Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Sloth Goes Places - Nebraska

 


Sloth Goes Places is a feature where I share books I have tracked from the Literary Escapes and Read Around the USA reading challenges. 

Today we are looking at books set in ....

Nebraska


Like many of the western states, I have not visited Nebraska. I always think of corn when I think of Nebraska, but I am sure the state has other things to offer. This is not an easy state to check off, but Lynn Painter and Rainbow Rowell have set some books there. 


Chasing Home
 by Piper Rayne
Published by Piper Rayne Inc. on December 9, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Ratingfour-half-stars
Goodreads

It was straight out of a rom-com—until two pink lines changed everything.

Zander Shaw is country music’s hottest star. So, when he singled me out of a packed arena and had me pulled backstage, I should’ve known I wasn’t his forever. One signed NDA later, I was sneaking onto his tour bus, wrapped up in his world, and him. But it ended before it really started when he ghosted me.

Then he shows up on my family’s ranch to film his new music video, a surprise to us both. Now I’m his appointed tour guide around the ranch, stuck sharing all my favorite places with the man who carelessly discarded me.

The more time we spend together, the harder it is to guard my heart because his flirty half-smile makes me forget my anger. But Zander’s made it clear, he’s not looking to ride out into the sunset with anyone.

Which would be fine… if I wasn’t carrying his baby.

[review]


The Last Time We Say Goodbye
 by Cynthia Hand
Published by Harper Teen on February 10, 2015
Age/Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
Ratingfour-half-stars
Goodreads

There's death all around us.
We just don't pay attention.
Until we do.

The last time Lex was happy, it was before. When she had a family that was whole. A boyfriend she loved. Friends who didn't look at her like she might break down at any moment.

Now she's just the girl whose brother killed himself. And it feels like that's all she'll ever be.

As Lex starts to put her life back together, she tries to block out what happened the night Tyler died. But there's a secret she hasn't told anyone-a text Tyler sent, that could have changed everything.

Lex's brother is gone. But Lex is about to discover that a ghost doesn't have to be real to keep you from moving on.

[review]


Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
Published by Simon & Schuster on May 4, 2021
Age/Genres: Young Adult, Romance
Ratingfive-stars
Goodreads

In this rom-com about rom-coms, in the spirit of Kasie West and Jenn Bennett, a hopeless romantic teen attempts to secure a happily-ever-after moment with her forever crush, but finds herself reluctantly drawn to the boy next door.

Perpetual daydreamer Liz Buxbaum gave her heart to Michael a long time ago. But her cool, aloof forever crush never really saw her before he moved away. Now that he’s back in town, Liz will do whatever it takes to get on his radar - and maybe snag him as a prom date - even befriend Wes Bennet.

The annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor might seem like a prime candidate for romantic-comedy fantasies, but Wes has only been a pain in Liz’s butt since they were kids. Pranks involving frogs and decapitated lawn gnomes do not a potential boyfriend make. Yet, somehow, Wes and Michael are hitting it off, which means Wes is Liz’s in.

But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz noticed by Michael so she can have her magical prom moment, she’s shocked to discover that she likes being around Wes. And as they continue to grow closer, she must reexamine everything she thought she knew about love - and rethink her own ideas of what happily ever after should look like.

[review]


Have you read any books set in Nebraska?
Let us know in the comments!

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