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The best sandwich shop in every state, according to Yelp

2 January 2025 at 12:12
Frank's New York Style Deli Italian sandwich
Frank's New York Style Deli Italian sandwich.

Kyle B./Yelp

  • From roadside stops to quaint coffee shops, these restaurants are known for their sandwiches.
  • Yelp identified the best sandwich shops in each state based on customer reviews.
  • Among the best sandwiches are gourmet grilled cheeses and a tri-tip sandwich topped with Fritos.

From classic Italian subs to tuna melts, these eateries are serving up the best sandwiches in the US.

Sandwiches are a big seller across the country and a huge area of opportunity for restaurant owners looking to attract a lunchtime crowd. In fact, back in 2015, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reported that nearly half of all American adults ate at least one sandwich every day.

To find the best sandwich shop in every state, last August, Yelp identified businesses in its "sandwiches" category and ranked them using various factors, including the volume of reviews and their ratings.

All the restaurants on this list had a passing health score and were marked open as of January 2, 2025. A few locations are temporarily closed for their winter breaks, but their reopening dates are included below.

Here's the best sandwich shop in every state — and what to order.

ALABAMA: Kool Korner Sandwiches in Vestavia Hills
Cuban sandwich from Kool Korner Sandwiches
Cuban sandwich from Kool Korner Sandwiches.

Owen C./Yelp

What to order: Cuban sandwich

What customers say: "I think they do a good job with what they serve, what more can you ask for? We ordered a Classic Cuban Sandwich and a Hot Cuban Tamales. Both were fresh and hot when we got it. The sandwich bread was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, so how a good sandwich should be. The Cuban tamales are not served with sauce like Mexican tamales, but it's very flavorful on its own and not dry at all. I would definitely recommend you trying it if you haven't before," wrote Yelp user Virginia H.

Learn more about Kool Korner Sandwiches here.

ALASKA: Mike's Alaskan Eatery in Homer
the mariner sandwich from Mike's Alaskan Eatery
The Mariner sandwich from Mike's Alaskan Eatery.

Allie N./Yelp

What to order: The Mariner

What customers say: "Oh my goodness this sandwich (The Mariner) was good!!! It was the perfect way to start the day being a tourist in Homer. The chicken was so tasty, and the texture was perfect for the sandwich. The sauce tied all the veggies, chicken, and bacon together. I think my ONLY complaint was that it was really small and a little confusing that we had to sit in the next-door Boba place," wrote Yelp user Allie N.

Learn more about Mike's Alaskan Eatery here.

ARIZONA: Frank's New York Style Deli in Phoenix
Frank's New York Style Deli Italian sandwich
Frank's New York Style Deli Italian sandwich.

Kyle B./Yelp

What to order: The Tony

What customers say: "Great sandwiches, nice to find good Italian meats in the desert. Had the Tony, tasted just like out east," wrote Yelp user Nathan P.

Learn more about Frank's New York Style Deli here.

ARKANSAS: American Artisans Eatery & Gallery in Mena
Spicy chicken wrap and the bisque soup from American Artisans Eatery & Gallery
Spicy chicken wrap and the bisque soup from American Artisans Eatery & Gallery.

Anita T./Yelp

What to order: Funky Chicken

What customers say: "Very cute local restaurant! We stopped here while doing a scenic fall drive in the area. I had the Big Cheese with bacon and my husband had the Funky Chicken. The service is good, the prices are average and everyone that was working was nice to us. Both of us enjoyed lunch and the ambiance," wrote Yelp user Monica E.

American Artisans is temporarily closed, but reopens on January 22, 2025.

Learn more about American Artisans Eatery & Gallery here.

CALIFORNIA: Prunedale Market in Prunedale
Tri-Tip Sandwich from Prunedale Market
Tri-Tip Sandwich from Prunedale Market.

Megan M./Yelp

What to order: Tri-tip sandwich

What customers say: "Tri-tip sandwich was delicious, meat cooked to perfection and well seasoned. Owner offered the best customer service super nice and kind! The little sitting area had a map where you can pin where are you from too! For sure will come back," wrote Yelp user Pia M.

Learn more about Prunedale Market here.

COLORADO: European Market & Bistro in Lakewood
Prosciutto Basil sandwich from European Market & Bistro
Prosciutto basil sandwich from European Market & Bistro.

Matt C./Yelp

What to order: Prosciutto basil sandwich

What customers say: "Ordered the small prosciutto basil sandwich and I would order it again and again. Reasonable prices too," wrote Yelp user Emma S.

Learn more about European Market & Bistro here.

CONNECTICUT: The Dilly Duck Shop in Norwalk
Roast beef sandwich from The Dilly Duck Shop
Roast beef sandwich from The Dilly Duck Shop.

Haleigh K./Yelp

What to order: Roast beef sandwich

What customers say: "The roast beef sandwich was the best one my wife ever had. That is saying a lot as she gets roast beef everywhere. I had the tuna sandwich with arugula and Swiss — it was also fantastic," wrote Yelp user Sergio P.

Learn more about The Dilly Duck Shop here.

DELAWARE: Gaudiello's Italian Hoagies in Wilmington
Gaudiello's Italian Hoagies cheesesteak sandwich
Gaudiello's Italian Hoagies cheesesteak sandwich.

Kimberly A./Yelp

What to order: Philly cheesesteak sandwich

What customers say: "Absolutely the best, fresh sliced to order for the best cheesesteak you'll ever have, and I grew up in Philly and AC eating nothing but cheesesteaks. So give it a try," wrote a Yelp user.

Learn more about Gaudiello's Italian Hoagies here.

FLORIDA: Franky's Deli Warehouse in Hialeah
Franky's Deli Warehouse Italian sandwich on wheat bread
Franky's Deli Warehouse Italian sandwich on wheat bread.

Franky's Deli Warehouse/Yelp

What to order: Italian sandwich

What customers say: "The sandwiches at Frankie's are nothing short of exceptional. Whether you opt for a classic Italian sub bursting with flavors or a creative vegetarian option, each bite is a testament to their commitment to quality ingredients and skilled craftsmanship," wrote Yelp user Beatriz A.

Learn more about Franky's Deli Warehouse here.

GEORGIA: Java Saga in Doraville
ABC sandwich from Java Saga
ABC sandwich from Java Saga.

Mary Y./Yelp

What to order: ABC (The "American Born Chinese")

What customers say: "I ordered their famous ABC sandwich. It was a huge portion and the flavor was very unexpected. It was sweet, smoky, and crunchy! This particular sandwich came with a slaw and sweet pickles on it. It was an interesting flavor combination, unlike anything else that I've ever tried," wrote Yelp user Nisha B.

Learn more about Java Saga here.

HAWAII: No Name BBQ Sandwich in Honolulu
Vietnamese sandwich from No Name BBQ Sandwich
Vietnamese sandwich from No Name BBQ Sandwich.

Corina Q./Yelp

What to order: Vietnamese sandwich

What customers say: "My go-to all the time is the Vietnamese sandwich. The bread hit the spot! Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Packed with pork, Vietnamese sausages, and lots of veggies. It's super juicy and don't forget to add the spicy sauce to add that kick of spiciness," wrote Yelp user Pamela P.

