore, India. But his life changes the day that he befriends a Tibetan Lama — and he embarks on an adventure of espionage and enlightenment in the Himalayas.

52. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

One of Australia’s most wanted men escapes Victoria’s Pentridge Prison and flees to India — where a dramatic adventure awaits him. Featuring Bollywood, the Mumbai underworld, and trips to Afghanistan, this book is so realistically well-drawn that many questioned whether or not it was an autobiography when it was first published.

53. Dracula by Bram Stoker

If you’re bored of the traditional historical adventures , we have an answer for you: vampires. More specifically, Dracula . Written by Bram Stoker, this novel the archetypical vampire fantasy in which the forces of good must battle against Dracula and the undead. Go here if you like creepy, electrifying adventures in Transylvania. 

Fantastical Adventures

Sometimes the best adventures are the ones that originate from our heads — and these fantasy adventure novels certainly bring us worlds that we couldn’t have begun to imagine for ourselves.

54. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

One day while grading essays, JRR Tolkien wrote, “In a hole in the ground lived a hobbit,” on the back of a student’s paper. That single sentence launched this beloved children’s story about one unwilling hobbit who is dragged there (and back again) onto an adventure to the Misty Mountains.

55. The Phoenix on the Sword by Robert Ervin Howard

One of the first stories that launched the legend of Conan the Cimmerian. Conceived by American writer Robert E. Howard, this sword and sorcery tale follows the adventures of its hero in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age.

56. The Books of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

Regarded by many as one of the most influential series in fantasy, Earthsea is also an adventure that takes readers across the mountains and plains of — where else? — Earthsea. A Wizard of Earthsea is the first book published in the series, introducing us to Ged, a young boy who will become Archmage.

57. Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

A classic adventure for all young adults. When Alanna of Trebond switches places with her twin to train as a page at the castle of King Roald, she gets more than she bargained for. So begins her epic journey to become a legend in her land.

58. Stardust by Neil Gaiman

One of Neil Gaiman’s earlier works, it’s nonetheless one of the most charming coming-of-age adventures that you’ll find. Young Tristan Thorn grows up in the village of Wall, not once stepping foot into the magical land of Faerie that lies just beyond the border. That is, until a star falls in the distance and he tells his sweetheart that he will do anything to fetch it for her…

59. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift

Humorist Jonathan Swift chronicles the travels of Lemuel Gulliver in this satirical masterpiece of 1726. Read it if you like a healthy dash of satire with your adventure.

Arthurian Adventures

Camelot was the birthplace for many of the most famous adventures, from Gawain and the Green Knight to the eternal hunt for the Holy Grail. Here are some of the most classic novels that render King Arthur’s adventures faithfully.

60. Le Morte D'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory

Is there an adventure that’s more iconic than that of King Arthur and his Round Table? Sir Thomas Malory’s rendition of Camelot is perhaps the best compilation of this beloved tale, from the birth of Arthur to his ultimate death in Avalon.

61. The Once and Future King by T.H. White

Based upon Le Morte d’Arthur , T.H. White’s The Once and Future King may be a more gentle reinterpretation of Arthur’s journey to become king — but it’s no less iconic or rich with adventure, danger, and intrigue.

Adventures in a Series

If one standalone book isn’t enough to sustain your thirst for adventure, check out these acclaimed adventure series.

62. Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian

A cracking nautical adventure set during the Napoleonic Wars, English author Patrick O’Brian’s epic Master and Commander series is grounded by the friendship between Jack Aubrey, the Master and Commander of his ship, and Stephen Maturin, his naval surgeon.

63. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past two decades, you’ve probably heard of this story. In 1989, billionaire John Hammond contacts paleontologist Alan Grant and paleobotanist Ellie Sattler, inviting them to go on an adventure into the past — and the darkest parts of human ambition.

64. Sharpe's Tiger by Bernard Cornwell

The Richard Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell is famous for its exhilarating depictions of the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars — and Sharpe’s Tiger is no exception. As the chronological first installment, it introduces readers to the “brilliant but wayward” hero and features a thrilling jaunt through India during the Siege of Seringapatam in 1799 to boot.

Non-Fiction Adventures

Nowhere is the phrase, “The truth is stranger than fiction,” more accurate than in the context of adventure non-fiction . These authors serve up true stories of some of the most daring, hazardous, and tragic journeys that humankind has ever undertaken.  

65. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Bestselling author Jon Krakauer recounts his own experience climbing Everest. And it is a traumatizing story: Krakauer was a part of the doomed 1996 Mount Everest expedition, in which eight climbers were lost and many stranded by an errant storm.

66. The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux

Paul Theroux is one of America’s foremost travel writers, and he shows why in this seminal travelogue about his journey by train through Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. He returns by — what else? — the Trans-Siberian Railway.

67. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

The international bestseller that’s been adapted into a Hollywood blockbuster starring Julia Roberts, Eat, Pray, Love is the true story of one woman’s search for truth. As it so happens, that quest takes her all over the world, from India to Indonesia.

68. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

In 1990, Christopher Johnson McCandless gave away all of his money and left home, never to return. Two years later, he headed into the forest in Alaska, where his body would eventually be found. This is his story, related by adventure writer Jon Krakauer.

69. A Cook's Tour by Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain’s exuberant, witty voice is as alive as ever in this bestselling book. Like other travel accounts, A Cook’s Tour documents Bourdain’s travels across the world. But there’s a twist in this fun travelogue: he’s in search of the perfect meal.

70. The Sea Runners by Ivan Doig

Based on a true story, The Sea Runners is a riveting account of four indentured servants’ plot to escape their Russian work camp in Alaska. But their plans reach a snag when they encounter their greatest foe: the Pacific Northwest coast. Masterfully written, this book pits man against all the elements that nature can throw him.

71. Into The Heart Of Borneo by Redmond Ohanlon

If you’ve never read a travelogue, start with this one. In 1983, a group of three friends embark on an expedition to the center of Borneo. Written with wit and sincerity, writer Redmond O’Hanlon brings the jungles and wilds of Borneo alive in this treasure of a book.

72. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson is synonymous with humor when it comes to travel writing — and this might be one of his most famous installments. In the 1990s, Bryson takes up the challenge of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail with his friend Stephen Katz. Mishaps expectedly occur along this adventure. But, of course, it’s the journey and not the destination that counts.

73. A Voyage for Madmen by Peter Nichols

In 1968, nine men set out to race each other around the world on boat. Only one would eventually cross the finish line. This is the true story about that fateful race, its “sad, heroic characters,” and how one decision can spell life or death.

74. Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Cheryl Strayed’s account of her trek along the 1,100-mile Pacific Crest Trail instantly became a New York Times bestseller when it was published. Fans of Eat, Pray, Love will particularly fall in love with this book.

75. Green Hills of Africa by Ernest Hemingway

One of Ernest Hemingway’s rare nonfiction books, Green Hills of Africa documents the month that he and his wife spent on a safari in East Africa. It’s a sparse, tightly-written book about the hunting that he pursued there, with some choice nuggets about writing interspersed in between.

76. Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck

In 1960, John Steinbeck took a road trip around the United States with his poodle (who was named Charley). From New York to California and back again, Travels with Charley is a ruminative reflection of America and everything that the country Steinbeck loved stood for.

77. The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard

You might think the title is an exaggeration, but let us be the first to assure you it’s not. This book is a memoir of the tragic 1910 British Antarctic Expedition led by Robert Falcon Scott, who wished to be the first in the world to reach the South Pole. The entire party to the Pole died on the journey. This memoir, written by a man on the support team, explains why in grim detail.

78. A Tramp Abroad by Mark Twain

Famous for writing perhaps the greatest work of American literature in The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn , Mark Twain was nevertheless an accomplished traveler. This book details his travels through central and southern Europe. A must-read, if only for his chapter on ants.

79. Mawson's Will by Lennard Bickel

Sometimes adventures must be read in order to be believed. Douglas Mawson faced disease, snow, Herculean winds, the death of his dogs and only companions, starvation, and thirst — and still somehow survived while managing to map nearly 1,500 miles of the Antarctic coastline. This is the dramatic story of the expedition.

80. In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick

Welcome to the true story that inspired the events of Melville’s Moby-Dick . In 1820, a whaling expedition was foiled when a sperm whale sunk the ship, Essex. For three months afterward, the crew lived on three small boats, facing wild winds, the sea itself, and cannibalism to survive.

81. Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The memoir of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry isn’t just a contemplation of life: it’s a full-fledged adventure book in its own right. Saint-Exupéry was an accomplished aviator and once crashed in 1935 in the Sahara Desert without water or food. This is his story.

82. In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin

In November 1974, Bruce Chatwin flew to Peru and then made his way down to Patagonia. He would spend six months in the region, traveling over untraveled ground and writing down everything that he saw. This is the seminal work for anyone who wants to know more about this wild, beautiful, and desolate part of the world.

The Road to Oxiana by Robert Byron

Published in 1938, The Road to Oxiana is one of the premiere examples of travel writing. You might not want to miss out on Robert Byron’s account of his ten-month travels in the Middle East, credited by writer Paul Fussell as being to poetry what Ulysses was to the novel.

Adventure Books for Children and Teens

Ignite the spirit of adventure early! From Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to Wizard of Oz , these classic children's novels will show that people of any age can go on a journey.  

84. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

Avi’s popular tale of intrigue on the high seas. 13-year old Charlotte Doyle finds herself the only passenger on a sea voyage that bristles with danger. Features a murder trial, cruel captains, and a brave young girl who has to use all of her wits and resources if she wants to survive.

85. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Ready for an adventure that’s the darling of children’s book world? Lewis Carroll wrote this book in 1865 but Alice’s journey through Wonderland (which she enters by falling through a rabbit hole) remains one of the most cherished — and extraordinary — stories in English literature.

86. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

This children’s classic all began with The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe , in which the four Pevensie siblings step into a wardrobe… and into Narnia, where an entirely magical journey begins. Complete with talking animals, evil queens, and Turkish Delights.

87. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

When fifth grader Jesse Aarons befriends his new neighbor, Leslie Burke, a beautiful friendship — and kingdom — is born. Terabithia is the imaginary sanctuary of their minds, but the consequences of building it might be more tragic than they anticipated in this children’s book.

88. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Lyman Frank Baum

Does The Wizard of Oz even need an introduction? This whimsical story by Frank L. Baum turned into one of the most treasured children’s books in history, spawning spin-offs, sequels, movies, and even musicals. Follow Dorothy as she travels along the Yellow Brick Road in the magical Land of Oz, meeting a Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion in her quest to return back to Kansas.

89. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Edward Tulane is a china rabbit. Bet you didn’t expect that twist, did you? But life can get hard for china rabbits, as Edward falls into the sea and spends 297 days on the bottom of the ocean. One thing’s for certain: it’s a long way back to the surface.

90. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

You haven’t really read an adventure unless you’ve read Diana Wynne Jones’ timeless Howl’s Moving Castle ! This is the story about Sophie Hatter, the oldest of three sisters, and how she becomes an old crone and meets the powerful Wizard Howl. Delightful, charming, and twisty.

91. The BFG by Roald Dahl

Did you know that Big Friendly Giants provide the best adventures of all? That’s because of all the land they can cover with one stride — and you get an even better view if you’re sitting on their shoulders as they do so,. Follow Sophie and the BFG as they go into a world of frobscottles and snozzcumbers to battle the Fleshlumpeater.

92. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

You’ve probably never met a hero like Despereaux Tilling: a young but noble mouse. Now he is on a quest to rescue Princess Pea, a human girl, from evil rats. Beware of underestimating Despereaux: he might be small, but he’s as brave as the biggest adventurers.

93. Martin the Warrior by Brian Jacques

Though Redwall is the first book that Brian Jacques published in the celebrated Redwall series Martin the Warrior is one of the first books chronologically — and it’s one of the more adventurous installments overall. A young heroic mouse named Martin escapes enslavement under the maniacal stout, Badrang the Tyrant. But then he must journey across the land to build an army that will be able to defeat Badrang once and for all.

94. The Princess Bride by William Goldman

The book that spawned the line, “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” By turn brilliant, witty, romantic, and thrilling, The Princess Bride (along with Buttercup, Westley, and company) have enchanted hearts across the world. A rollicking adventure through a fantastical world that was later immortalized in film.

95. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman came up with the idea for this book when he miswrote “Caroline” as “Coraline” one day. In this dark fantasy novella, Coraline Jones moves into an old house with a mysterious door. A neighbor tells her: “Don’t go through the door.” Of course, Coraline goes through the door — only to find a world that she could never have imagined.

