25 Enthralling Books Set on Islands to Read Now

A surprisingly fierce feminist anthem, this novel is one of my favorite books of the year.

When young noblewoman Marguerite is betrayed and stranded on a wild island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, she's forced to trade lace and luxury for fierce survival. Alongside her loyal nurse and a forbidden love, Marguerite battles harsh winters, bears, and isolation in a gripping story of endurance and unexpected faith.

Rich in historical detail and raw emotion, Goodman's Isola is a powerful tale of courage and transformation that lingers long after the final page.

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Emma and Justin meet on a quirky subreddit dedicated to doomed relationships—and discover they share the same bizarre dating curse: every ex they break up with goes on to find their soulmate.

To break the cycle, they plan a summer fling on the charming island town, where Emma's traveling nurse assignment offers the perfect three-month window for a relationship designed to fail. However, as they navigate personal challenges and unexpected emotions, their arrangement becomes more complicated than anticipated.

The reader will have much to work through with these characters, but if books like Kennedy Ryan's romances appeal to you, this sits nicely in that wheelhouse for Emma's self-discoveries as she processes her past traumas.

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This juicy debut is pure, wicked fun. Think Big Little Lies meets White Lotus, set in an exclusive Fire Island community where the gossip is mean and the murder is messy.

The story follows a privileged crew of New Yorkers who descend each summer to drink, gossip, and flirt with disaster—and each other. Their tennis whites are crisp, but their marriages are crumbling. Long-held resentments simmer beneath rosé-fueled brunches. And when a body turns up on the boardwalk, the intrigue takes a dark, delicious turn.

You won't root for these characters, but watching their secrets unravel is the exact kind of salty summer indulgence that pairs perfectly with sunscreen and a drink in hand. It was a biting romp that I couldn't put down last summer!

This heartwarming fantasy brings Linus Baker, a meticulous government caseworker, to an enchanting and unusual orphanage on a magical island.

As he grows fond of the extraordinary children and their endearing caretaker, the story beautifully explores finding found family in the most unexpected places.

If you need a great audiobook to listen to while you put together jigsaw puzzles this cozy season, I recommend this as a great family audiobook experience!

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What if your favorite childhood author invited you back into the world you once used to escape?

That’s exactly what happens to Lucy Hart, a teacher’s aide with a makeshift Etsy shop, a heartbreaking bond with a student she’s trying to adopt, and a dream wrapped in the pages of a long-lost book series.

When a mysterious contest emerges offering the only copy of a long-awaited new story, Lucy finds herself back on Clock Island—this time not as a runaway but as a competitor.

With riddles to solve, rivals to outwit, and a once-great author pulling strings like some literary Wonka, the story unfolds like a love letter to those of us who’ve clung to books as lifelines.

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This indie gem from human rights lawyer-turned-author Milena McKay blends dark academia, forbidden romance, and a slow-burn mystery that will leave you breathless.

When closeted teacher Sam encounters a captivating stranger during a night out, she never expects to see her again—let alone as the new headmistress of her conservative New England girls' school.

But Magdalene Nox, sent by the board to restore order, is that very woman, now tasked with enforcing regressive policies that threaten the school's inclusivity and soul.

The elite academy on an idyllic island is facing financial ruin and ideological decay, threatening the futures of its marginalized students, the livelihood of its progressive faculty, and a love story full of aching restraint and barely spoken desire.

Abby Craden's Earphones Award-winning narration elevates the audiobook to a must-listen experience.

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Dane Huckelbridge stuns with Castle of Water, a sharp, tender survival story that sneaks up on the reader.

When a plane crashes in the South Pacific, two strangers—an artist-turned-banker and a new bride—must learn to survive both heartbreak and each other. Huckelbridge brings humor and tension to even the most mundane tasks, layering in flashbacks and inner monologues that feel intimate and alive.

The rich character development is the beating heart of this story, as these two characters seem to leap off the pages.

The audiobook narration is phenomenal and highly recommended for the perfect summer escape.

The enthusiasm for this book is unmatched, especially among readers I know and trust, and the audiobook narration, narrated by Sarah Naughton, offers a rich experience for listeners.

Anna had planned the sailing trip with her fiancé. But after his unexpected death, she sets out alone from Fort Lauderdale on the journey they were meant to take together. When grief threatens to drown her, she hires Keane, a seasoned sailor with struggles of his own, to help her navigate to Puerto Rico and beyond.

