I’ve shared some bookish playlists before on the blog and some seasonal inspired playlists and I decided it was time for another bookish one because it’s been far too long. I always love making really random playlists with alllll the music I’m into because it helps me listen to different things…seriously some of my playlists are like Men With Beards or Song With Colors In Them (along with normal ones like Dance Party and songs to listen to on a rainy day).
Today I’m going to make a playlist with some of my favorite cities and give you some book recs for books that are set in that city!
* There’s 22 songs (the widget makes it look like less so just scroll down) and here’s the link if you want it on Spotify!
Just One Day by Gayle Forman: One of my all time favorite books! A great story of romance and self discovery that all starts in Paris!
French Milk by Lucy Knisley: I really enjoyed this graphic memoir about a girl and her mom who move to Paris!
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins: SWOON. A girl gets sent to boarding school in Paris and meets a boy there! I’m simplifying it soooo much but it’s so romantic and sweet and Anna is so funny!
Isla & the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins: This one also takes place in NYC (and some other places) but it also goes back to boarding school in Paris!! It’s a companion to Anna and Lola so I’d recommend reading those first for the BEST experience but you don’t HAVE to. But seriously you should.
The Beautiful & Cursed by Page Morgan: Gothic setting + Paris + paranormal!
Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Moss: Historical fiction + aristocracy + Paris + romance!
The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan: Paris in the late 1800’s! Sisters! Dancing!
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly: A modern day story alternated with one from the French Revolution and the story of two girls whose lives collide when the girl (in the modern time) goes to Paris for break and become bound by a diary.
A Darkness Strange & Lovely by Susan Dennard: This is the sequel to Something Strange & Deadly and the main characters are off to Paris from Philadelphia. THIS SERIES IS SO GOOD GUYS.
The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand: UM Paris and chocolate and romance?!? SWEETNESS OVERLOAD.
The Darlings Are Forever by Melissa Kantor: Cute story about friendship set in Manhattan!
The Geography of You & Me by Jennifer E. Smith: The whole story doesn’t take place in NYC but there’s an important night that starts everything when a blackout happens in the city.
The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle:
Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by David Levithan: A fun Christmas-y book set all across the city!
Also Known As by Robin Benway: Teenage spy! Cute romance!
Where She Went by Gayle Forman: Companion to If I Stay and it’s Adam’s story and it might even be better than If I Stay to be honest with you!!
Take A Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg: The story of 4 gift students studying at a prestigious performing arts high school!
The Ward by Jordana Frankel: I didn’t love this one I have to tell you for the sake of full disclosure but I thought it was interesting to imagine a NYC that was underwater.
Tell The Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt: OH THIS BOOK. It’s an adult book but the main character is a teen and you should just really read it!
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer: One of my favorite books. It deals with a boy who lost his father in 9/11 and a mystery that takes him all across the city.
Over You by Nicola Krauss & Emma McLaughlin: This one was just pure fun — a girl who has her own business fixing broken hearts and helping girls get over guys who dumped them.
Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight: A mother tries to put together the pieces of her daughter’s final days and the secrets and mystery around how she died.
It’s Kind Of A Story by Ned Vizzini: About a boy who almost succeeds in killing himself and finds himself checking into a mental hospital. It’s been on my TBR for a while and I think it’s going to be even harder to read now that Ned Vizzini passed away (suicide).
The Diviners by Libba Bray: 1920s + NYC + supernatural things!
When I Was The Greatest by Jason Reynolds: This one sounds so good and I’ve heard the author speak and he’s great. It’s set in a more rough neighborhood in Brooklyn. I honestly don’t know much more than that but I hear it’s AMAZING.
Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham: I hear this is kind of autobiographical in a way and it’s about a young girl trying to make it in the city as a struggling actress.
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead: Middle grade + I think some sort of time travel element.
Lola & The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins: Looooove this companion to Anna and the French Kiss so much!
Eve & Adam by Michael Grant & Katherine Applegate: Full disclosure..I did not care for this book. But it was set in San Francisco and lots of other people I trust DID like it. I did not though.
The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr: A piano prodigy who quits and is trying to figure out normal life without piano and if that’s what she even wants.
Angelfall by Susan Ee: Angels of the apocalypse + a journey from Northern Cali to San Francisco to get the main character’s sister back when she is taken by warrior angels!
Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan: A story centered around this mysterious sounding (as someone who hasn’t read it) bookstore in San Francisco!
Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs: A spin on Medusa set in San Fran!
Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett: Roaring twenties + San Francisco + paranormal!
Hope you enjoyed the playlist…it ended up being a pretty chill one overall!Let me know if you discovered any new songs you love/what you think of the playlist! Let me know if you’ve read any of the books on my TBR and tell me which ones I should move up! Do you have any book recs set in these cities? I was going on memory mostly and I know I probably missed some!!
Emma @ Awkwordly Emma says
It was so fun to see several of my favorites on your lists, and I got to add a couple to my own TBR list. 😀 Revolution and The Darlings are Forever sound good, so I’ll have to see if the library has them.
Jamie says
YAY I’m glad you were able to add a few to your TBR! Which ones are your favorites?
Emma says
Anna and the French Kiss, Just One Day, and The Geography of You and Me.
