Books Set in the 1970s

by Jessica Anya Blau
Setting: 1970s, Baltimore
First published 2021

Mary Jane tells the story of two very different family lifestyles and the 14-year-old girl trying to decide who she really is. Mary Jane is a quiet, book-loving girl from a traditional, conservative family in 1970s Baltimore. When she is offered a job nannying for a local doctor, her mom assumes their home is equally tidy and respectable.

However, the house is a huge mess and it's about to get crazier. The doctor has welcomed a rock star and his wife to stay at the home while he tries to get sober. Mary Jane has a lot to teach them about tidiness and schedules, and they open her eyes to a wild world outside her bubble. By the end of the summer, she has a better understanding of who she wants to be.

The Book Girls Say... Melissa loved this one from the first chapter, and immediately missed Mary Jane, Izzy, and the rest of the characters as soon as the book was over. The author hit the perfect mix of innocence and having Mary Jane's eyes opened to different ways of life. Then on her own, Mary Jane figures out how her eyes should be open in other ways.

It's everything a coming-of-age novel should be and a real gem showing both positives and negatives of suburban life in the 1970s.

by Ash Davidson
Setting: 1977, Northern California
First published 2021

This novel, by debut author Ash Davidson, transports you back to 1977 in the Northern California logging town of Klamath.

Rich Gunderson comes from a long line of loggers. For generations, his family has made their living off of the Redwood trees, but now his way of life is threatened as the National Park Service is expanding to protect tens of thousands of acres of trees. Additionally, environmentalists are protesting the logging operations on the remaining private lands, raising concerns about water contamination. In an effort to secure his family’s future, Rich secretly spends their savings on a grove of ancient Redwoods that he hopes to harvest.

Rich’s wife, Colleen, is an amateur midwife who hopes for a second child of her own. She has suffered a long string of miscarriages and has begun to see a disturbing number of birth defects and fetal deaths throughout her small community. She begins to suspect that the herbicides used by the logging company that employs her husband might be to blame.

The Book Girls Say... Angela picked this book up immediately after returning from a family vacation to the Redwoods, so she was instantly drawn to the story about the towns she had just visited. But it was the dual perspectives of this story that kept her hooked. We see the story unfold from the point of view of both Rich and Colleen, as well as a few chapters from their eight-year-old son.

In a world where people often seem increasingly unwilling to listen to opposing viewpoints, the storytelling format of this environmental novel compassionately shines a light on all the shades of gray that exist for the families and communities caught in the middle.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 6/17/22.

By Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Setting: 1973, Alabama
First Published 2022

Civil is fresh out of nursing school and has dreams of making a big difference in her post-segregation African American community. She works for the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, and she’s sent to a rural cabin during her first week on the job. When she arrives, Civil is shocked to find that her patients are children, only 11 and 13 years old.

The girls, Erica and India, are innocent and not even thinking of boys. However, because they are poor and black, those handling their benefits have requested the children be on birth control. Civil struggles with this unexpected aspect of her new career. Despite the shocking reason for meeting the girls, Civil is endeared to them and their family. However, one day when she arrives for her visit, the unthinkable has happened.

You’ll also see Civil at the end of her career, with a daughter of her own, as she tries to find peace without forgetting those she encountered along the way.

by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Setting: 1970s, Los Angeles
First published 2019

This novel chronicles the meteoric rise of a fictional, iconic 1970s rock band - The Six - and their heedlessly beautiful lead singer, Daisy Jones.

The story is told through a series of "behind the music" style interviews that will make you feel like you are right there with them in the hard-partying, 70s music scene.

As you hear from each member of the band, the story of these complex characters unfolds, ultimately revealing the mystery behind the band's infamous breakup.

The Book Girls Say... Even if you aren't normally an audiobook fan, this one is a must LISTEN. Each member of the band is read by a different narrator, which fits perfectly with the rockumentary, interview style of the novel.

MORE BOOKS LIKE DAISY JONES... If you loved Daisy Jones & The Six, we've got a list of similar books we think you'll love.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

By Julia Cooke
Setting: 1966-1975, Various Cities & Flights Around the World
First Published: 2021

In the late 60s and 70s, being a flight attendant, especially for Pan-Am was one of the most exciting and envied jobs for young women. This was especially true for the glamorous Pan Am World Airways. However, competition for the positions was fierce, with new hires facing strict physical and educational requirements. For example, you had to speak at least two languages and be under 5’9” and 140 lbs.