Learn more about No Name BBQ Sandwich here.

IDAHO: Midtown Deli in Post Falls
Reuben sandwich from Midtown Deli
Reuben sandwich from Midtown Deli.

Mora C./Yelp

What to order: Reuben sandwich

What customers say: "Wow, wow, wow! Tried this place for the first time today and was not disappointed. The Reuben sandwich is amazing. A half is plenty large enough for one person. Not to mention the gals that work here are the sweetest! Home-made soups and desserts as well. I'll be back to try all the things," wrote Yelp user Becca P.

Learn more about Midtown Deli here.

ILLINOIS: Firenze Italian Street Food in Chicago
Spicy soppressata sandwich from Firenze Italian Street Food
Spicy soppressata sandwich from Firenze Italian Street Food.

Rostam Z./Yelp

What to order: Spicy soppressata sandwich

What customers say: "I ordered the spicy soppressata sandwich for lunch. The ingredients were fresh and I loved the bite of spiciness followed by the creaminess of the ricotta spread. The flavors really melded well," wrote Yelp user Samuel A.

Learn more about Firenze Italian Street Food here.

INDIANA: Subito in Indianapolis
Brisket French dip from Subito
Brisket French dip from Subito.

Erik T./Yelp

What to order: The Dip

What customers say: "Our company ordered in Subito for lunch and the brisket French dip was delicious! Tender and thinly sliced it was not chewy at all. The provolone and mayo made for almost a cheesy sauce, and the ciabatta was hearty enough not to fall apart when devouring this mighty sandwich! Even the Caesar side salad was tasty and well crafted," wrote Yelp user Erik T.

Learn more about Subito here.

IOWA: Charlotte's Kitchen in Johnston
Charlotte's Kitchen Crab Rangoon Chicken Sandwich with fries
Charlotte's Kitchen crab rangoon chicken sandwich with fries.

C C./Yelp

What to order: Crab rangoon chicken sandwich

What customers say: "I got the crab rangoon sandwich, let's start with the chicken itself. The breading is tasty, the chicken is juicy. It's good all on its own. Then you add the extras. A lovely cream cheese spread, a wonderful sweet chili sauce with wonton strips and lettuce. It's a surprise from the first bite and a wonderful one. One of the best chicken sandwiches in town," wrote Yelp user Eric C.

Learn more about Charlotte's Kitchen here.

KANSAS: Tanya's Soup Kitchen in Wichita
Tomato bisque and club sandwich from Tanya's Soup Kitchen
Tomato bisque and club sandwich from Tanya's Soup Kitchen.

Elaine M./Yelp

What to order: Chef's Club

What customers say: "We ordered the Chef's Club sandwich, Cindy the Boy sandwich, chicken curry soup, and the tomato curry, they were amazing," wrote Yelp user Jill K.

Learn more about Tanya's Soup Kitchen here.

KENTUCKY: Heavens To Betsy! Bakery in Lawrenceburg
Grilled cheese and tomato soup from Heavens To Betsy Bakery
Grilled cheese and tomato soup from Heavens To Betsy! Bakery.

Michelle K./Yelp

What to order: Italian sandwich

What customers say: "My husband and I split the spicy Italian sandwich, he had a side of potato salad. It was delicious! Piping hot upon delivery, if you are splitting a sandwich, let them know, and they will cut them in half for you," wrote Yelp user Veronica B.

Learn more about Heavens To Betsy! Bakery here.

LOUISIANA: The Milk Bar in New Orleans
Roast beef sandwich from Milk Bar
Roast beef sandwich from The Milk Bar.

Tim C./Yelp

What to order: Occidental Oriental

What customers say: "Milk Bar has hearty sandwiches with flavorful combinations from simple to unusual made with love by a lovely local couple who love and know their community. Offerings have vegetarian options and great salads, too," wrote Yelp user Cynthia C.

Learn more about The Milk Bar here.

MAINE: CERA in Portland
Nashville Samurai sandwich from CERA
Nashville Samurai sandwich from CERA.

CERA/Yelp

What to order: Nashville Samurai

What customers say: "My husband loved his Italian sando, and we also split the Nashville Samurai, which was made with Japanese karaage and local honey — it was perfectly sweet and spicy," wrote Yelp user Naomi S.

Learn more about CERA here.

MARYLAND: Full On Craft Eats & Drinks in Annapolis
Crab cake sandwich from Full On Craft Eats & Drinks
Crab cake sandwich from Full On Craft Eats & Drinks.

Shanel S./Yelp

What to order: Crab cake sandwich

What customers say: "The crab cake sandwich has some big lumps of crab throughout, which is nice to see because a lot of restaurants will spread the lumps down. The cobb salad is also another one of my favorites," wrote Yelp user Lia H.

Learn more about Full On Craft Eats & Drinks here.

MASSACHUSETTS: Mae's Sandwich Shop in Marshfield
Roast beef sandwich from Maes Sandwich Shop
Roast beef sandwich from Mae's Sandwich Shop.

Daniel L./Yelp

What to order: Lazy Susan

What customers say: "One of the better sandwiches I've ever had. Was staying in Plymouth for a weekend with some local friends and they couldn't have recommended a better spot just up the road. Fresh bread and fresh ingredients made the sandwich a knockout. Highly recommend the orzo salad too," wrote Yelp user Ian M.

Mae's Sandwich Shop is currently closed for its winter break, but reopens on January 24.

Learn more about Mae's Sandwich Shop here.

MICHIGAN: Ernie's Market in Oak Park
Monster sandwich from Ernie's Market
Monster sandwich from Ernie's Market.

Daniel H./Yelp

What to order: The Monster

What customers say: "I had the Monster sandwich and it was pure heaven on an onion roll! So much flavor! Certainly worth the drive from the Eastside," wrote Yelp user Adrian G.

Learn more about Ernie's Market here.

MINNESOTA: Zuppa Cucina in Shakopee
Ciabatta tuna and vegetable minestrone soup from Zuppa Cucina
Ciabatta tuna and vegetable minestrone soup from Zuppa Cucina.

Lexi L./Yelp

What to order: Tuna Ciabatta

What customers say: "Everything always goes well — consistent for the many years I've been enjoying their menu. The food is fresh and of higher-than-average quality. Service is as good and professional. Ambiance — clean and overhead menu. Daily specials. Don't miss this place," wrote Yelp user Rickie G.

Learn more about Zuppa Cucina here.

MISSISSIPPI: The Grind Coffee and Nosh in Biloxi
Kathys Kickin' Reuben sandwich from The Grind Coffee and Nosh
Kathys Kickin' Reuben sandwich and chips from The Grind Coffee and Nosh.

Orlando L./Yelp

What to order: Kathy's Kickin' Reuben

What customers say: "Great vibes, friendly staff, and quick service! The Reuben is great, and the potato salad was delicious. Will definitely be back," wrote a Yelp user Ashton D.

Learn more about The Grind Coffee and Nosh here.