Megan says
I’m studying abroad in Paris starting this January. I’ve been trying to read a lot of books set in Paris to prepare. I love your suggestions- Just One Day and Anna and the French Kiss are some of my all time favorites! I’ve also read A Movable Feast and The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, which were classics, but very Paris-y (especially if you like 1920’s Paris). I’m reading Almost French by Sarah Turnbull right now, which is an adorable memoir about life and love in Paris. 🙂
Jamie says
OOOH WHAT A FUN OPPORTUNITY! I’m so jealous! I wish I would have done something like that in college! I have both those on my TBR…I gotta get back into reading the classics! And definitely checking out Almost French..thanks for that rec!
Katherine says
This is such a good idea! I love all the different settings for books, especially since I don’t travel as much as I would like. The books set in Paris are some of my favorites and NYC stories always have something special too!
Jamie says
Thank you for the feedback! I started doing another playlist/book list with other cities so I’m glad you enjoyed it! It’s lovely when a book’s setting just becomes a whole other character in itself.
Sophia says
Love this! Some of my favourite books are set in NYC – I love that city, it has a special place in my heart. I’m ashamed to say I haven’t been to Paris many times even though, as a Brit, it’s only a train ride away. However, Paris by Friendly Fires is one of my favourite songs. Apart from Lola and Lucy I can’t think of any Books I’ve read set in San Fran – I’ll have to pick one from your list!
Jamie says
There are SO many good books set in NYC…I love when authors are able to capture its magic! Love Friendly Fires!!
Sophia says
(Oops I always forget the fill in website bit!)
Love this! Some of my favourite books are set in NYC – I love that city, it has a special place in my heart. I’m ashamed to say I haven’t been to Paris many times even though, as a Brit, it’s only a train ride away. However, Paris by Friendly Fires is one of my favourite songs. Apart from Lola and Lucy I can’t think of any Books I’ve read set in San Fran – I’ll have to pick one from your list!
NicoleLynn says
There are a lot of books that you listed are my TBR. I’ve also added a few so thanks! I hope I find extra hours I can add on to the 24 that already exist so I can read all these lol. Thank you also for the playlist! I’m a music junkie so when I get to listen to some tunes it always puts me in a good mood. Some I haven’t heard before, so I’ll definitely add to my Spotify–which I definitely need to start using more of. I’m usually at 8tracks.com or on my iPod/iPhone/CD/Radio in the car. I seem to forget about Spotify lol. I need to rush back over to it though! I also LOVE that you did this post by location! I’m really in love with that listing type. Setting can do wonders for a book/my mood. 🙂
Jamie says
Isn’t that the truth?! My TBR grows leaps and bounds by day…and I can’t read fast enough to catch up! Glad you were able to add some to your TBR though! Ooh what’s your Spotify username?
And thanks for the feedback..I already started doing another one with other locations so YAY!
Rachel Patrick says
Ooh, this is so cool! I love it! For your Paris list: It’s not exactly set there, but have you read Elizabeth Wein’s CODE NAME VERITY? Because I just finished it the other night and it is VERY GOOD. I have read ANGELFALL (and WORLD AFTER), and oh my gosh, READ IT. That series is simple but not, and it is very, very good.
Jamie says
I LOVE CODE NAME VERITY OMG! And yes the more I hear about Angelfall the more excited I am!
Johannah says
I read reconstructing Amelia. Very gossip girl feel to it. I can’t wait to see what you think! That book wasn’t a favorite of mine sadly…. but you might find something in it that you love that I didn’t pick up on.
Jamie says
Thanks for letting me know your thoughts! I had a friend who I let borrow my copy on her vacation and she loved it so I’m curious to see where I fall!
Brianna says
Fun list. I’ll have to check some of these out. The Diviners has been on my to read list forever. I am always late to the party when it comes to books.
Jamie says
ME TOO. I always feel so late to the party. SIGH.
Annie says
Oh, I love this post! I’m always looking for new music to listen to and I love how the playlist is themed as well for THREE OFTHE CITIES I WANT TO VISIT MOST. Oh, and you should definitely, definitely read The Diviners & When You Reach Me. They’re both really good!
PS. What font did you use for the heading graphics? It’s so cute!
Jamie says
THIS POST WAS FOR YOU, ANNIE! 🙂
The font is called Contribute and I got it off dafont.
Dana @ The Nerdy Journalist says
If you want to feel Parisian, try listening to some French music. Stromae and Indila are two popular French pop artists. You should particularly check out the music video for Indila’s “Derniere Danse.” It’s one of my favorite songs! I listen to quite a bit of French music. Let me know if you’re interested in more recommendations!
Jamie says
I loooove French music! I believe I have all these on my Spotify playlist. I’m always down for more recs!!
Amanda @ Late Nights with Good Books says
What a neat post idea! I’m so bad at listening to music, but I do love the idea of matching together music and books.
Belle Epoque and The Painted Girls are two of my favorite books from last year. I love historical fiction, and both authors really brought the settings and stories to life. Neither is the happiest of stories, though, as a fair warning. But both are so beautifully written. The Chocolate Thief is also a fun, light-hearted sort of read.
I’m not sure I’ve read any NYC books – well, except The Diviners. I do have Tell the Wolves I’m Home on my tbr list though – I’ve heard great things about it! And same with Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore! I’ll have to look into some of the other books you mentioned here.