When you're looking to get lost in a book, sometimes you need your reading material to match your mood. With Marie Claire's series "Buy the Book," we do the heavy lifting for you. We're offering curated, highly specific recommendations for whatever you're looking for—whether you're in your feels or hooked on a subgenre trending on #BookTok.
In this author-curated rendition, Tia Williams—former beauty editor and bestselling author of novels like Seven Days in June and A Love Song for Ricki Wilde—shares her favorite globe-trotting romances.
A passionate, whirlwind romance is always irresistible, even when you live in the greatest city in the world. Tia Williams is known for nuanced, sexy romance novels in which New York City enclaves become the third main character—from the historical streets of Harlem to the effortless cool of her own home base, Brooklyn.
But in her latest release, The Missed Connection, the bestselling author taps into the fantasy of a cross-continent fling. The novel follows Sasha Cruz, an early-30s casting agent who sets off an international manhunt after meeting her dream man on a flight to Paris…and drinking so much rosé that she disembarks without learning his name.
Williams tells Marie Claire that the mystery man of her new novel, who hails from a town on Italy’s southern coast named Gallipoli, is partly inspired by her real-life love. “My husband’s father is from Gallipoli!” she says via email. “A few years ago, my husband and I spent a few weeks there, and I fell in love with it. The scent of the Cypress trees and the sea, the exquisite seafood, the rocky cliffs? It’s all so romantic and inspiring. I knew I’d write about this place.”
In The Missed Connection, Sasha is so intrigued by her crush, whom she dubs Seat F, that she hires a private investigator from her past to find her would-be lover. The recipe to Seat F’s allure: a dashing smile, an instant comfort, and the fantasy of being swept away from ordinary life.
“Being away from the predictability of everyday life is always delicious. The sights, the sounds, the tastes, the vibes—emotions are heightened because you’ve escaped from the ordinary,” she explains. “This is why international flings feel so powerful. A kiss in a different country always feels electric.”
To coincide with the release of her highly anticipated new book, which hit shelves on June 10, we asked the author to share her favorite books centered on international love stories, from historical novels to queer favorites.
“When exhausted spitfire Delaney takes a post-medical school trip to a secluded cabin, she crosses paths with Jamal—who happens to be a vacationing sheikh. So tempestuous, so lusty, so classic.”
“In 1899, a Dominican rum heiress sails to Paris to expand her business. Alas, as an unmarried woman of color, every door slams in her face. Enter the Earl of Darnick, a whisky brand owner—and a marriage of convenience. Their chemistry? Beyond.”
“A lovable goofball, Montgomery, is exploring a 16th-century church on the worst vacation of her life, when a knight appears to her at his tombstone. This hilarious encounter kicks off one of the sweetest time-traveling love stories ever.”
“What happens when two bisexual exes, Theo and Kit, accidentally set off on the food-and-wine tour across France, Spain, and Italy? So much tension, you can’t imagine. This one’s for the yearners (and the foodies).”
“I love a destination wedding romance! This one’s set in Tulum, and features a secret fling between Janelle, the maid of honor, and Rome, the best man. Come for their epic chemistry, stay for the multi-layered family drama.”
“A detective story set against the colorful world of Tang Dynasty Chinese courtesans, it features a maidservant, Yue-ying, and a rakish aristocrat, Bai Huang—who work together to solve a dangerous mystery. Absolutely delicious.”
