Toni Morrison was born in Ohio (in 1931); she won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. Her novel “The Bluest Eye” is set Lorain, Ohio (which is Morrison’s hometown).
The story takes place in post-Great Depression Ohio and centers on Pecola Breedlove, a young Black girl facing racism, abuse, and feelings of worthlessness. Pecola yearns for blue eyes, believing they will bring her beauty and acceptance. The story explores her struggles and the impact of societal pressures on identity and self-worth.
“Winesburg, Ohio” by Sherwood Anderson is a collection of connected short stories. The book focuses on the lives of the residents in the fictional town of Winesburg. Each story is centered around a different character, and reveals their secrets and struggles.
The stories in “Winesburg, Ohio” often leave readers with a strong sense of the characters’ inner lives and the quiet dramas that play out in small-town America.
Toni Morrison’s novel “Beloved” was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It is set in post-Civil War Ohio, centering on the life of Sethe, a woman who escaped slavery. Haunted by a traumatic past, she struggles to build a life with her daughter Denver.
The story takes a chilling turn when a mysterious young woman named Beloved arrives, forcing Sethe to confront buried memories and unbearable pain. The book powerfully examines love, freedom, and the scars of slavery.
In “The Devil All the Time” by Donald Ray Pollock, the story unfolds in rural Ohio and West Virginia, following characters trapped in cycles of violence, faith, and desperation.
The book connects an orphaned boy, a husband and wife who murder hitchhikers, a corrupt preacher, and others in a dark, interconnected tale. Their lives intersect in unpredictable ways, revealing the grim underbelly of small-town life.
The setting emphasizes an atmosphere of isolation and decay, bringing the reader into a world where morality is tested at every turn.
“Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline is a futuristic story set in a world where people escape their grim reality by spending their lives in a vast virtual universe called the OASIS.
The plot centers on Wade Watts, a teenager who is on a quest to solve puzzles hidden within the OASIS. These puzzles were created by the system’s late founder, who promised his fortune to whoever solves them first.
The book is packed with references to 1980s pop culture, as Wade races against others, chasing the ultimate prize in a high-stakes digital treasure hunt.
“Cherry” by Nico Walker follows the story of a young man from Ohio who drops out of college, joins the Army, and serves as a medic in Iraq. When he returns home, he battles PTSD and falls into heroin addiction. To fund his habit, he turns to robbing banks.
The novel is raw and personal, reflecting Walker’s own life experiences, making it a powerful exploration of trauma and self-destruction.
“Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio” by Serena B. Miller is a heartwarming story set in a quiet Amish town. A widowed baseball player named Joe drives into Sugarcreek with his young son, seeking a fresh start after his troubled past.
He ends up at a charming inn run by three kind yet nosy elderly Amish sisters. They insist on helping Joe, though their caretaker, Rachel, is suspicious of his motives.
As secrets start to surface, the story weaves together themes of trust, healing, and unexpected kindness in a small-town setting.
“The Minds of Billy Milligan” by Daniel Keyes follows the true story of Billy Milligan, a man in Ohio diagnosed with multiple personality disorder.
After being arrested for robbery and assault, Billy’s case gains attention because his crimes are linked to the actions of different personalities within him.
The book dives into his therapy and court proceedings, showing the struggles of his unique condition and the people around him. Billy’s story is explored through his various identities, each with distinct traits and memories, making his life a patchwork of experiences.
“Walk Two Moons” by Sharon Creech is about a girl named Salamanca Tree Hiddle. She goes on a road trip with her grandparents to find her mother who left home. Along the way, Sal tells the story of her friend Phoebe, whose family has its own challenges.
The journey reveals secrets about Sal’s life, her parents, and the losses they’ve faced. It’s a story full of emotion and family connections.
“Romiette and Julio” by Sharon Draper tells the story of Romiette, an African American girl, and Julio, a Mexican American boy, who face prejudice and gang violence as they fall in love in Cincinnati.
Their relationship challenges boundaries set by their families and their community, with dramatic events threatening to tear them apart.
The book weaves in themes of cultural tension, young love, and the struggles of staying true to one’s feelings in a world filled with division.
“The Broom of the System” by David Foster Wallace is a quirky novel set in Cleveland, Ohio. It follows Lenore Beadsman, a young woman whose life takes a strange turn when her great-grandmother disappears from a nursing home.
The story mixes the absurd with the personal, featuring a giant baby, a desert made of desserts, and a talking cockatiel named Vlad the Impaler. It’s a tale where reality feels slightly off, yet it focuses on how Lenore questions her place in the world.
“Ducks, Newburyport” by Lucy Ellmann is a stream-of-consciousness novel that captures the thoughts of an Ohio housewife as she reflects on her everyday life, family, and larger issues in the world.
The book is largely made up of a single sentence, showing the way her mind wanders between memories, mundane tasks, and worries about everything from climate change to her children. It’s a deeply personal and human story, centered in the rhythms of her internal voice.
The setting is rooted in Ohio, with its landscapes and small-town life reflected throughout her musings.
“Indignation” by Philip Roth tells the story of Marcus Messner, a young man from Newark, New Jersey, who escapes his overprotective father by enrolling at a conservative college in Ohio.
Set in the 1950s, the novel follows Marcus as he struggles with the rigid expectations of the era, clashes with authority figures, and becomes infatuated with a classmate named Olivia.
Through Marcus’s experiences, the book explores themes of rebellion, fate, and the impact of seemingly small decisions.
