Shop European Inspired Summer Vibes

By Kat La Mantia | June 3 2025 | AdultsGeneralAllBlog

A European summer evokes images of sipping a spritz on a sun-drenched beach, exploring local shops lined up along charming cobblestone streets, and discovering the rich cultural history of an exotic destination. This summer, elevate your seasonal displays with books that embody the breezy, casual, quiet luxury vibes of a Mediterranean vacation!

Featuring travel guides, transporting beach reads, and cookbooks that allow readers to savor the flavors of coastal Europe, our title list has everything you need to create an exotic, summery collection. Inspire an international escape with books like Europe by Train or You Deserve Good Gelato, and pair them with DK’s Travel Journal to hold onto every exciting memory. Embrace European al fresco dining with cookbooks like Adriatico and Claudia Roden’s Mediterranean, or drink your way across the continent with The Wine Lover’s Bucket List and Italy in a Wineglass. And beautiful photography books highlighting the unique beauty of the region like Salento Dwellings and Joie are perfect for summer table styling or serving as a keepsake after a whirlwind tour across the pond.

Explore these books and more of everything that Europe has to offer by clicking into our title list down below!

Books for a European Inspired Summer

Eat, Drink, Dress, Travel and Love La Dolce Vita
9781922417312
Delve into the art of loving and living in every moment.
$19.95 US
Nov 02, 2021
5-1/2 x 7-2/3
Hardcover
216 Pages
Smith Street Books

Recipes and stories from the hidden heart of Italy, Slovenia and Croatia
9781922417183
Explore the culture and history of Istria - a gulf shared by Italy, Croatia and Slovenia - through the kitchens and recipes of its inhabitants.
$35.00 US
Oct 19, 2021
7-1/2 x 9-4/9
Hardcover
272 Pages
Smith Street Books

Mediterranean Recipes for Gathering, Sharing, and Savoring
9780525612667
Bring the warmth of Cyprus to your kitchen with over 100 fresh and vibrant recipes inspired by the beauty and bounty of the Mediterranean.
$34.00 US
May 20, 2025
8 x 10
Hardcover
376 Pages
Appetite by Random House

Lessons on Food, Life, and Longevity from the Greek Island Where People Forget to Die: A Mediterranean Diet Cookbook
9781623362959

Part cookbook, part travelogue, Ikaria is an introduction to the food-as-life philosophy of the Greek island “blue zone” and a culinary journey through luscious recipes, gorgeous photography, and captivating stories from locals. The remote and lush island of Ikaria in the northeastern Aegean is home to one of the longest-living populations on the planet, making it a “blue zone.” Much of this has been attributed to Ikaria’s stress-free lifestyle and Mediterranean diet: daily naps, frequent sex, a little fish and meat, free-flowing wine, mindful exercise like walking and gardening, hyper-local food, strong friendships, and a deep-rooted disregard for the clock

$35.00 US
Oct 14, 2014
8 x 10
Hardcover
320 Pages
Rodale Books

Discover the Joys of Slow Travel
9780744077803
Inspirational travel book covering Europe's most incredible journeys, including routes on foot and by bike, road, rail, and water.
$30.00 US
Mar 28, 2023
8-3/8 x 10-1/16
Hardcover
256 Pages
DK Travel

New York Times Bestseller
9780593840436
In her inimitably funny and feel-good way, social media star Kacie Rose offers a refreshingly honest take on navigating a new life abroad in You Deserve Good Gelato, covering everything from travel fails and homesickness to the joy of culture shocks and the power of doing the s*** that scares you. Because life is too short not to.
$18.00 US
May 28, 2024
5-5/16 x 8-1/2
Paperback
272 Pages
DK Travel

Italy's Most Iconic Aperitivo Cocktail, with Recipes
9781607748854
A narrative-driven book on the surprising history and current revival of spritz cocktails (a wine-based drink served as an aperitif), with 50 recipes, including both historical classics and modern updates.
$19.99 US
Mar 15, 2016
5-1/2 x 8
Hardcover
176 Pages
Ten Speed Press

The Iconic Cocktails, Apéritifs, and Café Traditions of France, with 160 Recipes
9781607749295
The New York Times bestselling author of My Paris Kitchen serves up more than 160 recipes for trendy cocktails, quintessential apéritifs, café favorites, complementary snacks, and more.
$28.00 US
Mar 03, 2020
7 x 9
Hardcover
304 Pages
Ten Speed Press

9780593537473
A beautiful new edition of the beloved cookbook capturing the spirit of Julia Child's debut television series.The French Chef—which made her a star and is now featured as the centerpiece of the television series Julia—The French Chef Cookbook is a comprehensive collection of more than 300 classic French recipes.
$35.00 US
Nov 21, 2023
7 x 9
Hardcover
496 Pages
Knopf

9780241664797
The world’s bestselling pocket guides
$14.99 US
Mar 26, 2024
3-15/16 x 7-1/2
Paperback
192 Pages
DK Travel

By the People Who Call It Home
9780241721735
Have authentic experiences and see the cities through the eyes of the locals with Like a Local
$18.99 US
May 27, 2025
5-1/16 x 7
Hardcover
192 Pages
DK Travel

Celebrate the Food, Culture, Art, and Beauty of Italy
9780593968628
A celebration of everything we love about Italy, from art and architecture to food and family life.
$25.00 US
Jun 24, 2025
6-11/16 x 8-9/16
Hardcover
224 Pages
DK Travel

The Art of Embracing Light
9788891841124
Orna Tamir Schestowitz is an artist, designer and curator whose work sparks conversations on the intricate interplay between space and light.
$75.00 US
Apr 08, 2025
9-2/5 x 11-3/4
Hardcover
252 Pages
Rizzoli

Interiors & Entertaining by Antoinette Poisson
9782080421951
The founders of Antoinette Poisson take readers inside their historic townhouse on the Atlantic coast to discover a style and art of entertaining rooted in French tradition and elegance.
$60.00 US
Oct 24, 2023
9 x 12-1/4
Hardcover
256 Pages
Flammarion

An Insiders Guide to 450 Places to Visit, Sites to See, and Things to Do
9780789345813
The ultimate reference guide to the best things to do in Paris—many of which are hidden or unexpected—from the editors of the hit online magazine.
$19.95 US
Apr 01, 2025
5-9/10 x 8-1/4
Hardcover
200 Pages
Rizzoli Universe