Books set in the Bay Area
Fiction, memoirs, and nonfiction set in (or at least partially!) the San Francisco Bay Area.
created by miarboretum
last updated October, 2026
Comments
May I suggest Elaine Castillo’s America Is Not the Heart, it’s based in Milpitas which is in the South Bay ☺️
Oops! So sorry I just saw it was on the list. My phone didn’t have the whole thing loaded when I posted this. Apologies and thanks for having it on here!!!!
No worries, for a moment there I thought that I didn’t have it but luckily I have both of Castillo’s novels there 😮💨😮💨😮💨 thanks for checking out the list!!!
How Far The Light Reaches by Imbler! Always a nice surprise to have hometown (bay area) shouted out when you least expect it.
I believe the following also:
Tales of the City - Maupin Sorry Bro - Voskuni You Know Me Well - LaCour Little Brother - Doctrow The Build-A-Boyfriend Project - Deavor At Certain Points We Touch - Joseph Forget I Told You This - Zaid Picture Us In The Light - Gilbert Exibit - Kwon Unprecedented Times - Kannan Muñeca - Gómez Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me - Tamaki GirlsGirlsGirls - Blackensee All Over Coffee - Madonna A Thousand Beginnings and Endings - Oh Hidden - Mournian
May i suggest: Automatic Noodle (future sf) Sky Daddy (current sf) Blade Runner (alt future sf)
omg I didn’t realize blade runner was supposed to be SF that’s wild (only watched the movie and I can’t remember if they mentioned that 🙈😅)
I have been reading a lot this year and all 3 of these were in rapid succession I felt like i was getting whiplash lmao
it's always so weird when things like that happen lol
yayyy i’ve been looking for a list like this! i have some recs: stay true by hua hsu, the love hypothesis (takes place in stanford), and lowkeyyyy interview with the vampire (most of the book is in nola & paris but the interview takes place in sf!)
And: Less, by Andrew Sean Greer
Starting to love reading books set here (especially when unexpected) !
The Skin and Its Girl is partially set in Oakland and a couple scenes in the south bay.
Oh! And Homebound by Portia Elan
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