There is something about small-town stories that I just love. The quirky characters, the picturesque settings, the sense of community! Since my summer vacation plans are on hold, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite fictional small towns due for a literary visit. I especially love when I can read many books set in one town and see it from many different characters points of view!
Take a look at my list below and comment below with which ones you’ve visited, or are adding to your list. Some are from our own InspyRomance authors, but others are not!
Deep Haven, Minnesota (Susan May Warren)
I love being able to read lots of books set in the same place, and Susan May Warren’s Deep Haven definitely fits the bill. The Deep Haven Series is six books full of Minnesota charm, and the spin-off series (The Christiansen Series) also takes place there! Plus, there will be six more novels set here coming out in the next two years from other authors working alongside Warren.
Arcadia Valley, Idaho (Multi-author series)
The Multiauthor Arcadia Valley Series is a perfect place to go on a Small-Town Book Vacation. Arcadia Valley is “where a foodie culture and romance grow hand-in-hand.” There are twenty-four books I
could find based in this town. Plus, for the month of May, you can get three of the authors complete collection for $0.99 each! That’s 12 books for $2.97 — or read them for free in Kindle Unlimited.
I love the entertwined stories here, plus the focus on faith, food, and family!
Valerie Comer’s Garden Grown Romance collection
Elizabeth Maddrey’s Baxter Family Bakery collection
Lee Tobin McClain’s Romance from the Heart collection
Maple Valley, Iowa (Melissa Tagg)
I love Stars Hollow, the fictional town from the Gilmore Girls, and Maple Valley, Iowa is as close as I have seen in fiction. You’ve got the crazy mayor, near-monthly festivals and events, plus all the heart and goodwill you’d expect from a rural small-town.
Check out Melissa Tagg’s books here — both the Walker Family Series and the new Maple Valley Series happen in this small-town I would love to visit!
Maple Run, Virginia (Toni Shiloh)
Toni Shiloh has a fabulous series in the fictional small-town of Maple Run, Virginia. My favorite thread uniting these stories is that Mrs. Williams (the matriarch and co-owner of The Pit) meddles in everyone’s love life! All the books center around a restaurant called The Maple Pit where they serve BBQ and maple flavored foods, and I love that all the main characters are present for all the books. It makes you feel like you really get to know everyone!
The four books in the series are Buying Love, Finding Love, Enduring Love, and Risking Love.
Abundance, Missouri (Sally Bayless)
The Abundance Series has four books, plus two novellas. Plus, Book 5 is coming soon! Abundance Missouri has some of my favorite small-town staples — good restaurants and a quirky character! Earl Ray Hamlin, who is the secondary hero in Book 1 is big-hearted but also outspoken and liable to cause trouble.
Take a book vacation to Abundance, Missouri today. The Abundance Series
Minden, Indiana (Tara Grace Ericson)
Okay, I have to be honest and admit my own fictional town makes the list of places I’d like to visit! And why not? Minden has an amazing annual Fall Festival, the B&J Bistro run by the talented Chrissy Matthews, and best of all? Miss Ruth, the wise motherly figure who speaks truth and light into the community. I definitely want to attend the annual softball game and have some of The Rolling Pin’s homemade muffins.
Visit Minden for yourself in the Main Street Minden Series, and the nearby Bloom’s Farm.
Carson, Georgia (Mandi Blake)
The Unfailing Love series is set in the fictional small town of Carson, Georgia about an hour from Atlanta. The main characters in this 6-book series are hardworking members of the town from a mechanic, to hardware store owners, to a hair dresser. The characters love the town and the people who live there, and they won’t hesitate to help someone in need. Watch out for Ms. Miller, the town gossip. She makes her way into each book stirring up trouble for the characters.
Merryweather, Washington (Becky Wade)
I loved the Bradford Sisters Series from Becky Wade. There is a historical village PLUS a small town, and all the quintessential small-town characters and places. A bed and breakfast, coffee shop, and most importantly? A small-town library featured heavily in Book 1. Check out Becky Wade’s Bradford Sisters Series.
Pine Haven, Alabama (Hannah Jo Abbott)
In this Southern small town, the community is tight-knit. The characters come together often, whether to work for a cause or celebrate a milestone. You can walk down Main Street to eat burgers at The Depot, play a round of golf at the country club, or ride horses to The Bluff and take in the view. You’re sure to fall in love with the scenery, the people, and the stories of Pine Haven. The Faith and Love Series and The Sweet Home Billionaires Series are both set here, and it is definitely on my list of places to visit!
Shiloh and Bethel Ridge, South Carolina (Andrea Boyd)
South Carolina is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Andrea Boyd has captured the essence of the small coastal towns in The Walden Beach Series and her new Spencer Family Series. From a town trying to break a Guiness World Record for Mistletoe Kisses to mature characters who struggle with real problems, I definitely want to hit these South Carolina towns on my trip.
Let me know what you thought of my list! What fictional small-towns did I miss? How many have you visited? Are there any you still need to read? Comment below to join the conversation!
