Pages As Planes: Connecticut

I know I’ve done a Pages as Planes set in New England, but I’m getting ready to head home to Connecticut for a long weekend with my family so I’ve got the Nutmeg state on my mind. Hopefully you enjoy this list of books set in Connecticut! Some YA, Romance, Non Fiction and Middle Grade!

Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot—This book was inspired by my hometown and I remember meeting Meg Cabot at the bookstore. It’s a classic summer YA story—summer jobs, break ups, new love, all on Long Island Sound.

Dune Road by Jane Green—Jane Green is a British author who lives in Westport, CT. This book is based on her home and experiences!

“An ever-growing legion of fans greets the publication of each new tale from the inimitable Jane Green. Her latest gem, Dune Road, is set in tony Highfield, Connecticut, where recent divorcee Kit Hargrove has joyfully exchanged the requisite diamond studs and Persian rugs of a Wall Street Widow for a clapboard Cape with sea-green shutters and sprawling impatiens. Her kids are content, her ex cooperative, and each morning she wakes up to her dream job: assisting the blockbuster novelist Robert McClore. Then an unexpected series of events forces Kit to realize that her blissfully constructed idyll and blossoming new romance aren't as perfect as she thought. A warm, witty, and gloriously observed meditation on the challenges of starting over, Dune Road is Jane Green at her absolute best.” —Amazon

Our Little Racket by Angelica Baker—

“A captivating novel about wealth, envy, and secrets: the story of five women whose lives are dramatically changed by the downfall of a financial titan.

The women of Greenwich, Connecticut, have never thought to question the wealth or the security of their community. But at the onset of a great national recession, they find themselves forced to reckon, for the first time, with the fragility of their sheltered lives. The investment bank Weiss & Partners has shuttered, and in the wake of CEO Bob D’Amico’s downfall, five women in his life scramble to negotiate power on their own terms and ask themselves what—if anything—is worth saving.” —Amazon

The Beach at Painter’s Cove by Shelley Noble—”The Whitaker family's Connecticut mansion, Muses by the Sea, has always been a haven for artists, a hotbed of creativity, extravagances, and the occasional scandal. Art patrons for generations, the Whitakers supported strangers but drained the life out of each other. Now, after being estranged for years, four generations of Whitaker women find themselves once again at the Muses. Leo, the Whitaker matriarch, lives in the rambling mansion. She plans to stay there until she joins her husband, Wes, on the knoll overlooking the cove and meadow where they first met. Jillian is a jet-setting actress, down on her luck. She thinks selling the Muses will make life easier for her mother, Leo, by moving her into assisted living. Issy, Jillian's daughter, has a successful life as a museum exhibit designer that takes her around the world. But the Muses and her grandmother are the only family she's known, and when her sister leaves her own children with Leo, Issy knows she has to step in to help. Steph is only 12 years old and desperately needs someone to fire her imagination and bring her out of her shell. What she begins to discover at the Muses could change the course of her future.” —Amazon

The Land of Steady Habits by Anders Hill—”Coming of age can happen at the strangest times. For Anders Hill, long ensconced in "the land of steady habits" - the affluent hamlets of Connecticut that dot the commuter rail line - it's finally time to reap the rewards of a sensible life. Into his 60s and newly retired, his grown sons' college tuitions paid in full, Anders finds the contentment he's been promised is still just out of reach. So he decides he's had enough of steady habits: he leaves his wife, buys a condo, and waits for freedom to transform him.

But as the cheery charade of Christmas approaches, Anders starts to wonder if maybe parachuting from his life was not the most prudent choice. Stripped of the comforts of his previous identity, he turns up at a holiday party full of his ex-wife's friends, and sets in motion a series of events by turns comic and catastrophic. Before the year has turned, he has to face the startling possibility that the very world he rejected may in fact be the only one he needs.” —Amazon

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell—I’ve never read this one but I did watch the TV show!

“Before Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw was a small-town girl who knew she wanted more. She's ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school. Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend's betrayal makes her question everything.

With an unforgettable cast of characters, The Carrie Diaries is the story of how a regular girl learns to think for herself and evolves into a sharp, insightful writer. Through adventures both audacious and poignant, we'll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where her new life begins.” —Amazon

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo—An urban fantasy set in New Haven at Yale! I am eagerly awaiting the second book.

“Galaxy "Alex" Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug-dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. In fact, by age 20, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most prestigious universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. Their eight windowless "tombs" are the well-known haunts of the rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street’s biggest players. But their occult activities are more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive. They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And, sometimes, they prey on the living.” —Amazon

A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell—Another I haven’t read but I did see the movie. Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers!

“It starts with a simple favor - an ordinary kindness mothers do for one another. When her best friend, Emily, asks Stephanie to pick up her son, Nicky, after school, she happily says yes. Nicky and her son, Miles, are classmates and best friends, and the five-year-olds love being together - just like she and Emily. A widow and stay-at-home mommy blogger living in woodsy suburban Connecticut, Stephanie was lonely until she met Emily, a sophisticated PR executive whose job in Manhattan demands so much of her time.

But Emily doesn't come back. She doesn't answer calls or return texts. Stephanie knows something is terribly wrong - Emily would never leave Nicky, no matter what the police say. Terrified, she reaches out to her blog's readers for help. She also reaches out to Emily's husband, the handsome, reticent Sean, offering emotional support. It's the least she can do for her best friend. Then, she and Sean receive shocking news. Emily is dead. The nightmare of her disappearance is over.

