75 books like Ellie Dwyer's Great Escape

By Diane Winger,

Here are 75 books that Ellie Dwyer's Great Escape fans have personally recommended if you like Ellie Dwyer's Great Escape. Shepherd is a community of 11,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Living the RV Life: Your Ultimate Guide to Life on the Road

Alyssa Padgett Author Of A Beginner's Guide to Living in an RV

From my list on living in a RV for a beginner.

Why am I passionate about this?

In 2014, Alyssa Padgett convinced her husband Heath to take her to all 50 states for their honeymoon. Somehow he tricked her into doing it all in an RV. They’ve lived and traveled in an RV ever since. With her husband, Alyssa runs The RV Entrepreneur Podcast, a resource for anyone who wants to run a business while RVing.

Alyssa's book list on living in a RV for a beginner

Alyssa Padgett Why did Alyssa love this book?

In addition to sharing a ton of helpful insight into what RV life is like, this book is beautifully designed and full of colorful photos. It includes profiles of RVers, tips for starting RVing, and plenty of inspiration to hit the road. It’s a perfect coffee table book!

By Julie Bennett, Marc Bennett,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Living the RV Life as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Whether you’re downsizing or thrill-seeking—or anything in between—find out if the RV lifestyle is right for you, and learn how to transition from a life of traditional home-ownership to one on the road.

Do you love traveling? Meeting new people and seeing new places? Are you craving a life that feels meaningful and new? The RV lifestyle could be the answer.

Both aspirational and practical, Living the RV Life is your ultimate guide to living life on the road—for people of all ages looking to downsize, travel, or work on the go. Learn if life in a motor home is…


Book cover of Live Camp Work: How to Make Money While Living in an RV and Travel Full-Time, Plus 1000+ Employers Who Hire RVers

Alyssa Padgett Author Of A Beginner's Guide to Living in an RV

From my list on living in a RV for a beginner.

Why am I passionate about this?

In 2014, Alyssa Padgett convinced her husband Heath to take her to all 50 states for their honeymoon. Somehow he tricked her into doing it all in an RV. They’ve lived and traveled in an RV ever since. With her husband, Alyssa runs The RV Entrepreneur Podcast, a resource for anyone who wants to run a business while RVing.

Alyssa's book list on living in a RV for a beginner

Alyssa Padgett Why did Alyssa love this book?

Finding a way to make money is the biggest hurdle to full-time travel. Most of our RVing friends have tried work camping at some point. It can be a great way to save money or stay in awesome places for extended periods of time, like national parks. In this book, Sharee shares what work camping is, how to find jobs, and 1000+ employers you can contact for work camping gigs. This is a great resource for anyone starting full-time life, but needs to save a little extra money each month by saving on camping fees.

By Sharee Collier,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Live Camp Work as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Make Your RV Dreams, Your New Reality! By Workamping...

"Anything you ever wanted to know about Workamping, even if you didn't know what to ask. This book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to get into Workamping - or improving your experience if you've already started. I'll be doing this when I retire and trust me, this book will be my guide." -Deb.M (Amazon Customer)

ABOUT HIS BOOK:

Live Camp Work is a practical guide full of information we obtained throughout our RV travel adventure. We learned early on, that securing reliable income was the biggest challenge for RVing…


Book cover of Take Risks

Alyssa Padgett Author Of A Beginner's Guide to Living in an RV

From my list on living in a RV for a beginner.

Why am I passionate about this?

In 2014, Alyssa Padgett convinced her husband Heath to take her to all 50 states for their honeymoon. Somehow he tricked her into doing it all in an RV. They’ve lived and traveled in an RV ever since. With her husband, Alyssa runs The RV Entrepreneur Podcast, a resource for anyone who wants to run a business while RVing.

Alyssa's book list on living in a RV for a beginner

Alyssa Padgett Why did Alyssa love this book?

Jumping into full-time travel in an RV is daunting. Joe and his wife Kait quit their high-paying jobs, sold their house, and set off to see the world. In his book, Joe covers the whole transition from normal life to becoming a digital nomad, all following the mantra his father passed down to him: take risks.

