It may seem counterintuitive to go somewhere else to do something you can just as easily do at home. But when the idea of taking refuge in lively Nantucket with a silly little novel occurred to me, nothing more seductive occurred to me. Surely, if I dropped myself into a new environment, one as peaceful as the New England coast, I could finally lose myself in that book I wanted to finish, a high I’ve been chasing since the long-forgotten days of sustained silent reading.
Turns out, I’m not the only one who wants a distraction-free reading retreat. According to Expedia Group’s 2026 travel report, “Unpack ’26”, 91% of Expedia travelers “seek getaways focused on reading, relaxation, and quality time with loved ones.” As the #BookTok community of readers continues to chat on TikTok, the search term “book club retreat ideas” has increased 265% on Pinterest. Vrbo reveals that, overall, Gen Z and Millennial travelers are leading the charge toward more intentional, healthy getaways.
In an effort to not bother myself as much as possible, I decided to do it alone. I arrived from New York, book in hand, to my “Literary oasis”, a light-dappled two-story loft situated atop the independent bookstore, Nantucket Bookstoresconveniently located in the heart of the city. After climbing the stairs adjacent to the bookstore, I entered the school room, with its floor-to-ceiling bookshelves colored by a rainbow of spines. Large colonial windows revealed glimpses of the season’s golden foliage, as well as the surrounding gray shingles so characteristic of Nantucket.
Although I took a solo trip this time, I could easily imagine a group of friends filling the three rooms: a king, a queen, and a loft room with twin beds. The spacious kitchen, with its wooden island and leather stools, is the perfect place to get creative after a visit to Bartlett’s Farms (the oldest farm on the island, a 15-minute drive away), and the large dining room table is ideal for hosting a well-prepared meal. I wasted no time and settled into the brown leather couch, ready to peruse Rebecca Makai’s work. The great believers. I appreciated how homey everything felt, the mismatched pillows and the framed quotes from people like EE Cummings and Roald Dahl.
It’s not often that I go on vacation with an intention as simple as reading. Although many Nantucket hotspots (Something Natural, Cru Oyster Bar, to name a few) had just closed for the season, that made my mission even more attainable. I struck a good balance between holding myself accountable and going off script, sniffing out parts of the island that perhaps don’t get enough attention during the peak summer months. Between chapters, I cycled through the Creeks marsh, listening to the quacking of ducks and golden eelgrass; I ate my weight in clam chowder; and timed the infamous Bluff Walk with the sunset, peering into shadowy cabins that seemed trapped in time.
It was a particularly studious time to be on the island, as 2026 marks the 175th anniversary of Herman Melville’s death. Moby Dick. (Oh, haven’t you heard?) All kidding aside, that dusty novel was set on Nantucket during the height of the whaling era, and it felt great to be right next door to the Jared Coffin House, a former captain’s mansion where Melville stayed during his first visit to the island (surprisingly, a year after he wrote Moby Dick).