This non-fiction book tells the story of several stewardesses while weaving in the history of the company and the world. Among the tales, you’ll learn what it was like for Hazel Bowie, one of the few black stewardesses. The book also covers Operation Babylift, the dramatic evacuation of over 2000 children during the fall of Saigon in 1975.

by Bonnie Sue Hitchcock
Setting: 1970, Alaska
First published 2016

This YA historical fiction novel, set in Alaska, is told from the perspective of four different teenagers living in the same isolated community. They come from very different backgrounds and lead very different lives.

Their stories become unexpectedly intertwined as they deal with difficult issues. This short, but moving, novel is about family, friendship, forgiveness, and hope.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Thrity Umrigar
Setting: India, 1970s and modern-day
First published 2012

This novel is about four women who began their friendship during college in Bombay in the 1970s. Initially drawn together by their revolutionary fervor, the friends drift apart over the next 30 years as their lives take very different paths. One married an American, while another was caught in a repressive marriage forced to wear a burka.

Through their stories, the author paints a portrait of India in the 1970s and through modern day. Ultimately, the four friends are reunited when one of them falls gravely ill and requests to see her friends together one last time.

The Book Girls Say... When Angela finished this book, she couldn't stop talking about it for months. These women and their stories stick with you long after the last page!

By Dawnie Walton
Setting: Detroit & New York City, early 70s
First Published: 2021

Independent Opal can’t imagine settling into a real career. She believes she was made to be a star. Opal leans into her Afro-punk style as she tries to find her niche within rock music. When she meets another aspiring artist, British singer/songwriter Neville, the unlikely duo begins making music together for the fledgling Rivington Records.

As Opal & Nev establish themselves in the early 70s New York music scene, everything changes when a fellow band from their label brandishes a Confederate flag. Opal boldly protests, which sets off a wave of violence and unfortunate repercussions.

Decades later, in 2016, a music journalist digs deeper into the events of the 70s. Her discoveries and a nasty new allegation threaten to tear apart Opal and Nev’s planned reunion.

The Book Girls Say…In addition to being shortlisted for several historical fiction and debut novel awards, this book won an Audie award, so it should be excellent in audio form!

Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger
Setting: 1970, mission to the Moon
First published as Lost Moon in 1994

During the glory days of NASA's Apollo space program, in April of 1970, Captain Jim Lovell and two other astronauts launched America's fifth mission to the moon. But just hours into the flight of Apollo 13, an explosion rocked the ship. The astronauts began to lose oxygen and power.

This book, written by Lovell and a co-author, details the entire story that unfolded over the following days. The narrative shifts perspectives between the astronauts on the ship trying desperately to find a way home, NASA Mission Control, and Captain Lovell's family praying for his return.

by Jonathan Franzen
Setting: 1971, Chicago
First Published 2021

If you enjoy literary fiction, this first book in a new Jonathan Frazen trilogy might be a good fit. It's the story of an American family headed by Russ Hildebrandt. He's the associate pastor of a liberal suburban church but on the brink of asking his wife for a divorce. But his wife, Marion, has her own secrets and might beat him to it.

Russ and Marion aren't the only ones in the family looking for new freedoms. Their three children are each searching in their own ways, from moral absolutism to joining the counterculture.

Most of the book's action takes place on a winter day in 1971 as the family approaches moral crisis from several angles.

The Book Girls Say...This character-driven book is on the longer side at 592 pages.

Khaled Hosseini
Setting: early 1970s, Kabul, Afghanistan
First published 2003

Set against the devastating history of Afghanistan, The Kite Runner tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy, Amir, and the son of his father's servant, Hassan. The two become as close as brothers until a traumatic event begins to pull them apart and down two very different paths in life.

The Book Girls Say... Angela's in-person book club - a group that often has wildly different opinions about books - unanimously gave The Kite Runner five stars!

Heads Up: This book deals with challenging issues, including rape and public executions.

by Robin Givhan
Setting: 1973, Paris, France
First published 2015

This non-fiction book by a Pulitizer-Prize winning fashion journalist recounts an international defining moment in the history of high fashion.

