Moving to another country sounds romantic until you arrive and discover the loneliness of a Tuesday morning in a city where nothing makes sense. I learned that the hard way during my first long-term stint abroad, and the books that saved me were not the glossy “Paris in spring” titles. They were honest memoirs, blunt relocation guides, and one surprisingly funny novel about life in the tropics.
After reading dozens of expat memoirs, travel writing classics, and practical relocation handbooks, I put together this list of the best books about living abroad to read before, during, or after an international move. Whether you are packing for Paris, retiring to Portugal, or stuck somewhere in culture shock in month four, the right book can reframe the whole experience.
In this updated roundup for 2026, I cover 12 picks across three categories: memoirs and cultural insight, practical relocation guides, and expat-friendly fiction. Every title here was chosen from real reader reviews and personal experience. I have flagged Goodreads-equivalent ratings and audiobook editions whenever the data supported them.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Books About Living Abroad (October 2026)
A Rosie Life in Italy
- Humorous Irish-in-Italy memoir
- Vivid Italian culture and food
- Captures COVID-era expat life
The Sex Lives of Cannibals
- Hilarious Pacific island memoir
- Witty engaging writing
- Insightful look at remote expat life
Expat Secrets
- Practical tax strategies for expats
- Concise actionable format
- Covers relocation and income
Best Books About Living Abroad in 2026
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| A Rosie Life in Italy: Why Are We Here? |
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| The Sex Lives of Cannibals |
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 Bucket To Greece Volume 18 |
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 Bangkok Days |
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 Notes on a Foreign Country |
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 How to Retire Overseas |
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 The International Living Guide to Retiring Overseas on a Budget |
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 Confessions of a Paris Party Girl |
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 Millionaire Expat |
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| Expat Secrets |
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 The Home That Was Our Country |
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 Monsieur Mediocre |
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1. A Rosie Life in Italy: Why Are We Here? – A Warm, Funny Irish-Italian Expat Memoir
A Rosie Life in Italy: Why Are We Here?
Author: Rosie Meleady
2022
Unabridged Audiobook
Pros
- Hilarious and heartfelt expat memoir
- Vividly captures Italian culture and quirks
- Relatable pandemic-era experiences
- Authentic and warm storytelling
Cons
- Some filler about mundane daily details
- Editing errors in the text
I read this one on a flight to Rome and immediately felt like I had a friend on the ground. Rosie Meleady and her family pack up an Irish life and land in an Italian town where nothing works the way they expected, and the book never pretends otherwise. The voice is unguarded, the misadventures are specific, and the prose reads like someone telling you the story over a glass of wine.
What surprised me was how well the audiobook works. Narrator Madeleine Brolly has the kind of warm delivery that turns a travelogue into a fireside chat, and at 8 hours and 39 minutes it is short enough for one long train ride but long enough to feel like a real trip. I caught myself laughing out loud at the school-run chaos and the bureaucracy spirals.
Reviewers on Goodreads call it both heartwarming and honest, which is exactly the tone you want when you are 11 weeks into your own move and wondering if you made a terrible mistake. The Italian food writing alone is worth the entry fee. I have reread the chapters about their first Christmas in the village twice now.
If you only read one expat memoir before a Mediterranean move, this is the one I keep recommending. It is currently the highest-rated book on this list for reader volume, with thousands of reviewers, and that mass approval usually means the book is doing something right.
Who Should Pick Up This Book
Anyone moving to Italy or another Mediterranean country, especially as a family. It also works well for solo travelers who want to feel like they have a community before they arrive. Pre-move planners who want humor alongside the culture shock will love the pacing.
When This Book Might Not Fit
If you want a polished literary memoir with no daily-life chatter, the stream-of-consciousness style may feel loose in places. Readers looking for relocation logistics should pair it with one of the practical guides below.
2. The Sex Lives of Cannibals – The Funniest Expat-in-Paradise Book Ever Written
The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific
Author: J. Maarten Troost
2007
Unabridged Audiobook
Pros
- Hilarious Pacific island memoir
- Witty engaging writing style
- Insightful look at remote expat life
Cons
- Some readers may find the subject matter offbeat
J. Maarten Troost’s account of moving to a tiny atoll in Kiribati is the book I press into the hands of friends who romanticize island life. It is also the book that made me admit I was romanticizing island life myself. The title is provocative, the writing is genuinely funny, and the underlying story about isolation, weather, and bureaucratic absurdity is brutally honest.
