This past November, on a crisp morning, I found myself in my ideal situation. I was sitting on a leather couch, about to start “North Woods” by Daniel Mason, as the last rays of the day’s light streamed through the windows of an apartment brimming with books. As if that was not idyllic enough, the apartment itself is housed above a bookstore that I used to spend hours browsing in as a child, located at the top of Broad Street, a storied cobblestone street in the heart of Nantucket island.
I grew up coming to the island, and as any frequent visitor will try to convince a novice, the off season is the best time to vacation on this East Coast escape. It’s chilly, moody, and the ocean air evokes all the right levels of comfort. This Thanksgiving, prior to joining my family for the festivities at our home about 10 minutes outside of town, my fiancé Daniel and I had the chance to stay in a “Literary Oasis” for one night.
Expedia Group
Apparently, Daniel and I are not the only people who think the simple act of reading in a perfectly curated setting can actually be a vacation. In Expedia Group’s 2026 travel report, “Unpack ‘26,” it was revealed that 91 percent of Expedia travelers seek getaways centered on “reading, relaxation, and quality time with loved ones.” As mentions of reading-related terms in guest reviews on Vrbo, one of the group’s flagship brands, surged 285 percent year-over-year, the company leaned in. They created the category “Readaways,” containing dozens of escapes to choose from. In Austin, Texas, a home with built-in bookshelves surrounding the entire living room; In Dunedin, New Zealand, “The Professor’s Beach House” boasts hundreds of novels and a wood-burning fireplace; and in West Sand Lake, New York, a home in the forest that looks like it came right from “The Hobbit” set.
During our stay at the “Literary Oasis,” the island windchill created a feels-like temperature of about 5 degrees Fahrenheit, which made staying indoors all day even more appealing than the already pretty perfect setting. The two-story loft has high ceilings adorned with exposed wooden beams, and a wall-to-wall bookshelf that catches the eye as soon as you enter the space. There’s also a massive kitchen island, and a long wooden dining table fit for a grand meal with friends or family—all of whom could stay the night, as there are three bedrooms in the loft, including a top-floor room with two twin beds.
I particularly enjoyed the details; an easily connectible Sonos speaker system, the cheesy, but comforting framed quotes from novelists like E. E. Cummings and Roald Dahl, and coffee mugs that depicted Moby Dick—the sperm whale from Herman Melville’s classic novel, set in the very waters of the Nantucket sound. But perhaps the best part was staying right in town for the first time in my life, blocks away from places I’ve visited hundreds of times, like Born & Bread Bakery or The Whaling Museum.
As the popularity of “readaways” suggests, my one-night getaway confirmed that you don’t always have to be thousands of miles from home for an adventure. Sometimes, the ultimate luxury is just the permission to slow down and stay awhile.
