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Utah Books: The Best Books Set in the Beehive State
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 Utah, we’ve curated a diverse list of highly-rated titles about the Beehive State! If you’re looking for another state, check our comprehensive list of books set in every state.
A Few Things Utah is Known For
Geographically, Utah is known for its world-class skiing and its dry, arid red rock canyons. Its capital, Salt Lake City, is tucked right up against the towering Wasatch Mountains and is named for the Great Salt Lake – the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere.
Utah is synonymous with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members were historically referred to as Mormons, but prefer to be called Latter-day Saints. Between 1847 and 1900, Latter-day Saints journeyed across the country via wagon train and handcart to found about 500 settlements in the Utah Territory as a way to escape religious persecution. For four decades, the US Congress refused applications for Utah statehood, until the Church officially renounced the practice of polygamy (plural marriage between one man and several women) in 1890. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, in 2022, Latter-day Saints still made up approximately 65 percent of Utah’s population and held 9/10th of the seats in the state legislature. As a result, this religion has a huge influence on life in the state, as is reflected in several books on the list.
The Best Fiction Books Set in Utah
The Mountain Between Us
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Book Summary
When a blizzard strands them in Salt Lake City, two strangers agree to charter a plane to Denver. Ben is a surgeon returning home from a conference, and Ashley is a magazine writer heading to her own wedding. But when tragedy strikes, the two find themselves stranded in the unforgiving wilderness in Utah’s rugged mountains. With no food or shelter, the two will have to rely on each other if they have any hope of survival.
As days become weeks, the hope of rescue begins to dwindle. At the same time, the initial spark between Ben and Ashley evolves into more.
The Book Girls Say…
This novel is a cross between a survival story and contemporary romance (although fans of true-life survival stories may find it hard to overlook some of the “conveniences” in this fiction read).
This book was adapted into a 2017 movie of the same name. While reviewers describe the book as a “clean read,” some feel that the movie should have been rated R (rather than PG-13) due to a sex scene and strong language that are absent in the book. Overall, our readers said they didn’t like the movie nearly as much as the book, with some saying that watching the movie ruined it for them.
Root, Petal, Thorn
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Book Summary
Ivy and her husband are raising their two children in a bungalow in one of the oldest neighborhoods in Salt Lake City, tucked right at the base of the massive Wasatch Mountains. She loves everything about her quaint home, from the old porch swing to the ornate tiles and the heirloom rose bushes. Ivy believes that this home will be the place where her family enjoys their “happily ever after.” But when her husband dies unexpectedly, she’s left tackling home improvement projects alone while striving to be strong for her kids.
As she works to rebuild her home and her life, she begins uncovering clues about five of its former female owners, including a young member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who was torn between her heart and her anti-polygamist beliefs, a Greek immigrant during WWII, and a single mother in the 1960s.
The Book Girls Say…
Author Ella Joy Olsen lives in Sugar House, the same historic Salt Lake City neighborhood in which she set her debut novel. She did extensive research about life in this neighborhood throughout the 20th century, and Sugar House is very much a character in the book. Book Girl Angela spent the first decade of her childhood living in Salt Lake City (her mom grew up in Sugar House) and recognized many familiar places.
Reviewers applaud Olsen, who is not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for providing a very balanced portrayal of the religion’s beliefs that are integral to Salt Lake culture. She is also the author of another Salt Lake-based novel titled Where the Sweet Bird Sings.
Something Wilder
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Book Summary
Lily Wilder’s father was a notorious treasure hunter – a profession that drained their bank accounts and caused him to sell their beloved family ranch in Wyoming. Lily, however, has finally found a way to turn her father’s passion into something that pays the bills. She uses his hand-drawn maps to guide tourists on fake treasure hunts through the red rock canyons of southern Utah. The last thing she expects is for Leo Grady – the man she once loved – to show up on one of her tours with his crazy crew of friends.
Leo is equally surprised to see Lily, but his feelings on the matter differ from hers. While she’d like to get him lost in the wilderness and leave him there, he’d love nothing more than to reconnect with Lily and finally make things right between them.
But when the trip deep into the isolated and dangerous mazes of Canyonlands goes terribly wrong, Lily starts to question whether her father might have been right all along – maybe there really is hidden treasure out there. But is it worth risking their lives for?
