The Dog of the North by Elizabeth McKenzie

For those of us enviables who may spend an entire languid weekend reading books, rejoice: Elizabeth McKenzie's newest is the perfect getaway. You'll love escaping the boring chaos of your own life into Penny's kaleidoscopic, open-hearted adventures, which begin in medias res on a bus departing Santa Cruz and end on the other side of the world. Actually, everyone just do yourself a favor and pop The Dog of the North on top of your stack—but be advised, this one’s hard to put down. —Chorel