Travel across New England with the best fiction books set in Massachusetts, including The Hotel Nantucket, Writers & Lovers, Laws of Love and Logic, and The Namesake.
I grew up in New England, graduating from Smith College in Northampton, MA, which left a soft spot in my heart for the Bay State. As a part-time Bostonian, I assure you that Massachusetts promises the perfect setting for literary, foodie, and historical travelers. Not to mention all the great books that take place here.
Think: A luxury Nantucket hotel, a Cape Cod family cottage, a wealthy Western MA boarding school, the grounds of the Salem Witch Trials, and a Cambridge brownstone with secrets. These fiction recommendations span the state and every mood. Find contemporary, literary, and historical fiction, plus classics and a dash of fantasy. 💜 Christine of The Uncorked Librarian
Contemporary, Literary, & Historical Fiction Set In Massachusetts
The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand
Plot
London billionaire owner, Xavier Darling, hires beloved Nantucket sweetheart Lizbet Keaton to lead the potentially cursed Hotel Nantucket back to its gilded glory days. With her newly hired and lovable but imperfect staff, can she overcome heartbreak, bad luck, a ghost hoping to cross over, and bad reviews? Most importantly, can she get those coveted 5 keys?
Why Read The Hotel Nantucket
For a luxurious summer novel set on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, Elin Hilderbrand’s The Hotel Nantucket delivers all of the relationship and hospitality drama, sunshine, delicious food, and secrets you’d expect from the “Queen of Beach Reads.” In fact, she’s built an entire world here.
I loved everything about The Hotel Nantucket, finishing it in days. Talk about atmosphere, wanderlusty hotel details, unlikely friendships, a surprise influencer, and gentle relationships. I need to eat at the Blu Bar and play chess with Louie. I’d stay here for that free mini-bar alone. Hoteliers take note. These characters will stay with me for a long time.
📚 Read even more books featuring grand hotels and sweet inns.
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
Plot
Casey Peabody is a writer trying to overcome her mother’s death. Working as a waitress to pay the bills, Casey needs health insurance and a higher salary to pay off her college loans (sounds familiar, right?). With the prospect of romance and a 6-year novel in the works, can she find happiness and sustainability?
Why Read Writers & Lovers
Writers & Lovers is a humbling story about love, living a creative life, the markers/”achievements” of adulthood, and grief.
Casey’s characterization is reminiscent of Hannah Horvath in Girls. Her relationships also mirror those of Bridget Jones. One suitor is handsome and well-off, while the other is a free and hurting spirit.
Ultimately, Writers & Lovers guarantees small-town, New England vibes and promises to crack open your heart. With rawness that exudes from the pages, find a bit of yourself in Casey, especially if you are or remember being in your 30s. Like The Hotel Nantucket, this was a 5-star read for me.
📚 Read even more books about writing, preserving, and reading books.
Laws of Love and Logic by Debra Curtis
Plot
One high-school, tipsy beach party changes the course of Lily, the boy whose name we never learn (GAH!!), and her friends’ lives. As each character moves forward, battling their inner demons, Lily can’t help but think of the boy, even as she marries a gem of an ornithologist who taught classes at my alma mater, Smith College.
Lily struggles with the guilt of loving two men, questioning her faith and character. Her sister, Jane, struggles through a troubled but “free” life. Check the TWs.
Why Read Laws of Love and Logic
Part of Jenna Hager Bush’s “Thousand Voices,” Laws of Love and Logic is a story about grief, sisters, guilt, and first love, spanning decades. Filled with hope, loss, friendship, and marriage, the novel takes place across the North, including Northampton, MA; Portsmouth, Rhode Island; and Ithaca, New York.
I most appreciate how Jane and Lily’s mom teaches them to be strong, independent women, going to protests and getting the best educations at Yale and Smith (of course, I’m a little biased here).
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Plot
One of my favorite books of all time, The Namesake follows the Ganguli family who move from Calcutta to Cambridge and the Boston suburbs in the 1960s.
Ashoke is finishing his engineering degree at MIT while his new wife, Ashima, heartbreakingly pines for her family back in India.
When their first child is born, Indian custom dictates that the child is given an official name and then a second name from the great-grandmother. However, when the family name never arrives via mail, Ashoke gifts his son a nickname, Gogol, after one of the most beloved Russian writers who influenced him more than you can imagine.
Why Read The Namesake
The Namesake teaches us the meaning behind who we are, our home, and who we can become in both the present and through flashbacks. I’ve re-read this one multiple times, which says a lot.
📚 More to love: Find even more books by award-winning Jhumpa Lahiri – a go-to author for me – on TUL’s India books reading list as well as our books about Italy list.
The Astral Library by Kate Quinn
Plot
Alix’s life has never been easy since her mom abandoned her, moving from home to home in foster care. She’s always found refuge between the library stacks.
Now, as an adult and on the brink of losing it all, she stumbles through a hidden door in the Boston Public Library. She must help the Librarian save the Astral Library, this magical sanctuary, from an evil force. Can she also save herself?
