A book lover’s weekend in Clear Lake, Iowa

Some weekends are packed with plans, but this itinerary leaves room for a good book. Clear Lake gives you just enough to do and just enough space to slow down for a while. Coffee by the lake, long walks downtown, reading a few pages between stops… you get the idea.

Read by the water

Some books just hit harder near a lake. Bring your current read to the beach, stretch out along the seawall, or find a quiet bench in Central Gardens. No one’s rushing you here.

Build your book bag

The best part of a book weekend? Collecting little things along the way.

• Tote bag
• Coffee or iced drink
• Sweet treat (chocolate, candy, baked goods)
• Light layer or sweatshirt
• Bookmark(s)
• Candle or home scent
• Notebook or journal
• Something you didn’t plan on buying

Clear Lake’s amazing local shops make this part very easy.

Coffee shop chapters

Every good reading weekend needs a coffee stop.

Start your morning slow, grab your drink of choice, and settle in before deciding what the day looks like. Check out our guide to Clear Lake’s best coffee shops.

If you pick up Stars Over Clear Lake by Loretta Ellsworth, make time for the Surf Ballroom, because reading about a place is one thing, but standing in it is better.

If you’re packing a book (or three), start here:

Iowa reads

• Stars Over Clear Lake by Loretta Ellsworth – Historical romance set right here in Clear Lake, centered around the Surf Ballroom. Read it, then go stand in it.
• A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley – Pulitzer Prize-winning family drama set on an Iowa farm. Dark, layered, very Midwest.
• Gilead by Marilynne Robinson – A quiet, reflective story of small-town life told through letters from a pastor. Slow in the best way.
• The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller – A sweeping Iowa love story built on one fleeting, unforgettable connection.
• Shoeless Joe by W. P. Kinsella – The novel behind Field of Dreams. Magical realism meets rural Iowa.
• The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf – A gripping small-town mystery that pulls you in fast and doesn’t let go.
• The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald – A book lover lands in a tiny town and builds community through stories. Cozy and charming.

Beach reads

• This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune – Summer romance with lake-town tension, second chances, and strong Barry’s Bay energy.
• The People You Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry – Friends-to-lovers told through years of trips together. Easy, fun, hard to put down.
• Happy Place by Emily Henry – A friend group, one last vacation, and a relationship that’s more complicated than it looks.
• Every Summer After by Carley Fortune – Nostalgic lake summers, growing up, and a love story that lingers.
• Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid – One night, one party, everything unraveling. Fast-paced with strong summer energy.
• The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren – Forced vacation, enemies-to-lovers, and just the right amount of chaos.
• Beach Read by Emily Henry – Two writers, one lake town, and a rivalry that turns into something more.

Music ties

• Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid – A fictional band that feels very real. All the drama, all the music, all the energy.
• The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton – A bold, layered look at fame, identity, and the rise of a rock duo.
• Just Kids by Patti Smith – Creative ambition, music, and the kind of story that sticks with you.
• Meet Me in the Bathroom – An oral history of the early-2000s rock scene. Messy, electric, unforgettable.
• Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon – Indie rock memoir with edge, perspective, and a strong point of view.