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Connecticut Books: Novels Set in the Constitution 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 Connecticut, we’ve curated a diverse list of highly-rated titles about the Constitution State! If you’re looking for another state, check our comprehensive list of books set in every state.
Literary Themes in Connecticut Books
This New England state blends colonial history with suburban affluence. Connecticut literature often explores themes of class, privilege, and the complications of domestic life in wealthy communities. The state’s prep schools, historic towns like Mystic, and proximity to New York City provide settings for family dramas, mysteries, and stories that examine the dark underbelly of picture-perfect neighborhoods, as in the 1970s classic The Stepford Wives.
The Best Novels Set in Connecticut
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
99% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
Ruth Jefferson is a 44-year-old labor and delivery nurse with twenty years of experience at a Connecticut hospital. After being reassigned away from a patient, she learns that the parents are white supremacists and don’t want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child.
The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey her superiors’ orders in accordance with the parents’ mandate, or does she intervene?
This story is told from three alternating points of view: Ruth, the nurse; Kennedy, her middle-aged attorney; and Turk, the newborn’s white supremacist father.
Our Thoughts on This Book
This novel is an emotional roller coaster ride that is painful to read at times, but we promise that it’s totally worth it. You may need to take a little break after reading the first chapter from Turk’s perspective, but after some deep breaths, please, please pick this book back up and keep reading. If we had the power, we’d make this book required reading for everyone!
Coming Home to Starr’s Fall
Book Summary
Starr’s Fall is a town in need of a fresh start, and Laurie is a woman who needs the same. She and her dog, Max, are new in town, and she hopes that reopening one of the empty shops on the main street will give her a fresh start.
The grumpy bookstore owner across the street, Joshua, should be happy that another shop is opening, but he thinks Laurie’s idea of a dog bakery and pet shop is ridiculous. But Laurie is undeterred. She also has a secret mission in town that involves a tragedy in her past.
What to Expect in This Book
This book is tagged as a clean romance, so it’s perfect if you prefer your romance more Hallmark-style with less spice. While overall it is a feel-good read, it also explores deeper topics, including grief and growing up in the foster system.
While this novel is set in autumn, the series has two more books set in spring and winter.
A Single Thread
Book Summary
Evelyn has just made a big move from Texas to Connecticut after her divorce. She’s following her lifelong dream of opening a quilt shop, but she has no idea that the new friends she will make will become even more important to her than the shop itself.
Troubled and angry after her mother’s death, Liza threatens to embarrass her Aunt Abigail all over town unless she joins her for quilting classes. Margot hopes an event hosted by the quilt shop could be a great chance to network after she was downsized from her job. As they quilt together, Evelyn, Abigail, Liza, and Margot form an unexpected sisterhood as strong as their stitches.
Good Dirt
Book Summary
Ebby Freeman was just 10 years old when her brother was shot. She found him lying on the floor, surrounded by shattered pieces of a centuries-old jar. The crime was never solved, but people still talk about it. The Freemans were one of only a few Black families in their well-to-do corner of New England, giving the case an enduring, voyeuristic pull for the public.
Now, eighteen years later, Ebby’s high-profile romance has fallen apart, leading to yet another media frenzy. Ebby flees to France to try to get away from it all, but her past follows her. She begins thinking back on the other loss her family suffered the day her brother died – a stoneware jar that had been in their family for generations. She knows the jar was brought North by an enslaved ancestor. What she doesn’t know, however, is that the pottery holds more than her family’s history – it might also hold the key to her future.
Our Thoughts on This Book
Angela read and enjoyed Good Dirt as much as Charmaine Wilkerson’s popular debut novel, Black Cake. This nonlinear story intertwines the intergenerational history of a Black family with that of their coastal Connecticut home.
Book Summary
Andy was away for a weekend fishing trip when his wife, Brie, vanished. While the public always suspects the husband, the police couldn’t find a reason to charge him. Distraught by both the loss of his wife and the accusations against him, Andy drinks too much, loses almost all his friends, and nearly loses his business.
Six years later, his life has finally found a new normal. He moved away from the house he shared with Brie and felt a bit of relief when it was bulldozed so a new house could be built. But then, a woman shows up at the old address, screaming, “Where’s my house? What’s happened to my house?” Then this mysterious woman disappeared as fast as she appeared. Could Brie be alive after all these years?
The Shadow Box
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
98% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
Artist Claire Beaudry Chase was attacked and left for dead in her home on the coast of Connecticut. Her well-connected husband, Griffin, is both a gubernatorial candidate and the prime suspect.
