5 Books Set in Maine, About Maine, or Tangentially Related to.. Maine
A few years back I started to make an effort to shop for books in person, instead of online. Partly because my “to-read pile” was getting out of hand, and also to support local bookstores.
Now if I want a book, I go for a nice drive to pick it up. My favorite local bookstore is in Castine, Maine, and has an excellent curated selection of books and a small coffee shop.
Visiting in person hasn’t quite solved the pile, I inevitably end up also picking up a couple of books on display. But that’s okay. I’m a sucker for a good local read.
Are you visiting me in Maine this summer for some lobster rolls and puffin sightings?
Here are a few books I’ve liked that should get you in the mood:
Pete and Alice in Maine by Caitlin Shetterly
A family of wealthy New Yorkers flee to their summer house in Maine at the beginning of COVID-19. The plot is slow at times, and the characters achingly unlikeable, but it’s worth a read for an accurate depiction of a family so deep into their privilege and B.S. that they miss out on the joy of their lives.
Effie Olsen’s Summer Special by Rochelle Bilow
Now for something lighter. A childhood best friends-to-lovers romance set in a Michelin-star restaurant on a tiny island in Maine. Slow burn, bit of food drama, perfect summer read vibes and bonus points for no third-act breakup.
The Weir by Ruth Moore
A good old-fashioned well-crafted story following two families during the years before World War II, and the drama and tension that ensues between hardworking fishermen, feuding families, and children coming into their own. All set against a beautifully described Maine backdrop. Perfect novel imo.
In her time, Moore was hailed as “New England’s only answer to Faulkner”. I have a theory that Maine is a lesbian power state. I’m still working on my thesis, so stay tuned.
The Reading Glass by Elliot Rappaport
Non-fiction time. A sea captain’s beautifully written tour of our planet, our oceans, and our ever-changing atmosphere. Part personal memoir, part nautical history, and part meteorology textbook. 100% pick this up if you’re into clouds.
Like super into clouds.
Eels by James Prosek
James Prosek also wrote a book about lobsters which seems like an obvious choice, but I like eels better. Maine has a really interesting eel fishing history and when the eels are running in the rivers in the early spring, they attract crazy amounts of birds.
One morning this past April I counted 8 osprey and over 100 cormorants fishing in a single tiny stretch of the Union River in Ellsworth.
Thanks for reading! I’ve added affiliate links for bookshop.org for all these books. Please support local bookstores so I can continue to visit them!
