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Books Set in Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Nebraska
By: Angela & Melissa
Updated:
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we may earn a referral fee from qualifying purchases.Whether you’re participating in our Read Around the USA Challenge, or simply found your way to our website researching books set in America’s Heartland, you’ve come to the right place!
A search for “where is the heartland of America” will return many different results. Definitions focus on a range of factors from geography and agriculture to shared values. Some people use “heartland” synonymously with “the Midwest.” However, the more common definition includes a wider area, stretching north to south through the middle of the country.
The states featured on this list, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Nebraska, are located right in the center of the Heartland – the middle of the middle. Our curated recommendations strike a good balance between historical fiction, contemporary novels, and non-fiction books about the middle of the country.
You can find books set in the other Heartland states by using our alphabetical states index.
Books Set in Iowa
The Sunshine Girls
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This dual-timeline novel opens in 2019 at the funeral for BettyKay in a small town in Iowa. BettyKay’s daughters are shocked when Hollywood movie star Kitty Devereaux walks in and places something into their mother’s casket. Over the course of the weekend, BettyKay’s daughters discover a whole other side to their mother as Kitty shares stories of their lifelong friendship, which all began in 1967 at a St. Luke’s Nursing School in the fictional town of Greensboro, Iowa.
BettyKay grew up on a farm in the Midwest and risked everything to attend nursing school against her parents’ wishes. Her assigned roommate, Kitty, came to Iowa to escape her past in Atlanta but already had her sights set on Hollywood. The two, having little in common, became unlikely friends. Another new student, Jenny, completed their trio. Jenny had aspirations of becoming a doctor, but she knew that the combination of being a woman and being Black meant that the odds were stacked against her in the late 60s.
The bond these three women formed at their Iowa nursing school would carry them through the years as their lives led them in different directions – from the jungles of Vietnam to the movie sets of Hollywood.
The Book Girls Say…
Author Molly Fader chose to set The Sunshine Girls in Iowa because her mother attended nursing school in Iowa in the late 1960s. She explains that many of her mother’s stories are in the book, including details about nursing school life and working in hospitals in Iowa during that time.
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
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Bill Bryson is famous for his humorous travel writing, but in this nostalgic and hilarious memoir, he reflects on growing up in middle America in the 1950s in the middle of the baby boomer generation. Using his childhood imaginary superhero persona to tell his story, he tells his story of growing up in Des Moines, bringing his loving but eccentric family to life.
The Book Girls Say…
If you’ve never read a Bill Bryson book before, then we’ll just warn you that you’ll get both a great book and an ab workout from laughing so hard, especially when listening to Bryson’s deadpan narration.
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The Overnight Guest
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Wylie is a true crime writer who retreated to an isolated farmhouse to write her new book. She doesn’t mind being snowed in because the cozy fire and silence feel perfect. However, she doesn’t realize a storm is also brewing inside the farmhouse.
Decades earlier, two people were murdered, and a girl disappeared from the same house. As the storm rages on, Wylie is haunted by the secrets of the house, and the secrets of her past. When she discovers a small child outside in the snow, it becomes clear that the farmhouse isn’t as isolated as she thought.
The Book Girls Say…
While the cover of this book has strong winter vibes, the storyline alternates between a hot summer and a freezing winter. So if you’ve had enough of winter and are looking forward to books with warmer settings this month, this book could still fit the bill.
Author Heather Gudenkauf lives in Iowa with her husband and children, and she sets nearly all of her novels here. The Overnight Guest was a Goodreads nominee for best Mystery/Thriller of 2022.
Another of her suspense novels that we recommend is Little Mercies, which is set in Cedar City, Iowa, and centers around a children’s advocate who, in a moment of distraction on a hot summer day, discovers just how easy it is for a parent to make a terrible mistake that changes everything.
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Stars Over Clear Lake
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This split-timeline historical romance was inspired by a real-life ballroom. Lorraine spent her youth in the 1940s swept away by big bands in the Surf Ballroom. Now, it’s 2017, and she is returning to the ballroom for the first time in decades after the death of her husband.
As she steps back into the building, she’s transported back to the biggest decision of her youth. Torn between two men, did she make the right decision when choosing between personal conviction (a German from a local POW camp) and social expectations (her perfect high school boyfriend)? As she makes peace with her youth, ghosts from the past make it hard for her to know what is real.