The Book Girls Say…
Something Wilder is a rom-com meets Western mystery. It’s a slow-burn romance with some spicy scenes.
Christina Lauren is the pen name for long-time writing partners Christina Hobbs, who lives in Utah, and Lauren Billings, who lives in California.
Christina and Lauren two stayed in St. George, Utah, while outlining the book and they worked with a movie scout to help them get the lay of the land around Canyonlands National Park. The author’s note at the beginning of the book warns, “If you follow our route, you will die, lol.” This is because the route described is fictional (mostly to make it fit within the timeline of the book), but they worked hard to be authentic with the story. They consulted experts on what the characters would carry in their backpacks, what they would eat on the trail, and what their daily schedule would look like.
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The Fire and the Ore
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Book Summary
This novel tells the story of three women who go from strangers to wives of the same man. Following the call of their newfound faith, Tamar and her family undertake a brutal pilgrimage from England to Utah. When they arrive, she is united with her destined husband, only to learn that he is already married to one woman (Tabitha) and betrothed to yet another. Jane is not a member of the Mormon pioneer migration, but as an orphan struggling to care for her younger sister, she agrees to marry Thomas for the security the marriage will provide.
In 1857, President James Buchanan ordered the US Army to march on the Utah Territory, where Brigham Young (the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) had been governing a theocracy. When the troops arrive, Tamar, Tabitha, and Jane are forced to retreat into the hostile desert wilderness with one common goal – to keep themselves and their children alive.
The Book Girls Say…
Reviewers praise this new novel as well-researched with compelling characters, and say that you’ll be able to feel the desert sun beating down on you and the snow biting your skin. Don’t miss the author’s note that provides additional insights that add a great deal to the story.
If you’re interested in reading another novel set in Utah in the second half of the 19th century, consider The 19th Wife. This book tells the story of Ann Eliza Young who is separated from her powerful husband, Brigham Young, and embarks on a crusade to end polygamy in the United States. Keep in mind, however, that the historical documents referenced in this novel are also fictional.
The Outlaw Noble Salt
Book Summary
When Butch Cassidy decides to leave his outlaw life behind, he discovers that he’s crossed too many powerful men who won’t let bygones be bygones. In order to get a second chance at life, he’ll have to become someone else entirely.
On the eve of his escape, he has a fateful encounter with a celebrated singer Jane Touissant that offers him a glimpse at what might have been. He leaves her behind because he has to keep moving, but their paths will unexpectedly cross again in Paris.
Even when Jane discovers Cassidy’s true outlaw identity, Jane trusts him and enlists his protection for her upcoming American tour. Butch reluctantly agrees, fearing that his sordid past could put her and her young son in danger.
As they journey, Butch’s past and Jane’s secrets put them at risk from threats far greater than the law. This legend of the American West will have to decide what matters most – his life, his legacy, or the woman he has fallen in love with.
The Book Girls Say…
This historical fiction is based on the real-life outlaw Butch Cassidy, with numerous references to real historical figures and events.
The publisher describes the setting of this novel as the American West, but readers say that Utah is the primary setting. Significant portions of the book also take place in Paris and New York City.
Author Amy Harmon was born in Levan, Utah, and after living in Nevada for a period of time, she returned to her home state of Utah where she now resides.
The Secret Witness
Book Summary
Former prosecutor Soloman Shepard was brutally attacked in the courtroom, which ended his previous career. Now, he stays away from the action and teaches seminars about serial murders and psychopathology.
Toole County Sheriff Elizabeth Gray leads the investigation after a young couple is murdered. An anonymous letter published in a Utah newspaper after the murder claims to be from the Reaper, and the letter leads to the discovery of a third victim.
Elizabeth needs to find the killer quickly and turns to her old friend Soloman for help. But, as they begin to unravel the mystery in this dark psychological thriller, they face an unexpected enemy.
The Book Girls Say…
Fans of crime thrillers may also want to check out the Abish Taylor mystery series by D.A. Bartley, including Blessed be the Wicked and Death in the Covenant. In the first book, Detective Abish Taylor has returned home to the religious suburb where she grew up. When the community is shocked by a macabre death, Abbie recognizes that it has the hallmarks of a sacred ritual dating back to the days of Brigham Young and the founding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her investigation uncovers a dark side to the picturesque neighborhood and the global religion.