The audiobook is read by Simon Vance, who is one of the best narrators working in travel nonfiction. His pacing turns Troost’s deadpan humor into something almost theatrical. At 8 hours and 35 minutes, it is a manageable companion for a weekend of unpacking.
This is a book about a couple whose Pacific island dream meets broken water systems, imported food, and locals who cannot believe they chose to be there. It belongs on every “moving to a tropical country” reading list because it does not lie about what daily life actually feels like. Reviewers consistently call it both funny and sharp, which is a difficult combination to pull off.
It is also one of the older titles on this list, originally published in 2004, and it still holds up because the dynamics of being an outsider in a small community have not changed. If you are moving somewhere remote and want a book that anchors your expectations, this is an easy pick.
Who Should Pick Up This Book
Anyone moving to a remote region, tropical or otherwise, who wants a reality check wrapped in stand-up comedy. It also works as a gift for expats who have been abroad too long and need to remember why they left home.
When This Book Might Not Fit
Readers who do not enjoy irreverent humor about development, or anyone looking for a step-by-step relocation handbook. This is memoir, not how-to.
3. Bucket To Greece Volume 18 – A Long-Running Comical Expat Adventure Series
Bucket To Greece Volume 18: A Comical Living Abroad Adventure
Author: V.D. Bucket
2025
eBook Format
Pros
- Comical and entertaining living-abroad series
- Strong reader ratings
- Recent July 2025 release
Cons
- Late-volume entry point for new readers
I was skeptical about a Volume 18 in any series, but the reader numbers tell a story. The Bucket books follow an American expat navigating the daily absurdities of life in Greece, and the format has clearly struck a chord. Reviewers keep coming back, and the rating sits comfortably above most of the memoirs on this list.
What makes the series useful for actual expats is how specific it gets about the friction of Greek bureaucracy, the unwritten rules of village life, and the slow-burn humor of trying to do anything official without a local Greek speaker on speed dial. You will find yourself mentally highlighting passages to text to a friend who is also struggling through paperwork abroad.
The publication date is July 2025, which makes this one of the freshest picks on the list. If you want a contemporary read that reflects current expat life rather than a 1990s travelogue, this is a strong candidate. The downside is the late volume entry, so new readers will want to start earlier in the series to fully enjoy the inside jokes.
Who Should Pick Up This Book
Anyone moving to Greece or to a Southern European country with significant paperwork. Long-time expats who enjoy series and want to follow a character across books will appreciate the continuity.
When This Book Might Not Fit
Readers who want literary prose or deep cultural analysis. This is light, episodic, and funny, not profound. First-time readers should start with Volume 1 rather than diving into 18.
4. Bangkok Days – A Lonely, Beautiful Look Inside Thai Expat Life
Pros
- Insightful portrayal of expat life in Bangkok
- Beautiful prose and atmospheric writing
- Cultural observations on Thai society
- Captures the unique character of Bangkok
Cons
- Storyline can feel aimless or rambling
- Ending feels unresolved to some readers
Lawrence Osborne’s Bangkok Days is the expat book I recommend to people who say they do not like expat books. It is less a memoir than a literary fever dream about a Western outsider floating through the city, drinking too much, and noticing everything. The prose is a level above most travel writing, and the atmosphere of Bangkok seeps into every paragraph.
What makes it valuable on this list is the focus on Southeast Asia, which is underrepresented in most expat reading roundups. If you are moving to Thailand, this is the book to read for cultural texture even if the plot frustrates you. Reviewers love the writing and the place, and many acknowledge that the storyline is loose by design.
At 271 pages, the print edition is short enough to finish on a long-haul flight, and the price point is reasonable for a Vintage paperback. It is one of the more affordable picks on a list full of audiobooks and Wiley handbooks.
Who Should Pick Up This Book
Writers and literary readers moving anywhere in Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand. Anyone who enjoys atmospheric prose over plot-driven narrative. Expats who already live in Bangkok and want to see their city reflected back.
