17 Best Books Set in Maine
If you’re looking for the best books set in Maine, you’re in the right place.
Maine is one of the most intriguing places in the United States. Located in the far Northeast, the Pine Tree State is home to rugged coastlines, rocky and beautiful Acadia National Park, and the far-flung endpoint of the Appalachian Trail. It’s a state both cozy and remote.
It brings to mind winter cabins in the middle of the forest, lonely lighthouses dotted along the dramatic coast, and quiet fisherman’s villages nestled against the sea.
Maine’s ruggedness and remoteness make it a popular setting for horror books, particularly those written by famous native author Stephen King.
However, I have included books from all genres on this list to help you find the right read for you. Here are the best books set in Maine that will transport you there!
Grab your favorite books on Maine here:
Best Books Set in Maine
The Cider House Rules by John Irving
This award-winning novel is set in rural Maine during the first half of the twentieth century and follows the eccentric Dr. Larch and his orphan protege.
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It by Stephen King
One of the most acclaimed horror novels of all time, It is set in small-town Derry, Maine. The story follows seven adults who have returned to their hometown and must confront a nameless evil that they first discovered one summer when they were teenagers.
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Other Stephen King books set in Maine:
Lost on a Mountain in Maine by Donn Fendler
If you’re a fan of survival stories, you will enjoy this true-life tale of one young boy’s incredible will to survive.
Donn was twelve when he got separated from his Boy Scout troop in a hiking expedition, leading to a harrowing two weeks alone on a mountain while he fought to survive.
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The Guest Book by Sarah Blake
This novel follows three generations of an elite family living on Crockett’s Island off the coast of Maine. The story examines the life and legacy of the family members as they navigate the evolving social and political landscape from their beloved island retreat.
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Stern Men by Elizabeth Gilbert
Off the coast of Maine, Ruth Thomas is born into a feud fought for generations by two groups of local lobstermen over fishing rights for the local waters. At eighteen, she has returned from boarding school thrown over her education and joined the “stern men” working the lobster boats.
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Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan
This fiction novel follows three generations of women from one family as they return to the family’s summer beach home in Maine. The four women each have their own struggles, and they come together in this funny, emotional story about the strength of family.
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Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Alternating between Depression-era Minnesota and present-day Maine, this gripping novel is a story of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, and unexpected friendship.
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Other Christina Baker Kline books set in Maine:
The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve
Based on a true story, The Stars Are Fire is a historical fiction novel about the devastating Maine coastal fires that occurred during the summer of 1947. This story follows one woman’s struggles and triumphs as her life is irrevocably altered after the fires.
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Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts
This emotional women’s fiction book is about a mass shooting that occurs at a mall in Portland, Maine. It follows several survivors and the events in the year after.
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Clammed Up by Barbara Ross
If you are looking for a cozy mystery set in Maine, this is the perfect one to pick up. Taking place in a small coastal town, it follows a woman who has returned home to help her family’s struggling clambake business, only to find herself investigating a shocking murder.
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Sweet Salt Air by Barbara Delinsky
Charlotte and Nicole are childhood best friends who grew up spending summers together on the coast of Maine. Now both adults with separate lives and careers, they find themselves back in Quinnipeague for a final summer.
But what both women don’t know is that they are each holding something back that may change their lives forever when it’s revealed.
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Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is set in the small town of Crosby, Maine. It centers around retired schoolteacher Olive Kitteridge who clings to consistency and despises change.
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Other Elizabeth Strout books set in Maine:
The Love Goddess’ Cooking School by Melissa Senate
This novel follows a woman, Holly, whose grandmother was known as the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Maine – a legendary chef and fortune-teller. Now Holly has returned to Maine to attempt to live up to her grandmother’s legacy and find love for herself.
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Among Other Things, I’ve Taken Up Smoking by Aoibheann Sweeney
Set between New York City and Maine, this critically-acclaimed novel tells the story of a girl on a journey to discover her eccentric father’s past and learn more about herself.
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The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel
This is the remarkable true story of a man who spent three decades living alone in the forest of Maine, finding ingenious ways to survive on his own in the wild.
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The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane by Kelly Harms
When two women with the same name both think they have won a contest for a dream home giveaway, they each head to Christmas Cove, Maine in order to claim the prize they think is theirs.
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The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda
If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller set in Maine that will keep you on the edge of your seat, The Last House Guest will not disappoint.
After a wealthy young summer visitor to Littleport, Maine dies mysteriously, her best friend who lives in town is trying to find out what happened… only to be marked as a person of interest in the murder.
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Best Books Set in Maine
These are some of the best books set in Maine.
Have you read any of these books set in Maine? Do you have any favorite books set in Maine that I should add to this list? Let me know in the comments below!
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Where next?
Start with this list of the very best travel adventure books. It includes great reads that will fuel your wanderlust and have you staying up late to finish them.
And if you’re looking for more books set around the US, check out some of these popular posts:
