Top 11 Caribbean-Inspired Books To Get You Into Holiday Mood

Let's find the perfect Caribbean book in 2025

Planning a trip to the Caribbean? Or just wish you were? Whether you're packing for a tropical escape or bringing the island vibes to your own backyard, a good book can transport you straight to sun-soaked beaches, lush jungles, and breezy verandas.

Here are the top Caribbean books to read in 2025 when you want to feel like you're on vacation:

1. How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House

Author: Cherie Jones

Published: 2021

Reviews: 4.1 (3887)

Set in: Barbados

Story: This gripping novel by Barbadian author Cherie Jones offers a raw, complex look at life beyond the beach resorts. It follows the intertwined lives of women navigating violence, class struggle, and survival in a beautiful but brutal coastal town. With its vivid setting and strong voice, it’s one of the most powerful recent entries in Caribbean literature — not a light read, but an essential one.

Buy here: Hard copy • Digital version • Audio book

2. Sweethand

Author: N.G. Peltier

Published: 2021

Reviews: 

Set in: Trinidad

Story: If you're craving something fun and romantic with an island vibe, this Trinidad-set rom-com hits the spot. A spirited baker clashes (and eventually sparks) with a smooth-talking music producer in this enemies-to-lovers tale full of Caribbean food, music, and family drama. It’s one of the most delightful Caribbean romance novels around — ideal for beachside escapism.

Buy here: Hard copy • Digital version • Audio book

3. The Mermaid of Black Conch

Author: Monique Roffey

Published: 2020

Reviews: 

Set in: A fictional Caribbean island

Story: A mesmerizing blend of myth, love, and modern Caribbean life, this award-winning novel tells the story of a cursed mermaid caught by fishermen and the quiet man who tries to save her. With lush language and a deep sense of place, it’s a moving reflection on femininity, loneliness, and freedom. Few novels about the Caribbean manage to feel both ancient and contemporary at once, but this one absolutely does.

Buy here: Hard copy • Digital version • Audio book

4. Island Beneath the Sea

Author: Isabel Allende

Published: 2010

Reviews: 

Set in: Haiti and Cuba

Story: This sweeping historical novel follows a young enslaved woman across the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) and later to Cuba, as she fights for her freedom and identity. Rich with historical detail and emotional depth, it offers a powerful look at colonial Caribbean life. If you’re interested in the region’s history and want an immersive story, this is one of the best books about the Caribbean you’ll find.

Buy here: Hard copy • Digital version • Audio book

5. Wide Sargasso Sea

Author: Jean Rhys

Published: 1966

Reviews: 

Set in: Jamaica and Dominica

Story: This literary classic reimagines the backstory of Bertha Mason, the “madwoman in the attic” from Jane Eyre, through the lens of postcolonial Caribbean identity. The story unfolds in a Jamaica still grappling with the aftermath of slavery, blending gothic tension with lyrical beauty. Jean Rhys is one of the most famous Caribbean writers, and this novel is a cornerstone of 20th-century Caribbean fiction.

Buy here: Hard copy • Digital version • Audio book

6. Augustown

Author: Kei Miller

Published: 2016

Reviews: 

Set in: Jamaica

Story: Inspired by real events in Jamaican history, this short novel uses magical realism and folklore to explore a small community on the brink of transformation. It’s poetic, political, and packed with personality. Caribbean authors like Miller are redefining contemporary literature, and Augustown is a brilliant example of storytelling rooted deeply in place and culture.

Buy here: Hard copy • Digital version • Audio book

7. Island Affair

Author: Priscilla Oliveras

Published: 2020

Reviews: 

Set in: Key West (Cuban-Caribbean heritage)

Story: This light-hearted romance brings a Cuban-American social media influencer and a local firefighter together in a fake-dating scenario set against the sun-drenched streets of Key West. The story is sweet, sexy, and infused with Caribbean-Latin culture and warmth. It’s one of the more modern, accessible Caribbean romance novels on this list — perfect for an easy, happy read on vacation.

Buy here: Hard copy • Digital version • Audio book

8. Captain Blood

Author: Rafael Sabatini

Published: 1922

Reviews:

Set in: Jamaica and the Caribbean Sea

Story: A classic swashbuckling adventure set during the age of piracy, this novel follows a wrongly imprisoned doctor who becomes a pirate captain. Think Pirates of the Caribbean meets The Count of Monte Cristo. It’s old-school, full of action, and still one of the most entertaining Caribbean novels if you’re in the mood for sword fights and sea spray.

Buy here: Hard copy • Digital version • Audio book

9. Claire of the Sea Light

Author: Edwidge Danticat

Published: 2013

Reviews:

Set in: Haiti

Story: Told through interconnected vignettes, this beautifully written novel captures the hopes, grief, and connections in a small Haitian fishing village. Danticat, one of the most celebrated Caribbean authors, weaves together a haunting portrait of life on the margins with quiet power and grace. It’s not flashy, but it stays with you.

Buy here: Hard copy • Digital version • Audio book

10. The White Woman on the Green Bicycle

Author: Monique Roffey

Published: 2009

Reviews:

Set in: Trinidad

Story: his thought-provoking novel explores a long marriage tested by political upheaval and cultural disconnection in postcolonial Trinidad. Through both past and present timelines, it captures the beauty and tension of life as an outsider in the Caribbean. It’s literary, deeply emotional, and a standout among novels by Caribbean novelists.