When the Emperor Was Divine
Book Summary
This short (144 page) literary fiction takes you into a rarely talked about aspect of Utah history – the Topaz internment camp in Delta, Utah. When it was in use, Topaz became the 5th largest city in Utah with more than 11,000 people of Japanese descent held there for up to four years until its closure in 1945.
The poetic book follows one family from the time they get news of the forced relocation from their home in San Fransisco to the Utah desert, their trip to the camp and time in the barracks, and then their difficult return home after three years.
The Book Girls Say…
Today, visitors to Delta, Utah, can learn more about the history of this WWII incarceration site at the Topaz Museum.
The One with the Kiss Cam
Book Summary
After watching her mother’s love life implode time and again, Nora has created some pretty strict rules to protect her own heart. The primary rule is a simple one – avoid relationships.
Nora’s friends, however, think that she needs more fun in her life. She reluctantly agrees to a blind date at a Utah Jazz basketball game. The date is terrible, and Nora is counting the minutes until she can go home!
She thinks it couldn’t get any worse, but just when her date steps out to the concession stand, the kiss cam zooms in on her and the stranger sitting on her other side. At least he’s cuter than her current date. To kiss or not to kiss?
When Nora’s life takes a nose dive, it’s the man from the kiss cam who seems bent on proving to her that good men do exist.
The Book Girls Say…
While the other rom-coms on this list have some steamy scenes, this is a clean romance option. It’s described as flirty and fun with a side of swoon and without any religious undertones.
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The Glovemaker
Book Summary
Thirty-seven-year-old Deborah lives in the tiny Mormon settlement town of Junction, set along the floor of a Utah canyon surrounded by red-rock cliffs. She earns her living tending orchards and making work gloves.
Her husband, Samuel, has been away from home working as a wheelwright but he was due back weeks ago. With the winter weather creating a very inhospitable environment, Deborah is getting worried.
When a desperate stranger shows up on her doorstep seeking refuge from the Federal Marshals who are pursuing him, it sets in motion a chain of events that will turn her life upside down. The man is a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the run from the US government, which has ruled the practice of polygamy a felony. Deborah is not devout and does not subscribe to polygamy, but just the same, she is distrustful of those who aren’t members of the church but who persecute believers of her wider faith.
But all is not what it seems. When the Marshal is critically injured, Deborah and her husband’s best friend, Nels Anderson, are faced with life-and-death decisions that question their faith, humanity, and their futures.
The Book Girls Say…
Reviewers praise this historical fiction novel for providing a balanced look at the prevailing religion in Utah.
Autoboyography
Book Summary
We are huge fans of writing duo Christina Lauren, so we were surprised to discover this YA title from them that we hadn’t heard of before.
Tanner Scott’s family relocated from progressive California to conservative Utah three years ago. Life in Provo (home to BYU) is complicated enough as a half-Jewish, half-lapsed Latter-day Saint teenager, so Tanner – who was openly bisexual at his previous school, decides to go back into the closet at Provo High. Now, in his senior year, he is looking forward to attending an out-of-state college next year, where he can once again feel free to be himself.
He fully intends to coast through his final semester of high school classes, until his best friend, Autumn, dares him to take a prestigious honors seminar where students draft an entire book in just four months. And his final semester plans are pushed even further off track when Tanner finds himself falling in love with Sebastian Brother, the class mentor who sold his seminar novel to a major publishing house the year before. He’s also the son of a Bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Book Girls Say…
This young adult novel is a mostly closed-door romance. Some reviewers say this book felt too much like a predictable romance in the initial chapters, but as the plot moves forward, multiple points of conflict make it a very engaging read.
Christina Lauren is the pen name for long-time writing partners Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. Christina lives in Provo, Utah (the setting of the book) and is a former middle school counselor. Lauren, a Ph.D. and mother of two in California, identifies as bisexual. In an interview, the authors described doing extensive research for Autoboyography, including reading the diaries of a friend who came out as gay after his LDS mission.
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To Helvetica and Back
Book Summary
Star City, Utah, is known for its powdery ski slopes. Nestled in the valley of this resort town is a side street featuring shops specializing in the simple charms of eras gone by. One such shop is the Rescued Word, where Chester and his granddaughter Clare repair old typewriters and restore old books.