MISSOURI: Blues City Deli in St. Louis
Roast beef sandwich from Blues City Deli
Roast beef sandwich from Blues City Deli.

Bill S./Yelp

What to order: Original roast beef sandwich

What customers say: "My boyfriend goes back and forth between the roast beef and turkey. Got the beef this time. Long lines often but it goes quickly. Never any complaints other than we wish they were open later," wrote Yelp user Deyna J.

Learn more about Blues City Deli here.

MONTANA: Tagliare Delicatessen in Missoula
The megadeath sandwich features ham, hot capicola, hot soppressata, finocchiona, pepperoni, smoked mozzarella, pepperoncini, and slaw.
The megadeath sandwich from Tagliare Delicatessen.

Tagliare Delicatessen/Yelp

What to order: Megadeath

What customers say: "New Jerseyans recommended Tagliare, and that was good enough for us. They were spot on and led us to a delicious lunch. All the sandwiches are named for Bands, which was an added kick. We ordered a Zeppelin (turkey, dry salami, pastrami, provolone, greens, balsamic marinated onions, and oil & vinegar) and Pretenders (fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and marinated onions). My Pretenders was scrumptious, a caprese that had gone to college," wrote a Yelp user named Laura S.

Learn more about Tagliare Delicatessen here.

NEBRASKA: Banhwich Cafe in Lincoln
carrots, shredded chicken, cilantro, and cabbage with some sauce slotted between two slices of bread.
The spicy Thai chicken sandwich from Banhwich Cafe.

Banhwich Cafe/Yelp

What to order: Spicy Thai chicken sandwich

What customers say: "A MUST TRY in Lincoln! There are so many options and combinations to try to fit your cravings. My spouse loves spicy and always gets #2 with extra meat and I always get the Korean BBQ, love me some kimchi and spicy mayo. Don't forget your sweet tooth! You have to get a boba tea and try the green waffle," wrote Yelp user Annie S.

Learn more about Banhwich Cafe here.

NEVADA: Panino in Las Vegas
Two slices of a sandwich stuffed with some leafy greens and cold-cut meat, wrapped in paper
The Muffaletta sandwich from Panino

Jeff. B/ Yelp

What to order: Italian sandwich

What customers say: "I found this place driving home from work one day. This should be an extremely busy lunch spot and should be crawling with people. It's definitely a hole in the wall, but one of the best mom 'n pop sandwich places I've been to," wrote Yelp user Randy L.

Learn more about Panino here.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Jon's Roast Beef & Deli in Laconia
A slice of chicken cutlet topped with some tomatoes and lettuce and stuffed between two buns.
A small boardwalk sandwich featuring Southwest chicken, lettuce, tomato, and ranch dressing with melted cheddar from Jon's Roast Beef & Deli in Laconia.

Jon's Roast Beef & Deli in Laconia/ Yelp

What to order: The Pilgrim sandwich

What customers say: "Walking into John's you immediately get the feeling you're entering an old fashioned sandwich shop, not a fast food joint. I got two roast beef sandwiches and they were both delicious. Great service and food. I'll definitely be a repeat customer. Highly recommended!" wrote Yelp user Peter T.

Learn more about Jon's Roast Beef & Deli here.

NEW JERSEY: Saigon Subs & Café in Morristown
A sandwich sliced in half. Each features a mix of vegetables and some cold-cut meat.
The Saigon special sandwich.

Kat J./Yelp

What to order: Braised pork belly banh mi

What customers say: "Saigon Subs and Café has been on so many top food lists in New Jersey that I had to try it! [...] I would definitely come again for this chicken sandwich. This is one of the top places to eat in Morristown," wrote Yelp user Todd C.

Learn more about Saigon Subs & Café here.

NEW MEXICO: Coda Bakery in Albuquerque
A sandwich sliced into half, stuffed with bell peppers, cilantro, cabbage and fried tofu.
Fried Tofu sandwich from Coda bakery.

Aram K./Yelp

What to order: Fried tofu banh mi

What customers say: "I love everything about this Vietnamese bakery — delicious food and great value! The grilled pork is delicious on anything (spring rolls, banh mi, vermicelli bowls, you name it!) and their pastries are so buttery and rich. The tofu is also great, nicely fried and super soft inside. Grilled chicken is also great and flavorful! Portion size is great, and even the salads are delicious," wrote Yelp user Su Yee-L.

Learn more about Coda Bakery here.

NEW YORK: Tony's Beechhurst Deli in Whitestone
Someone is holding a sandwich that has been wrapped and sliced in half. It's stuffed with cheese, cold-cut meat, and veggies.
Tony's special sandwich with fresh mozzarella.

Emily C./Yelp

What to order: Chicken cutlet sandwich

What customers say: "Food, service, ambiance, EVERYTHING about this place screams Italy! The ingredients are so fresh & delicious. I recommend getting a simple panini press. The bread is to die for!!!! Definitely top 2 delis and it ain't 2. (I got ham & muenster cheese with sweet and hot peppers in a panini press) I will be dreaming about it until further notice," wrote Yelp user Nikol P.

Learn more about Tony's Beechhurst Deli here.

NORTH CAROLINA: Waveriders Coffee, Deli & Market in Nags Head
Someone holding a sandwich sliced in half at a beach.
Turkey and feta cheese on wheat bread.

Lena M./Yelp

What to order: Eddie V sandwich

What customers say: "Waveriders is a must for breakfast when we're in OBX. The combinations they have are great, and the ability to make modifications is easy. I ordered online for ASAP pickup at 7:45am and the food was ready at 7:56am. This is included 4 sandwiches and two ice coffees. Highly recommend!" wrote Yelp user Tina M.

Learn more about Waveriders Coffee, Deli & Market here.

NORTH DAKOTA: Magic City Hoagies in Minot
Someone holding half a sandwich over a paper.
The farmer sandwich topped with crispy jalapeños from Magic City Hoagies.

Magic City Hoagies/Yelp

What to order: Chicago Italian beef

What customers say: "I travel for work a lot. When I know I'm passing by Minot I will plan my day to ensure I'm here for lunch. Friendly and courteous staff, clean establishment and a great location downtown. The owner knows her sandwiches and her passion and attention to every detail comes through in the finished product. [...] I would provide a photo of the beautiful monthly special I just picked up, however I inhaled it faster than than my cameras shutter speed could capture... should have gotten the 12"er!" wrote Yelp user Nathan A.

Learn more about Magic City Hoagies here.

OHIO: Newfangled Kitchen in Bexley
Someone holding half a sandwich that is stuffed with cheese, tomatoes, pickles, and lettuce.
The Chatty Kathy sandwich from Newfangled Kitchen.

Taylor B./Yelp

What to order: Bella Donna

What customers say: "When I say that their Shipyard Tuna Melt is the best tuna melt I've ever had, I'm not lying. Maybe even the best sandwich — or best lunch I've ever eaten," wrote Yelp user Jane G.

Learn more about Newfangled Kitchen here.

OKLAHOMA: The Mule in Oklahoma City
A plate filled with french fries on one half and a sandwich on the other.
The macaroni pony sandwich from The Mule.

