New Jersey, often overshadowed by its prominent neighbor New York, has been the setting for numerous acclaimed novels that capture the diverse spirit of this state.
From the gritty streets of Newark to the sleepy suburban towns, the following books offer readers a literary journey through the “Garden State.”
Philip Roth’s “American Pastoral” dives into the turbulent 1960s, a time rife with political upheaval and radicalism.
The novel follows Seymour “Swede” Levov, a successful Jewish-American businessman from Newark, who watches his idyllic life spiral out of control when his daughter becomes a radical terrorist.
This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel vividly brings to life the tensions of the era set against the backdrop of a changing New Jersey landscape.
Another landmark work by Roth, “Portnoy’s Complaint,” lays bare the inner life of a lust-driven, neurotic young man named Alexander Portnoy.
Set against a middle-class Jewish backdrop in Newark, New Jersey, the novel broke new ground with its frank discussion of sexuality and Jewish identity.
Roth’s satirical and candid narrative made this book a cornerstone of modern American literature.
Roth’s first book, “Goodbye, Columbus,” is a collection of stories that won him the National Book Award.
The title novella takes place in New Jersey and centers on the relationship between Neil Klugman and Brenda Patimkin, hailing from different social classes.
Set mostly in the suburbs of Newark, the novella explores themes of class and social status within the context of American-Jewish life.
Janet Evanovich’s energetic mystery novel introduces us to Stephanie Plum, a witty and tenacious bounty hunter in Trenton, New Jersey.
“One for the Money” is the first in an expansive series that combines humor, suspense, and a touch of romance.
The book’s charm lies in its true-to-life description of Trenton’s landscape and its quirky characters that capture the essence of a working-class neighborhood.
Following “One for the Money,” “Two for the Dough” continues the adventures of Stephanie Plum.
Evanovich has a gift for bringing her setting to life; you can almost hear the Jersey accents and feel the gritty streets of Trenton through her vivid descriptions.
With an enticing mixture of mystery and humor, the novel firmly roots itself in the heart of New Jersey.
Judy Blume’s groundbreaking young adult novel follows a young girl named Margaret as she navigates puberty and searches for a single thread of spirituality that she can call her own.
Set in suburban New Jersey, the novel has resonated with generations of readers, capturing the earnest and often awkward experience of growing up.
“In the Unlikely Event” takes inspiration from Blume’s own childhood experiences in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
The novel is set in the 1950s, where a series of tragic plane crashes affect the lives of all residents in Elizabeth.
Through this historical lens, Blume offers a poignant exploration of how extraordinary events impact ordinary lives.
The city of Dempsy, a fictional stand-in for the real-life city of Jersey City, forms the gritty urban background of Richard Price’s “Clockers.”
This intense novel delves into the lives of drug dealers and the homicide detectives on their trail.
Price’s Jersey is one fraught with social and economic struggles, and his writing brings it all to life with unflinching realism.
Set in part in Paterson, New Jersey, Junot Díaz’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel chronicles the life of Oscar de León, an overweight Dominican boy passionate about fantasy and science fiction novels.
Along with the fate of Oscar, the book traces the Dominican Republic’s troubled history, making the New Jersey town not just a setting but also a crossroads of cultures.
Tom Perrotta’s witty novel “Election” unfolds in the suburban town of Winwood, New Jersey, where a high school election becomes a microcosm of American politics.
The sharp, satirical take on ambition and obsession is both entertaining and insightful, offering a glimpse into the ethos of suburban New Jersey life.
Richard Ford’s Frank Bascombe novels, with “The Lay of the Land” as the third installment, are set predominantly in the fictional town of Haddam, New Jersey.
These meditative books follow the life of Bascombe, a real estate agent who must face the complexities of modern American existence.
Ford’s portrayal of New Jersey suburbia is vivid and evocative, with Bascombe navigating the terrain of middle age and the changing American landscape.
Ford’s “Independence Day,” the second in the Bascombe series and winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award, returns readers to the New Jersey suburbs.
The novel captures not only the physical landscape but also the ethos of a specific time in American life.
“The Sportswriter,” the first book featuring Frank Bascombe, is a deep introspection of a man’s life and aspirations set again in the suburbs of New Jersey.
Ford uses the backdrop of New Jersey to delve into themes of loss, disconnection, and the search for meaning.
David Levithan’s novel “Boy Meets Boy” is set in a utopian small town in New Jersey where the young protagonist navigates the complexities of teenage love and identity.
While not as gritty as the urban New Jersey depicted in other novels, Levithan’s setting is sentimentally crafted, offering a hopeful vision of acceptance and inclusivity.
Philip Roth’s “The Plot Against America” presents an alternate history where Charles Lindbergh, a fascist sympathizer, becomes President of the United States.
The Jewish community of Roth’s childhood Newark confronts the rising tide of anti-Semitism, showing how historical tides assert themselves even in the quiet, ordinary corners of New Jersey.
New Jersey in these novels is more than just a setting; it’s a tapestry of American life, where each story, whether it’s of suburban malaise, inner-city strife, or the coming of age, finds its unique expression against the state’s multifaceted backdrop.
These novels collectively present a New Jersey that is far more than a mere backdrop to New York, with its own distinctive heartbeat echoed in the narratives of its inhabitants’ lives.