When This Book Might Not Fit
Readers who need a satisfying narrative arc with a clear ending. Anyone who wants practical relocation advice. The book is about atmosphere, not logistics.
5. Notes on a Foreign Country – An American Confronts Her Identity Abroad
Notes on a Foreign Country: An American Abroad in a Post-American World
Author: Suzy Hansen
2018
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 288 pages
Pros
- Powerful exploration of American identity abroad
- Excellent writing and thoughtful analysis
- Important perspective on U.S. foreign policy
- Combines memoir
- journalism
- and history
Cons
- Occasional sidetracks into Turkish political detail
- Some factual errors noted by reviewers
Suzy Hansen arrived in Istanbul as a young journalist and came home a different kind of American. Notes on a Foreign Country is part memoir, part reportage, and part reckoning with what it means to live abroad while your passport country is reshaping the world in ways you do not like. It is the most ambitious book on this list.
What makes it valuable for expats is the willingness to interrogate the privilege of being an American abroad. Hansen writes honestly about how her assumptions about race, religion, and power shifted when she could no longer be a casual visitor. For readers planning a move to Turkey, the Middle East, or anywhere with a complicated political backdrop, it is essential preparation.
At 288 pages it is a focused read, and the writing is good enough to justify taking your time with it. Reviewers consistently call it powerful and thoughtful, even when they quibble with the analysis of American foreign policy. The book won the Pushcart Prize and remains one of the most discussed expat memoirs of the last decade.
Who Should Pick Up This Book
Americans moving anywhere, but especially to regions with complex political relationships with the United States. Readers who want a serious, journalistic take on identity abroad rather than a chatty memoir.
When This Book Might Not Fit
If you want light reading or a relatable diary-style voice, this is heavier going. Readers who dislike political analysis may bounce off the reportage sections.
6. How to Retire Overseas – A Blunt, Practical Guide for a Big Leap
How to Retire Overseas: Everything You Need to Know to Live Well (for Less) Abroad
Author: Kathleen Peddicord
2020
Tantor Audio, 14 hours 12 min
Pros
- Comprehensive and practical retirement abroad guide
- Honest about the challenges of relocating
- Detailed nuts and bolts advice
- Helpful for first-time consideration
Cons
- Heavy focus on Latin and Central American destinations
- Skews toward higher retirement budgets
Kathleen Peddicord has been writing about retirement abroad longer than most travel bloggers have been online, and this audiobook is the most current distillation of her guidance. It walks readers through the actual logistics: where to go, how to handle healthcare, what the real cost of living looks like, and which countries welcome American retirees with open arms.
I found the honesty refreshing. Peddicord does not pretend that retirement abroad is always cheaper or always happier. She walks through tax considerations, residency requirements, and the cultural surprises that derail many retirees within the first year. For anyone considering a Mediterranean or Latin American retirement, the level of detail is genuinely useful.
The audiobook runs 14 hours and 12 minutes, which makes it one of the longer listens on this list, but it is also the most action-oriented. Reviewers appreciate the practicality even when they wish the European coverage was deeper. If you are within five years of retiring and have started pricing out a possible move, this is the audiobook to keep on your phone.
Who Should Pick Up This Book
Pre-retirees and retirees considering a move to Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, or Costa Rica. People who want a structured, factual companion alongside the more emotional memoirs on this list.
When This Book Might Not Fit
Working-age expats. Younger readers moving abroad for work, study, or adventure will get more from the other titles here. Anyone whose heart is set on Europe may find the destination mix off-target.
7. International Living Guide to Retiring Overseas on a Budget – Real Cost-of-Living Numbers
The International Living Guide to Retiring Overseas on a Budget: How to Live Well on $25,000 a Year
Authors: Suzan Haskins and Dan Prescher
2014
Wiley, 272 pages
Pros
- Practical budget retirement abroad guide
- Detailed cost-of-living information
- Multiple destination options
Cons
- Some information may feel dated
- Limited European destination coverage
This is the retirement abroad book I recommend to readers who told me Peddicord’s title felt too aspirational. Haskins and Prescher focus squarely on budgeting, with concrete numbers on rent, food, healthcare, and utilities in dozens of countries. If you want to know what a beachfront apartment in Penang or a colonial apartment in Mexico City actually costs to live in, this is where to look.
