Because most of my bookshelf lives in the US, UK, France, or Canada.
Lately, I’ve noticed how many of the books I read are rooted in the same countries over and over again. Nothing wrong with that—but the world is huge. And I want to read it.
This list is my small attempt to travel through stories. Ten books, ten different countries. Different cultures, voices, histories. I haven’t read them yet—but I plan to. Maybe you’ll find something here that calls to you too.
📍Cameroon
How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue
Of course, I must read a book set in my country of origin! Corporate greed meets village resistance. Set in a fictional African village exploited by an American oil company, this novel explores environmental devastation and the toll it takes on families, futures, and faith. The reviews say it’s lyrical, layered, and quietly angry.
📍Iran
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
Set during the political unrest of 1950s Iran, this is the story of two young women navigating friendship, love, and rebellion in a time of societal upheaval. Think: secrets, courage, and the quiet power of women resisting from within.
📍 Japan (and Korea)
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
This sweeping generational saga follows a Korean family exiled to Japan during the 20th century. It’s about survival, sacrifice, and identity—especially when you’re considered a foreigner in the only place you’ve ever known. Everyone I know who’s read it, felt it.
📍 Philippines
Some People Need Killing by Patricia Evangelista
A powerful work of investigative journalism and memoir, this book dives into the Philippines’ war on drugs under Duterte. Patricia Evangelista doesn’t look away, and neither should we. It’s brutal, important, and deeply human.
📍 Uganda
All the Glimmering Stars by Mark Sullivan
A gripping novel based on true events, this book follows two teenagers abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda. It’s a story of survival, courage, and resilience in the face of unimaginable violence. I’ve heard it’s heartbreaking, but also full of hope.
📍 Ghana
His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie
Afi, a young Ghanaian seamstress, is married off to a man she barely knows—and who’s in love with someone else. But Afi? She’s got plans of her own. This one is witty, warm, and sharply observant. A modern Ghanaian twist on love and independence.
📍 Syria
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
Following a Syrian couple forced to flee their war-torn home, this novel humanizes the refugee experience with tenderness and grief. It’s about loss, but also about finding light—through memory, resilience, and bees.
📍 Democratic Republic of Congo
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
An American missionary drags his family to the Congo in the 1950s—and nothing goes as planned. Told through the eyes of his wife and daughters, this novel is rich with questions about guilt, colonialism, and how we tell history. It’s long, but unforgettable.
📍 Mexico
Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Set in 1970s Mexico City, this noir novel mixes political intrigue with pulp fiction vibes. A bored secretary stumbles into a dangerous mystery after a neighbor goes missing. Dark, stylish, and totally cinematic.
📍Morocco
Black Crescent by Jane Johnson
Set in 1950s Morocco, a country teetering on the edge of independence from French colonial rule. Hamou, a young man caught between traditional beliefs and political unrest, as he navigates a world of secret police, forbidden love, and dangerous allegiances. A gripping window into Morocco’s past—and the personal cost of resistance.
🌍 A World of Stories Waiting
It’s easy to fall into the habit of reading stories set in places that feel familiar—whether that’s geographically, culturally, or emotionally. But books offer us a passport to places we’ve never been, voices we haven’t heard, and perspectives that can stretch our own. This list is just a starting point in my effort to read more globally, and I can’t wait to discover what these stories have to teach me.
Now I’d love to hear from you:
- What are some of your favorite books set outside of the U.S./UK/France/CanadaAre there any countries or cultures you’ve always wanted to read more about?
- What’s one book that completely transported you somewhere unexpected?
- What book would you recommend that opened your eyes to a new part of the world?
Drop your recommendations below—let’s build a truly all-around-the-world reading list together! 🌎