Shitty Breaks: A Celebration of Unsung Cities
- The_Secret_Bookreview
- May 9
- 2 min read
By Ben Aitken.
Ben Aitken’s Shitty Breaks is a bold and unconventional love letter to the places most travellers ignore. Forget Paris and Venice.
This book urges readers to embrace Sunderland, Chelmsford and Dunfermline with the same enthusiasm. Aitken’s writing is sharp, witty and packed with the kind of anecdotes that make you wonder why you ever bothered with the usual tourist traps in the first place.
The premise is refreshingly simple. Visit the spots often dismissed as undesirable and uncover their hidden gems. Aitken’s curiosity and open-minded approach transform cities often overlooked into playgrounds of unexpected delights. His adventures range from skiing in Sunderland to falling for Dunfermline, each story injected with humour and heart.
One of the book’s strongest qualities is its refusal to be cynical. While it would have been easy to take cheap shots at these locations, Aitken instead finds joy in their quirks. His mission is clear. No place is inherently dull. With the right mindset, anywhere can surprise you. His writing carries an energy that makes you want to pack a bag and head somewhere unexpected, just to see for yourself.
That said, Shitty Breaks might not convince everyone. Readers who prefer their city breaks to be polished and predictable may struggle with the book’s rejection of typical travel culture. But for those who love an offbeat adventure and enjoy witty observations on the absurdities of British life, this is a gem.
Aitken champions a different kind of travel. One that is less about curated Instagram moments and more about embracing reality – weird, wonderful and sometimes baffling. By the end, it is hard not to admire his enthusiasm. Shitty Breaksmakes a strong case for looking beyond the obvious and finding joy in the unexpected.
Thank you so much to Amelia at Icon Books for sending me a finished copy of this book. The book is out now and available to purchase!
Comments