By Joe Russo,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Take Risks as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

What if you could walk away from the pressures and stresses of corporate life, and live outside of the routines and restrictions? What if you could choose where you live on a daily basis, have a beach view on Monday and a view of the mountains on Friday? What if, instead of trading your days and weeks and years for a life deferred, you just went and lived that life right now?These were the questions Joe and Kait Russo asked themselves as they faced endless corporate meetings, inconvenient business trips, and the crushing stress of ‘making it.’ It all changed…


Book cover of Growing Up Roadschooled: Stories, Lyrics, & Lessons Learned From Full-Time RVing & Life After Roadschooling

Alyssa Padgett Author Of A Beginner's Guide to Living in an RV

From my list on living in a RV for a beginner.

Why am I passionate about this?

In 2014, Alyssa Padgett convinced her husband Heath to take her to all 50 states for their honeymoon. Somehow he tricked her into doing it all in an RV. They’ve lived and traveled in an RV ever since. With her husband, Alyssa runs The RV Entrepreneur Podcast, a resource for anyone who wants to run a business while RVing.

Alyssa's book list on living in a RV for a beginner

Alyssa Padgett Why did Alyssa love this book?

With so many families working and schooling remotely, there’s been a huge influx of teens and kids RVing for extended periods of time. Kelsey was roadschooled from ages 12-17 and shares the highs and lows of life on the road as a teenager. (It also makes a great read for parents wondering if full-time RV life is worth it for their kids!)

By Kelsey Henry,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Growing Up Roadschooled as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of Heroes of the Frontier

Céline Keating Author Of The Stark Beauty of Last Things

From my list on immersing yourself in nature.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve loved nature and being outdoors since childhood, when I would escape our apartment complex by berry-picking in a park or sneaking onto the lush grounds of a local mental hospital. I grew up in Queens, New York, at a time of rapid development, and mourned as trees were felled for housing. I became an avid hiker, canoeist, and gardener as an adult, and serve on the board of an environmental organization in Montauk, Long Island. What we lose when we lose our connection to nature, saving our last wild places, and leaving a sustainable world to the next generation are key themes in my forthcoming novel--and personal motivation.

Céline's book list on immersing yourself in nature

Céline Keating Why did Céline love this book?

I love camping out in the wild, so for me reading this novel was a vicarious extended vacation.

The novel centers on a woman who escapes to Alaska with her two children and makes her way across the state in a beat-up rented recreational vehicle they call the Chateau. The fantastically flawed and appealing Josie and her two children are all wonderfully drawn. Anyone who has ever gone camping will get a kick out of all the details of life in this wreck on wheels.

The novel is not just laugh-out-loud funny; it’s also profound and deeply felt. I also wouldn’t have expected a novel that makes a compelling argument that we need to address climate change to be set in Alaska, where there’s so much untrammeled wilderness. But this novel taught me that in fact, the effects of climate change are actually more harsh closer to the poles.

Heroes…

By Dave Eggers,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Heroes of the Frontier as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE NEW YORK TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER

'The mirror image of Eggers's brilliantly dystopian The Circle... [A] state of the nation novel, cleansing the spirit and lifting the heart' Guardian

A hilarious and heart-warming misadventure through modern America: it's time for the family vacation...

Josie's life is falling apart - lawsuits raining down, her business down the drain and a feckless husband long gone - so she gathers up her two kids and lights out for the wilderness. The Alaskan wilderness, to be specific.

This is a story about the trip of a lifetime. It involves one battered old RV,…


Book cover of Dogtripping: 25 Rescues, 11 Volunteers, and 3 RVs on Our Canine Cross-Country Adventure

Laura T. Coffey Author Of My Old Dog: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts

From my list on people who love sweet old dogs.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a dog nut who loves reflecting on the powerful life lessons we can learn as we watch our furry best friends age happily and gratefully by our sides. I’ve also been working as a journalist for more than 30 years now — so that makes me one of the oldest dogs in my own newsroom. I’m a senior writer and editor for the website of NBC’s TODAY show, and the My Old Dog book stemmed from a viral TODAY.com story I wrote about photographer Lori Fusaro’s efforts to change people’s perceptions of older shelter animals. Writing that story was one of the best things that ever happened to me!

