Discover new books on Goodreads

See if your friends have read any of Raluca Barbu (Marchis)'s books

460 ratings | 36 reviews | avg rating:3.85

Raluca’s Year In Books

Raluca’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Raluca’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Raluca’s 2025 Year in Books

Raluca Barbu (Marchis)’s Followers (23)

Raluca’s Bookshelves

to-read (225)
currently-reading (2)
read (473)
did-not-finish (3)
wrote (0)

Raluca’s Friends (111)

Silvia Chindea

19 books | 303 friends

Nikki

1,654 books | 129 friends

Valentin Derevlean

2,063 books | 473 friends

Liviana Tane

617 books | 864 friends

Zabrina

14,116 books | 11 friends

Vlad Oprisor

76 books | 118 friends

Carmen Roman

330 books | 20 friends

Wendy T

681 books | 17 friends

More friends…

2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

Raluca (Marchis) has read 26 of 30 books.

87%

Raluca Barbu (Marchis)

Goodreads Author

Born

in Pitesti, Romania

Website

https://ralucabarbu.ro/

Genre

Travel, Fiction, Nonfiction

Member Since

May 2013

edit data

Raluca Barbu (formerly Marchiș) is a published author in Romania who relocated to the United States in 2019. She now lives with her daughter and husband in Illinois. Apart from writing, she has worked for over fifteen years in sales, public relations, and marketing for some of Romania's most influential companies. She currently works as an Adult Programming Specialist for an area public library in the Northwestern suburbs of Chicago.

Books by the same author:

• Oraşul din viaţa mea (My City Within), a memoir on surviving life as a YA. Grinta Publishing House, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2007
• Corporatistul (The Corporate Man), a novel about losing and finding oneself while working for a multinational corporation. Tracus Arte Publishing House, Buc Raluca Barbu (formerly Marchiș) is a published author in Romania who relocated to the United States in 2019. She now lives with her daughter and husband in Illinois. Apart from writing, she has worked for over fifteen years in sales, public relations, and marketing for some of Romania's most influential companies. She currently works as an Adult Programming Specialist for an area public library in the Northwestern suburbs of Chicago.

Books by the same author:

• Oraşul din viaţa mea (My City Within), a memoir on surviving life as a YA. Grinta Publishing House, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2007
• Corporatistul (The Corporate Man), a novel about losing and finding oneself while working for a multinational corporation. Tracus Arte Publishing House, Bucharest, Romania, 2012
• Selfie în oglindă. Când femeia devine mamă (Selfie In the Mirror: When a Woman Becomes a Mother), a non-fiction book on motherhood. Herald Publishing House, Bucharest, Romania, 2014
She has also written for LaPunkt.ro as a movie critic, for Apostrof, the Romanian Writers’ Union magazine, and Acribia, the Librarianship College paper in Cluj-Napoca, Romania (back in the 2000s). For five consecutive years, she wrote social and cultural pieces on her own platform, ralucabarbu.ro, which later became her fourth book, Terapie prin scris (Writing Therapy).

Her latest book, American Vacation. 12,000 Miles Into the Wild West is a travel book about the United States and its most iconic Western landmarks, seen through the eyes of a Romanian writer. It is in many respects one-of-a-kind because no other Romanian author has traveled and written about the American West. It provides a foreign writer’s take on the American landscape and tourism through the eyes of a former citizen of a communist country. It is a homage given both to the beauty of the American outdoors and to the way nature is respected and preserved by the authorities and visitors. What makes it special though is the travel narrative that Raluca has brought back as a literary genre. In a world of Google reviews, travel blogs, and vacation guides, she manages to shine a light on the lost art of travel memoirs.
...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Raluca Barbu (Marchis) questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Raluca Barbu (Marchis)’s books

Average rating: 3.97 · 107 ratings · 17 reviews · 6 distinct works • Similar authors

	American Vacation. 12,000 Miles Into the Wild West really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 53 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Corporatistul 4.18 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Selfie în oglindă. Când femeia devine mamă 3.88 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 2014	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Vacanță americană. 20.000 de km în vestul sălbatic 4.33 avg rating — 9 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Terapie prin scris 2.88 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2018	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Orasul din viata mea 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2007	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Raluca Barbu (Marchis)…

118 posts
Raluca Barbu (Marchis)'s Blog

The Joy of Surprising Oneself

It is the first time in my adult life that even the thought of spring exhausts me. I have written so many praises of spring, all in a pleading voice, asking it to materialize from the remnants of winter and save me from a colorless and silent world. I have always craved life manifesting around…

The post The Joy of Surprising Oneself first appeared on .

