Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore

Louisa has come to her parents’ house in Maine this summer with all three of her kids, a barely-written book, and a trunkful of resentment. Left behind in Brooklyn is her husband, who has promised that after this final round of fundraising at his startup he will once again pick up his share of the household responsibilities. Louisa is hoping that the crisp breeze off Penobscot Bay will blow away the irritation she is feeling with her life choices and replace it with enthusiasm for both her family and her work.

You can get a copy of Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore on Amazon or Bookshop.

Landslide by Susan Conley

After a fishing accident leaves her husband hospitalized across the border in Canada, Jill is left to look after her teenage boys–the wolves–alone. Nothing comes easy in their remote corner of Maine: money is tight; her son Sam is getting into more trouble by the day; her eldest, Charlie, is preoccupied with a new girlfriend; and Jill begins to suspect her marriage isn’t as stable as she once believed. As one disaster gives way to the next, she begins to think that it’s not enough to be a caring wife and mother anymore–not enough to show up when needed, to nudge her boys in the right direction, to believe everything will be okay. But how to protect this life she loves, this household, this family?

You can get a copy of Landslide by Susan Conley on Amazon or Bookshop.

Pete and Alice in Maine by Caitlin Shetterly

A powerful and beautifully written debut novel that intimately explores a fractured marriage and the struggles of modern parenthood, set against the backdrop of the chaotic spring of 2020.

You can get a copy of Pete and Alice in Maine by Caitlin Shetterly on Amazon or Bookshop.

Happy Place by Emily Henry 

A couple who broke up months ago pretends to still be together for their annual weeklong vacation with their best friends.

You can get a copy of Happy Place by Emily Henry on Amazon or Bookshop.

Interested in reading the best Emily Henry books? I have a guide all about her work in a separate article.

The World Cannot Give by Tara Isabella Burton

This novel explores queer desire, religious fervor, and the quest for transcendence within a cult-like chapel choir at a Maine boarding school. Shy newcomer Laura Stearns longs for an intense experience akin to her favorite novel, All Before Them, by Sebastian Webster. She becomes enthralled by the charismatic leader Virginia Strauss, who demands perfection and immerses Laura in a world of music, rituals, and secret escapades. However, when a new chaplain threatens Virginia’s authority, Laura must confront the limits of her devotion and the dangers that come with it.

You can get a copy of The World Cannot Give by Tara Isabella Burton on Amazon or Bookshop.

The Other Mrs by Mary Kubica

In this twisty whodunnit by Mary Kubica, Sadie Foust’s life is upended when her neighbor, Morgan Baines, is found murdered shortly after Sadie’s family moves to a coastal island in Maine. As suspicion falls on the newcomers, Sadie digs into the mystery, uncovering dangerous secrets that threaten her own life if the truth is revealed.

You can get a copy of The Other Mrs by Mary Kubica on Amazon or Bookshop.

Margreete’s Harbor by Eleanor Morse

A literary novel set on the coast of Maine during the 1960s, tracing the life of a family and its matriarch as they negotiate sharing a home.

You can get a copy of Margreete’s Harbor by Eleanor Morse on Amazon.

Downeast by Gigi Georges

In Downeast, Gigi Georges follows five girls as they come of age in one of the most challenging and geographically isolated regions on the Eastern seaboard. Their stories reveal surprising truths about rural America and offer hope for its future.

You can get a copy of Downeast by Gigi Georges on Amazon or Bookshop.

Haven Point by Virginia Hume

A sweeping debut novel about the generations of a family that spends summers in a seaside enclave on Maine’s rocky coastline. Over seven decades of a changing America, through wars and storms, betrayals and reconciliations, Haven Point explores what it means to belong to a place, and to a family, which holds as tightly to its traditions as it does its secrets.

You can get a copy of Haven Point by Virginia Hume on Amazon or Bookshop.

The Lowering Days by Gregory Brown

A promising literary star makes his debut with this emotionally powerful saga, set in 1980s Maine, that explores family love, the power of myths and storytelling, survival and environmental exploitation, and the ties between cultural identity and the land we live on.