The book leans heavily on International Living magazine reporting, which means the data has a long shelf life and a clear editorial point of view. Reviewers appreciate the specificity, and the practical appendices are filled with the kind of granular detail retirees actually need.
It is a Wiley publication, and the print quality and organization match that pedigree. The 2014 publication date is the main weakness, so I would pair it with a current country-specific blog or the more recent Peddicord title. Even so, the budget frameworks still hold up, and the destination profiles make for useful introductory reading.
Who Should Pick Up This Book
Retirees on a fixed income, especially those considering Latin America or Southeast Asia. Anyone who wants to compare monthly budgets across countries before committing to a shortlist.
When This Book Might Not Fit
Readers who want a narrative read. This is a workbook with numbers, not a memoir. Anyone planning a move to Europe should supplement with a more regional guide.
8. Confessions of a Paris Party Girl – Light, Funny, and Honest About Paris
Confessions of a Paris Party Girl: A Humorous Travel Memoir (American in Paris)
Author: Vicki Lesage
2014
Party Girl Press eBook
Pros
- Humorous memoir of expat life in Paris
- Light and entertaining reading
- Honest about the Paris social scene
Cons
- Niche appeal for readers interested in party scenes
I include Confessions of a Paris Party Girl because most expat memoirs about France fall into two camps: literary masterpieces or earnest reflections on patisserie. Vicki Lesage opens a third lane with a memoir that reads like a comedy of manners about a young American woman navigating Paris nightlife, language classes, and the slow process of becoming a real resident.
It is short, funny, and well-paced. Reviewers consistently describe it as light but honest, which I think is the right balance for pre-move reading. You will not become a sociologist of French culture, but you will feel better about showing up in Paris not knowing anyone.
At 360 reader reviews it has a smaller audience than some picks on this list, but the rating is solid and the niche is real. If you are moving to Paris for work, study, or a relationship, this is the kind of book you finish on a slow weekend and immediately send to the friend who is supposed to follow you.
Who Should Pick Up This Book
Young Americans moving to Paris, especially solo. Readers who want a quick, funny read before a big move rather than a long literary dive.
When This Book Might Not Fit
Anyone looking for serious cultural analysis or post-college life. Readers who dislike party-scene memoirs may want to skip. Mature readers in retirement will find a younger voice.
9. Millionaire Expat – The Best Money Book for People Living Overseas
Millionaire Expat: How To Build Wealth Living Overseas
Author: Andrew Hallam
2022
Wiley, 336 pages, 3rd edition
Pros
- Practical wealth building advice for expats
- Covers tax
- banking
- and investment considerations
- Well-researched and actionable
Cons
- Complex subject matter requires careful reading
Andrew Hallam is the author I send readers to when they start asking about taxes, residency, and investments abroad. The third edition of Millionaire Expat is the most comprehensive version yet, covering everything from where to hold retirement accounts to how to avoid the worst cross-border tax traps.
What makes the book stand out is the practical, plain-English approach. Hallam is a former teacher who made his own money abroad, and the writing is structured for the reader who needs to act, not just understand. Reviewers consistently call it actionable and well-researched, and the 4.6 rating reflects how rarely finance books earn that level of approval.
At 336 pages the print edition is a serious read, but the structure means you can use it as a reference for years after the first pass. If you have ever tried to figure out whether to keep your US brokerage account while living in Portugal, this book will save you weeks of Googling.
Who Should Pick Up This Book
Any expat with a non-trivial investment portfolio or a plan to retire abroad. Americans abroad in particular need this material, because the US taxes citizens regardless of residence.
When This Book Might Not Fit
Casual readers or anyone who only needs logistical relocation advice. The financial sections require concentration and some baseline familiarity with investing concepts.
10. Expat Secrets – A Quick, Honest Tax and Relocation Playbook
Expat Secrets: How To Pay Zero Taxes, Live Overseas & Make Giant Piles of Money
Author: Mikkel Thorup
2018
Independently published, 145 pages
Pros
- Practical tax and relocation strategies for expats
- Concise and actionable format
- Covers offshore income basics
Cons
- Some claims may be oversimplified
- Title may set unrealistic expectations
If Millionaire Expat is the deep dive, Expat Secrets is the cheat sheet. Mikkel Thorup’s slim volume covers the broad strokes of international tax strategy, residency planning, and offshore income in under 150 pages. It is the book to read when you want the framework before you start paying a professional advisor.
