What comes top off your mind when you hear Cape Cod? Well, our correct guess would be, you associate Cape Cod with summer vacation. Yes, Cape Cod is a fantastic summer destination, and you will love it there. But wait; there is more to Cape Cod than just summer vacations.
So, your next destination is Cape Cod. You have been doing your research on the internet. You want to know what to anticipate when you land in Cape Cod. But seemingly, you are not getting the visual anticipation you expect.
The good news is there are hundreds of books set in Cape Cod. What this means is, you can view Cape Cod through an author’s eye! Yes, there are a lot of books you can read to prepare yourself for a vacation of your lifetime psychologically.
Want fiction books set in Cape Cod? We got you covered. Love Nonfiction books? Speak of it no more. We literary dragged the entire library here. There are several authors whose memoirs are set in Cape Cod. What about my kids, can I find something to build their anticipation for Cape Cod? Yes, there are a couple of children’s books set in this fantastic Cape.
Alright, time to get this show on the road! What are some of the books set in Cape Cod?
Best Fiction Books Set in Cape Cod
Cape Cod by William Martin
Looking for the best summer beach read? Cape Cod by William Martin would be a perfect fit. If you are curious to explore the rich history of Cape Cod, and the towns around it, this book belong on your reading list. It is a gripping story of two rival families living in the Cape for centuries.
The vivid descriptions in this book afford you a look into the actual historical events that happened on the Cape in the past three centuries.
This book lets you literary explore the best towns of Cape Cod: Truro, Provincetown, Falmouth, Bourne, Sandwich, Mashpee, Wellfleet, Brewster, and several others you’ll encounter when you won’t be able to put this masterpiece down.
The icing on the cake? William wittily mixes real events with fiction; you will fall in love.
Tip: Get this book and read it before your trip to Cape Cod. It sure gets you in the perfect mood to visit Cape Cod. Also, be sure to carry it along. It would be a great reference as you tour the cities of Cape Cod.
Beach Body Boogie by Timothy Fagan
Beach Body Boogie is another perfect book you can carry to the beach. It is incredibly captivating and humorous. Get ready for some belly laughs! Beach Body by Fagan is an intelligently crafted thriller that makes direct reference to specific spots in Cape Cod. Imagine being to sites that Timothy made references to. Sound exciting?
The story begins with a cop returning to his hometown, Cape Cod. As the author develops the story, you will realize how alluring Cape Cod is. Get this read and let Fagan literately take you to Cape Cod.
The Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo
Griffin, the main character in this book, has a lot of memories in Cape Cod. This is where he spent his childhood summer vacations. Also, Cape Cod is where he went for his honeymoon with his wife Joy. He finds Cape Cod to be so breathtaking; he chooses it over and over for his other life events.
Also, his daughter Laura’s wedding is done at Cape Cod. Griffin carries his parents’ ashes to Laura’s wedding. He then drives around Cape Cod, trying to find a spot to put the ashes. This turns out to be a hilarious way to discover Cape Cod.
Although Russo chose not to set his story in a specific town in Cape Cod, his descriptions bring memories of specific places in the Cape.
Non-Fiction Books Set in Cape Cod
Cape Cod- Henry David Thoreau
If you are a lover of non-fiction, I bet you will love how Henry David Thoreau gives you a trip to the best beaches in Cape Cod. This is a rich classic set in the 1850s, so expect some touch of history in it.
Thoreau sets sail to explore the Massachusetts coastline in the 1850’s. While at it, he spent a lot of time in the fishing huts, beaches, and isolated farms. Henry focuses more on the geography of the seas and the beaches in Cape Cod. This is an excellent way to visit the spectacular Cape Cod beaches without leaving your house. But we bet you would want to visit to have a real feel of what is described in this book.
A Year by the Sea- Joan Anderson
This memoir will leave you yearning to spend a year by the sea too! If you would love to spend most of your sunny days on the beaches, this is your book.
It starts when the author moves to Cape Cod. She then convinces a local fisher to drop her to a Cape Cod Island with seals. She lives in her family’s beach cottage and even works in a fish store.
This is a compelling book that will give a pass card the beach life and the fishing lifestyle in Cape Cod. Also, after you’ve visited Cape Cod, this is an excellent book to get you into the reflective mood for the time you spent in Cape Cod beaches.
The Outermost House- A Year of Life in The Great Beach of Cape Cod by Henry Betson
The author, Henry Betson, had only intended to spend two weeks in his beachside home. But guess what, the beauty and lifestyle of Cape Cod carried him away. He ended up spending a whole year! And no shred of regret if whatever he writes in this book is anything to go by.