Tara Grace Ericson lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons. She studied engineering and worked as an engineer for many years before embracing her creative side to become a full-time author. She loves cooking, crocheting, and reading books by the dozen. Her writing partner is usually her black lab - Ruby - and a good cup of coffee or tea. She loves a good “happily ever after” with an engaging love story. That’s why Tara focuses on writing clean contemporary romance, with an emphasis on Christian faith and living.
I am furiously adding to my reading list.
I love multiple books set in the same small town! I think these give you the opportunity to develop a deeper connection with a group of people and family connections. I love feeling I am actually a part of these people’s families making the end such a let-down unless I know I can continue the adventure with another family/couple. I was raised in a small town too which gives me a special love for these places!
Thank you for adding my Maple Run crew!
Sounds like I have books to add to my wish list.
I discovered Susan May Warren when searching for Susan May’s horror books. My mum loves them as we were born in a small town full of eccentric characters where everyone helps each other. Great list!
Thank you for reading and sharing. I love SMW’s books as well!
I’m glad you found some new books on the list that sounded interesting! Wouldn’t want that to-be-read pile to get too small, right? (As if there was any danger of that!) ;)
Thanks for writing such fun stories!
Yes! I am so sad when I finish a series and the next is set somewhere else. I’m trying to decide if my next books will take place near Minden or if I will choose somewhere else! I’m thinking I can start a new town but have it close enough to incorporate some familiar places and people… Those characters and families become so special!
I’m so glad you found some new books on the list! I hope you enjoy them!
I’ve read the Susan May Warren books (I have one set and read the others through my church library), and Mandi Blake’s!! Some of the others are in my TBR stack. One I love is Hope Harbor, a fictional small town in Oregon by Irene Hannon. Also, Chapel Cove set in Oregon, by Autumn MacArthur, Alexa Verde, and Marion Ueckermann. And, last but not least, The Tales of the Grace Chapel Inn that had more authors than I could name!
Some of the towns on your list I am familiar with and love them, and some are new to me.
However, I think Marietta, Montana should definitely be added to the list! That is my favorite of all time. (Multiple authors)
There is also Stacey Joy Netzel’s Welcome to Redemption and Romancing Wisconsin series, both set in small towns (Redemption, and Pulaski). Both big favorites of mine.
Small towns are my favorite so I have visited several of the ones you mentioned and I am checking out the ones I don’t know. Thanks so much for the list!
Does Jan Karon’s Mitford count as a small town? 😉
Oh yes – Hope Harbor is definitely a great one! I haven’t read the newest one yet, but I love the others!
I haven’t read Chapel Cove, I will check it out!
Thanks for the recommendations! I haven’t read any of those!
Thanks for reading! Enjoy your trip 😉
Absolutely! I love Mitford, what a great addition to the list!
All of those are on my list. I’ve only read 3. Good stuff! Small town romance is my favorite and it’s what I write 😍
I absolutely adore Arcadia Valley, and Andrea Boyd’s worlds too! Some of my other favorites are Bridgview (Valerie Comer’s Urban Farm Fresh Romance) and Valeries Saddle Springs in Montana as well. Rios Azules (Alexa Verde’s story world) is a wonderful small Texas town and most recently Chapel Cove (by Autumn Macarther, Marion Ueckermann and Alexa Verde)!
It’s my favorite, too! I hope you enjoy the ones you haven’t read yet!
I was thinking about Saddle Springs! I might have to do another Top 10 with western towns!
I love small town series too. A couple I would add are Dry Creek, Montana by Janet Tronstad. Some of the Characters are wonderful. I forget the name of the older lady who teaches Sunday school (Mrs Hargraves I think) She is a wonderful Christian lady who is often has a wise word for the hero or heroine without meddling.
Another series is the Wings of Refuse and the Eagle Point series by Cheryl Wyatt. Both set in Illinois both are small towns and deal with military families (some still in service and some retired)
Maybe you could have a couple/family who have been living in Minden torn over a reason they really believe God is leading them to move. You could start a whole new beautiful new town but keep the first books main characters familiar. It could end up being a town close enough to have some people from Minden able to travel back and forth for visits. Who knows, this could end up being a new mix of marriages in the future too!
Nearly all my other favorites have already been mentioned by the earlier commenters, but you might want to check out Laurie Larsen’s Pawley’s Island and Murrell’s Inlet series and Valerie Bodden’s Hope Springs series. Both are IR authors and well worth the read. Another series I have been enjoying very much is Becky Doughty’s Seven Virtues Ranch set in Plum Hollow, Kentucky.
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Thanks for the shoutout for Arcadia Valley!
I’ve been enjoying a couple of Irene Hannon’s coastal towns lately, Crescent Cove and Starfish Bay. Mule Hollow, Texas, is the quirky small town in Debra Clopton’s western romances.
Merrillee Whren’s Front Porch series takes place in a small Massachusetts town, and Julie Arduini’s stories are all linked by setting, too.
Elizabeth Maddrey’s Peacock Hill series revolves around the restoration of a gilded mansion, but the small town it calls home definitely provides an increased sense of “home” for the stories.
Hi Tara! I’m honored to have my little town of Abundance included in this list! I’ve also found some new books I can’t wait to check out! Thank you so much for this post!