The Book Girls Say…
While the star-crossed romance is a major theme, the book is a lot deeper than a simple love story. You’ll get a look into one of the POW camps set up in Iowa during the war, and see how the prisoners interacted with local society. Additionally, there are strong themes of the rights and expectations of young women in the 1940s.
If you enjoy the music of the 1940s, you may love the references to specific singers throughout the novel.
The author of this novel grew up in Mason City, Iowa, and attended college at the University of Northern Iowa. Her parents met at the Surf Ballroom.
Shoeless Joe
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Baseball fans and readers of magical realism may love this one! In 1979, Ray began hearing a voice at his farm outside Iowa City. “If you built it, he will come.” Ray becomes convinced that the voice is talking about Shoeless Joe Jackson and the rest of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox, who were banned from the game for life.
He’s also convinced that they will show up if he plows up his cornfield, turning it into a baseball diamond. Everyone except his wife and daughter think he’s gone mad. With the field complete, the voice changes to say, “Ease his pain.” To Ray, the voice is talking about JD Salinger, and Ray believes he must find the reclusive author (1000 miles away) and take him to a baseball game.
Part of the book takes place on the road trip with Salinger, but you’ll also get a good look at Iowa life and landmarks in Iowa City.
The Book Girls Say…
This novel was the basis for the beloved 1989 hit movie, Field of Dreams. Some say this is one of the rare cases where plot changes between the book and movie made sense. Schedule time to watch it again for your own comparisons after reading!
Books Set in Kansas
The Scent of Rain and Lightning
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Jody Linder was just a baby when her father was murdered, and her mother disappeared. Twenty-three years later, the man convicted of the murder is being released from prison and granted a new trial thanks to the work of his son, Collin.
As she tries to come to terms with the new trial for the man she has always believed was the killer, Jody begins to uncover a web of secrets and lies that threaten to upend everything she thought she knew about her family and the town she grew up in. As Jody delves deeper into the mystery surrounding the loss of her parents, she must confront long-buried traumas and the people she thought she knew.
Pickard’s writing is both suspenseful and evocative, painting a vivid picture of life in a small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business.
The Book Girls Say…
This lyrical mystery was nominated for the Macavity Award Nominee for Best Mystery Novel and the Agatha Award Nominee for Best Novel.
In Cold Blood
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This true crime classic is a gripping and chilling account of a real-life crime that occurred in 1959 in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas. The story begins with the brutal murder of the Clutter family, a wealthy and respected farming family. The four members of the family, Herb Clutter, his wife Bonnie, and their two children, Nancy and Kenyon, were found tied up and shot in their home.
The book also covers the investigation, trial, and eventual execution of the killers. Through his portrayal of the Clutter family and their killers, Capote paints a vivid picture of a society in which violence and desperation can arise from the most unexpected places.
The Book Girls Say…
Capote spent six years researching and writing In Cold Blood, conducting extensive interviews with the people involved in the case and visiting the town of Holcomb multiple times. His storytelling combines journalistic reporting with literary techniques to create a riveting and haunting narrative. Capote called In True Blood a “non-fiction novel.”
Doc
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This historical fiction novel follows the life of John Henry “Doc” Holliday, a dentist and gambler who became a legend of the American West. Set in the 1870s and 1880s, the book explores the complex character of Holliday, a man who is often portrayed as a cold-blooded killer. However, he was also known to be compassionate and intelligent.
Russell’s writing is engaging and vivid, capturing the sights, sounds, and smells of the Wild West with great detail. The book takes readers on a journey through Holliday’s life, from his early years as a dentist in Atlanta to his travels to Dodge City and Tombstone, AZ where he becomes embroiled in the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
Along the way, readers meet a cast of equally fascinating characters, from Wyatt Earp and his brothers to Holliday’s lover, the spirited Kate Harony. Russell weaves a rich tapestry of historical detail into the novel, drawing on extensive research to bring the era to life.
The Book Girls Say…
This book was a Goodreads nominee for Best Historical Fiction in 2011.
The Persian Pickle Club
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The Persian Pickle Club brings you into the lives of gossipy quilters in a Kansas farming town. While crops are suffering from the ongoing drought and the job market is just as dry, a young farmer’s wife finds her weekly respite in the quilting club.
But when a new club member stirs up a big secret, the women must unite in a new way to protect each other.
The Book Girls Say…
This book is also featured on our list of Dust Bowl Books, which takes a look at the impacts of this tumultuous time in American history and its impacts on states like Kansas.
