5 best novels set in Iowa
Breathe in the mesmerizing tranquility of small-town simplicity, be captivated by the vast cornfields rippling in the soft Midwestern breeze, get entangled in the heart-wrenching emotional journeys, and ride along the pages that unpave the raw and charming life in Iowa. Novels set in Iowa are a voyage into America's heartland where tales of love, mystery, intrigue, and resilience are as bounteous as the endless horizons of its landscapes.
A Thousand Acres
By Jane Smiley
How it fits the "novels set in Iowa" vibe: A Thousand Acres is set in the rural community of Zebulon County, Iowa. It brings the tranquility and challenges of farm life in the heart of America to the forefront, making it an authentic Iowa-set novel.
5 / 5 Stars on Google Books
Publisher: Anchor
Page Count: 385
Published Date: 2003-12-02
The Bridges of Madison County
By Robert James Waller
How it fits the "novels set in Iowa" vibe: This renowned romantic novel is set in Madison County, Iowa. It's a passionate representation of the quiet and touching love story in the rural backdrop of Iowa, blending the vibe of the setting harmoniously with the plot.
4 / 5 Stars on Google Books
Publisher: Thorndike Press
Page Count: 190
Published Date: 1992
Gilead
By Marilynne Robinson
How it fits the "novels set in Iowa" vibe: In this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Marilynne Robinson captures the essence of life in the small, isolated town of Gilead, Iowa. The describes the profound and quiet life in Midwest American perfectly.
4.5 / 5 Stars on Google Books
Publisher: Macmillan
Page Count: 260
Published Date: 2006-01-10
In this House of Brede
By Rumer Godden
How it fits the "novels set in Iowa" vibe: Although the novel unfolds primarily in an English Benedictine convent, its protagonist, Philippa Talbot, was a farm girl from Iowa. Her upbringing shapes her character and provides a contrast to the rest of the story.
Page Count: 377
Published Date: 2021
Dandelion Wine
By Ray Bradbury
How it fits the "novels set in Iowa" vibe: This metaphorical novel unfolds in the fictional town of Green Town, Iowa, illustrating life in a small Midwestern town in the summer of 1928. It's a profound reflection of the joys and tragedies of childhood.
Publisher: Spectra
Page Count: 254
Published Date: 1985-03-01