You can get a copy of The Lowering Days by Gregory Brown on Amazon or Bookshop.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

At times stern, at other times patient, at times perceptive, at other times in sad denial, Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher, deplores the changes in her little town of Crosby, Maine, and in the world at large. As the townspeople grapple with their problems, mild and dire, Olive is brought to a deeper understanding of herself and her life–sometimes painfully, but always with ruthless honesty.

You can get a copy of Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout on Amazon or Bookshop.

The Shape of Night by Tess Gerritsen

A woman trying to outrun her past is drawn to a coastal village in Maine–and to a string of unsolved murders–in this novel of romance and psychological suspense from New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen.

You can get a copy of The Shape of Night by Tess Gerritsen on Amazon or Bookshop.

The Midcoast by Adam White

It’s spring in the tiny town of Damariscotta, a tourist haven on the coast of Maine known for its oysters and antiques. Andrew, a high school English teacher recently returned to the area, has brought his family to Ed and Steph Thatch’s sprawling riverside estate to attend a reception for the Amherst women’s lacrosse team. As Andrew wanders through the Thatches’ house, he stumbles upon a file he’s not supposed to see: photos of a torched body in a burned-out sedan. Soon the newspapers are running headlines about the Thatches, and Andrew’s poring over his memories, trying to piece together the story of a family he thought he knew.

You can get a copy of The Midcoast by Adam White on Amazon or Bookshop.

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

Set in a sleepy seaside town in Maine, a heartfelt debut about the unlikely relationship between a young woman who’s lost her husband and a major league pitcher who’s lost his game.

You can get a copy of Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes on Amazon or Bookshop.

Salem’s Lot by Stephen King

Ben Mears returns to Jerusalem’s Lot to explore the Marsten House for inspiration for his new book. When one of two boys who ventured into the woods returns alive, Mears realizes something sinister is at work. His hometown is besieged by unimaginable darkness, and he, along with a small group of allies, must contain the growing evil. This classic horror novel is a must-read for its masterful transformation of familiar settings into terrifying places, making it a standout in creepy horror literature.

You can get a copy of Salem’s Lot by Stephen King on Amazon or Bookshop.

P.S. In my mind Stephen King is the literary mayor of Maine. If you’re interested in reading all of Stephen King’s books, I have a complete list in a separate article. If you want a fast track, I have a list of Stephen King’s best books.

The Maine Woods by Henry David Thoreau

Over a period of three years, Thoreau made three trips to the largely unexplored woods of Maine. He climbed mountains, paddled a canoe by moonlight, and dined on cedar beer, hemlock tea and moose lips. Taking notes constantly, Thoreau was just as likely to turn his observant eye to the habits and languages of the Abnaki Indians or the arduous life of the logger as he was to the workings of nature. He acutely observed the rivers, lakes, mountains, wolves, moose, and stars in the dark sky. He also told of nights sitting by the campfire, and of meeting men who communicated with each other by writing on the trunks of trees. In The Maine Woods, Thoreau captured a wilder side of America and revealed his own adventurous spirit.

You can get a copy of The Maine Woods by Henry David Thoreau on Amazon or Bookshop.

Interested in reading books about the outdoors and nature? Check out my article on the Gibbs Smith Wilderness Series.

The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda

Littleport, Maine, has always felt like two separate towns: an ideal vacation enclave for the wealthy, whose summer homes line the coastline; and a simple harbor community for the year-round residents whose livelihoods rely on service to the visitors. But the summer after a wealthy young summer guest dies under suspicious circumstances, her best friend lives under a cloud of grief and suspicion.

You can get a copy of The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda on Amazon or Bookshop.

Edinburgh by Alexander Chee

Twelve-year-old Fee is a shy Korean-American boy growing up in Maine whose powerful soprano voice wins him a place as section leader of the first sopranos in his local boys choir. But when, on a retreat, Fee discovers how the director treats the boys he makes section leader, he is so ashamed, he says nothing of the abuse, not even when Peter, Fee’s best friend, is in line to be next. The director is eventually arrested, and Fee tries to forgive himself for his silence. But when Peter takes his own life, Fee blames only himself.

You can get a copy of Edinburgh by Alexander Chee on Amazon or Bookshop.