Books for the Backseat: Your Road Trip Reading List

Summer in Kentucky means one thing around here: somebody in your house is already planning a road trip. Whether you're headed to the beach, up to the mountains, or just making the drive to see family a few states over, a good book (or a good audiobook) makes the miles disappear.

This week we're leaning into our Discover Local theme with a reading list built for the road, starting with a local author whose books make the perfect road trip companion.

Local Author Spotlight

Nothing pairs better with a Kentucky road trip than a book written by someone who actually knows these roads. This week we're spotlighting David Dominé, a Louisville-based author who has called Kentucky home since moving to Louisville in 1993. Over more than a dozen books, he has published books on Victorian architecture, regional cooking, folklore, and haunted history, with titles like Ghosts of Old Louisville leading the pack.

If you're the type who wants a little haunted history riding shotgun on your next drive, this one is the perfect companion, especially paired with an episode of Weirdos in the Wild for the full effect.

The Road Trip Reading List

A few genres that hold up best behind the wheel or in the passenger seat:

Something you can't put down. A page-turning mystery or thriller makes the hours fly, especially if you're the one riding shotgun and reading it aloud.

Something short. Essay collections or short story anthologies are perfect for stop-and-go trips, easy to pick up and put down between gas stations and rest stops.

Something local. A Kentucky-set novel or memoir turns your drive into a bit of a pilgrimage, especially if your route happens to pass near where the story takes place.

Listen Along the Way

If you'd rather listen than read on your drive, don't forget to queue up Weirdos in the Wild. Our own paranormal podcast is perfect road trip company, especially if your route happens to pass anywhere with a good ghost story attached to it. You might just find yourself taking the scenic route past a few of the places we've covered.

Wherever the road takes you this summer, stop by and let us help you pick out your next favorite read before you go. Safe travels, and happy reading.