As someone who craved adventure during lockdown, this anthology felt like a lifeline. I’d curl up with it after work, letting the essays transport me—whether to a quarantined cruise ship or a neon-lit Las Vegas street. The pandemic context made the stories resonate deeper; it wasn’t just about places, but why we yearn for them.

The standout? 'Mississippi: A Poem, in Days.' It gutted me. The raw honesty about Black travel experiences in America lingered long after I turned the page. Contrast that with 'Five Oceans, Five Deeps'—a pulse-pounding deep-sea quest that had me holding my breath like I was drowning alongside the diver.

Yes, some essays lean heavily into COVID fatigue (skip if you want pure escapism), but gems like 'Good Bread'—a buttery ode to French bakeries—balanced the weight. Pro tip: Read 'Senegal’s Beating Heart' with West African music playing softly—it transforms the words into a full sensory experience.

This isn’t your glossy travel magazine fluff. It’s messy, political, and occasionally uncomfortable—just like real journeys. Perfect for armchair travelers who want substance with their wanderlust.