9 Recent Books Set in DC to Watch for
Thrillers, romance, and more
It’s always fun to read books set where you live — and this is doubly true when you live in a city full of ambitious types and political shenanigans. Here are 9 great newly or about-to-be published books set in DC to look for this year.
Admit This To No One, by Leslie Pietrzyk
This collection of linked short stories that revolve around a Speaker of the House and the various important women in his life looks to be a must-read for fans of Scandal who want a more literary take on the story of a fixer, as well as issues of power, race, and the many ways DC is divided.
Creatures of Passage, by Morowa Yejidé
This surreal thriller written by a DC native is set in Anacostia in 1977 and explores regret, revenge, grief, and more. Its protagonists are twins, named after Egyptian gods, only one of whom is still alive.
The Days to Come, by Tom Rosenstiehl
In this political thriller, a new president is determined to bring sweeping change, revitalising the economy, fighting climate change, and getting American government to function again. But to do so, he’s going to need the help of his fixers, one of whom is fighting his own personal battles, too. And that’s before a cyberattack and an unpredictable crisis throws the country into futher chaos…
Happy Endings, by Thien-Kim Lam
This steamy romance set in a fictional neighbourhood in North East DC features a love story between the owner of a sex toy shop and the restaurant owner who broke her heart back in New Orleans. “Unabashedly sex-positive, Happy Endings is a paean to second-chance romance — as well as friendship, family, food, and inclusive com.munities. The story’s undeniable warmth makes it a pleasure to read,” says beloved romance author Olivia Dade.
The Lost Diary of M, by Paul Wolfe
Back in the 1960s, Mary Pinchot Meyer was a fascinating DC character. The sister-in-law of the Washington Post’s Ben Bradlee, the ex-wife of a CIA chief, and a longtime secret lover of JFK, she died in mysterious circumstances a year after the President’s murder. Out now in paperback, this novel reimagines her story.
Never Saw Me Coming, by Vera Kurian
It’s fair to say that this is not the typical DC thriller. It brings something completely new to the game, charting the story of a cohort of seven psychopaths brought together for a clinical study at a DC college. We zoom in on Chloe, who between frat parties is plotting lethal revenge on a childhood friend — but who soon has to decide whether she can ever trust a psychopath.
The Passover Guest, by Susan Kusel
Set in 1933, this is a beautifully illustrated book for kids from preschool to third grade, which tells the story of a family too poor to celebrate a Passover Seder. At the Lincoln Memorial, young Muriel meets a magician, and when she arrives back home, a feast awaits her.
Selena Singh Flips the Script, by Sonya Lalli
Serena Singh believes in self-reliance. She doesn’t have time for friendship or hobbies, and she wishes her mom would understand that she just doesn’t want what her sister does — a big, traditional wedding, followed by children. But a new friendship with a co-worker at her top DC advertising firm will challenge the way she thinks and, maybe, change her direction in life…
What Could Be Saved, by Lisa O’Holloran Schwarz
Alternating between 1972 Bangkok and 2019 DC, this novel tells the story of a woman piecing together her family’s secrets — including about a brother she never knew.
