5 books to transport you back to Grounds
Are you missing your days on Grounds? Here are some works of fiction set at UVA or in Charlottesville to help bring you back, from a classic detective story to a modern romantic comedy.
My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson (2021)
This collection of six short stories explores how issues of race surround Charlottesville and its residents—a premise inspired by the 2017 Unite the Right rally. Each story follows a new set of characters, ranging from a University professor studying the long-term effects of racism on his child to a descendant of Sally Hemings who is forced from her neighborhood by a white militia. The titular novella follows a group of Charlottesville neighbors led by a Black UVA student as they flee from white supremacists. They take refuge in a deserted Monticello as a “dark new unraveling” rocks the rest of the country.
The Hidden Window Mystery by Carolyn Keene (1956)
In the 34th installment of the Nancy Drew mysteries, the young detective travels to Charlottesville with her best friends, Bess and George. They’re on a quest to find a missing medieval stained-glass window for the chance to earn a big reward. During the trip, the three visit Monticello and Ash Lawn—the homes of Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe, respectively. They encounter many obstacles along the way, including a mysterious car accident and paranormal activity. You’ll have to guess which Charlottesville native knows anything about the mysterious stained-glass window while Nancy races to find it before time runs out.
Begin Again by Emma Lord (Col class of ’12) (2023)
In this romantic comedy, protagonist Andie Rose attends Blue Ridge State, a fictionalized version of UVA based on Lord’s own years as an undergraduate on Grounds. Keep an eye out for parallels between the fictional setting and Charlottesville, such as the often-frequented Bagelopolis—a riff on Bodo’s Bagels. Throughout the story, Andie becomes involved with the same radio station her mother founded years before, all while navigating a contest created by the school’s secret societies. The kickoff event is a nod to UVA’s annual Founder’s Day celebration. Can she win enough ribbons to follow in her mother’s footsteps, or will she have to find another way to measure her college success?
Onlookers by Ann Beattie (2023)
Ann Beattie’s collection of short stories explores a group of characters whose lives are linked by the same Southern town: Charlottesville. The stories have a modern premise—partially inspired by the 2017 Unite the Right rally and the COVID-19 pandemic—that explores how communities understand a common past. UVA is present, either prominently or in the background, in many of the characters’ lives. Ginny, for example, is a former MFA student, and Alice lives on Jefferson Park Avenue. As you make your way through the stories, you’ll find that almost every character references someone affiliated with the University.
Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han (2017)
In the final installment of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy, well-known for its Netflix movie versions, protagonist Lara Jean is in her final year of high school. In a plotline that differs from the Netflix story, she dreams of going to UVA. She and her boyfriend, who’s been accepted on a lacrosse scholarship, visit Grounds, where they sit on the Rotunda steps and talk about essential UVA traditions such as streaking the Lawn and visiting the McGregor Room in Alderman Library. They go on to mention Bodo’s Bagels, the Hullabahoos a cappella group, and even the Miller Center of Public Affairs. Even though Lara Jean doesn’t get in and ends up attending the University of North Carolina (NYU in the movie), UVA remains a character in the background of the story. Lara Jean says she would pick UVA every time if she had the choice.
The original version of this story incorrectly identified Ash Lawn. We’ve updated the online version.
