Sloth Goes Places - Missouri

 

Sloth Goes Places is a feature where I share books I have tracked from previous Literary Escapes reading challenge hosted by Escape With Dollycas Into a Good Book.

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

Missouri

Missouri is one of those middle states, but I do seem to have luck finding books set there each year. I have never actually visited, and I don't know much about the state, but the Gateway Arch and Mark Twain is from there. 

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The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn
Published by Kensington on March 26, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

From the acclaimed author of Georgie, All Along and Love Lettering, a pitch-perfect, radiantly transporting love story about an unexpected road trip, true crime obsessions, and hard won vulnerability…

Hairstylist Jess Greene has spent the last decade raising her younger half-sister, Tegan—and keeping a shocking secret. Ever since their reckless mother ran off with a boyfriend she’d known only a few months, Jess has been aware that he’s the same accomplished con man who was the subject of a wildly popular podcast, The Last Con of Lynton Baltimore.

Now thirty-one, Jess didn’t bargain on Tegan eventually piecing together the connection for herself. But Tegan plans to do exactly what Jess has always feared—leave their safe, stable home to search for their mother—and she’ll be accompanied by the prying podcast host and her watchful, handsome producer, Adam Hawkins. Unwilling to let the sister she’s spent so much of her life protecting go it alone, Jess reluctantly joins them.

Together, the four make their way across the country, unraveling the mystery of where the couple disappeared to and why. But soon Jess is discovering other things too. Like a renewed sense of vulnerability and curiosity, and a willingness to expand beyond the walls she’s so carefully built. And in Adam, she finds an unexpected connection she didn’t even know was missing, if only she can let go and let him in . . .

This was actually a road trip book, but there was some time spent in Missouri. This book was different from Clayborn's other books, but I enjoyed the road trip, the podcast, and the search for the main character's mother.  

[review]

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Class Mom by Laurie Gelman
Published by Henry Holt on August 1, 2017
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction

Goodreads

Jen Dixon is not your typical Kansas City kindergarten class mom--or mom in general. Jen already has two college-age daughters by two different (probably) musicians, and it's her second time around the class mom block with five-year-old Max--this time with a husband and father by her side. Though her best friend and PTA President sees her as the-wisest-candidate for the job (or oldest), not all of the other parents agree.

From recording parents' response times to her emails about helping in the classroom, to requesting contributions of-special-brownies for curriculum night, not all of Jen's methods win approval from the other moms. Throw in an old flame from Jen's past, a hyper-sensitive -allergy mom,-a surprisingly sexy kindergarten teacher, and an impossible-to-please Real Housewife-wannabe, causing problems at every turn, and the job really becomes much more than she signed up for.

I actually had to google to figure out if I was in Kansas City, KS or Kansas City, MO. The author does talk about where they live, but I could never really get a handle on it. Regardless, I thought this book was a hoot. I feel like moms will relate to all the school politics, and maybe non-moms will just be amused by the absurdity of it all. I had a great time reading this and have since read the follow up which was also a winner for me. 

[review]

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Twice in a Lifetime by Melissa Baron
Published by Alcove Press on December 6, 2022
Age/Genres: Adult, Time Travel, Romance

Goodreads

The Time Traveler's Wife meets Oona Out of Order in this imaginative and moving debut novel of a love more powerful than time.

Isla has fled the city for small-town Missouri in the wake of a painful and exhausting year. With her chronic anxiety at a fever pitch, the last thing she expects is to meet a genuine romantic prospect. And she doesn’t. But she does get a text from a man who seems to think he’s her husband. Obviously, a wrong number—except when she points this out, the mystery texter sends back a picture. Of them—on their wedding day.

Isla cautiously starts up a texting relationship with her maybe-hoax, maybe-husband Ewan, who claims to be reaching out from a few years into the future. Ewan knows Isla incredibly well, and seems to love her exactly as she is, which she can hardly fathom. But he’s also grieving, because in the future, he and Isla are no longer together.

Ewan is texting back through time to save her from a fate he is unwilling to share—and all she can do to prevent that fate is to learn to be happy, now, in the body she has, with the mind she has. The only trouble is the steps she takes in that direction might be steps away from a future with Ewan.

Melissa Baron’s time-crossed romance features a quintessentially endearing and brave protagonist, and an engrossing plot that will keep you turning pages until its breathtaking finish.

I felt like I got a nice tour of Missouri with this book. If I am remembering properly, I think they even visited Mark Twain's house. When this woman moves to this small town to escape her painful past and finds a magical telephone that allows her to communicate with a man who thinks he is her husband. I was immediately intrigued. I had no idea how emotional this book would be, but it was worth all the pain. 

[review]

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