Why Read The Astral Library
A book set at the Boston Public Library, featuring a librarian!? Yes, please! Plus, you can pick whatever book, video game, or painting you want to live in. A gal can dream!
Kate Quinn is another go-to author for me, never disappointing with her strong storytelling and spectacular leading ladies. Add in mystery and magic, and I am there.
I most enjoyed the political discussion about book banning, the role of modern libraries and librarians, capitalism, democracy, and the socioeconomic gap. What timing and relevancy. I love this form of civic activism.
Beau and his love for historical costume design really enhanced the story. The Astral Library is great if you enjoy magical realism blended with fantasy.
📚 Read even more books about librarians & libraries.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Plot
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is set on Alice Island, a remote New England location that feels unmistakably like Martha’s Vineyard. When you’re grieving and stubborn, and your bookstore is hemorrhaging money, the isolation of the setting – and himself – is everything.
A.J. Fikry has lost his wife, someone stole his prized Poe collection, and he has zero interest in being saved. When a mysterious package lands at his door, A.J. slowly starts to transform into a new man.
Why Read The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
I almost wrote this one off as predictable. Grumpy bookshop owner softens; we know that trope. But Zevin’s writing endears us to A.J. What I appreciated most is that A.J.’s transformation never feels convenient or cheap. It is earned, coming from the most unexpected direction.
If you love books about books, difficult people growing, and stories that earn their emotional payoffs, this one delivers. I’d recommend The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry for fans of Fredrik Backman.
📚 Head to more islands, imaginary and real, via a good book.
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Plot
In the fictional college town of Wellington, set outside of Boston, Massachusetts, Zadie Smith introduces us to a British-American and interracial family living in the U.S.
The liberal atheist Belsey family finds themselves at odds with the ultra-conservative Kipps. The two families must navigate their differences in a competitive college work environment amidst affairs, ideological differences, and racial dynamics.
Why Read On Beauty
Zadie Smith is a literary mastermind, examining beauty, race, class, and what we owe each other across our differences. The characters are both frustrating, especially in their hypocrisies, and charming. It’s devastatingly comedic as a satire.
Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and winner of the 2006 Orange Prize, On Beauty is sharp and uncomfortable in a way that will keep you thinking.
You’re A Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky
Plot
After breaking up as part of a throuple and regrettably buying an island, Matthew’s parents have exiled him to small-town Massachusetts just outside of the Berkshires to spend the holidays with his grandparents. All Matthew has to do is survive and prove himself worthy of their trust – and credit cards – once again.
However, Matthew isn’t expecting a college student as his roommate. Hector is bi, nerdy, and hot, especially when he’s chopping wood. The two team up on the community’s charity event, each with their own motives.
Why Read You’re A Mean One, Matthew Prince
If you enjoy queer Christmas novels with over-the-top protagonists, Matthew Prince will remind you a lot of Lindsay Lohan in Falling for Christmas.
And for books set in Massachusetts, especially showcasing small-town life, devour a Hallmark-esque story about socioeconomics, love, education, redemption, and family. It’s even got a few Gilmore Girls vibes.
P.S. I have yet to read Book 1 in the Boy Meets Boy series, Never Been Kissed, which wasn’t a problem. You’re A Mean One, Matthew Prince can be read as a standalone.
Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
Plot
Growing up in Martha’s Vineyard in the mid-1600s, Bethia Mayfield finds herself constrained by Puritan society. Her father is a minister hoping to convert the locals.
When Bethia meets Caleb, the son of a Wampanoag chieftain, they become friends despite their greatest differences. Caleb goes on to become the first Native American graduate of Harvard College, balancing beliefs and cultures.
Why Read Caleb’s Crossing
Inspired by a true story, Caleb’s Crossing is one of the most poignant books set in Massachusetts about the land’s early development and the hardships that sprang from superstition and stereotypes.
Bethia’s friendship with Caleb is at the heart of the novel, and Brooks handles their relationship with care and nuance. Neither character is romanticized. Caleb’s journey is extraordinary and painful. He must absorb a world that is systematically dismantling his own, and the story doesn’t let you forget what that costs him. In sharp parallel, Bethia also makes quiet sacrifices, especially as a devout but curious female.
If you’re visiting Martha’s Vineyard or exploring Massachusetts’s colonial history, this novel will speak to you.
The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham
Plot
Follow a group of high school students and new and old teachers at a boarding school that has mysteriously jumped to #2 in ratings. Most are breaking the rules, but the teachers and headmaster have to pick and choose their battles, especially when wealthy parents are involved. Check the TWs.
Why Read The Academy
I don’t always like to showcase two books by the same author on a reading list, but I couldn’t resist the appeal of a Western Massachusetts school. I fell hard for the pop culture references, detestable characters, and ending (for book one in a series) – an ending that I was fully invested in.
East felt a lot like Logan from Gilmore Girls, and some of the plot was like watching Riverdale. I already miss the boarding school bubble and characters. Davi, Charley, and Dub might be my favorites.