A man shows up in town demanding that they turn over an antique Underwood typewriter that they are repairing for a customer. Feeling fearful, Clare contacts the police, who scare the man off. But then the same man turns up dead in the back alley. How could an old typewriter be worth killing for?
The Book Girls Say…
For another cozy mystery series set in Utah, check out the Jenny T. Partridge Dance Mysteries. This series of three books centers around a dance instructor at Ogden, Utah’s premier ballet school, who puts criminals behind bars.
The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint
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Book Summary
When a half-Apache boy named Edgar is run over by a mail truck, he miraculously survives, but the incident changes the path of his life. When authorities discover that he’s mostly orphaned, he’s sent to a boarding school for Native American orphans, which is not a nice place to be.
Eventually, he’s sent to foster care with a dysfunctional Latter-day Saints family in Richland, Utah. Despite his difficulties and lack of consistent family, Edgar’s goodness remains. He’s determined to find and forgive the man driving the mail truck.
The Book Girls Say…
Reviews say this author’s writing style is similar to John Irving’s, and you’ll enjoy it if you love The World According to Garp or A Prayer for Owen Meany. Also, like Irving, the author is not particularly kind to his main character.
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Hadley & Grace
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Book Summary
Hadley needs to escape her physically abusive husband, Frank, to protect herself, her teenage daughter, and her special needs nephew. Grace is a new mother struggling with single-parenting while her husband is away. Hadley’s husband, Frank, has just cheated Grace out of her commission on a business deal.
One Friday night, these two women cross paths and form an alliance that sets the stage for a road trip adventure with major Thelma and Louise vibes (minus the violence). Together, Hadley and Grace, with three children in tow, are racing to stay one step ahead of the trouble that is chasing them – trouble in the form of Frank, the FBI, and the media. This is a humorous and adventurous feel-good story about two women trying to outsmart everyone to protect their families.
The Book Girls Say…
The characters depart from California and drive through the west, through deserts and small towns to big cities, including a stop at the famous Pat’s BBQ in Salt Lake City.
This Thelma & Louise-esque novel is good fun, but it also deals with heavier issues, like domestic abuse, gambling, and murder.
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On Location
Book Summary
Alia’s bad day at work starts to look up when she encounters a very handsome gentleman on the NYC subway turns into a first date. But when their meet-cute moment goes viral, he ghosts her.
But Alia has bigger things to worry about. She’s been hired to produce a series about Utah’s national parks for an outdoor travel channel. It’s her dream job and her chance to finally prove herself to her impossible to please network executive boss.
Things become complicated when Drew, the man from the subway, is hired to be part of her crew. Awkward! Alia is determined to keep things professional and to interact with him as little as possible. But when the host of her new show goes rogue, Alia knows she needs Drew’s help to salvage her dream and save her reputation.
The Book Girls Say…
The ratings are lower than we hoped for this book, largely because it also uses the third-act miscommunication trope. But Angela read it and rated it 4 stars as a light rom-com read that is very descriptive of the beautiful national parks of Utah.
This book includes some very steamy scenes, so we recommend skipping this one if you prefer your rom-coms on the more tame side.
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Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
Book Summary
In 1984, two Mormon Fundamentalist brothers, Ron and Dan Lafferty, insist they received a revelation from God commanding them to kill a list of people within their family and friend circle. They act on this belief with a horrifying double murder.
In this non-fiction book, Jon Krakauer looks at not only the Lafferty case but dives deep into the often secretive Mormon Fundamentalist communities across the West. These groups broke off from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when it renounced polygamy. That split led to various sects with self-appointed leaders who often had total control over their followers. The book that resulted from Krakauer’s research is a compelling look at human behavior and an American brand of religious extremism.
The Book Girls Say…
Under the Banner of Heaven has been adapted into a mini-series on Hulu by the same name. The award-winning author of this book also wrote the popular titles Into Thin Air and Into the Wild.
The World’s Strongest Librarian
Book Summary
This is the memoir of a librarian from the main branch of the Salt Lake City public library.
Josh Hanagarne was just six years old when he first began exhibiting symptoms of Tourette Syndrome during a Thanksgiving play at school, although he wasn’t officially diagnosed until his freshman year of high school. By the time he was twenty years old, he towered over his peers at a height of 6’7″. His size alone made him stand out, but while serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, his Tourette’s tics escalated to new levels.