Raluca is Currently Reading

Raluca (Marchis) is currently reading

A Family Matter

by Claire Lynch (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

14 hours, 10 min ago

Raluca (Marchis) is currently reading

Yesteryear

by Caro Claire Burke

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

14 hours, 17 min ago

rss
Raluca’s Recent Updates

Raluca (Marchis) started reading A Family Matter by Claire Lynch (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Debut Novel	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14 hours, 10 min ago · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Family Matter by Claire Lynch. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Family Matter by Claire Lynch <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Raluca (Marchis) is currently reading Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14 hours, 17 min ago · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Raluca (Marchis) rated a book liked it These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 13, 2026 09:58AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Raluca (Marchis) rated a book it was amazing I Need Your Love - Is That True?: How to Stop Seeking Love, Approval, and Appreciation and Start Finding Them Instead by Byron Katie (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 04, 2026 12:22PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of I Need Your Love - Is That True? by Byron Katie. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — I Need Your Love - Is That True? by Byron Katie <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Raluca (Marchis) rated a book really liked it Whistler by Ann Patchett	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 02, 2026 03:24PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Whistler by Ann Patchett. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Whistler by Ann Patchett <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Raluca (Marchis) rated a book really liked it A Friendly Universe: Sayings to Inspire and Challenge You by Byron Katie (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 02, 2026 03:23PM · like
Raluca (Marchis) did not finish The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Fiction, Readers' Favorite Debut Novel, Readers' Favorite Audiobook	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 02, 2026 03:23PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Correspondent by Virginia Evans <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Raluca (Marchis) finished reading A Friendly Universe: Sayings to Inspire and Challenge You by Byron Katie (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 02, 2026 03:23PM · like
Raluca (Marchis) did not finish The Smallest of Joys: How to Create Your Own Magic, Let Your Best Be Enough & Find Contentment Exactly as You Are by Diane Shiffer	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 02, 2026 03:22PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Smallest of Joys by Diane Shiffer. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Smallest of Joys by Diane Shiffer <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Raluca (Marchis) is currently reading These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Fiction	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 02, 2026 03:18PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Raluca's books…

Raluca’s Quotes

“Cherish your wilderness.”
― Maxine Kumin

1594 likes

“The solution was to write my way out of the problem. That meant writing early in the morning, late at night, and on weekends. It meant carving out time, claiming it for myself. I thought: I will write this first book, and then maybe another after that. This is the thing I want to do.”
― Jami Attenberg, I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home

0 likes

“There are plenty of reasons why I write. This is just one of them. The sense that I want to own something, own my work, own my creativity, own my name. It is perhaps not the purest reason, not truest of heart, for there is some ego attached to it. But it is real.”
― Jami Attenberg, I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home

0 likes

“I'd been afraid I'd somehow been giving a life I hadn't deserved, but that's ridiculous. We don't deserve anything - not the suffering and not the golden light. It just comes.”
― Ann Patchett, These Precious Days: Essays

2 likes

“I can't imagine what kind of work it would take to actually put the past in order.”
― Ann Patchett, These Precious Days: Essays

1 likes

More of Raluca’s quotes…

Raluca’s Friend Comments

No comments have been added yet.

Raluca’s Year In Books

Raluca Barbu (Marchis)’s Followers (23)

Add New
Videos

Raluca’s Bookshelves

Raluca’s Friends (111)

2026 Reading Challenge

Raluca Barbu (Marchis)

Goodreads Author

Learn more
Ask the Author

Popular Answered Questions

Combine Editions
Raluca Barbu (Marchis)’s books

118 posts
Raluca Barbu (Marchis)'s Blog

The Joy of Surprising Oneself

Raluca is Currently Reading

rss
Raluca’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — A Family Matter by Claire Lynch

See a Problem?

Preview — Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

See a Problem?

Preview — These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean

See a Problem?

Preview — I Need Your Love - Is That True? by Byron Katie

See a Problem?

Preview — Whistler by Ann Patchett

See a Problem?

Preview — The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

See a Problem?

Preview — The Smallest of Joys by Diane Shiffer

See a Problem?

Preview — These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean

Raluca’s Quotes

recent posts
Raluca’s Groups

Raluca’s Friend Comments

Raluca Barbu (Marchis)’s Followers (23)

Raluca Barbu (Marchis)

Goodreads Author

Popular Answered Questions

rssRaluca’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — A Family Matter by Claire Lynch

See a Problem?

Preview — Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

See a Problem?

Preview — These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean

See a Problem?

Preview — I Need Your Love - Is That True? by Byron Katie

See a Problem?

Preview — Whistler by Ann Patchett

See a Problem?

Preview — The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

See a Problem?

Preview — The Smallest of Joys by Diane Shiffer

See a Problem?

Preview — These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean

rss
Raluca’s Recent Updates