Betson fell in love with the seabird migrations, the tide rhythm, the summer sky, the windblown dunes, and the magical landscape. Though written a few decades ago, this book is still so real. You will surely fall in love too.
Cape Cod Stories: Tales from Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard
This anthology of short stories lets you view Cape Cod town through the eyes of different authors. The good thing is, every other author had a different experience. In a nutshell, you are getting a cocktail of experiences from different angles of exploring Cape Cod by authors with boots on the ground.
From the collection, you can psychologically get ready for the rustic beauty, fantastic experience, and even the history of Cape Cod. You can touch and feel the refreshing air of the beaches and cities because the authors have a good way with words.
Some of the jaw-dropping stories in the collection would be Tide Pool Mussel Hunting by Sylvia Plath, and Hellen Keller’s First Whiff of Salty Sea Air. If you plan to making swimming in the salty water your main act, you should read Keller’s story, where she narrates her first swim in Cape Cod.
But, if you need a proper description of the place, detail by detail, Summertime by Paul Theroux would be your story.
This anthology is suitable for any traveler who has Cape Cod in their bucket list.
The best thing about this book is the diversity. The stories are reflections of different places and towns in Cape Cod. If you are planning to explore various sites and towns in Cape Cod widely, this would be a fantastic guide. You would do better to throw it in your bag when you decide to visit.
The Nature of Cape Cod by Beth Schwarzman
If you would love to have a deeper understanding of the physical features and environment of Cape Cod, look no further than The Nature of Cape Cod.
Beth is a geologist and naturalist who use this book to let you into the natural history of Cape Cod, the natural process, the life, environment, and the beach. She also enables you to peep into flora and fauna of Cape Cod. And boy, your fingers and eyes will be itching to touch and see the magical side of Cape Cod.
The bonus is, this book will reveal some gems hidden from the internet, such as deep woods and the cranberry bog. As if that’s not enough, this book has maps and pictures. You can use this as your guide to Cape Cod.
Children Books Set in Cape Cod
Did we say that Cape Cod is paradise-on-earth for the entire family? Your kids, too, should not miss the fun and thrill that the Cape packs. And to give them a pre-appetite for a visit, reading these kid-friendly books would explode (of course, in a good way) their expectations.
The Forget-Me-Not-Summer by Leila Howland
If you would be vacationing with your kids in Cape Cod, help them have a more memorable trip by getting them this book.
This is a story of three Californian sisters who spend their summer vacation in Cape Cod. The girls from LA are put on a pause when they visit their aunt in the Cape Cod.
In Cape Cod, they engage in activities such as making new friends, cracking lobster shells at clambakes, and even organizing a talent show. It’s good to look at how the kids quickly adjusted from the LA life to Cape Cod’s.
The Brightest Stars of Summer is a sequel to The Forget-Me-Not Summer and will get the kids now settled in the glamorous life of Cape Cod.
Other Books that could virtually take you to Cape Cod
To us, a vacation in Cape Cod every year has become a habit, and so is reading books about this heaven-on-earth destination. The combination of Cape Cod and books never gets boring. We have read, between ourselves, tens of books about this place and the next read is always a best seller. There is no way we can bring to count all the great books about Cape Cod, but we have whet your palate with a teaser to the rich collection of memoirs and novels from the shores to the cities of this great destination.
Of course, there are numerous other books set in Cape Cod. It is a fantastic place where a lot of authors choose to set their stories. We just chose our favorite reads to get you in the mood. But, you can also explore the following reads:
- Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick
- Eden in Winter by Richard Patterson
- The Last September by Nina De Gramont
You can also read our travel guide (we will add a link to the guide I’m writing next) to Cape Cod and get in the groove of what, how, when, where, and why to visit. A travel guide will help you find and prepare for exciting best things to do in Cape Cod. The guides are an excellent way also to explore the best places to stay in Cape Cod.
Final Thoughts
If you are about to visit a place, you will want to have a sneak peek of what to expect, right? Hands down, reading books set in your dream destination will always carry the day. The books are a great way to get you in the mood for the trip. Also, you can use your books to reflect on the destination at the end of your trip.
If you are preparing to visit the breathtaking Cape Cod, get yourself the books above. These will let you see Cape Cod through fictitious characters and authors. It is also an excellent way to know that there is more to Cape Cod than just the beaches. Get the books, and let’s get you ready for a vacation of your lifetime. Oh, and one more, we would like to hear about your travel stories to the Cape Cod. After all, good things only get better when shared. Won’t you agree? Have a nice one reading and blast when you decide to pack your bags and visit Cape Cod.