The Persian Pickle Club takes a lighter approach to this topic, but if you’re looking for a deeper book about the impacts of the Dust Bowl on Kansas, consider The Stars of Alabama, by Sean Dietrich, which is set in both Kansas and Mobile, Alabama.
HEADS UP: This novel includes several casual racist references (including n-word) reflective of the prejudiced views of the era.
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The Good Lord Bird
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The Good Lord Bird is a unique work of historical fiction that offers a fresh and sometimes humorous perspective on the abolitionist movement and the notorious John Brown. The novel tells the story of Brown and Henry Shackleford, a young slave who is nicknamed “Onion” by Brown after he is mistaken for a girl.
Onion joins Brown’s ragtag army, which is preparing to raid the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry in 1859. Along the way, Onion witnesses the horrors of slavery and the violence of Brown’s abolition campaign firsthand. Despite its serious subject matter, the Good Lord Bird is also a coming-of-age story that follows Onion’s journey of self-discovery.
The Book Girls Say…
Readers note that the audiobook narrator is fabulous, so be sure to listen if you have a chance! There is also a Showtime TV adaption of the book, starring Ethan Hawke & Joshua Caleb Johnson.
Class Mom
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Class Mom is a light and entertaining novel about the life of a 40-something mom in a large suburb southwest of Kansas City. She also has two daughters in college, as well as a son in kindergarten.
If you’ve ever done a little eye-rolling when dealing with other parents at your child’s school, this is the book for you. Former rockstar groupie Jen is bamboozled into being the class mom for her daughter’s kindergarten class. Her emails recruiting other parent volunteers are full of the things you wish you could say, but hopefully wouldn’t.
The Book Girls Say…
This fun, irreverent book will make you laugh out loud as long as you don’t take it too seriously. If you’re not a fan of snark, sarcasm, or adult language, skip it. It’s total satire and not a deep novel, but sometimes, that’s just what we need!
If you enjoy the book, you’re in luck because it’s the first in a series of four books that follow the main character up through the years as her son goes through elementary school and on to middle school.
If you’ve ever watched Live with Kelly & Ryan (or Regis/Michael) in the mornings, the author of this book is Gelman’s wife, Laurie.
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Books Set in Kentucky
Horse
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Through the true story of a racehorse named Lexington, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks manages to weave a tale of spirit and injustice over 150 years of American history.
The book has three timelines. In 1850, you’ll meet an enslaved horse groomer, Jarrett, in Kentucky, who has a special bond with Lexington. There is also a young artist who paints images of the horse. When the Civil War erupts, the artist fights for the union and runs into the young groom and stallion again far from the track.
In 1954, a gallery owner on Martha’s Vineyard takes a special interest in a 19th-century equestrian old painting, even though the artist and provenance are unknown.
In 2019, a Smithsonian scientist from Australia and a Nigerian-American art historian unexpectedly connect through a common interest in the painting as they look for clues to the origin.
The Book Girls Say…
This story goes well beyond horse racing and art. The page-turning storytelling has detailed descriptions and depth that will stick with you long after you finish the book. Angela highly recommends the audiobook!
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The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
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The impoverished residents of Troublesome Creek struggle for nearly everything, but thanks to Roosevelt’s Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, they aren’t lacking books.
Book woman Cussy Mary Carter is not only Troublesome Creek’s own traveling library but also the last living female of the rare Blue People ancestry. But not everyone approves of Cussy’s family or the government Library Project. Cussy wants to bring the joy of books to the hill folks, but she has to confront prejudice and suspicion as old as the Appalachians.
The Book Girls Say…
The sequel, The Book Woman’s Daughter, is also set in Kentucky two decades later, in the 1950s.
JoJo Moyes also has a book titled The Giver of Stars, about an English woman who marries and moves to Kentucky, where she takes a job as a Packhorse Librarian.
Author Kim Michele Richardson was born and raised in Kentucky. She lived her first decade in a rural orphanage and spent her teen years in poverty, often enduring homelessness. She wrote about these experiences in her memoir, The Unbreakable Child (and donates all of her earnings from that book to the underserved). Kim Michele Richardson also has several other novels set in Kentucky.
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That Distant Land: The Collected Stories
Book Summary
“That Distant Land” is a collection of 23 short stories exploring the lives of various characters living in a small community in rural Kentucky. The stories are set during the 20th century and offer glimpses into the everyday struggles, joys, and sorrows of the people who live there.
