Why Emma Roberts Always Travels with a Book—and Her Top 3 Picks for Fall

A change in season often calls for swapping out your fun summer reads for cozy autumnal novels, and nobody knows how to do this better than Hollywood actress Emma Roberts. In fact, the multifaceted superstar spent the last few months traveling through Europe to attend the summer Olympics and collaborated with Trainline to curate a list of her favorite books to read while traveling from city to city. “This collaboration allowed me to blend my passions for travel and reading, which is a dream,” she says. “Nothing beats losing yourself in a good book, especially when traveling by train, which feels so magical.”

While on the road, Roberts is sure to add some book-filled stops to her itinerary. “No matter where I'm going, I always find time to stop at a local bookstore to discover my next read,” she says. “Some of my favorites include John Sandoe in London, OFR Bookshop in Paris, La Bola in Barcelona, and Prospero’s Books in Milan.” Read on to learn more about Roberts’ overseas trip, why she always brings a book on the road, and her top picks for the perfect fall read.

Why Emma Roberts Always Travels With a Book
Roberts has loved reading for as long as she can remember. “I was home-schooled for high school because I was traveling for work,” she explains. “The habit of always having a book or two on me has never left me.” As her love for reading continued into adulthood, Roberts and her best friend, Karah Preiss, co-founded an online book club in 2017, called BELLETRIST. The club has featured over 75 books across social media platforms and has produced two TV series. “Even now, one of the first things Karah and I do when we catch up is discuss our current or recent reads and swap recommendations,” Roberts says.

Emma Roberts’ Top 3 Book for Fall
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith is a psychological thriller that follows Tom Ripley, a New York City con-man who travels to Italy while struggling to make ends meet. “I love Highsmith’s descriptions of the Italian coast, and the adventures Mr. Ripley takes after inserting himself into the world of Dickie Greenleaf is so addictive,” Roberts says.

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway is a memoir about the author’s expatriate life in Paris during the 1920s. “As we get into fall, I always seem to dive into non-fiction more,” says Roberts. “It’s a great book for inspiring creativity and the perfect read for a quick trip, like London to Paris.”

My Husband by Maud Ventura
My Husband by Maud Ventura follows a French woman with an unwavering romantic obsession for her husband; throughout the story, she questions whether he feels the same way for her, too. “It was big in France and just a great read if you’re traveling through Europe or looking for a little romantic intrigue with really smart prose,” Roberts says.