South Carolina’s landscapes, history, and unique culture have inspired so many wonderful stories. From the Lowcountry marshes to the streets of Charleston and the upheaval of historical events, these novels offer a window into the Palmetto State.
If you love getting lost in a sense of place, here are some books set in South Carolina that really stick with you.
Pat Conroy brings the South Carolina Lowcountry to life in this powerful family story. Tom Wingo has to revisit his difficult past when his sister attempts suicide.
He travels to New York to speak with her therapist, and through their talks, the turbulent memories of his childhood near the water slowly unfold. The descriptions of the coastline are just beautiful, and the family drama is unforgettable.
This is another Pat Conroy novel deeply rooted in Charleston. We follow Leo King from his youth, marked by a family tragedy, through decades of friendship. He and his diverse group of friends form bonds that are tested time and again by secrets and mistakes.
Charleston itself feels like a character in the book, full of charm and history that surrounds the characters’ lives.
Set in South Carolina during the racially charged summer of 1964, this book tells Lily’s story. She’s a young girl haunted by the memory of her mother’s death.
After her caregiver, Rosaleen, faces violence, they run away and find shelter with three independent, beekeeping sisters in a bright pink house.
It’s a story about finding family in unexpected places and Lily’s search for answers about her mother leads her to truths about herself.
This novel offers a perspective on plantation life in South Carolina before the Civil War. Written in its time, the story looks at the interactions between enslaved people, the plantation owners, and abolitionist viewpoints.
The characters represent the different social and political positions of the era, which gives a sense of the tensions and moral questions surrounding slavery.
DuBose Heyward’s novel takes you to the waterfront community of Catfish Row in Charleston. The story centers on Porgy, a disabled Black man whose life becomes intertwined with the troubles and joys of his neighbors.
You get a real feel for the Gullah culture and the daily lives of people in the South Carolina Lowcountry in the early 20th century. This is the book that inspired the famous opera Porgy and Bess.
Travel to the rural South Carolina Lowcountry just after the Civil War. This story follows a young man from a poor family as he deals with personal hardships and the changes happening in society around him.
Themes of family strength and the shifting Southern landscape are key parts of his journey. The book paints a picture of the region’s natural beauty and the day-to-day life of that time.
William Gilmore Simms wrote this historical novel about the early 18th century in South Carolina. It focuses on the conflict between the colonial settlers and the Yemassee people over land.
Key characters like the Yemassee chief Sanutee and the colonist Gabriel Harrison face hard choices about loyalty, love, and survival. Simms really makes the Lowcountry setting come alive with his descriptions.
This is a tough but powerful story about Bone, a young girl who grows up poor in Greenville County, South Carolina. Her family life is full of secrets and difficulty, and Bone endures abuse while trying to figure out who she is.
Dorothy Allison gives a raw look at the rural South, highlighting the resilience and complicated bonds within Bone’s world.
Set during the American Revolution in South Carolina, this novel follows young Caroline Whitaker. Her family is torn by divided loyalties in the war, and she carries her own mixed heritage.
When the British imprison her brother, Caroline undertakes a risky mission to try and free him. The book vividly portrays the tense atmosphere of the war-torn South and one girl’s personal struggles within it.
Charles W. Chesnutt tells the story of John and Rena Walden, siblings of mixed race in the post-Civil War South. They decide to pass as white. John creates a new life for himself in one town, and then he encourages Rena to join him.
The novel examines how this choice affects their relationships, their identities, and where they fit in a society deeply divided by race.
This book is written as the diary of Patsy, a young girl who was recently freed from slavery in post-Civil War South Carolina. As she learns to read and write, she records her private thoughts, her experiences, and her observations during this time of huge change.
Through Patsy’s innocent yet perceptive eyes, we see the challenges and hopes of her community.
Ron Rash sets this story in a small South Carolina town near the Tamassee River, where a young girl has drowned. A conflict arises when her parents want to retrieve her body from the wild river, but environmentalists argue to leave the river undisturbed.
The novel explores the local culture, the force of nature, and the difficult situation when personal grief conflicts with broader environmental ideals.
This novel follows Fancy, a young woman determined to escape poverty in rural South Carolina. She makes her way to Charleston and climbs the social ladder.
The story charts her journey, her relationships, and her sheer will to build a better life against the expectations of Southern society. It’s a tale full of ambition and romantic entanglements.
Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan is working an archaeological dig near Charleston when she finds recent human bones mixed with ancient ones. What seems routine soon pulls her into a complex criminal investigation connected to the coast.
Fans of forensic science and suspense will enjoy how the story combines scientific detail with the challenges Temperance faces to solve the mystery.
Tory Bodeen comes back to her small South Carolina hometown years after her childhood friend, Hope, was murdered. Tory possesses psychic gifts, and she starts having visions linked to the past. As she reconnects with people from her youth, long-buried secrets start to emerge.
The story blends mystery, romance, and the haunting atmosphere of a close-knit community.
This adventure novel takes place during the American Revolution in South Carolina. The hero is the title character, Horse-Shoe Robinson, a sturdy blacksmith and patriot scout. He gets involved in battles, espionage, and protecting others while fighting for independence.
His bravery and dedication shine through in this story set against a historical background.
Set in 1980s Charleston, this book is a unique mix of horror, humor, and nostalgia. Abby and Gretchen are best friends, but their bond is put to the test after a strange night leaves Gretchen acting very differently.
Abby becomes convinced something supernatural has taken hold of her friend. She tries desperately to save Gretchen amidst high school drama and family issues.
Julia Peterkin won a Pulitzer Prize for this novel about Mary, a woman in a Gullah community in South Carolina. Mary is strong-willed and chooses to live life on her own terms, even when it goes against tradition. The story follows her path and the consequences of her choices.
It provides a rich look at community life, personal freedom, and the rhythms of the rural South.
Colson Whitehead’s novel tells the story of Cora’s escape from slavery on a Georgia plantation. In this imaginative book, the Underground Railroad is not just a network of people but an actual, physical railroad with tunnels and trains beneath the Southern earth.
Cora’s journey takes her through different states, each presenting its own nightmarish version of America. Her desperate flight for freedom makes each stop unforgettable.