Talara T./Yelp

What to order: Macaroni Pony

What customers say: "The mule is an excellent choice for lunch or casual dining. The restaurant is fun with a good vibe. Good food, varied menu, good service, and moderate prices. My favorites are the Macaroni Pony and the Philly Cheese Steak, but all their sandwiches are hearty and delectable. Their soups are good. Their half sandwich and cup of soup is a good lunch offering. Their fried cheese curds are excellent," wrote Yelp user William Y.

Learn more about The Mule here.

OREGON: Josie K's Deli and Kitchen in Sunriver
A club sandwich wrapped in paper.
Club sandwich on wheat from Josie K's Deli and Kitchen.

Erik T./Yelp

What to order: Hot Pastrami

What customers say: "Fantastic sandwich, ordered the Dagwood and it is a sandwich that Dagwood himself would have been proud of!" wrote Yelp user Benjamin H.

Learn more about Josie K's Deli and Kitchen here.

PENNSYLVANIA: Tredici Italian Market in Wayne
Someone is holding a sandwich that's cut in half.
The grilled chicken and roasted pepper sandwich from Tredici Italian Market.

Angie K./Yelp

What to order: Pesto turkey sandwich

What customers say: "Superb sandwiches. Quality ingredients, reasonable prices, truly enjoyed our food, and hope to be back for more soon," wrote Yelp user Maria R.

Learn more about Tredici Italian Market here.

RHODE ISLAND: Shayna's Place in Wickford
A sandwich cut in half.
The morning glory sandwich from Shayna's Place.

Amanda R./Yelp

What to order: Avocado Toast sandwich

What customers say: "I saw this on a local bloggers page and I was in the area thought to stop by. It's adorable. Friendly staff ! The sandwiches along with a latte were really delicious. I had the turkey gobbler and my husband enjoyed the Vinny / Italian. Everything was so fresh," wrote Yelp user Margie S.

Learn more about Shayna's Place here.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Cold Shoulder Gourmet in Charleston
A sandwich with cold-cut meat and some lettuce.
The spicy 2.0 sandwich from Cold Shoulder Gourmet.

Kalyn M./Yelp

What to order: The B-fast

What customers say: "There's nothing to not love about this small spot. It may be small in size, but it's big and bold in flavor! Only recommendation is to get there EARLY as they will sell out any time between 11-1 (at the latest) on the day(s) they are open. Chat with the owner - service and conversation was excellent! Cool spot, good vibes, leaves you wanting more after every visit!" wrote Yelp user Kalyn M.

Learn more about Cold Shoulder Gourmet here.

SOUTH DAKOTA: Bread & Circus Sandwich Kitchen in Sioux Falls
Someone holding half a sandwich.
The Vietnamese fried chicken sandwich from Bread & Circus Sandwich Kitchen.

Jina R./Yelp

What to order: Vietnamese Fried Chicken

What customers say: "Stopped by while on a road trip. Great service and loved everything we ordered; curried cauliflower sandwich, Cuban sandwich, beet and asparagus salads. What a pleasant surprise," wrote Yelp user Fred M.

Learn more about Bread & Circus Sandwich Kitchen here.

TENNESSEE: Tennessee Jed's in Gatlinburg
A burger on a plate.
Turkey bacon ranch sandwich from Tennessee Jed's.

Erik S./Yelp

What to order: Turkey bacon ranch sandwich

What customers say: "First off I dived in to this sandwich before I remembered to take a picture! Jump off the main drag of downtown Gatlinburg and treat yourself to the delicious food here. Everything is prepared fresh daily and the service is amazing. $3 dollar beers after 3:00pm and top off your meal with butter cake or peanut butter pie!" wrote Yelp user Sharon N.

Learn more about Tennessee Jed's here.

TEXAS: Tony's Italian Delicatessen in Montgomery
A sandwich is cut in half and kept on a plate.
Southern fried chicken sandwich from Tony's Italian Delicatessen.

Tony's Italian Delicatessen/Yelp

What to order: Sophia Loren

What customers say: "We've been going to Tony's for many years... ever since Hottie and Mary owned it. It has always kept its food quality and friendliness. These are definitely the best sandwiches in the greater Houston area...and always in a family friendly atmosphere," wrote Yelp user Tito E.

Learn more about Tony's Italian Delicatessen here.

UTAH: Vito's in Bountiful
A cheesesteak on a paper plate.
The roasted garlic Philly from Vito's.

Brittney M./Yelp

What to order: Deluxe Philly cheesesteak

What customers say: "I drove up from Salt Lake on a day off, and was very impressed with so many things about this business. The quality of my meal was fantastic and watching g someone make it in front of you really sets this apart. […] Fantastic sandwich, great experience, and the only thing slowing me down from visiting again are the limited hours," wrote Yelp user Rafael J.

Learn more about Vito's here.

VERMONT: Sandwich Shoppe in Rutland
Roasted beef and cheddar sandwich from Sandwich Shoppe.
Roasted beef and cheddar sandwich from Sandwich Shoppe.

Chris P./Yelp

What to order: Roast beef sandwich

What customers say: "Immediately after walking into the sandwich shop I was met with the most Italian 'Hey how you doing' I've ever heard. After recommendations from the owners I decided to get the Italian Stallion sub and it was the greatest Italian sub I've ever had. For only $9.50 this super was loaded with meats and veggies that ended up being two meals for me. If I lived in Rutland, Vermont I know I would become a regular at this joint," wrote Yelp user Lina P.

Learn more about Sandwich Shoppe here.

VIRGINIA: Guajiros Miami Eatery in Charlottesville
A sandwich with banana chips on a plate
The pan con pollo sandwich from Guajiros Miami Eatery.

Yi T./Yelp

What to order: El Cubano sandwich

What customers say: "Very swanky place with absolutely delicious food! The coffee is also strong, just the way I like it, and service was great as well. Would definitely return, a great place to catch breakfast/brunch for sure. Some highlights: there is a small parking lot as a heads up, and this restaurant only takes reservations for dinner. Breakfast and lunch you can walk in!" wrote Yelp user Chiamaka N.

Learn more about Guajiros Miami Eatery here.

WASHINGTON: Konvene Coffee in Seattle
A burger on a plate.
The ham egg sandwich from Konvene Coffee.

Elaine W./Yelp

What to order: Mama Lils peppers breakfast sandwich

What customers say: "Located upstairs inside the QFC Market, you'll find Konvene Coffee. There's bar style seating, a couple high tables, a couple low tables, and a couch to relax and enjoy your food. There's a variety of hot & cold caffeinated beverages to choose from and freshly made hot foods. Tried the ham, egg, & cheese breakfast sandwich and it was soooooo good. There's some kind of garlic aioli in there that tastes homemade and is truly chefs kiss. The place is operated by one person who does it all - he's the chef and the barista, very friendly guy. Would definitely come back here the next time I'm in Seattle," wrote Yelp user Helen L.

Learn more about Konvene Coffee here.