Adventurous Short Stories

You don’t necessarily need 50,000 words to bring the thrill of adventure to life! If you only have 30 minutes on hand, the below short stories will be able to whet your appetite.

96. “The Sea Raiders” by H. G. Wells

Squid monsters. Need we say more? H.G. Wells wrote this short story in the fashion of Moby-Dick and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea , but the tentacle-y thrills of this short story are all his own.

97. “A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury

Time travel has become a reality in 2055 — and a company called Time Safari Inc is advertising a chance to travel back in time to hunt dinosaurs. A lot of things can go wrong — and they do, in this masterful short story by Ray Bradbury about the butterfly effect.

98. “To Build a Fire” by Jack London

As you might be able to tell already, Jack London had a thirst for adventure and the wild. His famous short story, “To Build a Fire,” deals with one man’s struggle against the arctic winter in the Yukon Territory.

99. “Sandkings” by George R. R. Martin

Before A Song of Ice and Fire , George R.R. Martin wrote this fantastically dark novelette that won the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, and the Locus Award in 1980. Set on the fictional planet of Baldur, it’s about a playboy named Simon Kress who doubles as an exotic animal collector and one day comes across a terrarium filled with creatures called sandkings… and what happens next becomes the kind of dark adventure that only GRRM can write.

100. “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” by Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway was a big-game hunter, and he drew from his own experiences to write “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.” In it, Francis Macomber, his wife, and a friend are in Africa hunting buffalo, which does not turn out as they wanted.

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13 Best Adventure Travel Books to Inspire Wanderlust

Written By: Louisa Smith

Inspiration

Updated On: January 7, 2024

Adventure travel is all about facing the unknown, braving your fears, and taking on the most challenging, and possibly dangerous, way to travel. For adrenaline junkies, it’s the ultimate way to travel , and there can be no doubt that it leads to some compelling stories. Perhaps they can even inspire you to take on your own adventures.

Table of Contents

Best Travel Adventure Books

In these adventure travel books, you’ll find incredible stories of individuals who embarked on life-changing expeditions, they traveled to off-the-beaten-path locations, chased their destiny, and defied death in the ultimate feats of survival.

If you’re a thrill seeker who loves to read stories about the most extreme travel stories, these adventurous travel books will be right up your street. They also make great travel gift ideas for the adventurer in your life. You may also like our 25 Best Books About Traveling the World

1. Tracks by Robyn Davidson

Tracks is possibly the most inspirational story about travel and self-discovery of all time. It’s the true story of Robyn Davidson, who decided to walk across the length of Australia with her dog and four camels. 

Braving the harshness of the Australian outback possessed all kinds of challenges. She comes face to face with poisonous snakes, the wandering eyes of creepy men, and aboriginal people who prefer the solitude of their own people.

The 1700-mile epic adventure took her 9 months to complete and was well documented by a reporter for National Geographic, Rick Smolan, whom she met in Alice Springs. 

Robyn never intended to write about her journey, she was merely driven by her love of Australia’s landscape. Fortunately, she did, as her book is so inspiring, especially for all the solo female travelers out there looking to embark on their own epic adventures. Get it on Kindle or Paperback

2. The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard

The Worst Journey in the World is the real life story of Apsley Cherry-Gerrard, who was the youngest member of the team accompanying Robert Falcon Scott’s expedition to the South Pole. 

The expedition turned disastrous, leaving him the only survivor of the notorious journey. 

This novel recounts first-hand experiences, as well as sharing diary entries from his teammates, to give a detailed account of what happened during this legendary expedition. 

Apsley’s memoir not only keeps the memory of the brave Arctic explorers alive but tells of a remarkable feat of survival and one incredible adventure to a place most only hear about in books.  Pick it up on Amazon on Paperback or Kindle

3. Life Lessons From the Amazon by Pip Stewart

Pip Steward is an adventure traveler fueled by a zest for life. This travel book takes place over the course of three months, Pip and her team followed Guyana’s Essequibo River from its source to the sea. 

With the help of guides from the Waî Waî indigenous community, Pip and her team journeyed through dense rainforest, over perilous rapids, and across the mountainous Guiana Shield, battling off threats from poisonous insects and dangerous animals along the way.