On November 28, 1973, the world's social elite gathered at the Palace of Versailles for an international fashion show. The Americans at the Battle of Versailles included names you may recognize, like Anne Klein and Oscar de la Renta. They showed their work against the five French designers considered the best in the world, including Yves Saint Laurent.

Against all odds, including tiny budgets and dangerously large egos, the American energy wowed the audience. Their fearless models (ten of whom, in a groundbreaking move, were African American), dominated the runway.

By the end of the evening, the Americans had officially taken their place on the world's stage, prompting a major shift in the way race, gender, sexuality, and economics would be treated in fashion for decades to come.

Kristin Hannah
Setting: 1974, Alaska
First published 2018

Returning home from Vietnam after being held as a POW, Ernt is not the same person he was before he left. When he impulsively decides to move his family to Alaska to live off the grid, his 13-year-old daughter Leni is hopeful that it will be the fresh start the family needs for a better future.

But when the harsh reality of an Alaskan winter without proper preparation begins to set in, Leni and her mother realize there is no one to save them but themselves.

The Book Girls Say... We both loved this book despite it being a bit of a tear-jerker. It's devasting to read one account of how a soldier's return from Vietnam affected those around him. We know this fiction is very much based on reality for too many families.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein
Setting: 1974, Washington DC
First published 1974

Described by TIME Magazine as "the work that brought down a presidency and launched a thousand reporting careers," this book is widely considered one of the most influential pieces of journalism in history.

Published just months before Nixon resigned, Woodward and Bernstein's reporting on Watergate Scandal is a riveting detective story told in real-time. It was this book that introduced "Deep Throat" for the first time.

The Book Girls Say...If you're looking for a book that was written in the 1970s and are open to narrative non-fiction, this fascinating option provides endless insight into America in the 70s.

By Fiona Davis
Setting: New York, 1928 and 1974
First published 2018

For most New Yorkers, Grand Central Terminal is a masterpiece of architectural design, but for Clara and Virginia, it represents something entirely different.

For Clara, in 1928, teaching at the Grand Central School of Art in New York's crown jewel train station was the stepping stone to her future. But she and her friends will soon be blindsided by the Great Depression, which may destroy the entire art scene.

In 1974, Grand Central declined to a dangerous place full of pickpockets and drug dealers. The station is at the center of a lawsuit that will decide if the terminal should be preserved or demolished. Virginia, who has recently taken a job in the Grand Central information booth, stumbles upon an abandoned art school within the terminal and discovers a striking watercolor that opens her eyes to the elegance beneath the decay. She sets out to find the artist and finds herself drawn into the battle to save Grand Central.

The Book Girls say... We both LOVE New York City, the beauty of Grand Central Station, and art, so it's like Fiona Davis wrote this book for us. We both enjoyed the combination of history, mystery, and even a little romance. Having only ever visited the restored Grand Central Station, it was fascinating to learn about its decline and just how close it came to demolition in the 1970s.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

By Stephen King
Setting: 1979, Maine
First Published: 1974

Although Carrie was released in 1974, this horror novel is primarily set in the fictional future year 1979. Carrie is a bullied high school student with a secret - she has telekinetic powers. She's not only tortured at school, she's from an abusive religious household. Her powers are the perfect way to get revenge on those who have caused her so much pain.

If you love horror, consider reading or re-reading this 1970s classic book.

The Book Girls Say…Carrie was Stephen King's debut novel, and it launched a career that is still going strong over four decades later. If you prefer a more recently written King work, try Joyland, which is set in 1973, but was written in 2013. It's also a better choice if you want more of a mystery vs. the scarier horror genre of Carrie.

by Boo Walker
Setting: 1969-1970s, New England
First Published: 2021

While this book starts in 2019, it soon goes back to 1969 and chronologically tells the story of Annalisa’s life from 1969 to the end of the 70s. She is a passionate and talented young artist trying to find her voice as the country is affected by the Vietnam War.

Annalisa leaves her grandma and small town and moves to the thriving art scene in Portland, Maine. While her primary pursuit is art, she meets Thomas, an Ivy-league student with a much different background than her own. He up-ends her quest to become a museum artist in ways she didn’t expect. But her unexpected love may be unraveled by an unforgivable lie.