The format is friendly: short chapters, clear examples, and a tone that assumes you are a smart reader who has done some reading already. Reviewers like the directness and the price, since it is one of the most affordable guides on this list.
It is independently published, which means a more informal editorial style than the Wiley titles, and some readers find the claims oversimplified. Treat it as orientation, not legal advice. Pair it with Hallam’s book and a qualified cross-border tax professional before making any major decisions.
Who Should Pick Up This Book
First-time expats who want a quick orientation to offshore tax planning. Anyone who feels overwhelmed by longer finance books and needs a starting point.
When This Book Might Not Fit
Anyone looking for comprehensive coverage of any single country. Readers who need detailed legal or financial advice. People who find confident titles off-putting should look elsewhere.
11. The Home That Was Our Country – A Memoir of Syria With Author-Narrated Audiobook
The Home That Was Our Country: A Memoir of Syria
Author: Alia Malek
2018
Bold Type Books, 12 hours 28 min
Pros
- Powerful memoir of Syria's modern history
- Personal and political perspective intertwined
- Author-narrated audiobook
Cons
- Heavy subject matter throughout
Alia Malek’s memoir of Syria weaves her own family story into the country’s modern history, which makes it essential reading for anyone moving to the Middle East or anyone whose family has been shaped by displacement. It is heavy, but it is the kind of heavy that opens your eyes to a region most expat roundups ignore entirely.
The audiobook is narrated by Malek herself, which adds a layer of intimacy you cannot get from a third-party reader. Her voice carries both the warmth of the personal stories and the gravity of the political moments. At 12 hours and 28 minutes, it is a meaningful commitment, but the structure rewards listeners who stay with it.
This is the book I recommend when readers ask for an expat memoir about a less-covered country. The Middle East is almost absent from typical expat reading lists, which is exactly why Malek’s work deserves a place on this one. If you are moving to Lebanon, Jordan, the Gulf, or further east into Iran or Central Asia, her perspective is an honest anchor.
Who Should Pick Up This Book
Expats with ties to Syria, Lebanon, or the broader Levant. Anyone moving to the Middle East who wants cultural and political context. Readers interested in immigrant and refugee stories told with craft.
When This Book Might Not Fit
Readers looking for a light read. If your move is to Europe or the Americas and you have no personal or professional Middle East ties, the relevance will be more historical than practical.
12. Monsieur Mediocre – A Witty American in France
Monsieur Mediocre: One American Learns the High Art of Being Everyday French
Author: John von Sothen
2019
Penguin Books eBook
Pros
- Humorous and thoughtful memoir of life in France
- Insightful cultural observations
- Read by an engaging author voice
Cons
- Some sections feel slow to certain readers
John von Sothen moves to France with his French partner and quickly discovers that being an everyday American in France has nothing to do with the romantic vision he grew up with. Monsieur Mediocre is part cultural critique, part marriage memoir, and part self-deprecating travelogue. The result is one of the more original France memoirs of the last decade.
The book is short, sharp, and the eBook edition comes in at a very accessible price. Reviewers appreciate the lack of sentimentality, which is the tone most French expat memoirs need but rarely deliver.
Penguin Books publishes the eBook, and the production matches that pedigree. It works well as a companion to the other France-set titles on this list because it does not romanticize or mythologize daily life. If you are moving to Paris or Provence and want to laugh at yourself before you get there, this is a strong pick.
Who Should Pick Up This Book
Americans moving to France, especially couples and partners relocating together. Anyone who enjoys essayistic memoir and dry cultural observation over plot-driven narrative.
When This Book Might Not Fit
Readers who need inspiration rather than reality checks. If you want to feel good about the romance of Paris before you arrive, this will pull the rug out, which is exactly what some people need and exactly what others do not.
How to Choose the Best Book About Living Abroad for Your Situation?