Using everything she knows about survival, Pip encounters everything the rainforest could throw at her; from flesh-eating parasites to angry snakes. She also meets the indigenous tribes that call the forest their home.

In Life Lessons from the Amazon, you are not just given a detailed account of what a journey through the rainforest is like, but you learn about how the communities thrive here. 

It is a homage to the wilderness and one of the most thrilling adventure books of all time. Purchase it on Kindle or Paperback or Audiobook

4. Footloose: Twisted Travels Across Asia, From Australia To Azerbaijan by Mark Walters

Traveling has been made so easy for us with planes connecting every major city in the world. So in our modern-day society, it’s refreshing to read stories of people who travel without taking any flights – just trains, buses, and help from strangers along the road.

This is exactly how Mark Walters, an Australian adventure traveler, opted to travel. Wearing flip-flops for the entire journey, and failing to pack a towel or shorts, he traveled from his home in Australia across Asia and Europe using boats and land vehicles only. 

Along the way, he meets some risky characters whom he suspects as terrorists, comes face to face with Chinese tanks, and shares a beer with a naked ex-Soviet officer. If you’re looking for a hilarious travel book packed with adventure, this one will have you bent over laughing. Buy it on Amazon

5. Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road by Neil Peart

Neil Peart had a devastating 10-month period where he lost both his wife and his daughter. Overcome with sadness and grief, he isolated himself from the rest of the world in his home by a lake.

Feeling lost and without direction, he decided to embark on an epic motorcycle journey across North America, Mexico, and Belize, covering a distance of 55,000 miles. 

This inspiring book follows Neil as he recounts his journey, he describes not only the memorable landscapes but the people who helped him back on the right emotional path. 

This is a personal odyssey of one man’s quest for self-discovery and healing. It reminds us that adventure is not just a way to explore off-the-beaten-path locations, but to find communities that teach us something, whether that’s how to deal with grief or learn a new meaning to life.  Check it out on Amazon

6. Tuk-Tuk to the Road by Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent

We’ve all heard of traveling by planes, trains, and buses, but how about traveling 12,000 miles in a tuk-tuk? Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent and her friend, Jo Huxster, decided to embark on an adventure no one else had done before.

They decided to buy a tuk-tuk in Thailand and drive it back home to Brighton, United Kingdom – a journey of 12,561 miles. The adventure was not just an inspirational road trip, but a way for the girls to raise money for the mental health charity, Mind, in which they raised £50,000.

Tuk Tuk on the Road describes the incredible journey they took across twelve countries and two continents. They tell of the people they met, how they endured an earthquake, and give a running commentary of every breakdown and hilarious moment.

This is an entertaining and honest travel memoir of sheer determination and prevalence. See it on Amazon / Kindle or Paperback available

7. Cycling Home from Siberia by Rob Lilwall

Cycling Home from Siberia is the thrilling adventure travel memoir by Rob Lilwall about his incredible journey cycling from Siberia to England, crossing the dense jungles of Papua New Guinea, through a cyclone in Australia, and across the war-torn Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan

Rob Lilwall used to be a high-school geography teacher, but all that changed when his sense of adventure took him and his bicycle to Siberia. 

Over the course of three and a half years, he cycles across the world, through some of the most perilous landscapes and encounters some of the most dangerous areas, to make it back home to England. This inspirational book will definitely get you itching to take on an adventure of your own. Get Kindle or paperback on Amazon

8. Riding With Strangers by Elijah Wald

Hitchhiking isn’t for everyone – it’s for the adventurous. Elijah Ward recounts the exciting journey he took hitchhiking his way across the United States in an effort to prove to the world that humanity remains hospitable. 

He recounts the pleasures and tribulations of the open road, as well as tells of the quirky characters he meets along the way – from regular people to businessmen to conspiracy theorists to friendly truck drivers. 

This memoir is funny and quirky, and a real eye-opening adventure travel book for the curious traveler. 

In Riding with Strangers, he aims to prove that hitchhiking is the ultimate form of adventure travel, not only because of the people you meet but because of the lessons you learn from them. See it on Amazon

9. Ubuntu: One Woman’s Motorcycle Odyssey across Africa by Heather Ellis

Ubuntu is an ancient African word that means humanity to others. It refers to how all mankind is bonded as one. It was a lesson that Heather Ellis learned while motorcycling across Africa in her late 20s. 

