- Jul 16
- 5 min read
I've written a series of interconnected urban fantasy books based in the United States Midwest (Wisconsin specifically). A common comment from readers is that it is so refreshing to read these books because they aren't based in one of the oh-so-popular East Coast or West Coast cities.
And it's true that the Midwest is not a popular setting for most type of fiction. If you take a look at this infographic you'll see where the most popular locations are:
(Side note: I think this graphic only includes books published by the top commercial publishers, because I swear there is at least 10,000+ cowboy books that should be making those numbers in Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas much higher!)
To solve this issue I asked the readers in my community for recommendations of their favorite fiction books based in the Midwest. So if you too would like to read a book based in Wisconsin or one of the other surrounding States check out this list!
Note: We limited out list to just some of the Great Lakes States (see map above) because otherwise this list would have gotten too large. I asked the reader community for no spice and low language but check the book reviews if you have questions about the content.
Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance
Hall of Blood and Mercy by K. M. Shea (Wisconsin)
Court of Midnight and Deception by K. M. Shea (Wisconsin)
Pack of Dawn and Destiny by K. M. Shea (Wisconsin)
Gate of Myth and Power by K. M. Shea (Wisconsin)
Magic on Main Street by K. M. Shea (Wisconsin)
Between by L. L. Starling (Wisconsin)
Wolves of the Northwoods series by A. J. Manney
Half a Faerie by Toni Cabell (Wisconsin)
Return to Mooncrest Inn by Toni Cabell (Wisconsin)
Soulmate by Kellie McAllen (Michigan)
The Immortal Accords series by Anna Hawke (Chicago)
Dystopian or Other Types of Fantasy
New Augsburg Trilogy by Christa Petzold (Wisconsin)
The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert (Wisconsin)
The Eden Saga by K. R. S. McEntire (Chicago)
No Less Days series by Amanda G. Stevens (Michigan)
RomCom / Contemporary
A Guide to Fake Dating Your Enemy by Nikki Bright (Wisconsin)
A Guide to Bantering With Your Boss by Nikki Bright (Wisconsin)
Everything's Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh (Wisconsin)
Fall in Love series by Leah Dobrinska (Wisconsin)
The Pebble Creek Amish series by Vanetta Chapman (Wisconsin)
Faking After All by Cece Louise (Wisconsin)
Shotgun Lovesongs by Nikolas Butler (Wisconsin)
The Road Home by Malissa Chapin (Wisconsin)
Hope for Christmas by Malissa Chapin (Wisconsin)
Holidays With Hart series by Courtney Walsh (Chicago)
The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh (Chicago)
Lilies, Lies & Love by Marion De Re (Chicago)
Sophie's Heart by Lori Wick (Chicago)
First Class Romance by Emily Maxwell (Chicago)
Game Seven by Megan Cousins (Michigan)
Funny Story by Emily Henry (Michigan)
Cream and Punishment by Brianne Ritchie Córdova (Michigan)
Summer at Fraser's Mill by Ursi Engebretsen (Michigan)
Shoulder Season by Kathy Fawcett (Michigan)
Water Dance by Kathy Fawcett (Michigan)
Michigan Millionaires series by Kimmy Loth (Michigan)
You Are The Light by Everlee Whitman (Michigan)
Wild Harbor Beach series by Grace Worthington (Michigan)
The Summer Cottage by Viola Shipman (Michigan)
Hollow Bridge series by Briana Bass (Indiana)
Taking Your Time by Julia Diers (Indiana)
For Sure and Certain I Do Not Love Henry Yoder by Jennifer Spredmann and Brandi Gabriel (Indiana)
Amish Country Brides by Jennifer Spredemann (Indiana)
Superior Hearts: Summer by Olivia Hope McCarthy (Michigan)
Here With Me by Mandy Boerma and Tari Faris (Michigan)
At First Glance by Susan L. Tuttle (Chicago)
A Billionaire for Every Season by Krista Noorman (Michigan)