Prior to her attack, Claire was working on an exhibit featuring shadow boxes. One of the shadow boxes she created clearly accuses Griffin of a violent crime committed twenty-five years ago. If word got out, Griffin’s political career would be toast. When another woman ends up dead, the time is ticking for Claire to take down her husband and the group of elites that seek to protect him at all costs.
Reader Thoughts on This Book
Readers describe this as a masterfully crafted mystery and thriller. Since Claire is quite certain who her attacker is, this novel takes a bit of a reverse approach, with Claire trying to figure out how to reveal her husband as a killer. As time goes on, you’ll be unsure who the “good guys” are vs. who the “bad guys” are.
The River Is Waiting
Book Summary
Corby loves his wife Emily dearly, but new fatherhood, the loss of his job, and a growing secret addiction all put a strain on their relationship. And that’s before he causes a tragedy that tears his family apart.
Corby is sentenced to prison, and life on the inside is brutal. But he also witnesses small acts of kindness and finds kinship with a prison librarian who sees the best in him and in some of his fellow inmates, including his big-hearted cellmate and a troubled teen in need of a role model.
Are mercy and reconciliation possible, and can his crimes ever be forgiven by those he loves?
About the Author
Author Wally Lamb has had six New York Times bestselling novels over the past thirty years, including several others set in Connecticut.
The River is Waiting is his first new book in nine years, and it draws on his two decades of experience facilitating a writing program for incarcerated women at the York Correctional Institute in Connecticut.
This will not be an easy book to read, but through the tragedy and heartbreak, it also promises to be one worth discussing and likely to stick with you for a long time.
Ninth House
Book Summary
Raised in LA by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school at a young age and landed in a world of dead-end jobs and drug dealer boyfriends. And it only got worse from there. At age twenty, she was the sole survivor of a horrific multiple homicide. But then, while lying in her hospital bed, she is inexplicably given a second chance at her future – an offer to attend Yale University on a full-ride scholarship.
When she arrives in New Haven, Alex still does not understand how or why this opportunity has landed in her lap. All she knows is that her mysterious benefactors have tasked her with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies.
These societies are well known as the haunts of future rich and powerful leaders, from Wall Street and politics to Hollywood. But Alex discovers that their activities could actually be more sinister and extraordinary than anyone has previously imagined.
Background & What to Expect in This Read
It is well known that Yale University has real secret societies, such as Skull & Bones and Scroll & Key. But this story, written by a Yale alumna, reimagines those societies, each with its own magical specialization that its members can wield for further power and influence in morally questionable ways.
Blending a dark, academic setting with elements of fantasy and horror places this novel firmly in the world of Dark Academia. Despite the bend toward fantasy, the book includes the real geography and traditions of Yale (to the point that real-life students would recognize many of the details).
Be aware that this novel leaves some loose ends, which set up the sequel, Hell Bent. While the main mystery of the book is resolved in the first installment, providing closure for readers who prefer not to continue, there are also shocking twists near the end that set up unfinished character arcs, which lead into the second book, as well as the upcoming third book.
Let’s Pretend This Will Work
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
100% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
It’s 1982, and thirty-something Mimi is still single despite longing for a relationship. But things are looking up, as her psychic predicts something good is coming her way. When Ren, a divorced dad, falls in love with her and proposes, she believes that it must be what the psychic was talking about!
But then Ren’s ex-wife is in a serious accident, and he must return to Connecticut to help care for her and their daughters. Mimi decides to pack up her life in NYC and head to New Haven, Connecticut, to be with him. Her new job at a quirky local daycare provides her with a community of support, which she needs, as it seems Ren and his estranged family may be reuniting. But, she still wonders if life’s twists, turns, and disasters just might lead her to unexpected happiness.
Book Summary
Molly Clarke abandoned her car miles from home and walked away from her life—or at least, that’s the story authorities told her family, including her twenty-one-year-old daughter, Nicole. But nothing about her mom’s disappearance makes sense. Nicole returns to the small town in Connecticut where her mother was last seen to investigate on her own. Everyone seems eager to help, until secrets begin to come into the light, and then she doesn’t know who to trust.
On the night Molly disappeared, she ran out of gas during a storm. When a man offers her a ride to town, his little girl reminds her of another daughter she lost five years earlier, which feels like a sign. She’s suddenly eager to be back with her family, so she accepts the ride. But soon, Molly wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake.
As you read, you’ll follow the perspectives of both Molly and Nicole, each equally compelling
Reader Thoughts on This Book
Reviews say this book is an intense and disturbing family drama combined with a heart-pounding, page-turning thriller.