Leaving her small mining town of Jabiru, she headed to Durban of South Africa with her Yamaha TT600 and began her epic motorcycle road trip.

Her journey took her to the iconic Mt Kilimanjaro and the Rwenzori Mountains, across expansive deserts in northern Kenya, and across the mighty Zaire River.

Along the way, she meets a group of armed bandits and helps to rescue Turkana fishermen, battles against four aggressive Ugandan men, and aids many locals who were kind enough to take her into their homes. It was the people she met that made her truly understand the spirit of ubuntu.

This is a brave adventure travel book about a woman who defied all odds, traveled to the most extreme and dangerous places, and came out of it wiser and with plenty of stories to tell. You can buy it here for Kindle or paperback on Amazon

10. Motorcycle Diaries by Che Guevara

The Motorcycle Diaries is the highly acclaimed travel memoir by Ernesto “Che” Guevara, who is most famous for his role in the liberation of Cuba. This travel book is a classic for those who love cross country road trips.

In his early twenties, Che was a medical student, who left his home in Argentina to explore the countries of South America, before taking a volunteer position helping a leper colony in the Amazon basin.

On his 1939 Norton 500cc motorbike, which he called La Poderosa (or The Mighty One, in English), he and his friend Alberto Granado set out to see the sights they had only read about in books.

As well as historical landmarks and scenic nature spots, they also saw social injustice, poverty, exploited mine workers, the descendants of a tattered ancient civilization, and ostracized societies.

Che’s very real adventure memoir reminds us that although we see many fascinating sites on our travels, there is also poverty and injustice out there. It’s a travel book with a purpose, and this journey may have been the inspiration that sparked his future as a Marxist revolutionary. Buy it for Kindle or Paperback on Amazon

11. Adrift: Seventy-Six Days Lost at Sea by Steven Callahan

While being lost at sea isn’t exactly the plan, what you make out of a bad situation can turn into one heck of an adventure. And that’s what happened to Steven Callahan.

In 1981, Steven left the United States on a Napoleon Solo sailing boat in search of Bermuda. With his friend Chris Latchem, he reached Bermuda and then continued on to England, where he left Chris in Penzance, Cornwall. 

He then sailed for Antigua as part of the Mini Transat 6.50 single-handed sailing race. When he hit a storm in La Coruña, Spain, the weather sunk several boats and severely damaged Stevens’.

Determined to continue his voyage, he repaired his boat and continued on towards Antigua. He got caught in a gale that lasted several days until one night his boat hit an unknown object and created a bad hole in the boat. 

Unable to stay aboard the sinking boat, Steven was forced to abandon ship. He escapes in an inflatable life raft, and he dives aboard his boat to retrieve emergency supplies such as food, navigation charts, solar stills for creating water, and other rations. 

Eventually, the sailboat sank and he was alone in the raft. He spent 76 days lost at sea before he was picked up by fishermen. Adrift is the epic adventure story of Steven Callahan’s fight for survival while lost at sea. Get it now here.

12. Across the Empty Quarter by Wilfred Thesiger

Wilfred Thesiger was a British explorer who traveled across Saudi Arabia after the Second World War. 

He was hired to search for locust breeding grounds across Southern Arabia, which took him across the Rub’ al Khali desert and the Empty Quarter, from Oman to Yemen. 

With camels for company and Bedu’s as guides, he traveled through desolate lands that were threatened by tribal tensions, who opposed the presence of foreigners at the time. 

The journey showed a tremendous amount of strength, courage, and resilience. Across the Empty Quarter is the memoir of his travels from 19945-1950 and aims to bring to light the way of life of the Bedu which is vanishing from existence. 

Wilfred Thesiger’s life is of true adventure travel. He has lived in several African and Middle Eastern countries and didn’t return to England until 1990. He was Knighted in 1995. Available on Amazon

13. Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer

Into The Wild follows a young man from a middle-class family who seemingly had it all. Christopher Johnson McCandless had just graduated from college and was about to enter the world of work.

But instead, he abandoned his former life, changed his name to Alexander Supertramp, gave $25,000 to charity, and hitchhiked to Alaska.

Here he lived alone in the wilderness for four months just North of Mt. McKinley. One day, his body was found by a group of hunters, who also found his journal.