“The Man From Primrose Lane” by James Renner is a mix of mystery and science fiction set in Ohio. The story begins with the murder of a recluse known as “the man with a thousand mittens.”
Years later, a true-crime writer named David Neff investigates the case, uncovering strange truths that connect to his own life. The twists lead into a blend of crime, family secrets, and time travel, making the book a surprising journey through unexpected events.
“The Sport of Kings” by C. E. Morgan explores the lives of a powerful Kentucky horse-breeding family with deep roots and complicated legacies.
The story follows the patriarch, Henry Forge, and his daughter, Henrietta, as they chase their ambitions to dominate the world of horse racing. Along the way, connections to Kentucky’s past and themes of race, power, and perseverance unfold.
The novel shifts across settings, but there are moments tied to Ohio, where parts of the family’s history and landownership intersect with larger societal tensions.
“Eligible” by Curtis Sittenfeld is a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” set in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bennet sisters are reimagined as contemporary women, with Liz and Jane returning home to help their family after their father’s health scare.
They find their family in chaos, and Liz crosses paths with a neurosurgeon named Darcy at a barbecue. The story weaves family drama, romance, and modern-day complications into a witty update of the classic tale, all against the backdrop of Ohio life.
“Dale Loves Sophie to Death” by Robb Forman Dew is about family relationships and the bonds that hold people together. It follows Tricia, who takes her two young sons to visit her sister in Ohio, where they spend time reconnecting and reflecting on their lives.
The novel explores the complexities of family dynamics and how moments of love and tension shape the lives of its characters.
“The House of Dies Drear” by Virginia Hamilton is about a young boy named Thomas Small who moves with his family into an old house in Ohio that was once a stop on the Underground Railroad.
The house has a mysterious history, filled with hidden passageways and secrets connected to the abolitionist efforts. As Thomas starts uncovering clues about the past, they uncover the eerie presence of a local caretaker and confront the legends tied to the house.
“A Madness So Discreet” by Mindy McGinnis is set in the late 19th century and follows a young woman named Grace, who is confined to an asylum after enduring unspeakable trauma.
The story moves from the darkness of the asylum to her unexpected role assisting a doctor in solving murders, using her keen mind. It weaves together her journey for justice and her search for freedom, all against a grim historical backdrop in Ohio.
“One for Sorrow” by Christopher Barzak follows Adam McCormick, a high school student in a small Ohio town, who becomes haunted by the ghost of Jamie Marks, a boy from his school who was found dead.
Adam forms a strange connection with Jamie, which pulls him into an eerie exploration of life, death, and loneliness. The story is filled with moments that feel otherworldly, set against the backdrop of a quiet, moody Ohio community.
“The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives” by Sarah Strohmeyer takes readers into the wealthy suburbs of Ohio, where the women of Hunting Hills navigate social power, gossip, and secrets.
It centers on Claire, a journalist adjusting to life as a trophy wife after marrying into this privileged world, and Marti, the queen bee intent on protecting the status quo.
The story exposes the tension beneath the polished surface of their lives, as scandals and hidden truths threaten to unravel everything.
“Tar: A Midwest Childhood” by Sherwood Anderson is a semi-autobiographical novel that reflects the author’s life growing up in a small town in Ohio. It follows the story of Edgar, a young boy navigating family life, school, and the everyday experiences of a rural community.
The book captures the struggles and joys of childhood while painting a picture of Midwestern life in the late 19th century. Anderson weaves in heartfelt memories and observations, giving readers a glimpse of both innocence and growth.
“The Town” by Conrad Richter is part of a trilogy that follows the Wheeler family as they move from frontier life to the growth of a small town in Ohio. This final book explores the pull between the past and progress as the family navigates changes in their lives and community.
Sayward, the strong-willed matriarch, stands at the center as she faces personal and societal challenges while the town grows around her. It’s a portrait of transformation and resilience in a place finding its identity.
“The Trees” by Conrad Richter tells the story of the Luckett family, who live on the edge of the wilderness in Ohio during the late 1700s. The novel focuses on Sayward Luckett, a young girl growing up in a family struggling to survive in the dense, untamed forests.
Through Sayward’s eyes, readers experience the harsh challenges of frontier life, from clearing land to dealing with isolation. The book paints a vivid picture of the early settlers’ determination and their deep connection to the land.
“Jennie Gerhardt” by Theodore Dreiser follows the life of a young woman from a poor family in Ohio. Jennie’s beauty catches the attention of powerful men, which pulls her into complicated relationships and challenging circumstances.
Her story touches on themes of class, morality, and sacrifice as she tries to navigate love and societal expectations in a world that often judges her unfairly.
“Farewell, Summer” by Helen Hooven Santmyer captures the lives of a small-town Ohio community in the 1930s. The story revolves around a group of women navigating the changes and challenges of their lives as they age.
Their relationships, memories, and routines offer a glimpse into a world full of quiet moments and personal reflections. Set against the backdrop of a familiar and fading way of life, the novel reveals how ordinary days can hold deep meaning.
“The Fierce Dispute” by Helen Hooven Santmyer is set in a small Ohio town and focuses on the tense relationships within a three-generation household of women.
The story revolves around a young girl, her mother, and her strong-willed grandmother, who clash over family secrets and control of their lives.
The house itself, a mansion filled with antiques and history, plays a key role, often reflecting the simmering conflicts among its inhabitants. The novel vividly captures the emotional struggles tied to independence, loyalty, and tradition.