Laura's book list on people who love sweet old dogs

Laura T. Coffey Why did Laura love this book?

When photographer Lori Fusaro and I were traveling around the country working on our book together, we made a point of hightailing it to Maine so we could visit the idyllic retirement oasis created by author David Rosenfelt and his wife Debbie Myers for themselves and more than 20 large, geriatric rescue dogs. Rosenfelt’s book Dogtripping chronicles the couple’s cross-country retirement move from California to Maine with all those aging dogs in three RVs with the help of volunteers who were fans of Rosenfelt’s mystery novels. It’s a HOOT! You can watch a Facebook Live video of Rosenfelt discussing his Dogtripping book with me here at an event sponsored by The Grey Muzzle Organization, one of my favorite charities that helps senior dogs in need.

By David Rosenfelt,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Dogtripping as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

David Rosenfelt's Dogtripping is moving and funny account of a cross-country move from California to Maine, and the beginnings of a dog rescue foundation

When mystery writer David Rosenfelt and his family moved from Southern California to Maine, he thought he had prepared for everything. They had mapped the route, brought three GPSs for backup, as well as refrigerators full of food, and stoves and microwaves on which to cook them. But traveling with twenty-five dogs turned out to be a bigger ordeal than he anticipated, despite the RVs, the extra kibble, volunteers (including a few readers), and camping equipment.…


Book cover of June Bug

Sarah Loudin Thomas Author Of The Finder of Forgotten Things

From my list on making you feel like you’re in Almost Heaven, WV.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a seventh-generation West Virginian. My husband and I own the farm that’s been in my family since before the Civil War. My Appalachian roots are sunk deep, so when it comes to “writing what you know,” this is it! I was baptized in stories by my father who transformed my ancestors and my history into a living, breathing cast of characters I longed to meet. So, I began to write their stories in the guise of novels about made-up people. My seven novels (and two novellas) are love letters to the place that shaped me. 

Sarah's book list on making you feel like you’re in Almost Heaven, WV

Sarah Loudin Thomas Why did Sarah love this book?

I can just imagine Chris Fabry saying, “Hey, let’s set a retelling of Les Miserable in West Virginia!” Which is exactly what he does in June Bug, resulting in a story that’s just as wonderful and heart-rending as its inspiration. June Bug is traveling the country with her father in an RV. Then, one day, she sees her own face on a poster for missing children. What if her father isn’t her father? Well worth picking up a copy to find out!

By Chris Fabry,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked June Bug as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From the best-selling author of War Room comes a Christy Award finalist, now a Lifetime original movie called Child of Grace.
“I believed everything my daddy told me until I walked into Wal-Mart and saw my picture on a little poster . . .” For as long as she can remember, June Bug and her father have traveled the back roads of the country in their beat-up RV, spending many nights parked at Wal-Mart. One morning, as she walks past the greeter at the front of the store, her eyes are drawn to the pictures of missing children, where she…


Book cover of Jed Had to Die

Clair McIntyre Author Of Predator of Prey

From my list on for character bonds.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have a passion for character bonds which come from my day-to-day “normal” life. Outside of being a writer, I’ve been working at one of our city’s busiest hospitals for the past 7 years as a communications operator. Every day, I interact with people who are facing challenges, struggling, and in need of help. With that being said, I also interact with people who are supportive, grateful and overall happy. I find myself drawn to how people come together in both the good and the bad times. In my opinion, you need to be able to relate to the characters in order for the story to become a success. 

Clair's book list on for character bonds

Clair McIntyre Why did Clair love this book?

I loved this story for many reasons. The first thing that caught my attention was having a strong female lead. Her no-nonsense character was out of this world. She was relatable in many ways, especially with her black sheep antics. She had me caught up in some hilarious moments that had me in stitches. 

The second thing was the murder mystery. This had me hooked right off the bat, wanting to know who the killer was. That really kept me intrigued throughout, and I couldn’t wait to see how it would all play out. Although I was upset to have finished this wonderful story, I was quite thrilled with how it ended. 