The collection combines three of Wendell’s prior story collections (“The Wild Birds,” “Fidelity,” and “Watch With Me”) and also includes four never-before-collected stories as well as a map of the setting. The stories in each section are interconnected, with recurring characters and themes.
Among the characters in these stories is Hannah Coulter, who is the title character in one of Wendell Berry’s full-length novels. The novel titled Hannah Coulter is set much later, when she is 80 years old and reflecting back on her life. If you enjoy the stories in That Distant Land, Hannah Coulter would make an excellent follow-up read.
The Book Girls Say…
Author Wendell Berry is a renowned poet, author, essayist, and farmer. The New York Times called Berry the “prophet of rural America.” He was born in Henry County, Kentucky, in 1934, and he has lived on a farm near his birthplace for over 40 years. He received his BA and MA from The University of Kentucky and Lexington. His writings are very character-driven, emphasizing the lives and experiences of the individuals rather than on a complex or twisting plot.
Prodigal Summer
Book Summary
Set in southern Appalachia, Prodigal Summer has been called a Hymn to the wilderness. Set over one summer, three stories intertwine into one nature-focused tale.
Deanna Wolfe is a wildlife biologist on a mission to save a family of coyotes.
Lusa Maluf Landowski is a young, widowed scientist obsessed with insects.
Nannie Land Rawley is a 70-year-old apple grower.
Separately, they all have challenges with the land and with relationships. Before fall, you’ll see their very different stories merge into one.
The Book Girls Say…
This book takes place in the fictional town of Egg Fork in Zebulon County, both of which are in southern Appalachia near the Kentucky-Virigina border. While Goodreads lists the book’s setting as Kentucky, some reviewers assume it is Virginia. In either event, this book will provide a good look at life in the forested mountains and on the struggling small farms of southern Appalachia.
If you are looking for another literary fiction novel set in Kentucky, consider Ann Patchett’s 1992 debut novel, The Patron Saint of Liars, which centers around a home for unwed mothers in Habit, Kentucky.
Author Barbara Kingsolver was raised in eastern Kentucky between the opulent horse farms and the impoverished coal fields. She left for college and lived all around the world before later returning to the Appalachian region, where she lives on a farm.
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When in Rome
Book Summary
Amelia, aka Rae Rose, is a pop star feeling totally burnt out by years of maintaining her image for all of her adoring fans. She’s in desperate need of a break and would love to escape to Rome, as Audrey Hepburn does in her favorite film. But since she can’t discreetly get to Rome, Italy, she hops in the car and heads to Rome, Kentucky.
Noah runs his grandmother’s pie shop in Rome, and isn’t impressed when Amelia appears on his front lawn in her broken-down car. He’s the town grump, doesn’t have Wifi or a cell phone, and prioritizes privacy. But when the local B&B turns Amelia away because they don’t have any vacancies, he reluctantly agrees to let Amelia stay in his guest room.
The Book Girls Say…
This rom-com is a loose retelling of the Audrey Hepburn movie Roman Holiday, so it’s a fun treat for fans of the classic movie. It’s also a sweet closed-door book (no graphic sex scenes per reviewers).
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The Birds of Opulence
Book Summary
This novel centers around four generations of Black women in Opulence, Kentucky. Everyone in the rural town knows everyone else’s secrets,
Minnie Mae is the matriarch of the Goode-Brown family. A family plagued by inherited mental illness, trauma, and moral judgment.
As the members of the youngest generation watch their mothers and grandmothers pass away, they fear going mad and must fight to survive.
The Book Girls Say…
This historical fiction novel is both tragic and hopeful. Reviewers praise the lyrical quality of the writing and the vibrant descriptions that allow you to experience life through each character’s eyes over thirty years.
Be aware that this book deals with mental illness, self-harm, and rape.
While Opulence is a fictional town, the author was raised on her grandparent’s farm in Indian Creek, Kentucky. Her work is an homage to her Appalachian roots.
Books Set in Missouri
Book Summary
In this moving memoir, author Wade Rouse, who writes fiction under the pen name Viola Shipman, shares the story of his complicated relationship with his father. Growing up as a queer kid in a conservative Ozarks community, Wade and his father, Ted, had little in common. Wade was never the athlete his father hoped for, but his desire to connect with his father and gain his approval led Wade to learn the vocabulary of baseball and to watch the game with his dad season after season.