Book Summary
It’s just past midnight when Link saves a woman from being attacked on the street. After chasing off the perpetrator, they enter a bar to help Camilo calm her nerves. Despite Link’s background as a brilliant Dartmouth graduate, former athlete, and soldier, it’s scandalous that he, as a Black man, is entering the Connecticut bar with Camilo, a wealthy White woman, by his side.
After their chance encounter, Link and Camilo continue to secretly cross the town’s racial divide, defying the social prejudices of their times.
About This Classic
Author Ann Petry (October 12, 1908 – April 28, 1997) was an American author who became the first black woman to sell one million copies of a novel.
The Narrows is written in third person, and mainly in flashbacks, with an artful feel to the prose. It’s most enjoyed by those who enjoy literary fiction and classics.
Husbands and Other Sharp Objects
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
100% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
As she’s planning her daughter’s wedding, 50-something Marcy is also trying to finalize her divorce after a long marriage. She’s been separated long enough to have a new boyfriend who’s pushing for a commitment, and now her ex-husband, Harvey, wants to get back together, too.
Marcy’s too busy with the wedding to deal with her own man problems. It turns out weddings bring out the worst in everyone. And it doesn’t help that her daughter’s new in-laws keep stealing items everywhere they go!
As Marcy realizes that it might be impossible to keep everyone happy, she knows it’s time to make the hard choice between old and new.
Another Book About This Character
We’ve both read this book and loved the storyline of planning her daughter’s wedding. Some of you are probably familiar with how hectic that can be!
While writing this description, we were surprised to learn that there is another book, Lift and Separate, that covers Marcy’s split from Harvey after he cheats on her with a 21-year-old. However, Husbands and Other Sharp Objects reads just as well as a stand-alone.
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega
Book Summary
Charlie is smart, funny, artistic, and ambitious, which are all perfect attributes to have in her Connecticut suburb. However, she also stands out because she’s brown and bigger than the other girls. She really wants a positive body image, but it’s hard when her fitness-obsessed mom keeps leaving weight-loss shakes on her dresser. In fact, it feels like everyone wants her to be smaller and whiter.
Thankfully, her best friend, Amelia, always has her back, even though Amelia’s slim and popular. Things look even better when she starts a tentative relationship with her handsome classmate Brian. But then she finds out that he asked Amelia out first. Is she the second choice?
What to Expect in This Book
Keep in mind that this is a YA title, so Charlie does handle things like a teenager. The writing and plot are on the simple side, but the novel still tackles important topics.
Yarned and Dangerous
Book Summary
Josie is back in her Connecticut hometown after 12 years in New York. She was recently fired by her temperamental boss, a clothing designer, so she was the perfect candidate to take care of her grumpy great-uncle Eb after he was injured in a car accident.
Unfortunately, Aunt Cora didn’t survive the crash, so Josie also needs to sell the contents of Cora’s yarn shop, Miss Marple Knits. She enjoys spending time in the cozy shop more than she expected, but then one of the town’s most persnickety knitters turns up dead in a pile of cashmere. Josie needs to add ‘detective’ to her ever-growing resume before another victim is found.
A Bonus for Knitters
This cozy mystery includes original knitting patterns for those of you who enjoy yarn as much as the characters in the story.
Musical Chairs
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
94% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
This heartwarming and witty novel begins with Bridget and Will, two best friends and professional musicians. Bridget had been looking forward to a quiet summer at a rustic Connecticut home with her boyfriend, Sterling. However, when Sterling suddenly calls it quits, her adult children, Nick and Emily, decide to move back in. To further complicate matters, Will is dealing with a loss of his own.
Bridget and Will attempt to regain stability by reuniting their once-famous piano trio. But their efforts lead to various misadventures, including an unlikely love triangle.
Recognition for This Novel
This novel won the Connecticut Book Award for Fiction in 2021.
A Study in Charlotte
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
95% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
This captivating YA mystery novel reimagines the iconic detective duo Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson as teenagers in modern-day America. The story follows Charlotte Holmes, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Sherlock Holmes, and Jamie Watson, a descendant of Sherlock’s famous sidekick.
When Charlotte and Jamie find themselves framed for murder at their elite boarding school in Sherringford, CT, they must set aside their rivalry and join forces to clear their names. They begin to unravel a twisted plot that goes beyond the school’s walls. This thrilling adventure, infused with wit and clever references to the original Holmes canon, explores friendship, trust, and the burdens of a legendary legacy.
