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 ....
Ohio
Ohio is mostly a pass-through place for me, though I have been to Columbus for Delta Gamma meetings and Cincinnati for a Paramore show my daughter won a meet and greet for back in the day. Ohio is one of the easiest midwestern states to check off. It's very popular. Kerry Winfrey and Kristy Boyce have set many books there as has Kerry Rea.
Published by Forever on February 10, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
When elusive metal frontman Dax Nakamura agrees to give his first interview in years, he has one his ex, Sloane Donavan, has to write it.
Bad-boy-turned-straight-edge frontman, Dax Nakamura, would prefer the skeletons in his closet to stay there, thank you very much. But not giving interviews didn’t stop the press from writing about one of metal’s biggest bands—or its lead vocalist. With their new album about to drop, Dax is finally ready to address the rumors that have plagued Final Revelations for the past eight years. And the only person he trusts to write it is the same person who broke his heart three summers ago.
Sloane Donavan knew she wanted to write about music since the first time she posted a MySpace blog for her neighbor’s garage band. A journalism degree, a failed internship, and countless backstage passes later, Sloane still hasn’t secured the dream job she left her dream man behind for. So when Dax shows back up with a career-making opportunity—exclusive insight into him, his band, and the chance to craft the narrative of one of the scene’s most revered bands—Sloane agrees, with one No one can know they’re exes. As they dive into Dax’s past, Sloane quickly realizes their history isn’t the only thing he’s hiding, and Sloane has a choice to make. The article Dax wants and the salacious tell-all Sloane’s editor expects are two completely different stories. This is the big break she’s been waiting for, but it comes with a the chance to rewrite the ending with her first and only love.
This was interesting because it gets into the local music scene. A bit different from most of the books I have read set in Ohio.
[review]
Published by Delacorte Romance on May 5, 2026
Age/Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
Roll the dice, strike up the band, and get ready for a swoon-worthy summer! A charming gaming romance that blends the magic of D&D with the camaraderie of band camp—from the bestselling author of Dating and Dragons!
Questing for love . . .
Hazel Buchanan has her senior year mapped out: Win respect as color guard captain, kick off her first D&D campaign, and steer clear of distractions. But her plan takes a critical hit when Max—her former best friend and longtime crush—returns to town with drumsticks in hand and an unexplained chip on his shoulder.
Hazel and Max can’t help bickering every time they’re together, and thanks to meddling parents, he’s invading her D&D game too. As Dungeon Master, she’s ready to shut him down, but D&D has a way of bringing people together like nothing else. Is this rivalry masking something more? With dice rolling and emotions spinning, Hazel might be in for more than she planned . . .
All three books in this series are set in Ohio, and all three are fun, nerdy, and charming.
[review]
The Favorites by Layne Fargo
Published by Random House on January 14, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Goodreads
To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession.
An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating about a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice
She might not have a famous name, funding, or her family’s support, but Katarina Shaw has always known that she was destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Clinging to skating—and each other—to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating the world with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style, and rollercoaster relationship. Until a shocking incident at the Olympic Games brings their partnership to a sudden end.
As the ten-year anniversary of their final skate approaches, an unauthorized documentary reignites the public obsession with Shaw and Rocha, claiming to uncover the "real story" through interviews with their closest friends and fiercest rivals. Kat wants nothing to do with the documentary. But she can't stand the thought of someone else defining her legacy either. So, after a decade of silence, she's telling her story: from the childhood tragedies that created her all-consuming bond with Heath to the clash of desires that tore them apart. Sensational rumors have haunted their every step for years, but the truth may be even more shocking than the headlines.
Inspired by the powerful love and hate that fuel Emily Bronte’s classic, Wuthering Heights, The Favorites is an exhilarating dance between passion, ambition, and what it truly means to win.
Ohio is only one stop of many in this book as Kat and Heath chase their Olympic dreams.
[review]
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