Sloth Goes Places - Illinois

 

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 ....

Illinois

Illinois is a state I visit every year since my daughter lives there. I wouldn't say I see much of the state, but I have been out and about in Chicago. That city is one of the main reason why I have already read multiple books set in Illinois. It's a very popular setting, but every once and while, I get a book set out in the burbs. 

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A Home for the Holidays by Taylor Hahn
Published by Knopf on September 24, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Goodreads

A witty, warmhearted novel about coming to terms with grief, taking a chance on unexpected connections, and finding family in time for the holidays

For wedding singer Mel Hart, the holidays have always retained a certain magic. Her mother, Connie, always managed to pull off spectacular Santa hijinx that convinced Mel to keep believing in Santa way longer than other kids. Those moments meant everything to Mel because the rest of the year, life was unpredictable because of her mother’s alcohol use.

But two weeks before Christmas, Mel gets a call from the hospital: her mother has died.

Then a woman shows up on Mel's doorstep, claiming to be Connie's estranged best friend, promising to tell Mel a different narrative—one in which Connie was almost a famous country music star, if only a man hadn't gotten in the way. Instead of spending Christmas alone in her dead mother's house, Mel agrees to stay with Barb for the holidays, finding herself in the middle of Barb's complicated family and uncovering secrets while fighting an attraction to Barb’s in-the-middle-of-a-divorce son. As Christmas approaches, Mel reckons with how little she knew about her mother's past while reexamining her own future.

A Home for the Holidays is a moving exploration of complicated grief, mother-daughter relationships, loving someone with addiction, and the redemptive power of opening one's heart to love in all its forms.

This was a different kind of holiday story. It was about a woman whose mother dies, and her mother's former best friend reaches out to her. She yearns for this woman to share tales about her mother "before", and this helps her through her grieving process. It was way more fun and upbeat than I expected, and I believe this started in Chicago but moved out to the suburbs. 

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One Night, Two Holidays by Ali Brady
Published by Godfrey & Hammer on December 10, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

A romantic and heartwarming holiday novella from USA Today Bestselling author Ali Brady.

This year, Christmas and Hanukkah come together–and for two neighbors stranded in a snowstorm, one magical night could change everything.

Jack had big plans for fly home to see the family he misses like crazy, eat his weight in holiday cookies and enjoy plenty of forced-family fun in matching pajamas. Instead, a record-breaking snowstorm leaves him stranded alone in Chicago.

Meanwhile, Nessa’s Hanukkah plans were…nonexistent. With her roommates off on their own adventures and her family busy elsewhere, she was ready to spend the holiday binge-watching TV alone.

When a power outage takes things from bad to worse, the two neighbors join forces to help each other find the holiday cheer they’ve both lost. As they attempt to make latkes out of whatever ingredients they can scrounge up, and stuff each other’s stockings with improvised gifts, the two stumble upon the unexpected joy of blending their own holiday traditions into something entirely new.

While the storm rages outside, sparks begin to fly between Jack and Nessa. But will the magic they found last beyond this one special night?

This one is set in the city during the holidays and a huge blizzard. Jack and Nessa were new neighbors who end up riding out the storm together. It was fun and sweet and very festive. I loved it! 

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This Will Be Funny Someday by Katie Henry
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on DATE
Age/Genres: GENRE

Goodreads

A girl walks into a bar… then onto a stage, and up to the mic.

Sixteen-year-old Izzy is used to keeping her thoughts to herself—in school, where her boyfriend does the talking for her, and at home, where it’s impossible to compete with her older siblings and high-powered parents—but when she accidentally walks into a stand-up comedy club and performs, the experience is surprisingly cathartic. After the show, she meets Mo, an aspiring comic who’s everything Izzy’s not: bold, confident, comfortable in her skin. Mo invites Izzy to join her group of friends and introduces her to the Chicago open mic scene.

The only problem? Her new friends are college students—and Izzy tells them she’s one, too. Now Izzy, the dutiful daughter and model student, is sneaking out to perform stand-up with her comedy friends, and she can hardly remember all the lies she’s telling to keep her two lives separate.

Her controlling boyfriend is getting suspicious, and her former best friend knows there’s something going on. But Izzy loves comedy and this newfound freedom. As her two parallel lives collide—in the most hilarious of ways—Izzy must choose to either hide what she really wants and who she really is or, finally, truly stand up for herself.

I read this one a while ago, but decided to include it since it speaks to the comedic history of Chicago. Henry never shies away from tough topics, but she always tackles them in such an interesting and thought provoking way. This was quite a journey! It was funny, heartfelt, and honest. It was about growing up, finding your voice, being seen, and making a place for yourself in this world. I absolutely adored meeting Isabel and cannot wait for everyone else to make her acquaintance.

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