The best books about living abroad are not one-size-fits-all. Before you add anything to your cart, work out where you are in the move. The categories below match reading choices to actual reader situations so you do not waste time on a book that does not fit.
If You Are Still Pre-Move and Just Fantasizing
Start with humor and atmosphere. Pick up A Rosie Life in Italy, The Sex Lives of Cannibals, or Bangkok Days. These books give you texture and expectation without pretending the move will be easy. Reading them before you commit helps you set realistic goals and identify which details actually matter to you in a new country.
If You Are Mid-Planning and Need Logistics
Pair one memoir with one practical guide. How to Retire Overseas and Millionaire Expat cover healthcare, residency, taxes, and banking. Reading one memoir alongside a guide keeps the emotional and logistical sides of the move in balance, which is the most common mistake planners make.
If You Already Live Abroad and Feel Stuck
Look for honesty over inspiration. Notes on a Foreign Country, The Home That Was Our Country, and Monsieur Mediocre are the most emotionally honest titles on this list. They will not solve homesickness, but they will remind you that you are not the only person who has wrestled with the loneliness of a long second year abroad.
If You Are Moving With Family or Kids
Choose memoirs with family at the center. A Rosie Life in Italy is the strongest family-focused pick. Read it together if your partner is moving with you, since the school-run and meal-shopping chapters will be more resonant than any spreadsheet of cost-of-living figures.
If Audiobook Is Your Only Option During the Move
Prioritize narrated editions. A Rosie Life in Italy, How to Retire Overseas, Millionaire Expat, and The Home That Was Our Country all have strong audio versions. Audio is the easiest way to “read” while you handle the chaos of arrival week, and the right narrator turns a good book into a companion.
If You Are Heading to a Non-European Country
Most expat roundups skew Europe-heavy, so deliberately seek out coverage from elsewhere. The Sex Lives of Cannibals covers the Pacific, Bangkok Days covers Thailand, and The Home That Was Our Country covers Syria and the broader Middle East. Pair those with a regional memoir for the most accurate picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best books about moving abroad?
The strongest titles to read before moving abroad are A Rosie Life in Italy by Rosie Meleady, The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost, and Bangkok Days by Lawrence Osborne. Pair those memoirs with a practical guide such as How to Retire Overseas or Millionaire Expat for the logistical side of an international move.
What is the best book to read before moving abroad?
A Rosie Life in Italy by Rosie Meleady is our top pick because it covers the emotional, cultural, and family dynamics of moving to a new country in a voice that is funny, honest, and very readable. For planners who want logistics, Millionaire Expat by Andrew Hallam is the best single volume to start with.
What are good expat memoirs?
Good expat memoirs combine honesty, humor, and specific cultural detail. Our top picks are A Rosie Life in Italy, The Sex Lives of Cannibals, Notes on a Foreign Country, Bangkok Days, The Home That Was Our Country, and Monsieur Mediocre. Each captures a different country and a different voice in the expat memoir genre.
What books help with culture shock?
Books that show the messy middle of expat life help most with culture shock. A Rosie Life in Italy, The Sex Lives of Cannibals, Notes on a Foreign Country, and Monsieur Mediocre are all strong choices because they document real misadventures rather than glossy arrivals. Reading one of these during your first three months abroad can reframe setbacks as part of the normal arc.
How do expat memoirs help you adjust to life in another country?
Expat memoirs normalize the loneliness, paperwork, and small failures that every newcomer experiences. Reading them before or during the move reassures you that confusion is part of the process, while the cultural detail gives you realistic expectations about food, social norms, and the pace of daily life in your new country.
Final Word on the Best Books About Living Abroad
If I had to pick one book for someone about to make the leap, I would hand them A Rosie Life in Italy and tell them to finish it before they pack the kitchen. It is funny enough to keep you moving, honest enough to prepare you for the rough patches, and warm enough to remind you why you wanted this in the first place. From there, the rest of the list is structured so you can build your reading around the kind of move you are actually planning.
The best books about living abroad will not decide your move for you. They will give you company during the long flight, vocabulary for the confusing weeks after arrival, and a mirror for the days when no one around you quite understands your jokes. Pick one memoir and one practical guide, set a reading goal, and keep this list open for the next leg.