About the Book
This novel was a Goodreads Choice Award nominee in 2016 for Best Young Adult Fiction. It’s the first in a series of 4. Another great YA mystery option set in Connecticut is Since You’ve Been Gone, by Morgan Matson (which was nominated for the same award in 2014).
Take It From Me
Book Summary
Harper is a young author with one major best-seller under her belt, but now she’s in need of a career comeback. At her agent’s suggestion, she rents a house in New Canaan, Connecticut. Hiding her author identity from everyone she meets, Harper seeks to draw inspiration for a new novel about women in the suburbs.
Soon, Harper befriends her neighbor, an empty nester. It’s October, and Wendy’s son just moved away for college. She’s struggling with being all alone, but not just because she misses her son. Wendy is keeping a secret of her own—her struggle with kleptomania.
Our Thoughts on This Book
Angela was initially drawn in by the kleptomania/mental health focus of this novel, which was very well done. Ultimately, however, it was the intergenerational relationship element of this story that she enjoyed the most.
When Life Gives You Lululemons
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
94% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
If you read the Devil Wears Prada, or watched the movie, then you probably remember Emily as Miranda Priestly’s glamorous and judgmental first assistant – her “keeper,” if you will. She was the one charged with mentoring Andrea as Miranda’s newest personal assistant.
Now 36 years old, Emily has built a successful career as an image consultant in Hollywood. But having recently lost some clients, she needs her next big opportunity. That opportunity comes in the form of Karolina Hartwell, a mega-supermodel and the wife of a newly elected senator with presidential aspirations. Emily is introduced to Karolina by her longtime friend, Miriam. Miriam is a former partner at a prestigious NY law firm who has recently decided to become a stay-at-home mom.
These three women come together in the posh Connecticut suburb of Greenwich. You’ll laugh out loud as they attempt to navigate the social landmines of this over-the-top suburbia, revealing the truths—and the lies—simmering just below the glittering surface.
About the Series
Although this book is technically the third The Devil Wears Prada series, it was published 15 years after the original and reads completely as a stand-alone.
As you’d expect from the title, this is a light and fluffy, easy read. And sometimes that’s exactly what we need!
The Last Mrs. Parrish
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
89% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
Philanthropist Daphne and her real-estate mogul husband seem like the perfect popular couple in their exclusive Connecticut town. Amber feels like the opposite – plain and invisible. She’s deeply envious of Daphne, but she has a plan.
As she puts her plan into place, she works her way into being Daphne’s closest confidante and then gets closer to Jackson during a trip to Europe. But, can she make it to the end goal of her scheme before a skeleton from her past undermines everything?
About the Book
If you enjoy The Last Mrs. Parrish, be sure to pick up the equally highly-rated sequel, The Next Mrs. Parrish. It’s also set in Bishops Harbor, Connecticut!
Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous
Book Summary
The narrator of this book is Little Dog, a son born to Vietnamese immigrants in the USA. He is in his late 20s and writing a letter to his mother. The letter starts with the family history rooted in Vietnam before he was born. His letter (and the novel) explores the fraught, yet undeniable love between a single mother and her son, but it is also a brutally honest exploration of race, class, masculinity, and of those caught between disparate worlds.
Consider This Before Reading
In 2019, this book was nominated for Goodreads Choice Awards for both Readers’ Favorite Fiction & Readers’ Favorite Debut Novel.
However, it’s not universally loved and is a better fit for those who enjoy poetry as the second half of the book turns more into poetry-form than traditional novel-form.
The Carrie Diaries
Book Summary
Fans of Sex and the City may enjoy this YA novel (the first in a series) that takes us back to Carrie Bradshaw’s senior year of high school, when she was just a regular girl growing up in Connecticut’s suburbs. But as the end of high school draws near, and on the heels of a friend’s betrayal, Carrie will realize it’s time to go after what she really wants.
About the Series
The Carrie Diaries series is written by the same author whose first book, Sex and the City, was the basis for the HBO hit series. Goodreads declares, “Rabid fans of Sex and the City will love seeing Carrie Bradshaw evolve from a regular girl into a sharp, insightful writer.”
Non-Fiction About Connecticut
Creating Connecticut
Book Summary
If you’re looking to dig into the nonfiction history of Connecticut, this is a great choice. The author is the Connecticut State Historian, and he covers 400 years of statehood in a 240-page book full of well-written true stories. From witch trials and the Revolutionary War to Mark Twain’s smoking habits, you learn about the state’s unique history and culture.
Read Around the USA – Books Set in Other States
We hope you enjoyed this list of books about Connecticut 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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Printable Version of This Book List
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