WEST VIRGINIA: Battle Grounds Bakery & Coffee in Harpers Ferry
A sandwich on a foil
Mountain top sandwich from Battle Grounds Bakery & Coffee.

Zack B./Yelp

What to order: Breakfast sandwiches

What customers say: "Visited Battle Grounds Bakery recently. Walking by, the smells were amazing. On our way back from our walk through Harpers Ferry, we stopped in and looked at the menu. My wife and mom drink coffee, so I requested two large coffees to go. I also requested a sausage, egg, and cheese croissant. It was busy, but the coffee was served quickly. […] Next time we're in HF, we'll visit again. Great food. Great service," wrote Yelp user Rodney W.

Learn more about Battle Grounds Bakery & Coffee here.

WISCONSIN: Casetta Kitchen and Counter in Madison
The Paradigm sandwich from Casetta Kitchen and Counter.
The Paradigm sandwich from Casetta Kitchen and Counter.

Courtney T./Yelp

What to order: Paradigm

What customers say: "I got a make your own turkey sandwich on foccacia and this was phenomenal. Each of the ingredients tasted fresh and contributed to the overall deliciousness of the sandwich. Despite the large portion size, I finished eating it and immediately wanted more. All the staff were so friendly as well! Missed out on trying the chocolate chip cookie and chicken cutlet but looking forward to those next time!" wrote Yelp user Akshita P.

Casetta Kitchen is currently closed for its winter break, but it reopens on January 6.

Learn more about Casetta Kitchen and Counter here.

WYOMING: Bread Basket Bakery in Cheyenne
A person holds a triple-meat sandwich.
Triple meat on honey whole-wheat bread from the Bread Basket Bakery.

Christine B./Yelp

What to order: Cabbage burger

What customers say: "Was pleasantly surprised how good my sandwich was. A little pricey for 2 small sized slices of bread and meat, but the bread here was great, and the ingredients were fresh. Bakery items here looked delicious as well! Definitely stop by to avoid a fast food joint!" wrote Yelp user Jack S.

Learn more about Bread Basket Bakery here.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The most famous book set in every state

22 November 2024 at 06:50

A girl sitting on a sofa and reading a book
We identified the most famous book set in every state.

Natalia Bostan/Shutterstock

  • Business Insider identified the most famous book set in every state.
  • The list features various genres, from historical fiction and thrillers to romance novels. 
  • This compilation highlights America's diverse literary landscape.

One of the best ways to learn more about a place and its people is by traveling there ... but when you can't do that, books are your next best bet.

In the US, where each state has a storied past and varied cultures and traditions, there's much to explore. If you're curious about life in Louisiana or itching to experience the many neighborhoods of New York City — or just love reading about new places — one way to travel across the country without going through the trouble of rental cars or airports is by picking a book in the comfort of your home.

To ensure you have the most wholesome literary tour around the country, Business Insider scoured published listings and surveyed our reporters for their best picks, rounding up the most famous book set in every state — and, as a bonus — Washington DC, too.

Here are the most famous books set in every state. 

Melissa Stanger, Melia Russell, Melissa Wiley, and Jacob Shamsian contributed reporting on a previous version of this post.

ALABAMA: "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.

Amazon

When a local attorney is asked to defend an African American man accused of rape, he has to decide between doing what's right and doing what society expects of him, launching his children right in the middle of the conflict.

This Pulitzer Prize winner is set in Maycomb, a community divided by racism and inspired by Lee's hometown of Monroeville.

Find out more about this book here.

ALASKA: "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
"Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
"Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer.

Amazon

Christopher McCandless, a young man from a family of money, donates all of his savings to charity and abandons his possessions before hitchhiking into the Alaskan wilderness to reinvent himself.

This true-story survival-drama was made into a movie of the same name in 2007, directed by Sean Penn and starring Emile Hirsch, shedding light on McCandless' idealism of a life unburdened by material possessions and the harsh realities of the Alaskan wild.

Find out more about this book here.

ARIZONA: "The Bean Trees" by Barbara Kingsolver
"The Bean Trees" by Barbara Kingsolver
"The Bean Trees" by Barbara Kingsolver.

Amazon

Taylor is well on her way to escaping small-town life. But shortly into her journey to Tucson, Arizona, where she hopes to start over, a stranger leaves her with a Native American toddler with a traumatic past.

Kingsolver's story of finding salvation in a barren situation is packed with real places and events.

Find out more about this book here.

ARKANSAS: "A Painted House" by John Grisham
"A Painted House" by John Grisham
"A Painted House" by John Grisham.

Amazon

Luke Chandler lives on a cotton farm with his parents and grandparents and suddenly finds himself keeping the deadly secrets of harvest workers. The legal-thriller follows the 7-year-old as he grows up and loses his innocence in the 1950s.

The narrator's upbringing in rural Arkansas inspired this coming-of-age tale.

Find out more about this book here.

CALIFORNIA: "Play It As It Lays" by Joan Didion
"Play It As It Lays" by Joan Didion.
"Play It As It Lays" by Joan Didion.

Amazon

Joan Didion's 1970 novel established her as a master fiction writer in addition to an already acclaimed nonfiction one. Set in Nevada, New York, and Hollywood, it's "an indictment of Hollywood culture" in the 1960s and utterly gripping in its intensity. Didion and her husband, John Gregory Dunne, adapted the book into a movie in 1972.

Find out more about this book here.

COLORADO: "The Shining" by Stephen King
"The Shining" by Stephen King.
"The Shining" by Stephen King.

Amazon

A recovering alcoholic writer accepts a position as winter caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel, which sits in the Colorado Rockies. He moves in with his family, including 5-year-old son Danny, who has psychic abilities and begins to witness aspects of the hotel's horrific past.

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, which inspired the fictional Overlook, offers a Ghost Adventure Package for guests.

Find out more about this book here.

CONNECTICUT: "Revolutionary Road" by Richard Yates
"Revolutionary Road" by Richard Yates.
"Revolutionary Road" by Richard Yates.

Amazon

Considered the original anti-suburban novel, "Revolutionary Road" follows a young, bright couple marooned in Connecticut and trying to escape pressure to conform in the 1950s. Their failed attempts to be different lead to self-destructive affairs and a psychotic breakdown.

In 2008, the book was adapted into a movie of the same name starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

Find out more about this book here.

DELAWARE: "The Saint of Lost Things" by Christopher Castellani
"The Saint of Lost Things" by Christopher Castellani.
"The Saint of Lost Things" by Christopher Castellani.

Hachette Group

Seven years after settling in Wilmington, an Italian couple is still in pursuit of the American Dream. Maddalena sews at a factory, but desperately wants to be a mother, while her husband's nighttime escapades threaten to unravel all their hard work.

Castellani wove bits of his own family history into the book. His Italian father, who emigrated to Wilmington after World War II, dreamed of opening a restaurant in Wilmington's Little Italy neighborhood just like Maddalena's husband did.

Find out more about this book here.

FLORIDA: "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston
"Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston.
"Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston.

Amazon

A classic work of African-American literature, "Their Eyes Were Watching God" is about Janie Crawford, a woman living in the town of Eaton, Florida.

