'A Thousand Miles' is the perfect road trip read and more summer book recommendations

Novel Neighbor - Special to USA TODAY, USA TODAY
Updated ·3 min read

In the mood for a good book but don't know what title to pick? The Novel Neighbor is here to help.

The independently owned and operated bookstore in St. Louis puts its well-read booksellers' expertise to the test with their popular Mystery Box program. Readers write in, sharing details about the kinds of books they're looking for, sharing biographical details and personal tastes to help the bookish wizards find just the right match.

Each week, The Novel Neighbor is sharing a new Mystery Box recommendation to help readers find just the right books to fit their mood.

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Dear Bookseller, 

I’m participating in a summer bingo book club and need help with a few spaces! A “regency romance” and a “book about a road trip” are going to be my hardest two to fill. I’m also a little concerned about “first in a series,” and one box specifically says “a rec from a local bookseller.” I like contemporary fiction and normally gravitate toward romance or suspense/domestic thrillers.

Thank you so much!

Megan S.

Dear Megan, 

Wow, this is the perfect summer reading challenge! We love reading bingo, and we’re glad you do too. Let’s get you some recommendations for this card.

First up, we have "A Thousand Miles" by Bridget Morrissey, which knocks off both staff favorite and road trip romance from that list. Dee and Ben were high school best friends and after a decade of silence between them, they decide to reunite for a road trip they once promised each other they’d take.

"A Thousand Miles," by Bridget Morrissey.
"A Thousand Miles," by Bridget Morrissey.

This book has so many tricks up its sleeve. Dee is the co-host of a hugely successful podcast "Did I Forget To Tell You?" where she interviews family, friends and exes about all the things she wished she’d told them. The only person she hasn’t interviewed yet? Ben, of course. And this road trip might be the perfect opportunity.

Read this book for:

  • Friends-to-lovers

  • Funny mixed-media elements, such as podcast interviews

  • High school sweethearts and second chances

"A Thousand Miles" at Bookshop for $15

Here’s a regency romance that’s a little off the beaten path for you! "Reputation" by Lex Croucher is like "Bridgerton" meets "Mean Girls."

"Reputation," by Lex Croucher.
"Reputation," by Lex Croucher.

In this romp, a young, middle-class woman goes to live with her aunt and uncle, expecting a season of boring balls, but instead is taken under the wing of a wealthy member of the in-crowd. What follows is drunken debauchery and mysterious young men, with some darker undertones.

We love how layered this story is –– and how many times we laughed out loud! This isn’t your average regency romance, with its queer and racial representation. If you’re a "Bridgerton" fan, we think this will be up your alley.

This book has swagger; it’s confident, brazen and the perfect choice for a summer reading challenge.

"Reputation" at Bookshop for $16

"Under Lock & Skeleton Key" by Gigi Pandian is a cozy mystery that kicks off a series. This book is an ode to classic locked-room mysteries, but it’s full of Indian home-cooked meals (it even includes recipes), family curses, and Shakespearean references.

"Under Lock & Skeleton Key," by Gigi Pandian.
"Under Lock & Skeleton Key," by Gigi Pandian.

After our main character, Tempest, suffers a professional failure, she moves home for some familial comfort but ends up helping out with her father’s construction business. When a body winds up in a supposedly sealed wall, Tempest is on the case.

We love how fun this story is and how it infuses both gothic and cozy elements for a unique vibe. Since you are a big thriller fan, we think this is a fun way to get out of your comfort zone but still have the familiarity of a book with a core mystery, which we know you love. And if you can’t wait for more, don’t worry –– book two is already out!

If you, like Megan, are looking for the perfect book to speak to a difficult time in your life, or you need a new go-to comfort read, The Novel Neighbor would love to make a Mystery Box for you! 

"Under Lock & Skeleton Key" at Bookshop for $9

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'A Thousand Miles' is the perfect road trip read: Summer book recs