Get All Access for $5/mo

You Could Live on a Private Island for Free and Sell Books Barefoot for One Year The Soneva Fushi resort is looking for a new bookseller to join its team starting in October.

By Emily Rella Edited by Jessica Thomas

Sven Hansche / EyeEm | Getty Images

Dreaming of escaping to a tropical paradise while in the throes of the everyday monotony of your 9-5 isn't an uncommon fantasy.

But what if you could find a way to work while you frolicked away in one of the most luxurious places in the world?

Looks like that dream could be your reality now that a bookstore in the Maldives is looking for one book-loving traveler to run its shop for a year-long contract.

The only catch? You have to be barefoot the entire time.

The gig is offered at the Soneva Fushi resort on the remote island of Kunfunadhoo. The bookseller would be responsible for running the store and keeping track of finances and stock, among other responsibilities, because they would be the shop's only employee.

"The applicant will be there on their own, so they're pretty much running the whole thing themselves," said Alex McQueen, a spokesperson for Ultimate Library, which runs the bookstore. "The ethos of the island is no shoes, no news. They encourage guests to reconnect with the ground."

The barefoot bookseller will be treated to free accommodations and meals for the duration of their contract and have access to water sports, a gym, a spa and a private beach used solely by the island's staff.

"The ideal candidate will be a team player with a passion for books and the ability to engage with guests of all ages," the listing reads. "They will have excellent written and verbal English skills; a lively tone of voice to write an entertaining blog that captures the exhilarating life of a desert island bookseller, and the skills to host workshops and other guest experiences."

The base salary is $750 a month, but the bookseller will be permitted and encouraged to earn other income by hosting book-related events for guests, such as workshops and "personal reading consultations."

Applications must be submitted by August 8, 2022, and the employee will start work in October 2022.

Emily Rella

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Side Hustle He Started in His College Apartment Turned Into a $70,000-a-Month Income Stream — Then Earned Nearly $2 Million Last Year

Kyle Morrand and his college roommates loved playing retro video games — and the pastime would help launch his career.

Business News

A Former Corporate Lawyer Now Makes Six Figures on YouTube — Here's How She Does It

Here are the secrets to starting and growing a successful YouTube channel, according to a YouTuber with millions of subscribers.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Growing a Business

How to Determine The Ideal Length of Your Marketing Emails Your Customers Will Actually Read

Wondering how long your marketing emails should be? Here's what consumers say — so you can send them exactly what they like.

Business News

Y Combinator Helped Launch Reddit, Airbnb and Dropbox. Here's What I Learned From Its Free Startup School.

The famed startup accelerator offers a free course on building a business — and answers five pressing questions for founders.