By Tara Sivec,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Jed Had to Die as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The happiest day of Payton Lambert's life was the day she graduated high school and watched Bald Knob, Kentucky get smaller and smaller in her rearview mirror. She wanted more for her life than a tiny town where everyone knows your business and you can’t find a decent cup of coffee for at least forty miles. Twelve years later, an unexpected phone call in the middle of the night has her packing up her life in Chicago and racing back home to the one person she ever regretted leaving behind.Upon her return, she sees that Leo Hudson, the scrawny boy…


Book cover of Proving Ground

Mary Martinez Author Of Disappear

From my list on thriller books with edge of your seat suspense.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m passionate about any suspense or thriller book. Even better, if I can’t figure out the ending, I love it when I believe I have the killer or bad guy figured out, and I’m wrong. I have read all of the books I recommended. They were page-turners and kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved reading every single one.

Mary's book list on thriller books with edge of your seat suspense

Mary Martinez Why did Mary love this book?

Stanalei Fletcher has a way of making damaged characters likeable and having the reader applaud as they grow. I love reading her books. This is the first of a series, and believe me, I was hooked after I finished it. Caitlin has been trying to forget Mac for two years. Now, they find themselves following a lead on a plot to steal deadly pathogens from a nearby biolab. 

I loved the dangerous situations they ran into and how they worked together to escape a raging fire in time to stop the terrorists. This is one of my go-to authors because of the security aspect. Northstar Security agents work independently, hired by the private sector, to recover stolen items, technology, or kidnappings. I highly recommend it!

By Stanalei Fletcher,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Proving Ground as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Screw-ups don’t get second chances. That’s what Caitlin Malone believes when she returns to Oregon after failing her first Northstar Security assignment. When she inadvertently stumbles across a plot to steal deadly pathogens from the bio-lab near her hometown, she sees a chance at redemption. USDA Forest Ranger, John ‘Mac’ MacAlistair, doesn’t want to babysit the motorcycle club holding their annual rally in his national forest. To make matters worse, Caitlin is attending the rally with Mac’s estranged uncle. Having her home again brings up feelings that are better left buried. It’s early September. Any spark will send the dry…


Book cover of Wildfire

Estelle Pettersen Author Of Rainbow Desire

From my list on romance with a thrilling plot.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a big fan of romance books with thrilling plots. It’s partly how I remember the stories years later. When I wrote Flowers for Kate in the Rainbow Desire anthology, it started as a pure romance, but I added a supernatural thrill. One reader admitted checking over her shoulder in case a spectral being was there while reading the story. I love writing stories with twists and turns, and surprising readers. Maybe it comes from my childhood days of being a Scooby-Doo fan—I loved the thrill of guessing the mysteries behind each character and the villain being unmasked. I’m an ex-journalist who has published romance stories from erotic to sweet.

Estelle's book list on romance with a thrilling plot

Estelle Pettersen Why did Estelle love this book?

Wildfire starts with the protagonist Stephanie Fournier working as an assistant in a boring 9 to 5 job. Yet, this book is anything but boring. Things heat up very fast when gorgeous CEO Robert Quinlan notices her, and the two become passionate. There’s a catch…she’s a virgin. Will his sudden disinterest in Stephanie mean the end of a romance? Or, can experts be seduced by amateurs? And, there is trouble brewing when another woman’s jealousy bubbles over Quinlan. Wildfire is book one in the Smoke Chaser series. It’s packed with great dialogue, a ruthless female antagonist who drops nasty surprises in Stephanie’s path, and a fiery romance that honors the story’s title. 

By Annabel Allan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Wildfire as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Stephanie Fournier is an assistant at a law firm in Toronto, Ontario. Her boring 9 to 5 starts to heat up when Robert Quinlan, the gorgeous CEO of the company, takes a special interest in her. At first she responds to his obvious interest with glee... and then he finds out she's a virgin.

His sudden disinterest is not only embarrassing, but awkward around the workplace, especially with an undeniable heat still present between them. Stephanie sets out to prove she's unshaken, only to entice him back into her thrall. But can an amateur really win over an expert in…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in RVs, wildfires, and tropical cyclones?

RVs 8 books
Wildfires 29 books