What unfolds is part travel adventure, part healing journey, as the two slowly open up to one another while island-hopping through the Caribbean. This tender story balances loss and romance beautifully, all against the backdrop of sun-soaked harbors and salt-streaked sails.

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If you love enemies-to-lovers rom-coms with a tropical twist, Shipped delivers.

Marketing manager Henley Evans is all business—until her company sends her on a Galápagos cruise to compete for a promotion with her work nemesis, the annoyingly charming Graeme.

Forced off their screens and onto the same boat, Henley and Graeme discover there's more to each other than passive-aggressive emails and Zoom tension.

With stunning island backdrops, witty banter, and a surprising amount of heart, this vacation romance becomes a smart workplace comedy about ambition, assumptions, and what it really means to connect.

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The Island of Missing Trees surprised me with just how much heart it held—and how much a fig tree could make me cry. Shafak tells a love story shaped by war, loss, and exile, narrated in part by a tree that remembers everything its human characters try to forget. Lush, lyrical, and layered with longing, this novel lingers in all the best ways.

I regret not reading this book on audiobook for many reasons, including how I would have loved to hear the narrator's voice and learn about the unfamiliar words, regions, and local cuisines mentioned in the pages. However, if you read this one on paper or digital, there is a convenient glossary that I didn't know was there until I finished. 

This laugh-out-loud romantic comedy whisks readers aboard a week-long wedding cruise through the Greek Isles, where tradition and fate collide.

Moti's eccentric Indian family believes she's destined to marry the next man she meets—and when that man turns out to be Nikos, the dreamy chef on board, things get complicated fast.

As Moti navigates meddling relatives, goat-related mishaps, and a growing attraction that defies expectations, she finds herself questioning what fate really means—and whether love might be less about destiny and more about choice.

Sparkling with wit and warmth, this Mediterranean romp serves up lush scenery, big laughs, and irresistible heart.

Brennert's unforgettable novel follows Rachel Kalama, a spirited young Hawaiian girl whose ordinary childhood is upended when she's diagnosed with leprosy and exiled to the island of Molokaʻi.

What begins as a story of loss—being torn from her family, her future, and the life she dreamed she transforms into something profoundly hopeful.

Brennert brings Rachel's journey to life with such warmth and depth that the community she builds and the joy she finds despite her circumstances feel both heartbreaking and affirming.

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E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars is a tightly written, emotionally charged story about grief and the lies families tell to protect themselves.

Each summer, Cadence Sinclair returns to Beechwood Island, where her wealthy family keeps up appearances at all costs. But after a mysterious accident leaves her with memory loss and chronic pain, Cadence starts to question everything she once believed.

Her bond with Gat—a boy who challenges the family's quiet rules—pulls her deeper into a love she isn’t sure she can trust. What she uncovers will change how she sees herself, her past, and the people closest to her.

If you love it, you can dive into the prequel with Family of Liars!

If you’re craving a coastal escape with heart and just a little bit of mystery, this Colleen Oakley book will fit the bill perfectly.

When journalist Anders Caldwell arrives to cover a small-town cakewalk, he stumbles into something stranger—a community quietly pretending that one resident’s lost husband is still alive.

Piper, the grieving widow at the center of it all, has made peace with her town’s tender denial, but Anders isn’t sure whether it’s kindness or something more profound.

As his podcast secretly chronicles the story, his relationship with Piper shifts from curiosity to connection, and he’s forced to ask himself what kind of story he really wants to tell.

Full of quirky islanders, unexpected tenderness, and just enough tension to keep you turning pages, this is a summer read with heart.

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This dazzling YA debut standalone fantasy transports the reader to a magical island reminiscent of Prohibition-era New York, inspired by the allure of Moulin Rouge!

Luxe Revelle is a performer in her family's fantastical show, and she finds herself caught in a dangerous game when she agrees to pose as the girlfriend of the son of Charmant's wealthiest family. In exchange, she hopes to save her family's struggling livelihood.

Just as this arrangement unfolds, Jamison enters her life, bringing with him a mysterious past. As Luxe and Jamison grow closer, they begin to uncover the secrets of the island. However, the consequences of their hidden truths could ultimately shatter their worlds.

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This cult-classic novel was a self-published work that developed a following and, later, a book deal.

