Two O'Clock on a Tuesday at Trevi Fountain

"An inspiring yet relatable read for anyone ready to stop settling." —Nina Ruggiero, Travel + Leisure

In this inspiring travel memoir—the antidote to the “just quit your job and ditch all your belongings to backpack the world” mentality—a young woman explores how she took calculated risks to follow her dreams: traveling and living abroad without sacrificing stability and comfort.

Like many young professionals, Helene settled into a steady 9-5, watching the clock tick by and dreaming of seeing the world one day. But after a climbing accident leaves her bedbound for months, she finds a new voice connecting with others online and starts a blog to write about her true passion: travel. When her blog takes off and a sponsored trip overseas opens her eyes, she wonders: could she lead a stable life while traveling the world?

From skinny dipping in the icy Baltic and hiking Germany’s storied Black Forest, to wrestling with visa applications and apartment hunting in medieval Heidelberg, Helene shares the realities—both the magical and the mundane—that come with chasing bold dreams and learning that home is where you make it. For those who fear change, the secret lies in taking calculated risks.

Uplifting yet candid, this travel memoir will inspire others to take chances and transform their own lives. But you don’t have to uproot your life to find meaning—just have the heart to take a leap.