Hurston was one of the most prominent writers of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s, publishing the novel in 1937. But she slipped into obscurity in the later years of her life, and "Eyes" went out of print until Alice Walker championed her in the 1970s. Now, the book is taught in classrooms around the country.

Find out more about this book here.

GEORGIA: "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell
"Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell.
"Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell.

Amazon

Mitchell's 1936 classic love story, set in the South during the Civil War and its aftermath, introduced the world to Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler. O'Hara, the young spoiled daughter of a plantation owner, and her rogue star-crossed lover are torn apart and reunited through the tragedies and comedies of the human existence.

Mitchell spent nine years writing her manuscript, and the ensuing, unwanted fame led her to vow she would never write again.

But the book has been criticized for its portrayal of slavery, for romanticizing the Confederacy, and for its inclusion of racist stereotypes. In 2023, a new edition of the book came with a warning from its UK publisher, Pan Macmillan, that "there may be hurtful or indeed harmful phrases and terminology that were prevalent at the time this novel was written," The Telegraph reported.

Find out more about this book here.

HAWAII: "Hawaii" by James Michener
"Hawaii" by James Michener.
"Hawaii" by James Michener.

Amazon

The first of Michener's mammoth sagas, "Hawaii" tells the islands' history, from its creation by volcanic activity to its evolving identity as the most recent of the 50 US states.

Michener sought to show how Hawaii harmonizes different cultures and races, as a template that would benefit the rest of the country. However, he and his wife, the daughter of Japanese immigrants, faced harsh discrimination while living there.

Find out more about this book here.

IDAHO: "Housekeeping" by Marilynne Robinson
"Housekeeping" by Marilynne Robinson.
"Housekeeping" by Marilynne Robinson.

Amazon

Little to do with housekeeping, Robinson's poetic story follows two orphaned girls who are cared for by eccentric female relatives in the fictional town of Fingerbone.

Robinson describes the town as "chastened by an outsized landscape and extravagant weather." This, and many other details in "Housekeeping," conjure images of her own Idaho hometown of Sandpoint.

Find out more about this book here.

ILLINOIS: "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair
"The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair.
"The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair.

Amazon

The story of a Lithuanian immigrant employed in Chicago's stockyards, where Sinclair worked undercover to research for the book, revealed the poverty, hopelessness, and unpleasant living and working conditions experienced by meatpacking laborers in the early 20th century.

The book's graphic depictions of the slaughterhouse work caused a public uproar that contributed to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act six months after "The Jungle" was published.

Find out more about this book here.

INDIANA: "The Magnificent Ambersons" by Booth Tarkington
"The Magnificent Ambersons" by Booth Tarkington.
"The Magnificent Ambersons" by Booth Tarkington.

Amazon

Written by a native Hoosier, the novel centers on characters struggling to preserve their status during the rapid industrialization between the Civil War and 20th century. The aristocratic Amberson family loses its prestige and wealth as "new money" tycoons take over.

Woodruff Place, Indianapolis' earliest suburb, was the setting for Tarkington's "The Magnificent Ambersons," which Orson Welles later adapted as a movie.

Find out more about this book here.

IOWA: "A Thousand Acres" by Jane Smiley
"A Thousand Acres" by Jane Smiley.
"A Thousand Acres" by Jane Smiley.

Amazon

When an Iowa farmer decides to retire, he plans to divide his thousand acres of land among his three daughters. The youngest objects, setting off a chain of events that unleashes long-suppressed emotions and secrets. It's a modern-day "King Lear."

Smiley's narrator describes the farm in Zebulon County as "paid for, no encumbrances, as flat and fertile, black, friable and exposed as any piece of land on the face of the earth," like a lot of land in Iowa.

Find out more about this book here.

KANSAS: "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum
"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum.
"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum.

Amazon

There's no place like the Great Kansas Plains.

Baum's imaginative tale of Dorothy Gale from Kansas and her Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion friends was the best-selling children's story of the 1900 Christmas season and spawned the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz."

Find out more about this book here.

KENTUCKY: "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Amazon

Uncle Tom, a long-suffering enslaved person, is sold by the Shelby family and begins a journey that, for 19th-century readers, depicted the realities of slavery and endorsed the power of Christian love to overcome all obstacles.

Stowe based the abolitionist novel on the first-hand stories of former enslaved people in Kentucky, a slave state, while she lived across the Ohio River in Cincinnati. Its powerful condemnation of slavery fueled the human rights debate in the mid-19th century.

Find out more about this book here.

LOUISIANA: "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
"A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole.
"A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole.

Amazon

"A Confederacy of Dunces" is one of the funniest American novels ever published. It's hard to describe, but it's basically about a 30-year-old man named Ignatius J. Reilly who lives with his mother in New Orleans. Reilly is educated and philosophically opposed to having a job, but has to confront reality when his mom makes him get one.

The story behind the novel is as famous as the novel itself. It was Toole's first published novel, published 11 years after his death after being championed by his mother and the writer Walker Percy. It was released to instant acclaim, winning a rare posthumous Pulitzer Prize.

Find out more about this book here.

MAINE: "Carrie" by Stephen King
"Carrie" by Stephen King.
"Carrie" by Stephen King.

Amazon

Carrie, a shy high school girl raised by an unstable, Christian fundamentalist mother, discovers she has telekinetic powers. When her classmates falsely crown her prom queen in an elaborate effort to humiliate her, she enacts her supernatural revenge.

Stephen King is Maine's biggest champion in literature, and "Carrie" takes place in the fictional town of Chamberlain.

Find out more about this book here.

MARYLAND: "Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant" by Anne Tyler
"Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant" by Anne Tyler.
"Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant" by Anne Tyler.

Amazon

Another Baltimore-based novel by Tyler, "Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant" tells how three siblings remember growing up with their perfectionist mother as she lies on her deathbed. The Pulitzer Prize-nominated novel examines how the siblings' recollections vary drastically.

Tyler's characters live in Charles Village, near her long-time residence.

Find out more about this book here.

MASSACHUSETTS: "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau
"Walden" by Henry David Thoreau.
"Walden" by Henry David Thoreau.

Amazon

"Walden" is the product of transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau's two-year retreat into the woods, an experiment in isolation, simple living, and self-reliance. By immersing himself in nature, he hoped to understand society more objectively.

Encompassing 61 acres, Walden Pond is the crown jewel of the greater Walden Woods ecosystem in Concord.

Find out more about this book here.

MICHIGAN: "The Virgin Suicides" by Jeffrey Eugenides
"The Virgin Suicides" by Jeffrey Eugenides.
"The Virgin Suicides" by Jeffrey Eugenides.

Amazon

"The Virgin Suicides" is a gripping tale of five beautiful yet eccentric sisters who all die by suicide in the same year in Gross Pointe, Michigan. It is written from the perspective of an anonymous group of boys who are observant, infatuated, and endlessly struggling to explain the tragedy.

Eugenides said he was inspired by the deterioration of the state's auto industry and the "feeling of growing up in Detroit, in a city losing population, and in perpetual crisis."

