As we continue our Read the World series into 2026, our first literary stop is Venezuela: a country currently in the headlines, yet still unfamiliar to many readers. With tourism limited for years, books offer a powerful way to understand its history, culture, and people. Below are 5 books from Venezuela that we think are must reads.

Why Read Books From Other Countries?

Reading books from other countries allows us to step into lives, cultures, and histories beyond our own. Shaped by different traditions, political realities, and social experiences, international literature broadens our perspective and deepens our empathy. Books from around the world help us move past stereotypes and headlines, connecting us to the shared humanity at the heart of every culture. One of our Reading Challenges this year is to read books from different countries, so let’s start with Venezuela.

Books from Venezuela offer a powerful blend of history, resilience, and imagination. Shaped by political upheaval, migration, folklore, and everyday survival, these stories give voice to experiences often overlooked in global publishing. Through novels, memoirs, and children’s books, Venezuelan writers explore identity, loss, hope, and belonging, allowing readers to understand the country beyond the headlines and connect with its people on a deeply human level.

It Would Be Night in Caracas, by Karina Sainz Borgo

This is a haunting historical thriller, depicting how quickly life can go from normal to dystopian. If you enjoy fast paced, twisty books then this is one for you.

Blue Label, by Eduardo Sánchez Rugeles

If hard hitting YA is for you, then you must pick up Blue Label. This book follows a pair of teenagers whose only goal after graduating high school, is to leave Venezuela. We follow them on a road trip (with a banging playlist!) while reflecting on the Venezuela they live in, and how it got there.

Doña Barbara, by Rómulo Gallegos

Next up, a classic! If you love the books of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, then you absolutely need to read Doña Barbara. Written in 1929, this is one of the first examples of magical realism. We follow Doña Barbara, a beautiful woman (rumoured to be a witch) facing off against her cousin in a fight for their family land.

Motherland, by Paula Ramón

We have a non fiction memoir next, showing the period where Venezuela changed from a pinnacle of democracy, to a country under a dictator. Told in a mix of lived experience, family chronicle, and journalistic essay, this book is a heart-breaking read.

The Caiman, by Maria Eugenia Manrique

Finally, a children’s picture book that is a staple in Venezuela. This is the story of a clockmaker who adopts a baby alligator, and the life they live together.

Venezuela’s story is complex, painful, magical, and deeply human. These books offer just a small window into the lives, history, and imagination of its people. From haunting dystopian fiction and coming-of-age journeys to classic magical realism and beloved children’s tales, each of these books invites us to see beyond the headlines and connect through story.

We hope one (or more!) of these books from Venezuela finds its way onto your reading list. If you’ve already read any of them, we’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you have a favourite book from your own country, please share it with the Bookinfluencers.com community. Drop us a DM or email Jenny at Jenny@bookinfluencers.com, and help us continue reading the world, one country at a time.