As an adult, he and his father rarely saw eye-to-eye, but it was always baseball that brought them back together. When his father’s health declines, Wade returns home to southwest Missouri to spend one final season with his father. Inning by inning, they move closer toward forgiveness, reconciliation, and closure.
The Book Girls Say…
This memoir is filled with the same heart and soul that comes through so clearly in his fiction writing. He shares the story of his life growing up in the Ozarks, and then returning again later in life, in a way that masterfully balances both its challenges and his deep love for the place and its people. Rouse has also published other memoirs, including one titled America’s Boy, that dives even deeper into his childhood.
Over the past year, Wade Rouse / Viola Shipman has become one of Angela and Melissa’s favorite authors. We don’t know how we didn’t discover his work sooner, but we’re very glad we have now!
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Gone Girl
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From the outside, Nick and Amy seemed to have a picture-perfect marriage. But on their fifth anniversary, Amy goes missing from their rented McMansion in the fictional town of North Carthage, along Missouri’s Mississippi River. Nick quickly becomes the prime suspect. Under the microscope of the resulting police investigation and media frenzy, it becomes apparent that their happy marriage might not have been so happy after all and that Nick – the town’s golden boy – might not be so squeaky clean.
Even as Amy’s fiercely doting parents put more pressure on him, Nick stands by his innocence. But if he didn’t do it, then where is his wife? And what’s in that gift box hidden in the back of Amy’s bedroom closet? Gone Girl combines sharp-edged wit and chilling prose to make reading this book feel like an addiction.
The Book Girls Say…
Although Angela isn’t usually drawn to domestic thrillers, she couldn’t put this book down! One of her friends described it as “dark and morally ambiguous,” and that’s the perfect summary for this psychological suspense novel. Be aware, however, that this book includes some coarse language, violence, and sexual content.
Angela usually loves audiobooks, but she wasn’t a fan of the female narrator of Gone Girl at the beginning – or maybe it was just influenced by her feelings about the female protagonist. But once she got further into the story, she enjoyed listening to it. If you’re considering the audiobook, we’d recommend listening to the sample on Amazon before committing to this format.
Author Gillian Flynn was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, and has set many of her mystery/thrillers in her home state, including Sharp Objects. The setting of Gone Girl is the fictional town of North Carthage, but Flynn has said it’s based loosely on Cape Girardeau, which was also the filming location for the movie adaptation.
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Earth’s the Right Place for Love
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Sixteen-year-old Arthur is thrilled when he becomes friends with Nola, the most alluring girl in school. Unfortunately, Nola is more romantically interested in Arthur’s older brother, Frank. However, Frank has his eye on someone else.
Outside of dreaming of the perfect girl, the boys stay busy avoiding their father, who drinks too much after returning from war. And the drinking always leads to their father fighting with Frank. When a tragedy strikes, Arthur struggles with his grief and turns to nature to help him understand how the world will go on.
Once he’s begun to understand grief, will he be able to get Nola to realize that they should be more than friends?
The Book Girls Say…
Readers say that while this book does have sad moments and grief as a theme, it’s also an incredibly sweet story and will make your eyes tear up with joy from the kindness and compassion shown by the characters.
If you’ve read and enjoyed The Story of Arthur Truluv, you’ll want to pick up this prequel, which was just released in 2023. It takes us back to Arthur’s teen years in Mason to show us how he became who he was as an older man.
The Story of Arthur Truluv is on our list of Main Characters in Their 80s in the Lifetime Challenge, and received an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars from our readers in 2022.
Country Club Murders Series
Book Summary
Summer means pool time, but during her most recent early morning swim at the country club, she swam right into her husband’s dead mistress.
It’s 1974, and Ellison is a WASP-y mom living an elite life in Kansas City. She’s not an average stay-at-home mom, though. She makes more as an artist than her husband does as a banker. He’s a stereotypical 1970s man, and not thrilled with being in financial 2nd place, so he begins an affair to soothe his ego.
Ellison finds out and plans a divorce…but not until their daughter is out of school. Of course, when the mistress turns up dead and Ellison is the only other person in the pool, she quickly becomes the prime suspect. She knows she needs to find the real killer herself.
The Book Girls Say…
The books in the cozy Country Club Murders series are set throughout different seasons.
