Massachusetts has long been a vibrant setting for many literary classics and contemporary novels.
From the quaint towns of the Berkshires to the bustling streets of Boston, this state has provided a rich backdrop for stories that have enchanted readers for generations.
Here is a selection of novels set in Massachusetts:
One of the most cherished American classics, “Little Women,” transports readers to the heart of Concord, Massachusetts, during the Civil War.
Louisa May Alcott drew from her own life to create the characters of the March sisters, portraying their journey from childhood to womanhood with warmth and authenticity.
The novel’s iconic Orchard House, where the March family lives, reflects the real Alcott residence, now a museum that attracts literature lovers from around the world.
David Foster Wallace’s sprawling masterpiece, “Infinite Jest,” is a daunting yet profound exploration of addiction, entertainment, and the pursuit of happiness.
Set in a fictionalized version of the Boston area, including the Enfield Tennis Academy and the equally fictional drug rehabilitation center, the novel intricately weaves multiple narratives that capture the pulse and peculiarities of Massachusetts residents in an imagined near future.
Jumping into the world of science fiction, “The Witch Hunters” by Steve Lyons transports readers to the town of Salem, renowned for its infamous witch trials of the 17th century.
The novel explores the chilling paranoia and hysteria that led to one of the darkest chapters in Massachusetts’ history, reimagining the events with a supernatural twist that adds layers to the iconic setting.
Set in the late 1960s, “Girl, Interrupted” is Susanna Kaysen’s searing memoir of her time spent in a psychiatric hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.
The author’s detailed depiction of her experiences reveals the uncertainties surrounding mental health treatment during that era and presents Massachusetts as a central stage for a profound personal journey.
Though Edith Wharton typically conjures images of New York City and Europe’s grandeur, “Ethan Frome” is set in the fictional town of Starkfield, Massachusetts.
This tragic novella exposes the grueling and emotionally stagnant New England winter, encapsulating the struggle between duty and desire, and portraying the state’s rural landscape as an oppressive force in the lives of its characters.
Annie Dillard’s “The Maytrees” is a poetic narrative that follows the lives of a couple living in Provincetown at the outermost tip of Cape Cod.
The novel’s lyrical prose evokes the raw beauty of the coastal setting, reflecting on life, love, and the passage of time against the backdrop of Massachusetts’ unique natural landscape.
Set in the atmospheric city of Salem, “The Lace Reader” weaves a tale of mystery and family legacies through Towner Whitney, a woman with a unique gift for reading fortunes in patterns of lace.
Brunonia Barry’s novel captures the haunting allure of Salem’s seascapes and historical weight, engaging readers with a story that feels as intricate and enigmatic as the lace patterns themselves.
The sequel to “The Lace Reader,” “The Fifth Petal,” plunges readers back into Salem, as a murder links past and present-day witchcraft accusations.
Brunonia Barry further delves into the town’s eerie history and its modern incarnation, creating a suspenseful narrative that highlights the ever-present shadows of the past in Massachusetts.
A lighthearted take on the Massachusetts setting, “The Mother-Daughter Book Club” by Heather Vogel Frederick spotlights the fictional town of Concord and the lives of four girls and their mothers who form a book club.
Drawing inspiration from the rich literary tradition of the state, the series provides a contemporary perspective on growing up in a place steeped in history.
Alice Hoffman’s “Practical Magic” introduces readers to the Owens sisters, women born into a magical legacy that has followed their family for generations.
Set in a Massachusetts town, the novel reveals the sisters’ attempts to escape the Owens curse and find love amid whispers of witchcraft.
The town’s New England charm and the sense of community play pivotal roles in the enchanting story.
In “Here on Earth,” Hoffman returns to Massachusetts and unfolds a story of obsessive love and homecomings in the town of Jenkintown.
With skillful sensitivity, the narrative explores themes of passion, redemption, and the inexorable ties to one’s origins, as encapsulated by the Massachusetts setting.
Harvard graduate student Connie Goodwin discovers a mysterious book in her grandmother’s abandoned home in Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Katherine Howe’s novel, “The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane,” entwines historical research with the supernatural, delving deep into the Salem witch trials and their continued legacy.