Every state has its hallmark writers. Mississippi has William Faulkner and his incomparable (fictional) Yoknapatawpha County and Missouri can lay claim to Mark Twain. The state of Maine is gifted with Pulitzer winner Richard Russo and horror icon Stephen King. Rural Pennsylvania is the playground of the much-heralded (and occasionally maligned) John Updike, and when many bibliophiles think of New Jersey, they also think of Richard Ford's series of novels featuring recurring Everyman character Frank Bascombe. Illinois can lay claim to William Maxwell, Sandra Cisneros, and Adam Langer, among numerous others. And what reader can think of Washington State without contending with the sparkle-vampire yarns of Stephanie Meyer?
What makes authors like these inextricably associated with a particular state is not simply the matter of their having been born there or choosing to live there. The connection, from a writerly standpoint, is deeper than that—their work, nearly all of it, is set in "their" state.
Of course, there are certainly exceptions. Whether a writer sets a tale in the town where they went to college or spent part of their childhood—like Donna Tartt's "The Secret History" and its New England arts school setting and the almost-factual small town of Jo Ann Beard's "In Zanesville," respectively—or crafts a story that follows a social or political theme to a location they know little about but lay narrative claim to anyway, the world is rife with books known, loved, and respected that also capture the essence of place—books where setting itself is one of the strongest characters.
Stacker compiled a list of books set in Rhode Island from Goodreads. Whether you're looking for a good read set in the state you call home, or you're looking to expand your curiosity with a writer you're already familiar with, we've got you covered.
My Sister's Keeper
- Rating: 4.09 (1.1 million ratings)
- Author: Jodi Picoult
- Published: April 6, 2004
- Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Young Adult
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Read more on GoodreadsThe Witches of Eastwick
- Rating: 3.24 (16,247 ratings)
- Author: John Updike
- Published: January 1, 1984
- Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Classics, Witches
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Read more on GoodreadsAn Enlightening Quiche
- Rating: 4.58 (55 ratings)
- Author: Eva Pasco
- Published: August 1, 2016
- Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit
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Read more on GoodreadsThrone of Grace (Cliff Walk Courtships, #1)
- Rating: 4.09 (355 ratings)
- Author: Cecily Wolfe
- Published: June 7, 2016
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian, Historical, Romance
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Read more on GoodreadsThe One and Only Ivan
- Rating: 4.27 (167,507 ratings)
- Author: Katherine Applegate
- Published: January 17, 2012
- Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Animals, Childrens
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Read more on GoodreadsRogue Island (Liam Mulligan, #1)
- Rating: 3.63 (1,836 ratings)
- Author: Bruce DeSilva
- Published: October 12, 2010
- Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller
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Read more on GoodreadsThe American Heiress
- Rating: 3.46 (40,462 ratings)
- Author: Daisy Goodwin
- Published: August 19, 2010
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Historical
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Read more on GoodreadsSing You Home
- Rating: 3.79 (85,502 ratings)
- Author: Jodi Picoult
- Published: March 1, 2011
- Genres: Fiction, LGBT, Contemporary, Chick Lit
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Read more on GoodreadsNever Forget (Beacons of Hope, #5)
- Rating: 4.33 (825 ratings)
- Author: Jody Hedlund
- Published: January 1, 2017
- Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical
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Read more on GoodreadsA Hundred Summers
- Rating: 3.95 (41,661 ratings)
- Author: Beatriz Williams
- Published: May 30, 2013
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit
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Read more on GoodreadsSomething Upstairs
- Rating: 3.83 (2,675 ratings)
- Author: Avi
- Published: September 1, 1988
- Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult
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Read more on GoodreadsThe Dressmaker
- Rating: 3.49 (29,376 ratings)
- Author: Kate Alcott
- Published: February 21, 2012
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Romance
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Read more on GoodreadsThe Price of Inheritance
- Rating: 3.68 (645 ratings)
- Author: Karin Tanabe
- Published: August 5, 2014
- Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit
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Read more on GoodreadsThe Husband List (Culhane Family #2)
- Rating: 3.58 (11,068 ratings)
- Author: Janet Evanovich
- Published: January 8, 2013
- Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Historical Fiction, Historical
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Read more on GoodreadsThe Memory of Running
- Rating: 3.77 (12,002 ratings)
- Author: Ron McLarty
- Published: January 1, 2004
- Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Novels, Audiobook
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Read more on GoodreadsThe Prince of Providence: The True Story of Buddy Cianci, America's Most Notorious Mayor, Some Wiseguys, and the Feds
- Rating: 3.81 (625 ratings)
- Author: Mike Stanton
- Published: January 1, 2003
- Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Politics, History
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Read more on GoodreadsThe Lost Summers of Newport
- Rating: 3.77 (8,861 ratings)
- Author: Beatriz Williams
- Published: May 17, 2022
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Historical
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Read more on GoodreadsWinner of the National Book Award
- Rating: 3.35 (2,141 ratings)
- Author: Jincy Willett
- Published: September 5, 2000
- Genres: Fiction, Humor, Contemporary, Novels
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Read more on GoodreadsThe Red Thread
- Rating: 3.73 (4,059 ratings)
- Author: Ann Hood
- Published: May 1, 2010
- Genres: Fiction, Adoption, China, Adult Fiction
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Read more on GoodreadsFish Perfume (Cozy Harbor Marina, #1)
- Rating: 3.77 (140 ratings)
- Author: Sammie Grace
- Published: November 16, 2012
- Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Mystery
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Read more on GoodreadsDance With Me
- Rating: 3.92 (3,369 ratings)
- Author: Luanne Rice
- Published: January 1, 2004
- Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance
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Read more on GoodreadsThe Edge of Winter
- Rating: 3.77 (3,764 ratings)
- Author: Luanne Rice
- Published: January 1, 2007
- Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Relationships
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Read more on GoodreadsWeetamoo: Heart of the Pocassets, Massachusetts - Rhode Island, 1653
- Rating: 3.65 (2,064 ratings)
- Author: Patricia Clark Smith
- Published: August 27, 2001
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Historical
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Read more on GoodreadsR Is for Rhode Island Red: A Rhode Island Alphabet
- Rating: 4.30 (23 ratings)
- Author: Mark R. Allio
- Published: October 7, 2005
- Genres: Childrens
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Read more on GoodreadsMurder at the Breakers (Gilded Newport Mysteries #1)
- Rating: 3.74 (4,463 ratings)
- Author: Alyssa Maxwell
- Published: March 25, 2014
- Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Cozy Mystery
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Read more on GoodreadsThe Lowland
- Rating: 3.86 (90,651 ratings)
- Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
- Published: September 24, 2013
- Genres: Fiction, India, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
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Read more on GoodreadsThe Passions of Emma
- Rating: 3.89 (531 ratings)
- Author: Penelope Williamson
- Published: January 1, 1997
- Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction
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Read more on GoodreadsCertainty
- Rating: 3.96 (379 ratings)
- Author: Victor Bevine
- Published: October 21, 2014
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Military Fiction, Mystery
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Read more on GoodreadsShe Loves You
- Rating: 3.80 (700 ratings)
- Author: Ann Hood
- Published: June 6, 2018
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Music, Historical
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Read more on GoodreadsGood Night Rhode Island
- Rating: 4.06 (31 ratings)
- Author: Adam Gamble
- Published: June 13, 2008
- Genres: Childrens, Picture Books
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Read more on GoodreadsDylan Goes Electric!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties
- Rating: 4.00 (523 ratings)
- Author: Elijah Wald
- Published: July 14, 2015
- Genres: Music, Nonfiction, History, Biography
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Read more on GoodreadsMusic/City: American Festivals and Placemaking in Austin, Nashville, and Newport
- Rating: 3.82 (11 ratings)
- Author: Jonathan R. Wynn
- Published: November 3, 2015
- Genres: Music, History
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Read more on GoodreadsTangled Threads: A Hmong Girl's Story
- Rating: 3.80 (340 ratings)
- Author: Pegi Deitz Shea
- Published: January 1, 2003
- Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Cultural
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Read more on GoodreadsA Week at the Shore
- Rating: 3.93 (9,006 ratings)
- Author: Barbara Delinsky
- Published: May 19, 2020
- Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary
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Read more on GoodreadsThe Maze at Windermere
- Rating: 3.51 (2,891 ratings)
- Author: Gregory Blake Smith
- Published: January 9, 2018
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical
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Read more on GoodreadsThe House of Five Talents
- Rating: 4.02 (42 ratings)
- Author: Louis Auchincloss
- Published: January 1, 1960
- Genres: Fiction, New York
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Read more on GoodreadsHow Are You Going to Save Yourself
- Rating: 3.28 (567 ratings)
- Author: J.M. Holmes
- Published: August 9, 2018
- Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Race, Contemporary
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Read more on GoodreadsThe Art of Keeping Cool
- Rating: 3.65 (849 ratings)
- Author: Janet Taylor Lisle
- Published: October 1, 2000
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical
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Read more on GoodreadsSpotting for Nellie
- Rating: 3.49 (134 ratings)
- Author: Pamela Lowell
- Published: April 1, 2009
- Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Sports
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Read more on GoodreadsSpartina
- Rating: 3.79 (2,199 ratings)
- Author: John Casey
- Published: June 17, 1989
- Genres: Fiction, Novels, Contemporary, Literary Fiction
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Read more on GoodreadsChasing Lucky
- Rating: 3.77 (5,949 ratings)
- Author: Jenn Bennett
- Published: June 11, 2020
- Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult, Young Adult Contemporary
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Read more on GoodreadsThe Art of the Swap
- Rating: 3.89 (379 ratings)
- Author: Kristine Carlson Asselin
- Published: February 13, 2018
- Genres: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy
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Read more on GoodreadsHome Fires
- Rating: 4.05 (2,743 ratings)
- Author: Luanne Rice
- Published: January 1, 1995
- Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Romance
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Read more on GoodreadsBlood Oranges (Siobhan Quinn, #1)
- Rating: 3.23 (1,197 ratings)
- Author: Kathleen Tierney
- Published: February 5, 2013
- Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Vampires, Horror
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Read more on GoodreadsProvidence (Providence, #1)
- Rating: 3.97 (27,162 ratings)
- Author: Jamie McGuire
- Published: November 17, 2010
- Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Angels
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Read more on GoodreadsOrganized to Death: Tina Tales
- Rating: 4.22 (91 ratings)
- Author: Jan Christensen
- Published: November 25, 2012
- Genres: Mystery
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Read more on GoodreadsOur Kind of Love
- Rating: 3.65 (169 ratings)
- Author: Shane Morgan
- Published: June 21, 2014
- Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Young Adult
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Read more on GoodreadsHope: A School, a Team, a Dream
- Rating: 3.69 (135 ratings)
- Author: Bill Reynolds
- Published: January 26, 2016
- Genres: Sports, Basketball, Nonfiction, High School
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Read more on GoodreadsLove in a Victorian (Come Home to Elm's Corner #1)
- Rating: 4.29 (55 ratings)
- Author: Lisa Norato
- Published: March 1, 2017
- Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction
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Read more on Goodreads