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The Broken Heart of America: St. Louis and the Violent History of the United States
Book Summary
This non-fiction book provides an in-depth look at the history of racial dynamics in the city of St. Louis, spanning from 1764 all the way up through the 2014 uprising in Ferguson. From Indian removal and slavery, through segregation and the Civil Rights Movement, to the ongoing struggles, this book addresses events that even many people born and raised in St. Louis may not know.
While this book uses the author’s hometown of St. Louis as his case study, it also paints a portrait of two-and-half-centuries of race relations in the United States.
The Book Girls Say…
This book is on the long side, at 528 pages, and reviewers say it’s not an easy read. But if you’re interested in really diving into the topic, and you’re willing to endure the heartbreaking realities, it’s said to be an extraordinarily well-researched and well-written book that does also have hopeful moments.
If you are instead interested in learning about the history of St. Louis through the story of one of its most famous residents, consider reading the recent biography titled Chuck Berry: An American Life. Berry was born and raised in St. Louis, and maintained a home there throughout his life. The stories of his experiences in segregated St. Louis mirror the city’s complex history.
Books Set in Nebraska
As All My Fathers Were
Book Summary
Richard and Seth Barrett are very different, but together they are dedicated to running their family’s ranch on Nebraska’s Platte River. However, their mother recently passed away, and her will has some contingencies. To inherit the ranch, the sixty-something brothers must travel hundreds of miles along the Platte River by horse and canoe – just as their maternal grandfather did three generations before.
Their mother hopes that sending them on this odyssey will help them better understand and appreciate the ranch, while also allowing them to observe the harm that modern industrial farming is causing to the land, air, and water with which they’ll be entrusted.
To further complicate matters, a 90-year-old bachelor farmer wants to join the “boys” to teach them a few lessons. Then, add in a corrupt sheriff, a lawyer, and a greedy neighboring landowner. Will all these obstructions prevent the brothers from completing their trek on time?
The Book Girls Say…
Reviewers say that author Jame Misko is skilled at creating relatable characters with complex relationships. In this atmospheric novel, Nebraska’s Platte River also becomes a character that some have compared to Lonesome Dove meets Cold Mountain.
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The Bones of Paradise
Book Summary
Ten years after the battle at Wounded Knee, J. B. Bennett, a white rancher, finds Star, a young Native American woman, murdered in a remote meadow on his land. Almost immediately, he becomes the next victim.
J.B.’s father, estranged wife, and two sons come together to try and figure out what happened, but they aren’t a happy, functional family. Star’s sister also arrives and struggles to accept her sister’s death after her people have already lost so much.
Greek literature fans may identify some subtle nods to the Odyssey within this Western historical mystery.
The Book Girls Say…
This one is said to be a challenging read at times because of the horrendous ways the Lakota were treated. The other characters are also often unlikeable. However, the descriptive writing is sure to transport you directly to the Sandhills region of north-central Nebraska, and you’ll learn a lot about life for the Lakota in this era.
If you prefer classics set around this time, Willa Cather was a Nebraska novelist who wrote about the lives of pioneers and settlers in the Great Plains region of the United States. One of her most famous works, “O Pioneers!”, is a story about the Swedish-American Bergson family and their struggles to make a living in the harsh landscape of turn-of-the-century Nebraska.
Eleanor & Park
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The boy is in a black t-shirt, hiding behind headphones and his book, trying to be invisible. The girl is new to town, with crazy red hair and mismatched clothes that make her stand out. Boy meets girl. Through late-night conversations and lots of mix-tapes, they fall in love the way you only can the first time.
The Book Girls Say…
This YA novel will transport you back in time to what it was like to be a teenager falling in love for the first time. This is especially enjoyable if you were coming of age in the 1980s.
Author Rainbow Rowell was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). She lives and writes in Omaha and has set most of her novels in her hometown. If you’ve already read Eleanor & Park, consider Fangirl, a coming-of-age novel about twins who begin to drift apart and deal with challenge issues when they go off to college at UNL.
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The Meaning of Names
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By 1918, the farming community of Stuart, Nebraska, had already lost many to the Great War. Unfortunately, the losses had hardened the hearts of much of the community and allowed hatred to brew.
Gerda Vogel is an American of German descent, and amidst war and the Spanish Flu Pandemic, her family is also experiencing rising anti-German sentiments. Her neighbors demand that the local university stop teaching German, and job listings specify “no krauts need apply.” Tensions build as Gerda works to keep her family safe.