The Book Girls Say… Readers say that this coming-of-age book is both heartbreaking and uplifting. The fashion and food will transport you back in time to the Northeast of the 1970s. The author started his career as a songwriter, which becomes clear through lyrical writing and the inclusion of references to the musicians of the era.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 6/12/22.

by Colum McCann
Setting: 1974, Manhattan, NYC
First published 2009

In the late summer of 1974, New Yorkers all turned with rapt attention as a French acrobat illegally rigged a tightrope between the towers of the not-yet-finished World Trade Center and proceeded to walk, hop, dance, and run across it 1300 feet in the air.

With this event as the connection point, the author weaves together a web of stories about many vastly different characters covering a wide cross-section of New York City society as they live their separate yet intertwined lives during a time of great transition in America.

The Book Girls Say... Reviews say this historical fiction is slow to start, but well worth the effort!

by Eldonna Edwards
Setting: 1970s, Northern California
First published 2019

Twelve-year-old Clover Blue isn't sure of his birthday, who is parents are, or what his name used to be. He does know that he's happy living among the Saffron Freedom Community - the commune into which he was adopted. On the commune, everyone is family, but when Clover (urged on by his funny best friend, Harmony) begins to ask questions, his search for identity will bring upheaval to the community.

This novel will introduce you to a unique group of characters who paint a portrait of the decade. They include the commune's guru, a Grateful Dead groupie, a Vietnam deserter, a surfer, and even a midwife, just to name a few.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 6/12/22.

by Mohja Kahf
Setting: 1970s, Indiana; Syria; Philadelphia
First published 2006

Khadra's devoutly Muslim family immigrated from Syria, and she's growing up in 1970s Indiana "at the crossroads of bad polyester and Islamic dress codes."

Capturing what it's like to grow up Muslim in middle America, the fictional story follows Khadra's struggle to balance her parents' beliefs and histories with her own experiences in American culture.

By Elin Hilderbrand
Setting: 1979, Nantucket
First Published: 2020

If you read Summer of ‘69 last month, be sure to read the short novella follow-up Summer of ‘79 to see what the 70s brought to the Foley-Levin family! Elin Hilderbrand shows us what Blair, Jessie, and Kirby are up to as they return to Nantucket after the death of Exalta. Despite the short length, this story is full of 70’s cultural references.

The Book Girls Say...Because this novella is only 64 pages and was created as a limited-time offering, it’s not available as a stand-alone book from the library.

You can either purchase the Kindle version or pick up the Reunion Beach anthology, which includes Summer of ‘79 as one of the stories.

by Mary Romero
Setting: 1970s, Los Angeles, California
First published 2011

This is the true story of Olivia, who was born in LA, then lived with extended family in Mexico for a few years before returning to LA. She then lived with her mother, Carmen, a live-in maid for a wealthy family.

Olivia sleeps with her mom in the maid's room of the house but is raised alongside the other children of the house, including attending school with them. Growing up among these children of privilege, Olivia struggles with her own identity.

The Book Girls Say... Though much of the story is told in Olivia's voice, this non-fiction read has an academic/sociological bent rather than reading like a novel.

by Elizabeth Wetmore
Setting: 1976, Odessa, Texas
First published 2020

In 1976, Odessa, Texas, the next great oil boom was on the horizon. But then the town is rocked by a brutal crime against a fourteen-year-old girl in one of the oil fields. This novel explores the lasting effects of the crime on not only the girl but several of the town's women, each with their own unique backstory and circumstances.

The Book Girls Say... Melissa was concerned going into this book based on other reviews stating there were too many disconnected characters. However, after reading, she thought the author made all the proper connections between them. The links were clear as long as you didn't rush through the pages. Much of the beauty and brilliance in the book was found in single sentences peppered in to pull things together.

Melissa enjoyed each woman's individual story and loved how they intertwined. She found it to be a story of survival in terrible circumstances and how we often have to rely on others. Each character was saved by others in different ways. While she understands why the tragic nature of the book was deemed depressing by many, it also felt very representative of real life.

Celeste Ng
Setting: 1977, Ohio
First Published 2014

Lydia Lee was growing up in 1970's small-town Ohio. As the favorite daughter in a Chinese American family, her parents have high expectations that she will fulfill all the dreams they were unable to pursue.

The Lee family is torn apart when Lydia's body is found in the local lake. This historical fiction mystery examines the distinctly different impact of Lydia's death on each family member and deals with race and gender identity issues.