Love in Abbottsville by Krista Noorman (Michigan)
Cornerstone by Krista Noorman (Michigan)
The Bloom Sisters series by Tara Grace Ericson (Indiana)
Second Chance Fire Station series by Tara Grace Ericson (Indiana)
Seasons of Love series by Tara Grace Ericson (Indiana)
Assignment: Romance series by Barbara Valentin (Chicago)
Sailing into the Heart by Tana Jenkins (Michigan)
Still Life with Lobster by Tana Jenkins (Michigan)
Love on Sanctuary Shores series (multi author) (Michigan)
Trusting Love by Cherie Roberson (Illinois)
Don't Stop Believing by Blue Huxley and Jade Behr (Michigan)
Story Chaser series by Mark R. Hunter (Indiana)
A Winter Dream by Richard Paul Evans (Chicago)
Safe With You by Jaye Elliot (Wisconsin)
Hope Springs series by Valerie M. Bodden (Wisconsin)
All That We Carried by Erin Bartels (Michigan)
Chapel Springs Romance series by Denise Hunter (Indiana)
Historical / Historical Romance
Hart's Longing by Marisa Masterson (Wisconsin)
Manny's Triumph by Marisa Masterson (Wisconsin)
Lilah's Chase by Marisa Masterson (Wisconsin)
A Lesson in Propriety by Jen Turano (Chicago)
Unending Devotion by Jody Hedlund (Michigan)
A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund (Michigan)
Captured By Love by Jody Hedlund (Michigan)
Undaunted Hope by Jody Hedlund (Michigan)
Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund (Michigan)
Love Unexpected by Jody Hedlund (Michigan)
A Girl of the Limberlost, Freckles, etc. by Gene Stratton-Porter (Indiana)
The Hoosier Schoolmaster by Edward Eggleston (Indiana)
Northwoods Dreams series by Serena B. Miller (Michigan)
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (Michigan)
Romantic Suspense
The O'Malley series by Dee Henderson (Chicago)
Artists & Billionaires series by Lorin Grace (Indiana)
Hastings Security series by Lorin Grace (Chicago and Indiana)
Annie Pederson series by Colleen Coble (Michigan)
Mystery (All Types) and Thrillers
Charlie Kingsley Mysteries by Michele Pariza Wacek (Wisconsin)
Secrets of Redemption by Michele Pariza Wacek (Wisconsin)
The Redemption Detective Agency by Michele Pariza Wacek (Wisconsin)
Riverview Mysteries by Michele Pariza Wacek (Wisconsin)
A Piper Haydn Piano Mystery by Malissa Chapin (Wisconsin)
The Ghost of Loon Lake by Rachelle Paige Campbell (Wisconsin)
The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jamie Jo Wright (Wisconsin)
Jim Higgins Driftless Mystery series by Sue Berg (Wisconsin)
A Monster Hunter Mystery by Annelise Ryan (Wisconsin)
Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub (Wisconsin)
Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose (Wisconsin)
Hanneke Bauer Mystery by Kathleen Ernst (Wisconsin)
Grady Lake Mystery series by J. L. Hyde (Michigan)
The Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun (Michigan)
Scrumble River Mysteries by Denise Swanson (Illinois)
Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica (Chicago)
Chicago Stories series by Eileen Robertson Hamer (Chicago)
The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers (Michigan + Indiana)
The House by the Cemetery by Lisa Childs (Michigan)
YA
The 1-800-Where-R-You series by Meg Cabot (Indiana)
Between You and Me and Dallas by Ellison Lane (Wisconsin)
The Divergent series by Veronica Roth (Chicago)
Adventures of the Northwoods by Lois Walfrid Johnson (Wisconsin and Michigan)
Midwestern Bookish Belles series by Luci Taylor (Illinois)
Michigan Chillers series by Jonathan Rand (Michigan)
The Glittering Edge by Alyssa Villaire (Indiana)
The Gateway Chronicles series by KB Hoyle (Michigan)
A Million Junes by Emily Henry (Michigan)
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Indiana)
The Windy City Magic series by Crystal Cestari (Chicago)
The Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (Michigan)