The Book Girls Say…
This book shows a heartbreaking side to American life during WWI that isn’t often covered in historical fiction.
The Love Wager
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Hallie is determined to become more of an adult after hitting rock bottom the morning after a one-night stand with a guy named Jack. She’s on the right track to her new life with a new apartment, haircut, and wardrobe. But when she logs into a dating app looking for an equally responsible new love, she only sees Jack.
They quickly agree that they aren’t right for each other but team up to help each other find love. They even schedule dates at the same locations so they can ditch bad dates for tacos together if necessary…and life throws them many opportunities for tacos.
Then, out of desperation, they agree to fake date each other for a wedding weekend. The more they act as a couple, the more natural it feels.
The Book Girls Say…
If you need a lighter read this month, look no further than this spicy rom-com.
While this 2023 release is the 2nd book in the Mr. Wrong Number series, it can be read as a stand-alone. There is some character overlap, but the main characters are different in each book.
The Magician’s Assistant
Book Summary
This novel tells the story of Sabine, the assistant and widow of a famous magician, Parsifal. After Parsifal dies, Sabine discovers that he had heirs in Nebraska. Allegedly this family was lost in a tragic accident, but it turns out they are very much alive. Seeking closure and understanding, she travels to Nebraska to meet Parsifal’s family and learn more about his past.
As Sabine spends time with Parsifal’s family, she begins to unravel the secrets of his life and comes to terms with her own grief and sense of loss. She befriends Parsifal’s mother and sister, and they bond over shared experiences and the memory of Parsifal.
The Book Girls Say…
Before you pick up this book, be aware that it is not broken down into chapters. Some readers find that this makes the story feel a bit choppy because there are no natural pauses where it makes sense to sit the book down for the day. Additionally, this book is not written in a standard style. One reader described it as like eavesdropping on someone else’s conversation.
When an author (even one as well respected as Ann Patchett) writes about a state that is not their own, we always like to read reviews from locals to ensure that they feel their state was represented accurately and without stereotypes. We were pleased to see this comment from a Nebraska reviewer: “Patchett’s version of small-town Nebraska feels like the one I grew up in, complete with complex characters, some of whom are perfectly happy to be where they are, and others who yearn to be somewhere else.” She goes on to say, “The Magician’s Assistant is a lovingly-drawn picture of a flawed family that doesn’t lean on stereotypes.”
Bonus Midwest Book Pick
A Guide to Midwestern Conversation
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
This short, illustrated guide will make you laugh out loud as you learn about the colloquialisms and sentiments of the Heartland. For example, if a Midwesterner says, “I didn’t really care for it,” that actually means they hated it beyond belief.
The author was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, right in the heart of the Midwest, giving an authentic feel to this non-fiction guide that strikes the humourous balance of being both heartwarming and self-deprecating.
The Book Girls Say…
This book covers a total of 12 midwestern states, only four of which are part of this month’s Read Around the USA challenge prompt. But since the author is from Missouri, we thought it would be a really fun, laugh-out-loud addition to the book list.
Taylor Kay Phillips is a writer, actor, and comedian who currently works for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. To quote John Oliver: “Taylor is as funny as she is Midwestern. And she is thundrously midwestern. You will enjoy this book!”
We hope you enjoyed this book list and found several books to add to your TBR (to-be-read list). If you’re choosing a book for our reading challenge, you are also welcome to read any other book that meets the challenge prompt.
If you have a suggestion for a book that you think would be a great addition to this list, please fill out this form.
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Printable Version of the Challenge Book Lists
Readers who support The Book Girls’ Guide through our Buy Me a Coffee (BMAC) membership site can access printable versions of the reading challenge book lists. As we create stand-alone book lists for the Read Around the USA Challenge throughout the year, each individual state book list will be available in a single-page printable format for our BMAC members.
We offer two membership levels. Both our BFF members and our Inner Circle members get access to the single-page printables for the year-long reading challenges. Visit our Buy Me a Coffee membership page for a full list of benefits for each level.
Our BMAC members help cover the cost of running the challenges so we can keep them free for everyone!
Book Recommendations for Other Regions of the USA
If you’re participating in our 2025 Read Around the USA Challenge and reading one book per region, you can find links to every region here. If you’re doing the 50 States Challenge and reading books from every state and territory, you can get an alphabetical index here. Throughout 2025, we’ll be expanding the regional book lists into standalone book lists for all 50 states.