The Book Girls Say... Like Celeste Ng's other novel, Little Fires Everywhere, this novel mixes some mystery and literary fiction into a family drama.

by Alison Bechdel
Setting: 1970s and 80s, Pennsylvania
First published 2006

This graphic novel memoir chronicles Alison's upbringing in rural Pennsylvania, where her father is the director of the town funeral home, which Alison and her siblings call the Fun Home. As she grows up, Alison realizes that she is a lesbian, and after leaving for college she comes out to her father, only to discover that he is also gay.

Sadly, a few weeks later, her father is dead and Alison is left trying to discover the truths about her father's life.

Don't let the graphic novel style fool you into thinking this is a funny or lighthearted work. Instead, it deals with some dark and difficult issues, including violence and mental illness.

The Book Girls Say... Angela first became aware of Fun Home when it was adapted into a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. Knowing nothing more than the setting in a funeral home, she went to see the show unsure what to expect, and she was blown away. If you have the chance to see this work on stage, it's beautiful and powerful!

by Jeanette Walls
Setting: 1970s, Virginia
First published 2013

Author Jeanette Walls is well known for her memoir, The Glass Castle, and the tale of her incredible grandmother in Half Broke Horses. Unlike these two books, Silver Star is a work of fiction, although her life experiences undoubtedly influenced it.

This novel tells the story of two sisters, 12-year-old Bean (a spunky girl along the lines of Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird) and her older sister, Liz. After being abandoned by their mother in California, the sisters take a bus to a mill town in Virginia, where their widowed uncle lives alone in a decaying mansion that's been in the family for years.

The Book Girls Say... If you've read Jeanette Wall's memoir, The Glass Castle, you won't be surprised by her ability to write vividly about the struggles and triumphs of dysfunctional families. Her first foray into fiction doesn't quite live up to her memoir, but it's very well written and worthy of a read!

by Antonio Mendez and Matt Baglio
Setting: 1979, Tehran, Iran
First published 2012

Argo tells the true story of the 1979 rescue of six Americans who escaped hostage capture in Iran. They were left hiding, hoping for escape.

To get them out, CIA agent Antonio Mendez came up with an ingenious, but risky, plan. He would go undercover as a Hollywood producer scouting locations for a made-up science fiction film called "Argo." Under this guise, Mendez and his colleagues were able to successfully smuggle the six escapees out of Iran.

The Book Girls Say... If you enjoyed the Oscar-winning film Argo, this book provides more background information, including context regarding the Iranian revolution, the embassy takeover, and the Iranian hostage crisis. The audiobook is highly recommended.

by Judy Blume
Setting: 1970, New Jersey
First published 1970

Published in 1970, this young adult novel broke all the rules by talking to pre-teen girls about sex and religion without being prim or scolding. It's been read by generation after generation, despite being a commonly banned book.

Margaret is almost twelve and just moved from New York City to New Jersey. She's relieved to have made new friends and even be included in the secret club where they can talk about boys, bras, and periods. However, the other girls are confused by her lack of structured religion.

The Book Girls Say... If you somehow missed reading this book in your younger years, now might be the time to pick it up. Or if like Angela, you read it several decades ago, but you now have kids approaching Margaret's age, this book could serve as a good reminder of what it's like to be young with so many questions and confusing emotions.

By Simone St. James
Setting: Oregon, 1977 & 2017
First Published 2022

A small town in Oregon was shocked in 1977 when two seemingly random men murdered with the same gun. The killer left strange notes, leading the town to believe that the killer was a rich, eccentric 23-year-old woman, Beth. After being acquitted of the murders, she became reclusive, tucked away in the isolation of her mansion.

Forty years later, in 2017, receptionist Shea runs a true-crime website at night. When she has a chance encounter with now 63-year-old Beth, she’s thrilled when Beth agrees to an interview. The duo begins meeting regularly at Beth’s mansion, which is not a comforting place. Shea swears items move on their own, and other strange things also happen. Although Beth is highly charming, Shea can’t help but wonder if she’s befriending a murderer.

The Book Girls Say…If you prefer single timelines or dual chronological timelines, skip this one. The storyline alternates between the present and Beth’s life in the 70s, leading up to and including her arrest and trial. However, her past isn’t always revealed to the reader in order.

Because so much of the story is about Shea’s present-day experiences, keep in mind it won’t be as 70s-heavy as others. However, this would be a great beach read if you’re looking for a page-turner on vacation that still meets the challenge.