- “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison: Set in Lorain, Ohio, this powerful novel explores themes of racial self-hatred, beauty standards, and the quest for identity.
- “Beloved” by Toni Morrison: While not exclusively set in Ohio, parts of this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel take place in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the main character, Sethe, struggles to overcome her haunting past as a former slave.
- “Winesburg, Ohio” by Sherwood Anderson: This influential collection of interconnected short stories offers a portrait of the fictional town of Winesburg, Ohio, and its inhabitants, focusing on their loneliness and frustrations.
- “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng: Set in the planned community of Shaker Heights, Ohio, this bestselling novel explores themes of race, motherhood, and privilege through the intertwined lives of two families.
- “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger: Although not primarily set in Ohio, the novel’s protagonist, Holden Caulfield, hails from Agerstown, Pennsylvania, which borders Ohio. The story follows Holden’s journey of self-discovery in New York City.
- “The Death of Bunny Munro” by Nick Cave: While the majority of the novel takes place in Brighton, England, the titular character hails from Ohio. This darkly comedic novel delves into the psyche of Bunny Munro, a salesman and womanizer.
- “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain: Although not exclusively set in Ohio, parts of this beloved novel take place in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, inspired by Hannibal, Missouri, where the young Tom Sawyer lives his adventurous life.
- “The Giver” by Lois Lowry: Set in a dystopian future, this young adult novel follows Jonas, a boy living in a seemingly perfect community where emotions and memories are controlled. While the specific location is not mentioned, the author is from Ohio.
- “Middlesex” by Jeffrey Eugenides: While the majority of the novel takes place in Detroit and Greece, it begins with the story of Calliope Stephanides, who is born and raised in the fictional town of Smyrna, Ohio.
- “The Paper Wasp” by Lauren Acampora: This suspenseful novel is set in suburban Cleveland, Ohio, and tells the story of Abby, a young woman navigating the complexities of friendship, obsession, and ambition.
WANDERLIST: Ten famous novels set in Ohio
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