I did, however, guess who was controlling the Reddit-like ZipZap board… was that intentional? The Academy is an excellent selection for a book club. Our Uncorked Readers had quite the polarizing reviews.
Classic Books Set in Massachusetts You Already Know (And Should Reread)
Massachusetts is one of the most literary states in the country, and the classics reflect that. I read all of these in high school – and while you know I’m not a huge classics fan, you cannot have a Massachusetts reading list without mentioning them:
📚 Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women unfolds in Concord, following the four March sisters through the Civil War with a warmth that holds up remarkably well. Not to mention, there are plenty of great movie adaptations.
📚 Nathaniel Hawthorne also focused on the state’s Puritan guilt. The Scarlet Letter introduces readers to Hester Prynne, wearing her shame while quietly outlasting everyone who put it there.
📚 Arthur Miller’s The Crucible takes that same Puritan hysteria to Salem in 1692, using the witch trials as a mirror for McCarthyism. It offers rich commentary about mob mentality and evil. We have an entire Salem Witch Trials reading list. You might also like the modern-day YA novel Conversion by Katherine Howe.
📚 Hawthorne’s The House of the Seven Gables, set in Salem, centers on a family curse stretching back to the witch trial era. It’s darker than The Scarlet Letter, and more atmospherically satisfying. I loved touring this historical home.
More Contemporary Massachusetts Books (In My TBR Pile Right Now)
I have quite a few more new(er) books set in Massachusetts on my physical and digital bookshelves:
📚 Sandwich by Catherine Newman – Rocky is in her fifties and vacationing at the Cape Cod cottage her family has rented for decades. She’s surrounded by her aging parents, her adult children, and the understanding that this version of family life is slipping away. As a middle-aged woman, I’m ready for a relatable older protagonist in a nostalgic setting.
📚 Hester by Laurie Albanese – Albanese reimagines a friendship between Hester Prynne and a young Nathaniel Hawthorne, blending historical fiction with a feminist reclamation of one of literature’s most iconic characters. This is, of course, for The Scarlet Letter fans set in Salem. As a history major, I’ve heard this one is well-researched.
📚 The Candid Life of Meena Dave by Shreya Datar Patel – Meena is a photographer who inherits an apartment in a historic Cambridge building. Her new neighbors – three older women who clearly know more than they’re letting on – draw her into the building’s secrets and her own murky family history. I love a story with meddling aunties.
Plan Your Massachusetts Literary Trip Today
For IRL (in real life) Massachusetts travel, Boston is the “must” starting point, walkable and filled with wicked history. Just don’t wear your Yankees hat…
However, don’t stop there. Cambridge has that brownstone charm and academic intrigue. Salem is best – but absolutely packed – in October, when the witch trial history comes to life. Northampton (NoHo) is quirky and filled with indie culture. The Berkshires offer a reading retreat, and Cape Cod and Nantucket are exactly as sun-soaked as every beach read set there promises. Plus, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket have even inspired enough fiction to fill their own reading lists.
For literary travelers, find homages to Louisa May Alcott, Emily Dickinson, Herman Melville, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, many of whose worlds show up in the classics on this list.
The Bay State also houses the Eric Carle Museum, the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, and the Norman Rockwell Museum.
Wherever and however you start, read one of these books, and let us know your favorites in the comments. There are so many, I couldn’t possibly write about them all.
So I was online hunting for recommendations for books set in Massachusetts as I graduated from Smith last year and felt a little nostalgic and what do I find? – A list just like I had hoped for and it is by Smithie which makes it even better! Thank you so much for this list!
Haha, that is amazing! I’m a Smithie ’06/Chapin House. Thank you!
Love, love, LOVED Caleb’s Crossing. Anything by Geradline Brooks is just fantastic, but I think Caleb is one of her best. She just brings the story to life with her beautiful writing.
This is a great list! I wish I’d had it a few years ago when I went to Boston for vacation. Some other books to put on your list: Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan. As. Smith grad, you’ve prob read it; and if not, you should! Sullivan is another fave contemporary writer of mine. I liked The Engagements and Saints for All Occasions, which is also set in Mass.
OMG, how could I forget Commencement?!! Yes, yes, yes. AND YES, I did read it! Ahaha! I only read Commencement because of the Smith deal.
I also just finished Kevin Kwan’s June 2020 book release, Sex and Vanity, and one of the main characters went to Smith. He even has a footnote talking about it. Totally gets me, EVERY TIME. We, Smithies, tend to have excessive pride.
Thank you so much for the reminder and book suggestions. I might update this list to include them ASAP.
Yessss, I neeeeeeded this list!! Boston is one of the top destinations that I’d like to visit in these gorgeous United States, and I especially want to see Boston as it’s so rich in history. I’m glad Wicked Girls got a mention!! I really enjoyed reading that last year. Such a great list!!
I was actually thinking of writing a Boston reading list too… I loveeee Boston and miss it so much now that we live in Asheville. I know you’d love it since you also love history. When we lived in CT, it was an easy trip for the day (along with NYC). Thanks so much!