I thought about this question for a while, because I don’t usually look for books based on where they are set (although an intriguing setting will often entice me to pick up a new book).
However, I know a lot of readers do location-based reading challenges, so the answer to this question is important for filling in the gaps!
When I review books, I do try to include the location in my review or in the tags so I can find the book again, and I know some other reviewers do this as well (I admit I got the idea from Narelle Atkins). That helps me locate books set in specific locations again in the future, and I hope it helps other readers.
If I did need to find a book set in a specific location, I can think of three places I’d look:
1. Amazon
I would search the location name on Amazon, in the hope that authors writing in different locations would include that in their subtitle or book description.
2. The Story Chats Podcast
The Story Chats @ Inspy Romance podcast has (sadly) closed down, but the old episodes are all available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. The team did a whole series of episodes on locations.
3. Avid Readers of Christian Fiction on Facebook
If all else fails (or if you want to save yourself a search), the Avids always come through with a veritable trove of suggestions, not matter how obscure your question. I am not responsible for how much your bank account will suffer should you ask.
I use to do the read a book from the 50 States challenge. Places like Oklahoma, Texas, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska are never an issue. But places like Utah, Mississippi, New Hampshire and some of the other smaller states were. I know one year Mississippi was so hard and ironically the next year I had several. I would ask on FB when it was more user friendly and more saw my posts. But I found Fiction Finder which a friend pointed me to helpful. I found several books there. But now I have asked for different settings and book at Avid and its really helpful. Because I read wide (most except regency, thriller, horror and now Amish) I can normally find books this way. I no longer do the 50 states challenge. But there are places I want to read more books set there. (Back when I did the challenges I was reading way over 100 books a year now its more like 30)
I’m sure I’ve read books set in Mississippi, but I can’t think of any in Utah.
I love Avid Readers – with 20,000 people in the group, there is always someone who knows!