From the sun-drenched beaches of Malibu to the bustling streets of Los Angeles, the towering redwoods of the north to the sprawling vineyards of Napa Valley, California makes a fantastic backdrop for a story. Whether you’re in the mood for a Hallmark-esque romance, a cozy mystery, or time-hopping historical fiction, these books that take place in the Golden State will keep you turning pages, no matter which state you happen to be reading in!
Nothing Less Than Magic by Stacy Finz
San Francisco & Ghost (a fictional town in the Sierra foothills)
A heartbroken celebrity marriage counselor finds solace in a lakeside cabin during the vibrant leaf-peeping season, where her life begins to transform in the dreamiest way. Fans of Josie Silver and Sophie Cousens will love the emotional character arcs and cozy fall time vibes in this Hallmark Movie-esque tale with a touch of magical realism.
Don’t miss New York Times bestselling author Stacy Finz’s other books, also set in California!
A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron
Studio City and Foundgold (a fictional town in Gold Rush Country)
From Agatha Award-winning author Ellen Byron, a hilarious new series featuring a sitcom writer who has checked out of the familiar comforts in Studio City and checked in to the quaint village of Foundgold to run a motel. Running a rustic getaway in the woods sure beats LA traffic—until murder ruins the peace and quiet . . .
One Cursed Rose by Rebecca Zanetti
Alternate, near-future California
For fans of Scarlett St. Clair and Sarah J. Maas, New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti explores the forbidden and the taboo in this modern twist on Beauty and the Beast – the first in a seductive new dark romance series set in a world where information is power, and those who control the flow of information live like gods…
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
Unnamed city in Southern California
This subversive, feminist psychological horror follows the unraveling of a young woman and the making of a female serial killer. Set against a backdrop of a Korean-American family falling apart, this novel offers a bold new voice in horror. Perfect for fans of Crying in H-Mart and My Sister, the Serial Killer.
The Still Point by Tammy Greenwood
Costa de la Luna (fictional coastal town in Southern California)
Dance Moms meets Little Fires Everywhere in award-winning author Tammy Greenwood’s addictive new novel set in the hyper-cutthroat world of ballet girls and their mothers as they compete for a prestigious prize…
Murder Uncorked by Maddie Day
Wine Country
Raise a glass to Cece Barton, a widowed single mom and recent L.A. transplant to California wine country, who suddenly finds herself at the center of a murder investigation in this sparkling new mystery series from nationally bestselling author Maddie Day.
The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl by Bart Yates
Napa Valley
Both sweeping and exquisitely intimate, award-winning author Bart Yates blends historical fact and fiction in a surprising, thought-provoking saga spanning 12 significant days across nearly 100 years in the life of a single man, beginning in 1920s Utah.
Murder in a Cup by Lauren Elliott
Monterey Peninsula
As the descendant of an Irish witch and the owner of a New Age tea shop, intuitive gemologist Shay Myers has been living her most authentic life since moving home to California’s scenic Monterey Peninsula. But in the latest Crystals & CuriousiTEAS Mystery from USA Today bestselling author Lauren Elliott, not even her heightened senses can predict how to run a business—or catch a killer…
Midnight Harbor by Davis Bunn
Miramar Bay
Hearts, dreams. and creative spirits are stirred in this beautiful novel about fate and second chances, as a classical guitarist and a Hollywood princess seek sanctuary in the breathtaking coastal California town of Miramar Bay. Readers of Nicholas Sparks and Karen Kingsbury will fall in love with this uplifting, aspirational new tale from internationally bestselling author Davis Bunn.
February 2025 New Reads