Book lovers know that one of the greatest joys of reading is the ability to go anywhere, anytime, through the magic of the written word. For this summer, we're offering up a literary roadtrip through the U.S.A. with this list of 51 books to represent every state in the union, plus D.C. The action in each book is set in the affiliated state, so you can read your way through America, from Alabama to Wyoming. That’s if you want to travel alphabetically, which we don’t recommend. It’s fun, but not very fuel efficient.
Our curated collection covers a wide range of genres: “serious” literary fiction, but also outstanding thrillers, comic novels, science fiction, mystery, romance, historical fiction, and even a splash of horror. And we’ve noted several titles that won or were nominated for Goodreads Choice Awards.
All of these books are relatively recent, and some are on the new fiction shelves right now. While many states have older books that are more readily identified with them individually, this list represents a kind of 21st-century survey of American reading.
Scroll over the covers below to learn more about each book, and add any interesting destinations to your
Want to Read shelf! Happy reading, America (and everyone else)!