This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is Books Set in places I’ve visited. Is it fun for you to read a book set in a familiar and recognizable place?
Books Set in Places I’ve Visited
I’m linking up today with That Artsy Reader Girl for Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Places I’ve Visited.
(In no particular order)
Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego, CA
The Beautiful Strangers by Camille Di Maio is set in and around Hotel Del Coronado, and I spend a week there one summer during my high school years. It was fun flirting with the Navy guys! I’ve been back a few times since then to visit. Check out my review post to see pictures of the iconic and historic Hotel Del.
South Dakota
I was born and spend my early years in South Dakota, and I’ve been back to visit many times. I loved reading Dakota: A Spiritual Geography by Kathleen Norris which mentions many familiar places and captures the wild beauty of the plains. Check out this post where I talk about a recent family reunion in South Dakota and The Art of Gathering
Peal Harbor
Reading Radar Girls by Sara Ackerman (and all her WWII Pearl Harbor books) and Heroes by Alan Gratz brough back memories of visiting Pearl Harbor.
Montecito, CA
Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan is a light, humorous, and entertaining story of wedding planning from the POVs of the Mother of the Bride and the Mother of the Groom. My parents lived in Montecito for a few years and we visited often.
Texas
The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff is one of many stories I’ve read set in Texas, a state I’ve visited a couple of times.
By the way, I have a FREE Book Club Kit for The Burning Side.
Scotland
My parents lived in Edinburgh, Scotland for a couple of years and we visited them for three weeks the first Christmas they were there. The Christmas Castle in Scotland by Julie Caplin is set there.
Boston
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center is set in Boston. I spent a week there once walking The Freedom Trail and immersing myself in early American history.
Maine
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McClosky and Marriage by the Sea by Jody Hedlund (pub date: 11/17/2026) are both set in Maine and talk about blueberries. My favorite memory of spending a week at York Beach, Maine is eating blueberries (by the carton!). Have you eaten blueberries in Maine?!
Denmark
Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson is set in Denmark. I’ve visited once, and I loved walking the streets of Copenhagen and imagining my ancestors walking those same paths. I didn’t visit the museum mentioned in the book, however.
Alaska
In Jewel’s memoir, Never Broken: Songs are Only Half the Story, she describes growing up in rural Alaska. I’ve visited Ketchikan, Alaska when our Alaskan cruise stopped there. We did some shopping, saw totem poles, and visited a salmon hatchery, and I’d love to go back!
QOTD:
Do you find it enjoyable to read books set in familiar settings? What book would be on your list?
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Fab list, Carol! I love books set in Venice, as I’ve been there twice, but only briefly, and would love to go back again!
I’ve never been!
What a fun Top Ten. I quite like finding a book set in a place that I have visited.
Making that connection always adds to the reading experience!
Blueberries for Sal looks cute.
A classic! 😋
Great places. Have a good week. Here is my TTT. https://dmhoisington.wordpress.com/2026/08/25/top-ten-tuesday-39-books-covers-that-feel-like-summer/
Thanks! 🌷
You have read some wonderful books and visited some amazing places! I would love to visit Maine during blueberry season — that sounds magical.
Maine blueberries are the best! 😋
Wow, your parents have lived in some interesting places! I had to go back to Me: A to Z, to find out you live in California…..to simplify, I’d have to say my favorite place to visit is France, and I must have read at LEAST 25 books set in France! Some fiction, some memoirs. I could not pick a favorite.
So many books set in France! 🙌💖
Oh! PS! I forgot to answer your question about Maine! I LIVE in Maine and I have blueberry bushes in my backyard! Yum!
Eating them is one of my fav memories of Maine! 😋😋😋
Great twist on the topic!
Thanks! 🌷
I would absolutely LOVE to visit both Denmark and Alaska. Great list! And I love how you tweaked the topic 🙂 Makes me want to make another list!
Thanks! I love books set in places I know!
I just finished compiling a list of all the books I’ve read from each state and I’ve only read one, yes one, set in South Dakota. I think I’ll add your suggested title to my TBR so I can up my count!
Awesome 🙌 That’s a significant accomplishment! I wonder how many I’ve read?
I like the way you went with this Carol. I almost did the same. I have been to almost every state in the US, but I’ve never been to Maine, but I remember reading Blueberries for Sal. If I had done it this way, I would have done Croatia, Venice, Scotland (Highlands, Edinburgh, or Glasgow), Ireland (Cork, Belfast, or Dublin), Greece, Rome, Florence, South Carolina (beach area), Texas, and Georgia.
You’ve been everywhere! 🎶
Love this! I’ve been a few of these places… and would love to read a book set at the Hotel del Coronado!
I love grand old hotels!
Lovely list! I’ve been to a lot of these places, but not either of the Dakotas. Someday maybe.
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Thanks Susan! 🌷
You’re very well travelled!
So fun to read books set in familiar places!
Blueberries For Sal brings back so many wonderful memories. I also purchased last summer the cookbook that goes with the book as well.
That’s cool! 😋