Jon Krakauer’s adventure novel, Into The Wild, is the story left behind in the journal, respectfully pieced together to retell what happened to this brave man whose solo adventure cost him his life. Get it on Amazon

So there you have it, the ten best adventure travel books to inspire wanderlust. Whether you’re looking for something action-packed and gripping, or something spiritual and enlightening, you’ll find something for everyone on this list.

If you are looking for more ideas for the best travel books, read our other recommendations at 25 Best Books About Traveling the World

These travel books are just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many inspiring stories from the usual suspects like Bill Bryson and Jack Kerouac that a person could get lost going down the rabbit hole of best sellers and favorite travel novels. What is your favorite? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

• 25 Best Books About Traveling the World
• Best Adventure Quotes For Outdoor Lovers
• 101 Best Travel Quotes in the World with Pictures
• 50 Best Travel Movies For Travel Lovers
• Best Travel Tips From 21 Years Traveling the World

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About Louisa Smith

Louisa is the Founder of Epic Book Society , a book blog sharing the most epic reads. Louisa is a nomad traveler and travel content writer who has spent over five years living on the road. She has visited over 53 countries (and counting) and can often be found in the mountains or in far away, off-the-beaten-track locations. Follower Louisa on Facebook / Instagram

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2 thoughts on “13 Best Adventure Travel Books to Inspire Wanderlust”

I would also like to recommend…THE GREAT RAILWAY BAZAAR by Paul Theroux. I am 64 and read this as a teenager. I still find it fascinating and exciting to this day.

Interesting selection of books. I would add also Bill Bryson travel books. Thanks for sharing.

17 Best Travel Adventure Books

This post may contain affiliate links that earn me a commission at no additional cost to you.

Dreaming of an adventure? These travel adventure books will spark your wanderlust!

While I am an avid traveler, I am also a bit of a wimp. The extent of my “extreme” travel adventures was attempting (and failing) to summit a volcano in Guatemala.

When it came down to it, I opted to stay in the warmth of my tent instead of scrambling the final 1,000 feet to the top in the pitch darkness at four in the morning.

So it’s safe to say that while I may not be that adventurous myself, I LOVE getting swept away reading about crazy adventures that happened to other people.

There is nothing like being on the edge of my seat as I read about people facing peril and defying death as they survive after being stranded in the wilderness, hiking solo across large swaths of land, or brave a deathly mountain summit. It transports me without leaving the comfort of home!

So if you are craving an adventure too, these are the best travel adventure books that will fuel your wanderlust and have you staying up late to finish them.

Where we love to grab our travel adventure books:

• Sign up for a free trial of Audible:  Get 30 days of free access to thousands of audiobooks, and one free premium title of your choice. Perfect for listening on the go!
• Sign up for a free trial of Kindle Unlimited:  Get 30 days of free access to unlimited ebook reading on any device. You will unlock access to over two million titles instantly!
• Sign up for a free trial of Amazon Prime:  Get 30 days of a free trial offering free two-day shipping on all purchases, plus access to hundreds of new ebooks each month.

Best Travel Adventure Books

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

This travel memoir follows Cheryl’s journey hiking the Pacific Crest Trail solo. Driven by grief after her mother’s death, she embarked on a hike more than one thousand miles long at age twenty-six for an unforgettable experienced that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her.

Buy on Amazon | View in Goodreads

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

This gripping nonfiction account of a disastrous Mount Everest expedition is told in a way that will have you flipping the pages long through the night until you’ve finished it. Jon Krakauer is a journalist who was invited along on a fateful expedition that left several of his fellow hikers dead.

Bad Karma by Paul Wilson

In the summer of 1978, twenty-one-year-old Paul Wilson jumps at the chance to join two local icons on a dream surf trip to Mexico, unaware their ultimate destination lies in the heart of drug cartel country. This exhilarating travel memoir will make you feel like you are there.

Lands of Lost Borders by Kate Harris

Canadian Kate Harris dreamed of adventures ever since she was young. In between studying at Oxford and MIT, she set off with her childhood friend on the adventure of a lifetime: bicycling the Silk Road. Her memoir follows her journey exploring remote Central Asia by bike.

Tracks by Robyn Davidson

Robyn Davidson completed an epic adventure when she walked alone more than 1,700 miles through the Australian Outback with four camels and her dog at age twenty-seven. Tracks is her memoir detailing the experience and the people she met along the way.