10+1 Treasure Island

Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

Published: 1883

Reviews:

Set in: Caribbean Sea

Story: An absolute classic adventure novel that defined how the world imagines the Caribbean: palm-fringed islands, buried gold, rum-soaked pirates, and maps marked with X. Jim Hawkins’ journey from quiet innkeeper’s son to swashbuckling hero is full of unforgettable characters like Long John Silver and dramatic sea escapades. For many readers, Treasure Island was their first literary voyage to the Caribbean — and it's still one of the best books about the region if you're craving high-seas excitement.

Caribbean book recommendation by genre

Whether you’re into romance, thrillers, history, or kid-friendly reads, the Caribbean offers a rich setting for every kind of story. Below are curated picks across popular genres to help you find the perfect book for your next escape — or blog post idea.

Adventure books set in the Caribbean

If you’re drawn to adventure books set in the Caribbean—think pirates, treasure hunts, and stormy seas—these tales pack in all the action and atmosphere.

1. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
   A timeless pirate classic where buried treasure, mutiny, and rum-fueled scheming unfold on a mysterious Caribbean island.
2. Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini
   An innocent man turned swashbuckling pirate sails through 17th-century Jamaica and the wider West Indies.
3. Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
   A thrilling tale of privateering and high-stakes plunder in the lawless waters near Port Royal.
4. The Black Corsair by Emilio Salgari
   A brooding nobleman turned pirate seeks revenge across the Spanish Main.
5. The Pirate Hunter by Richard Zacks
   A true-crime adventure following the real-life pursuit of the infamous Captain Kidd in Caribbean waters.
6. Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis
   A smart graphic novel blending island exile and Tudor drama, great for readers who love stories of survival with a twist.

Romance books set in the Caribbean

There’s something irresistible about a love story surrounded by sun, sand, and sea. These Caribbean romance novels offer swoon-worthy plots with strong cultural flavor.

1. Sweethand by N.G. Peltier
   A Trinidadian baker and a music producer mix business, rivalry, and slow-burning chemistry.
2. Island Affair by Priscilla Oliveras
   A Cuban-American influencer and a firefighter fake a relationship during a week in Key West—and sparks fly.
3. A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera
   A Dominican rum heiress tries to navigate 1889 Paris—and a Scottish suitor—with flair and fire.
4. Island Queen by Vanessa Riley
   A romantic and empowering look at real-life Caribbean entrepreneur Dorothy Kirwan Thomas.
5. The Sun God’s Heir by Elliott Baker
   Epic romance meets historical fantasy in a tale of reincarnation and revenge stretching from Europe to the Caribbean.

Thrillers and mysteries in a Caribbean setting

Looking for a darker twist on paradise? These thriller books in a Caribbean setting explore secrets, crime, and justice against lush tropical backdrops.

1. The Bone Readers by Jacob Ross
   A rookie detective uncovers layers of corruption and personal loss in a fictional Caribbean town.
2. The Liming House by Fiona Lensvelt
   A psychological suspense story where an idyllic island retreat becomes anything but peaceful.
3. The Killing Bay by Chris Ould
   A UK detective’s Caribbean vacation is interrupted by murder and cross-cultural mystery.
4. Blue Monday by Nicci French
   While not fully Caribbean, parts of this international thriller explore island identity and displacement with moody precision.

Historical novels based on Caribbean events

Rich in detail and drama, these historical books explore real events that shaped the Caribbean—ideal for readers who want fiction grounded in fact.

1. Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende
   A powerful tale of slavery, freedom, and identity across Haiti and Cuba during the colonial era.
2. The Farming of Bones by Edwidge Danticat
   A heartbreaking novel about the 1937 massacre of Haitians in the Dominican Republic.
3. Island Queen by Vanessa Riley
   Based on the life of a woman who rose from enslavement to wealth in 19th-century Dominica.
4. Crossing the River by Caryl Phillips
   A poignant narrative weaving together lives touched by the Atlantic slave trade.
5. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
   A postcolonial prequel to Jane Eyre set in Jamaica and Dominica during a time of racial tension and transition.

Books about the Caribbean for kids

Introduce young readers to the islands through colorful, cultural, and often magical stories. These are the best books about the Caribbean for kids.

1. Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott
   A vibrant retelling of a classic West African-Caribbean folktale full of wit and wisdom.
2. Anna Carries Water by Olive Senior
   A gentle story about a Jamaican girl finding independence on her daily journey.
3. Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender
   Set in the U.S. Virgin Islands, this middle-grade novel explores grief, queerness, and first love.
4. Caribbean Dozen by John Agard & Grace Nichols
   A joyful collection of poems celebrating Caribbean childhood, rhythms, and language.
5. My Name Is Haiti by Haitian Project Inc.
   A bilingual picture book that introduces Haitian culture and pride to younger readers.

Bonus: Memoirs and nonfiction books about the Caribbean

For a deeper dive into the lived experience of the region, these books offer powerful perspectives from Caribbean authors.

1. Brother, I’m Dying by Edwidge Danticat
   A deeply moving memoir about family, migration, and the Haitian-American experience.
2. In the Castle of My Skin by George Lamming
   A semi-autobiographical novel exploring colonialism and coming of age in Barbados.
3. The Dragon Can’t Dance by Earl Lovelace
   A vibrant narrative capturing the spirit and politics of Carnival in Trinidad.
4. Born to Slow Horses by Kamau Brathwaite
   A hybrid of poetry and memoir examining identity, language, and postcolonial life.

Which Caribbean book will you read in 2025?

Whether you're looking for beach-ready romance, historical depth, or a swashbuckling adventure, Caribbean literature offers something for every kind of reader. These books don’t just tell great stories — they transport you to the heart of the islands. So, what will be your first page-turner of 2025?