Escape to an uncharted island with this captivating castaway tale that will keep you turning the pages until the early morning hours.

In this gripping debut novel by the author of The Girl He Used to Know, a tragic plane crash strands an English teacher and her student on a remote island in the Maldives.

As they navigate the challenges of survival and forge an unlikely bond on an uninhabited island, the story explores the complexities of a LATER blossoming age-gap relationship and the resilience of the human spirit.

Suspend your disbelief, pop a bag of popcorn, and be transported with a love exploration that The Perfect Find fans will love. This was the perfect tropical island escape during a long winter in Indiana.

When Eleanor Bennett passes away, she leaves her children, Byron and Benny, with a mysterious inheritance—a Caribbean black cake and a voice recording that reveals a captivating tale of a young swimmer accused of murder.

As Byron and Benny embark on a journey to uncover the truth behind their mother's story, they must confront their own identities and rediscover the bonds that tie them together.

Woven between the present-day narrative of 2018, Wilkerson skillfully delves into Eleanor's captivating past, transporting readers to a vibrant Caribbean island in the 1960s, reminiscent of the enchanting spirit of Jamaica.

Marisol Ferrera has grown up hearing her grandmother's stories of pre-revolutionary Cuba—glamorous, complicated, and irrevocably lost. When she travels to Havana to fulfill her abuela's final wish, she stumbles into more than just a heritage trip.

As she begins to unearth a love story that was silenced by politics and betrayal, Marisol is drawn into her own dangerous entanglements with a journalist who challenges her understanding of Cuba's present.

Cleeton nails the dual timelines, allowing readers to live through the heartbreak of 1950s Havana while grappling with the contradictions of its modern-day counterpart.

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Hula invites you to the lush island of Hilo, Hawai‘i, where three generations of women navigate the delicate balance between heritage and self-discovery.

Hi‘i, a proud Naupaka, dives deep into the art of hula, hoping to unlock family secrets and find her true place in a community bound by ancient tradition.

Told through the collective voice of a resilient island community, this debut beautifully weaves dance, culture, and legacy into a rich, unforgettable story.

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Set on the idyllic Isle of Skye off the coast of Scotland, Woolf's stream-of-consciousness style immerses readers in the intricacies of human thought, capturing the essence of our innermost musings.

With its groundbreaking narrative technique and evocative portrayal of isolation, this thought-driven novel offers a tranquil escape where readers can truly feel transported to an island enveloped in the beauty of its prose.

Get ready for a dark and twisted wedding on a secluded island in this atmospheric thriller that will keep you guessing until the shocking end. 

In this Agatha Christie-esque tale, tensions rise as secrets, resentments, and unexpected alliances emerge among the glamorous guests. 

With impeccable planning and picturesque surroundings, this wedding is meant to be flawless, but as the night unfolds, it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems, and the celebration takes a sinister turn that no one could have anticipated.

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Best friends Summer and Leo navigate the elite circles of California's wealth by relying on their skills as con artists to survive. 

But when a high-stakes scam goes awry, and Leo mysteriously disappears on a private island, Summer must unravel the truth and confront the dangerous consequences of their actions.

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When a group of British schoolboys crash-lands on a deserted island, their attempt to govern themselves spirals into a chilling descent into savagery. Golding's iconic novel strips civilization down to its bones, revealing how thin the line is between order and chaos.

It is a brutal, thought-provoking read that continues to spark debate decades later and would pair beautifully with The Lost Story.

This swashbuckling classic kicks off when young Jim Hawkins discovers a pirate's map and sets sail in search of buried treasure. But danger quickly surfaces as a mutinous crew and the cunning Long John Silver complicate the voyage.

Packed with tropical islands, cryptic clues, and treacherous twists, Treasure Island defined the pirate adventure genre as we know it. Stevenson's vivid storytelling still crackles with tension, making it an enduring favorite for readers of all ages.

Jacob Have I Loved is a beautifully tender coming-of-age story set on a remote fishing island during World War II.

Sarah Louise lives in the long shadow of her gifted twin sister, struggling to find her own voice and sense of worth amid sibling rivalry and hardship.

This Newbery Award winner is a story that reaches beyond middle grade to touch anyone who’s ever felt overlooked but fiercely determined.

With its rich character development and beautiful arc spanning childhood to adulthood, this book leaves a lasting impression on the power of finding oneself.

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