The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston

Journalist Douglas Preston and a team of scientists embark on a harrowing adventure into the heart of Honduras, in search of a legendary lost city in the middle of the jungle.

Alone in Antarctica by Felicity Aston

Felicity Aston, physicist and meteorologist, took two months off from all human contact as she became the first woman, and only the third person in history, to ski across the entire continent of Antarctica alone. With just her cross-country skis, she embarked on an epic journey across the ice.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

The Appalachian Trail is one of America’s biggest adventures, stretching over 2,100 miles from Georgia to Maine, a journey not for the faint of heart. Travel writer Bill Bryson tackles the trail and writes about his experience in this memoir, which is both funny and moving.

The Lost City of Z by David Grann

In 1925, a British explorer ventured into the Amazon rainforest in search of a fabled civilization. He never returned. Eighty years later, a journalist retraces his footsteps in an attempt to find out what really happened, and discover the truth of this mythical Amazonian city.

Wild by Nature by Sarah Marquis

Adventurer Sarah Marquis chronicles her ambitious journey hiking solo over 10,000 miles around the world, from the Gobi Desert to Siberia, in this travel memoir.

Touching the Void by Joe Simpson

This harrowing story follows two young hikers attempting to complete an unclimbed route in the Peruvian Andes when a horrific accident during their descent occurs.

438 Days by Jonathan Franklin

This is a remarkable true survival story about a Salvadoran fisherman working in Mexico when he got lost at sea for 438 days before washing ashore on the far side of the Pacific.

The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost

He expected paradise, but what he got was an entirely different story. This memoir chronicles the author’s hilarious two-year odyssey in the distant South Pacific island nation of Kiribati, and all the mishaps and misadventures he had along the way while he was there.

Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux

A rattletrap bus, dugout canoe, cattle truck, armed convoy, ferry, and train are just some manners of transportation Paul Theroux takes on his overland journey from Cairo to Cape Town. In the course of his epic voyage, he endures danger, delay, and dismaying circumstances.

The Beach by Alex Garland

This is the book that inspired thousands of backpackers to make their way to Thailand in search of paradise. This novel is about a young backpacker who arrives in Bangkok, learning about a mythical location known only as “The Beach” that is the closest thing to Eden on Earth.

Vagabonding by Rolf Potts

Part travel memoir and part practical how-to guide, this book provides advice for the art of long-term travel, as told by veteran budget traveler Rolf Potts.

In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

Travel writer Bill Bryson provides a wonderful glimpse into traveling Australia in his book  In a Sunburned Country . He brings to life the land of the friendliest inhabitants, the hottest, driest weather, and the most peculiar and lethal wildlife to be found on the planet.

These are some of the best travel adventure books.

Have you read any of these travel adventure books? Do you have any other favorite books that I should add to this list? Let me know in the comments below!

Related:  25 Brilliant Travel Memoirs by Women

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Super Potato's Mega Time-Travel Adventure: Book 3 Paperback – August 6, 2019

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For Super Potato's future...he must travel to the past! After an evil villain turned the handsome crime fighter Super Max into Super Potato, our hero got used to life as a tiny tuber. He even threw out his expensive shampoos. But when friendly scientists offer Super Potato a trip back in time, he can't resist. It's a chance to stop his transformation from ever happening! Super Potato lands in the past, ready to change history. There's just one problem: he runs into another fiendish criminal, Archibald the Scaly. Yikes! What will Super Potato choose―living life as a human or stopping Archibald's sinister plans?

• Reading age 7 - 11 years
• Book 3 of 11 Super Potato
• Print length 56 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 2 - 5
• Lexile measure 540
• Dimensions 7 x 0.13 x 9.25 inches
• Publisher Graphic Universe ™
• Publication date August 6, 2019
• ISBN-10 1541572874
• ISBN-13 978-1541572874
• See all details

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Graphic Universe ™ (August 6, 2019)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 56 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1541572874
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1541572874
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 - 11 years
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 540
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 2 - 5
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.8 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.13 x 9.25 inches
• #160 in Children's Time Travel Fiction
• #362 in Children's Superhero Comics
• #1,177 in Children's Humorous Comics & Graphic Novels

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