Or is it? Because soon Stephanie will begin to see that nothing - not friendship, love, or even an ordinary favor - is as simple as it seems.” —Amazon

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro—This is a YA boarding school mystery with such a unique tone.I really enjoyed it!

“Jamie Watson has always been intrigued by Charlotte Holmes; after all, their great-great-great-grandfathers were one of the most infamous pairs in history. But the Holmes family has always been odd, and Charlotte is no exception. She's inherited Sherlock's volatility and some of his vices - and when Jamie and Charlotte end up at the same Connecticut boarding school, Charlotte makes it clear she's not looking for friends. 

But when a student they both have a history with dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Danger is mounting, and nowhere is safe - and the only people they can trust are each other.” —Amazon

Mystic Summer by Hannah McKinnon—”Since finishing graduate school, Maggie Griffin has worked hard to build an enviable life in Boston. She's an elementary school teacher in a tony Boston suburb, a devoted sister, and a loving aunt. With her childhood best friend's wedding quickly approaching and her own relationship blossoming, this is the summer she has been waiting for.

But when Maggie's career is suddenly in jeopardy, her life begins to unravel. Stricken, Maggie returns home to seaside Mystic, Connecticut, where she expects to find comfort in family and familiarity. Instead, she runs into Cameron Wilder, a young man from her past who has also returned home, and whose life has taken a turn that puts Maggie's city struggles in harsh perspective. When tragedy strikes for Cameron, Maggie is faced with big decisions as she weighs what matters most and strives to stay true to the person she's become.” —Amazon

In Pursuit of the Common Good: Twenty-Five Years of Repairing the World, One Bottle of Salad Dressing at a Time by E. Hotchner and Paul Newman—”It was 1982 when Paul Newman and A. E. Hotchner made their foray into local gourmet shops with bottles of their homemade salad dressing. The venture was intended to be a lark, a way to poke fun at the traditional way the market operates. Hurdling obstacle after obstacle, they created the first company to mass-market all-natural products, eliminating the chemicals, gums, and preservatives that existed in food at the time. This picaresque saga is the inspiring story of how the two friends parlayed the joke into a multimillion-dollar company that gives all its profits to the less fortunate without spending money on galas, mailings, and other expensive outreaches. It also serves as a textbook for foundations and charitable organizations looking to do the most good they can with what they have.” —Amazon

Summer Light by Luann Rice—”Abandoned by the father of her child, May Taylor supports herself by her work as a gifter wedding planner with her best friend and great-aunt, carrying on the timeless traditions established by her grandmother and mother. She is a devoted mother to her daughter, Kylie - a very special child. For Kylie sees and hears things no one else can. Her unique visions will lead May to a love she never expected and a life she never imagined.

Martin Cartier is a professional hockey player and sports legend. Womena everywhere respond to his charm and good looks. But Martin's polished exterior barely hides a core of rage and bitterness. Haunted by his father's negligence and the sudden death of his daughter, he strives to win at all costs.

Against all odds, May, Martin, and Kylie become a family. Gradually, May's compassion and Kylie's insight lead Martin to reveal the painful secrets of his past. But when May begins a search for Martin's estranged father, her efforts nearly destroy their relationship. Then Martin faces a threat to his career that his drive and strength cannot overcome. Only Kylie sees the way home - and only May can lead him there” —Amazon

I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb—All the reviews of this one seem to share that this book is deeply sad but incredibly satisfying.

“On the afternoon of October 12, 1990, my twin brother, Thomas, entered the Three Rivers, Connecticut, public library, retreated to one of the rear study carrels, and prayed to God the sacrifice he was about to commit would be deemed acceptable. . . .

One of the most acclaimed novels of our time, Wally Lamb's I Know This Much Is True is a story of alienation and connection, devastation and renewal, at once joyous, heartbreaking, poignant, mystical, and powerfully, profoundly human.” —Goodreads

Windcatcher by Avi—I read this as a little girl, when I learned to sail! It’s a classic!

“Tony can hardly believe it. He's sailing with the wind, maneuvering through the narrow channels between the offshore islands with amazing skill. And he'sjust learned to sail! But suddenly Tony is confused. Which way had he come? Which way is he headed? And who are the mysterious couple with the high powered motor boat who are to busy searching beneath the water to answer his call for help?

Tony does some searching on his own. What he discovers leads him on a daring hunt for a 200-year-old shipwreck . . . and a dangerous confrontation with treasure hunters who will stop at nothing to keep Tony from learning their secret.”

Hannah of Fairfield by Jean Van Leeuwen—Okay this is a middle grade BUT Fairfield is my hometown!

“In Hannah of Fairfield, Hannah would rather be nursing a fragile spring lamb back to health than counting stitches. How can she concentrate when the war is so close? Everyone in Fairfield is doing all they can to help the colonial army. What can Hannah do to help?” —Amazon

10 Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have) by Sarah Mlynowski—I’ve always enjoyed Sarah Mlynowski’s books and somehow I missed this one! It’s being added to my TBR ASAP!

“If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn’t jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe “opportunity” isn’t the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: “Lied to Our Parents”). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up “Skipping School” (#3), “Buying a Hot Tub” (#4), and, um, “Harboring a Fugitive” (#7) is a mystery to them.

To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart...one thing-she-shouldn’t-have-done at a time.” —Amazon

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson—Another YA author I adore!

“Before Sloane, Emily didn’t go to parties, she barely talked to guys, and she didn’t do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—someone who yanks you out of your shell.

But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. There’s just a random to-do list with thirteen bizarre tasks that Emily would never try. But what if they can lead her to Sloane?” —Amazon

If you’ve read any of these books or have any other recommendations, I’d love to hear about them!