Find out more about this book here.

MINNESOTA: "Main Street" by Sinclair Lewis
"Main Street" by Sinclair Lewis.
"Main Street" by Sinclair Lewis.

Amazon

"Main Street" reveals two sides of Minnesota: the thriving metropolis of Saint Paul, where the heroine is from, and the dried-up small town she moves to after much convincing from her new husband. The young woman falls victim to the narrow-mindedness and unimaginative nature of the townspeople.

The author used his birthplace of Sauk Centre as a mold for the fictionalized Gopher Prairie setting.

Find out more about this book here.

MISSISSIPPI: "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner
"The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner.
"The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner.

Amazon

"The Sound and the Fury" encapsulates the decline of the American South through the dysfunctional Compson family, who face financial ruin during the Roaring '20s and lose the respect of the townspeople in Jefferson, Mississippi.

Many readers complained that the book's stream of consciousness style was hard to follow. Faulkner's advice was to "read it four times," he told the Paris Review.

Find out more about this book here.

MISSOURI: "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain
"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain.
"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain.

Amazon

This classic coming-of-age story set alongside the Mississippi River follows Tom Sawyer, a young boy who preoccupies himself with pulling pranks and impressing a girl — until he witnesses a murder. Tom and his companions run away to an island, but eventually return to take up treasure hunting.

Twain grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, which inspired the setting of "Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."

Find out more about this book here.

 

MONTANA: "A River Runs Through It" by Norman Maclean
"A River Runs Through It" by Norman Maclean.
"A River Runs Through It" by Norman Maclean.

Amazon

"A River Runs Through It" is the semi-autobiographical tale of everyday life in the west for two brothers who are the sons of a local pastor.

Set amidst the beautiful, wondrous landscape of Montana, the two boys — one dutiful and one rebellious — each grow up and discover themselves, turning, at times, to dark places, but always under the footfalls of their father.

Find out more about this book here.

NEBRASKA: "My Ántonia" by Willa Cather
"My Ántonia" by Willa Cather.
"My Ántonia" by Willa Cather.

Amazon

The reader meets Ántonia Shimerda through a written account from the narrator, Jim Burden, a young man who moves to the fictional town of Black Hawk, Nebraska, to live with his grandparents.

Through Jim's lens of love and infatuation, Ántonia is brought to life as a young Bohemian girl with many trials and triumphs. The reader grows to know her and, simultaneously, the author as well, who wrote the novel from details of her own life in Nebraska.

Find out more about this book here.

NEVADA: "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" by Hunter S. Thompson
"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" by Hunter S. Thompson.
"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" by Hunter S. Thompson.

Amazon

"Fear and Loathing" follows a journalist, Raoul Duke, and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo, on a trip to Las Vegas to cover an event taking place there.

However, the two are preoccupied and saddened by what they perceive as the decline of 1960s American pop culture and begin experimenting with drugs. Much of the book is seen through their hallucinations and twisted realities, which are only fueled by the hyperreal surroundings of Sin City.

Find out more about this book here.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: "The Hotel New Hampshire" by John Irving
"The Hotel New Hampshire" by John Irving.
"The Hotel New Hampshire" by John Irving.

Amazon

Containing all the classic John Irving tropes — a bear, rape, body-building, and social privilege — "The Hotel New Hampshire" follows a peculiar family as they open hotels in New Hampshire, Vienna, and Maine.

The book evokes Irving's upbringing in the back woods of New Hampshire.

Find out more about this book here.

NEW JERSEY: "Drown" by Junot Díaz
"Drown" by Junot Díaz.
"Drown" by Junot Díaz.

Amazon

Based on Díaz's own experiences as a Dominican immigrant who moved to New Jersey, the 10 short stories in "Drown" tell of the struggles the New Jersey immigrant community faces, from poverty to homesickness to the language barrier.

The outlook is often grim, but thanks to Díaz's riveting and intoxicating narrative, we manage to see the characters' unsentimental determination for a better life.

Find out more about this book here.

NEW MEXICO: "Cities of the Plain" by Cormac McCarthy
"Cities of the Plain" by Cormac McCarthy.
"Cities of the Plain" by Cormac McCarthy.

Amazon

The final book in McCarthy's Border Trilogy, "Cities of the Plain" is about a doomed romance in the American frontier between a man and a sex worker who runs afoul of a pimp.

The novel is set in New Mexico on the border of the United States and Mexico.

Find out more about this book here.

NEW YORK: "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Amazon

"The Great Gatsby" tells the story of Jay Gatsby, a young, lovesick millionaire, through the eyes of his friend and next-door neighbor, Nick Carraway. The novel progresses as Gatsby tries to rekindle his love with Daisy Buchanan, Nick's cousin.

Through Gatsby's shady business dealings and his extravagant wealthy lifestyle on Long Island, Fitzgerald reveals a world in New York that is both terribly beautiful and terribly corrupt.

Find out more about this book here.

NORTH CAROLINA: "A Walk to Remember" by Nicholas Sparks
"A Walk to Remember" by Nicholas Sparks.
"A Walk to Remember" by Nicholas Sparks.

Nicholas Sparks Website

This Sparks romance novel, made famous by its film adaptation starring Mandy Moore, shows the unlikely, blossoming love between two high school students from Beaufort: Landon Carter, a popular rebel, and Jamie Sullivan, a quiet bookworm.

While Landon tries to get closer to Jamie, she pushes him away, fearing that a secret will end things between them before it begins.

Find out more about this book here.

NORTH DAKOTA: "The Round House" by Louise Erdrich
"The Round House" by Louise Erdrich.
"The Round House" by Louise Erdrich.

Amazon

A woman living on a North Dakota Indian reservation is attacked, but police have a hard time investigating the case when she is unwilling to discuss what transpired.

Her son takes matters into his own hands, recruiting his friends to find out what happened and bring justice to his family and tribe.

Find out more about this book here.

OHIO: "The Broom of the System" by David Foster Wallace
"The Broom of the System" by David Foster Wallace.
"The Broom of the System" by David Foster Wallace.

Amazon

In Foster Wallace's slightly altered view of Ohio in 1990, we follow our heroine, Lenore Stonecipher Beadsman, a telephone operator and secretary who juggles a job with barely any purpose, a relationship with her much-older boss, and the task of finding her decrepit grandmother.

The grandmother, along with 25 other residents of the Shaker Heights Nursing Home, has managed to disappear without a trace.

Find out more about this book here.

OKLAHOMA: "Paradise" by Toni Morrison
"Paradise" by Toni Morrison.
"Paradise" by Toni Morrison.

Amazon

"Paradise" chronicles tensions between the patriarchal, all-Black town of Ruby, which was founded by the descendants of free slaves intent on isolating themselves from the outside world, and a nearby community of five women, each seeking refuge from the past.

Morrison conceived the idea for "Paradise" after researching the all-Black towns in Oklahoma that formed when newly freed men left plantations under duress.

Find out more about this book here.

OREGON: "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" by Ken Kesey
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" by Ken Kesey.
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" by Ken Kesey.