Determined to conquer his tics, Josh was willing to try anything. He underwent everything from quack remedies to lethargy-inducing drugs. One treatment effort – Botox injections – paralyzed his vocal cords and left his voiceless for three years. But Josh persevered, marrying and earning a degree in Library Science.
He met an eccentric, Autistic, former Air Force Tech Sergeant and Iraqi prison guard, who taught Josh how to “throttle” his Tourette’s ticks through strength training. This led the librarian to found a popular blog about books and weightlifting.
The Book Girls Say…
In this humorous and candid memoir, Josh traces his journey to overcome Tourettes while also navigating his wavering faith in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also provides insights into the very different worlds of strongman training and modern libraries.
He provides many insights about growing up in the religious culture of Utah and shares many of his experiences with the eccentric patrons of the Salt Lake City Public Library where he works.
Christmas Novels Set in Utah
In a Holidaze
Book Summary
Mae has spent every Christmas since her birth at the same snowy Utah cabin. Knowing it’s the last year they’ll spend at the cabin, feeling trapped in a job she hates, and having just made a big mistake in the romance department leaves her feeling totally hopeless.
When her Christmas wish is for clarity on what will make her truly happy, she sets herself into a Groundhog Day experience of re-living the same day until she can get it right and connect with her true love. But don’t worry, the repetition doesn’t go overboard. Soon, the story will continue moving forward, and you’ll find yourself very invested in Mae’s romantic fate.
The Book Girls Say…
In a Holidaze is one of our favorite holiday reads and you can’t beat the cozy, snowy Park City setting at Christmas!
Christina Lauren is the pen name for long-time writing partners Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. Christina writes from her home state of Utah and Lauren is based in California.
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A Christmas Memory
Book Summary
The King of Christmas fiction has a brand new book perfect for readers looking for Christmas books that are not romance titles. As the 1967 Christmas season approaches, it’s been a tough year for the Evans family. Richard’s brother Mark was killed in Vietnam, his father lost his job, they moved from California to Utah, and his parents separated.
At his new school in Utah, Richard is bullied until an elderly neighbor, Mr. Foster, chases off the bullies and offers Richard hot cocoa. This is the start of an unexpected and important friendship that brings back a little joy and light of the Christmas season.
The Book Girls Say…
Author Richard Paul Evans grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he still resides today. While A Christmas Memory is a work of fiction, he drew heavily upon his childhood memories when writing it.
Evans is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His books are often religious-themed and feature characters who are struggling with a moral issue or life-changing event.
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Home for Christmas
Book Summary
Riven is going through a messy divorce and has a bad case of writer’s block, so he decides to escape LA and heads to a mountain cabin near the ski resort town of Park City, Utah. He hopes that the peace and quiet, away from his chaotic family, will give him the time he needs to get some work done. But before he knows it, his family is at the door. To make matters worse, the cabin has been double-booked, and he’s now stuck also sharing the space with a family of strangers just as loud and boisterous as his own.
Worst of all, he’s forced to share a bunk bed with Wendy – a feisty and gorgeous New Yorker playwright who knows just how to get under his skin. Sharing a room with her is a sweet form of torture, and Riven isn’t sure what he dreds more – spending yet another night with her, or knowing how soon he’ll have to say goodbye to her.
The Book Girls Say…
Told from a dual-POV, this fun holiday romance is filled plenty of pranks that will make you laugh out loud. If you enjoy books about authors, you’ll love seeing how Riven’s book comes together with Wendy’s help.
The Mistletoe Promise
Book Summary
Three years ago, Elise’s husband cheated on her with her best friend. Their divorce left her distrustful. So you can imagine her reaction when a stranger approaches her in a Salt Lake City food court with the proposition that they pretend to be a couple for the eight weeks leading up to Christmas Eve.
A contract with clear rules makes Elise feel more comfortable: (1) No probing personal questions; (2) no drama; (3) no telling anyone the truth; (4) the contract is void on Christmas day.
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Read Around the USA – Books Set in Other States
We hope you enjoyed this book list of books about Utah and found some great titles to add to your TBR. If you’re participating in our Read Around the USA Challenge, be sure to check out our alphabetical index of books set in each state.
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