Best Books Set in Asheville, NC
- Updated: 11/20/2024
- Janice
When planning any trip, I always turn to books that bring the destination to life. Whether fiction or non-fiction, these reads offer insights into a place’s culture, history, and scenery, enriching my visit. They also introduce me to stories and perspectives I might not have discovered otherwise. Below, you’ll find my top book recommendations for Asheville, NC, where I have been twice—once with family and another on a girls’ trip—along with helpful resources to uncover even more great reads about this sweet destination.
Table Of Contents
Prefer to shop directly from this reading list? Find it on my Amazon and Bookshop.org stores.
Fiction Picks
Look Homeward, Angel: A Story of The Buried Life, by Thomas Wolfe. A rewarding, though lengthy read, this semi-autobiographical book from Wolfe, whose character of Gant—believed to be the author—is set in a fictional town representative of his hometown of Asheville.
The coming-of-age story takes place in the early 20th century, following Gant from birth to graduate school at Harvard in Boston. It also paints a memorable portrait of a North Carolina family. The book is also available as an audiobook.
Time Is a River, by Mary Alice Munroe, is set in the mountains outside Asheville. It follows the story of Mia Landan, who leaves Charleston behind to heal from cancer treatment and a broken marriage. She settles in a neglected family fishing cabin in a remote location owned by her fly-fishing instructor.
There is reason for the neglect, and Mia gets pulled into its complicated past stretching back nearly 100 years when she uncovers the long-deceased journal of the original owner. Also available as an audiobook.
Non-Fiction Picks
Lady On the Hill, by Howard E. Covington. In this highly rated book, learn the history of how Biltmore came to be and the personal and behind-the-scenes struggles that made it one of the most visited homes in America. The book offers an illuminating history to absorb before a visit to the estate. It is also available as an audiobook.
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. Read this autobiographical tale of Bryson’s attempt to tackle all 2,000+ miles of the famed Appalachian Trail to get in the spirit of your own Blue Ridge ramble. Terrific as an audiobook.
I am a big fan of guidebooks and love to read them before my trips for the deep and detailed insider knowledge they provide about a place that is often difficult to duplicate from internet research alone. Here are three great suggestions that focus on the Asheville area.
Amazing Asheville, by Lan Sluder. Written by an Ashville native with 20 best-selling travel and retirement-relocation books under his belt, the book provides a helpful expert and independent opinion on what to do—and where to go—during a visit to Asheville.
If you want a more updated guidebook from a recognizable series, go with this Moon Asheville guide. It also covers the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a great addition to your Asheville visit.
Five Star Trails – 35 Spectacular Hikes In The Land Of The Sky, by Jennifer Pharr Davis. The author is another Asheville native and a record-setting through-hiker of the Appalachian Trail who has logged over 14,000 miles on North American trails.
The book provides helpful and detailed information for more hikes than you could dream of doing during your visit, and it will help you find your perfect path for outdoor exploration. The impressive author also founded and runs the highly rated Blue Ridge Hiking Company, which offers private and group hiking tours in Asheville.
Books For Kids
The Serafina Series, by Robert Beatty. This award-winning mystery series, set on the Biltmore Estate during the Gilded Age, is designed for readers in grades 3 – 7. The story focuses on Serafina, a young girl who lives secretly in the estate basement and is the daughter of the maintenance caretaker.
If your child loves the Serafina series, check out this fantasy collection based in the Great Smoky Mountains—Willa of The Wood—also written by the same author, Robert Beatty.
Where To Find More North Carolina Books
Find more suggestions for what to read before your trip by exploring this list of Western North Carolina picks from Asheville-based Malaprops Bookstore for more excellent recommendations. Or visit the Uncorked Asheville website for their list of recommendations.
For book lovers visiting Asheville, drop by Battery Park Book Exchange, where, in addition to browsing their highly-rated pre-loved literary collection, you can enjoy wine, champagne, espresso, and wine-bar-style light eats in dog-friendly digs. And depending on the day, live music is available as well. Check out their Facebook page for the most up-to-date entertainment schedule. Another good resource for finding books by location is searching Goodreads for “books set in (destination).” Find “books set in Asheville” on the Goodreads website here.
Related Reading
If you are traveling to the Asheville area, check out these related articles to help you get the information you need to plan your best visit.
- You’ll Love this Asheville Girls’ Trip (4-day itinerary)
- How to Find the Best Asheville, NC, Bike Tours & Paths
- Asheville, NC: Best Dog-Friendly Hikes & Eats
- How to Hike the Wildcat Rock Trail (30 min. from Asheville)
- Enjoy a Perfect Weekend in Greenville, SC (one hour from Asheville)
Additionally, check out my 150+ travel book recommendations below for readers who love to travel. You can also visit my Amazon and Bookshop.org stores for more travel-inspired reading lists.
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Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products and companies I use. And the income goes to keeping the site community-supported and ads minimal.
About the author: Janice Moskoff is a travel writer and blogger who loves hiking, exploring the world, and reading. She writes to inspire travel-loving families, adult friends, and couples on her blog, Gather and Go Travel. After attending the University of Michigan undergraduate business school and following a career in retail strategy and event management, she returned to focus on her first love—travel. Read her bio, learn how she became a blogger, and discover how to work with her. Sign up for her monthly Discovery Newsletter to get her latest travel recommendations and how-to’s.
Welcome to Gather and Go Travel, a blog inspiring families, adult friends, and couples to explore US and international destinations and to get outdoors. I am Janice, a world traveler to 50+ countries, a travel writer/blogger, and a book lover. Learn more about me, read our story, and how to work with me. Get my latest updates, how-tos, and trip ideas in my monthly Discovery Newsletter.
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2 Responses
Christine, thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment! And you are welcome! I discovered your blogs a year or two ago and repeatedly use them as a resource. Love Asheville and love reading!
Thank you so, so much for the shoutout! I appreciate it! I’ll have to read “Time is a River.”