Amazon

Randle McMurphy barges into an Oregon mental institution one day and decides to rally the patients against the tyranny of Nurse Ratched. McMurphy stirs more trouble as he smuggles in women, alcohol, and other contraband, leading to an all-out war between him and the institution.

Told through the eyes of one of the patients, Kesey's novel reveals bits of his own background. He previously worked as an orderly in a mental health ward.

Find out more about this book here.

PENNSYLVANIA: "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold
"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold.
"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold.

Amazon

"The Lovely Bones" is a dark, gripping tale about Susie Salmon, a young girl who was brutally raped and murdered in the cornfields of Norristown. It's told from her point of view after her death.

Looking down on her family from heaven, Susie watches as they come to terms with what happened to her and try to solve a case that, to police, seems to lead nowhere.

Find out more about this book here.

RHODE ISLAND: "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult
"My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult.
"My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult.

Simon & Schuster

Anna has always been her older sister Kate's lifesaver. She's undergone countless surgeries, transplants, and donations to help save her sick sister, but when doctors discover that Anna is now a match to be Kate's bone marrow donor, Anna decides to sue for the right to control her own body.

Picoult shows the heartbreaking pull between freedom and family in this Rhode Island-set novel.

Find out more about this book here.

SOUTH CAROLINA: "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd
"The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd.
"The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd.

Amazon

Lily Owens is a young girl growing up in 1960s South Carolina with an abusive father and an African American nanny who serves as a surrogate mother. When her nanny ends up in jail for insulting some white men, Lily breaks her out and the two run away, seeking refuge among three eccentric bee-keeping sisters.

Monk Kidd injects some of her own Southern upbringing into this contemporary heartwarming novel.

Find out more about this book here.

SOUTH DAKOTA: "A Long Way From Home" by Tom Brokaw
"A Long Way From Home" by Tom Brokaw.
"A Long Way From Home" by Tom Brokaw.

Amazon

"A Long Way From Home" details Brokaw's own "American pilgrimage," from boyhood on the Missouri River into a career in broadcast journalism in the '60s.

In Brokaw's honest narrative, we see how much his life has been shaped by growing up in South Dakota and the historic events he lived through as a child and young adult.

Find out more about this book here.

TENNESSEE: "A Death in the Family" by James Agee
"A Death in the Family" by James Agee.
"A Death in the Family" by James Agee.

Amazon

"A Death in the Family" is the only novel by the polymath writer James Agee. It's a semiautobiographical book about the emotional reverberations in a family after a father dies in a car accident. Set in Knoxville, it lyrically captures the feelings of every character, from the inner mind of a child to the tragedy of a widow.

The novel was published posthumously, after Agee died of a heart attack at 45, and won the Pulitzer Prize. He was also an acclaimed screenwriter, critic, and journalist.

Find out more about this book here.

TEXAS: "No Country for Old Men" by Cormac McCarthy
"No Country for Old Men" by Cormac McCarthy.
"No Country for Old Men" by Cormac McCarthy.

Amazon

Made famous by the film of the same name starring Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men" is Cormac McCarthy's masterpiece about a drug deal-gone-wrong on the Texas-Mexico border. The event left a group of men dead and $2 million in an abandoned truck.

Llewellyn Moss, who discovered the scene, takes the money and gets swept up in the illicit drug business.

Find out more about this book here.

UTAH: "The 19th Wife" by David Ebershoff
"The 19th Wife" by David Ebershoff.
"The 19th Wife" by David Ebershoff.

Amazon

Ebershoff weaves a novel based on the life of Ann Eliza Young, one of the wives of Mormon leader Brigham Young, who escapes her oppressive husband and embarks on a mission to end polygamy. The tale is juxtaposed against a modern-day story, following a young Mormon man who was cast out of the church and is trying to re-enter to solve his father's murder.

In this work of historical fiction, Ebershoff takes a critical look at polygamy through his side-by-side narratives.

Find out more about this book here.

VERMONT: "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
"The Secret History" by Donna Tartt.
"The Secret History" by Donna Tartt.

Amazon

Tartt's debut novel tells the story of six classics students at a fictional Vermont college and was a sensation when it was released in 1992. It's narrated by Richard Papen, one of the students, who recounts the story of a murder that happened among them.

The story takes a classic whodunnit premise and situates it in an coming-of-age story as well as the intellectual world of classic literature.

"Forceful, cerebral and impeccably controlled, 'The Secret History' achieves just what Ms. Tartt seems to have set out to do: It marches with cool, classical inevitability toward its terrible conclusion," Michiko Kakutani wrote in The New York Times in her review of the novel.

Find out more about this book here.

VIRGINIA: "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Patterson
"Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Patterson.
"Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Patterson.

Amazon

Jesse Aarons wants to be the fastest runner in his rural Virginia elementary school and almost realizes his dream until a new girl shows up and outruns everyone. This leads to an unlikely friendship between Jesse and the girl, Leslie, who together invent a magic wooded kingdom they call Terabithia.

The book is loosely based on events from Patterson's own childhood, which she spent in the greater DC area.

Find out more about this book here.

WASHINGTON: "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
"Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer.
"Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer.

Amazon

The small town of Forks, Washington, became famous as the setting for Meyer's best-selling vampire book series.

Bella Swan moves from her mom's house to live with her dad in Forks where she meets Edward Cullen, a quiet, handsome young man at her new high school. Edward usually keeps to himself, but he is drawn to Bella and can't seem to stay away from her — for a shocking reason.

Find out more about this book here.

WASHINGTON, DC: "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown
"The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown.
"The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown.

Amazon

In this story of espionage, conspiracies, and buried American secrets, "The Da Vinci Code" author Dan Brown has done it again.

Brown's beloved character Robert Langdon returns, this time chasing down his mentor's kidnapper in DC while trying to decode five puzzling symbols linked to the Free Masons.

Find out more about this book here.

WEST VIRGINIA: "Shiloh" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
"Shiloh" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.
"Shiloh" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.

Amazon

In Friendly, a young boy finds a puppy he names Shiloh in the hills behind his home. But Shiloh belongs to Judd, a scary town-drunk who beats the dog.

Now the boy, who's made a friend in Shiloh, will do anything to save him.

Find out more about this book here.

WISCONSIN: "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder
"Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
"Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Amazon

The classic characters Laura, Mary, and their family struggle to make a home for themselves in Ingalls Wilder's beloved "Little House" children's book series.

Based in part on Ingalls Wilder's own journey around the Midwest, young Laura and Mary, along with their parents and baby sister Carrie, learn to survive the long winter, fend for themselves, and take care of each other in this true-to-life work.

Find out more about this book here.

WYOMING: "The Laramie Project" by Moises Kaufman
"The Laramie Project" by Moises Kaufman.
"The Laramie Project" by Moises Kaufman.

Amazon

Kaufman wrote "The Laramie Project" as a play to recount the murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man who became the victim of an extreme hate crime in a quiet Wyoming town.

Shepard is remembered and honored from the perspective of family and friends as Kaufman takes a lens to the stubborn intolerance in society.

Find out more about this book here.

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