Why Washington State Is the Perfect Setting for a Romance Novel

What is it about Washington State that makes it such an irresistible setting for romance? Is it the mist-covered forests, sparkling lakes and close-knit communities, or the feeling that life moves just a little more slowly there? In this blog, I'm sharing why I decided to set my Solace Springs series in Washington state and the books that inspired me along the way.

I'll let you into a little secret. Despite my deep affinity for Washington State, I’ve never actually been – YET!!!

It does, however, take a top spot on my travel bucket list, and I know exactly who to blame.

Stephenie Meyer, the author of the Twilight vampire romance series, which is set in Washngton State.

I was firmly in the Team Edward camp (obviously), completely captivated by the rain-soaked, mist-covered world of Forks. While we are all gripped (and a little in love with) the vampires, it was the setting that stayed with me long after I'd turned the final page. The towering forests, endless evergreens and tiny communities surrounded by mountains felt like somewhere romance stories naturally belonged.

And it's not just Washington State. Readers have been escaping to the Pacific Northwest for years. Tessa Bailey proved that the rugged coastline makes the perfect backdrop for romance in It Happened One Summer and Hook, Line and Sinker, while Erin Sterling sprinkled a little magic over a Pacific Northwest small-town setting in The Kiss Curse. For me, though, it the lakes that stole my heart.

Lakes seem to naturally draw people together. They often becomes the backdrop for summer festivals, impromptu picnics, paddleboarding adventures and evenings spent watching the sunset, creating the kind of close-knit community where romance can tly blossom. Add mist drifting across the water at sunrise, cherry blossom in the spring and mountains framing every view, and you've got a setting that practically writes romance for you.

So, when it came to choosing a setting for my own debut novel, I didn't even pretend to be objective. Washington State it was.

When Sophie first discovers Solace Springs in The Cherry Blossom Boathouse, she's just as enchanted as I was.

Intrigued and slightly wine-emboldened, Sophie tapped on the location tag: Solace Springs, Washington, USA. Sophie had always associated the word 'Washington' with presidents and politics. But it turned out the state of Washington was an entirely different beast from the buttoned-up capital. The area surrounding Solace Springs mainly consisted of mist-draped forests, mirror-glass lakes and cherry blossom trees in the spring. The town itself sat two hours from Seattle, just far enough from civilisation to spot actual stars, but close enough for emergency takeaway options and decent coffee.

That paragraph probably tells you everything you need to know about why I chose Washington. I wanted somewhere that felt beautifully remote without feeling isolated. Somewhere people could reinvent themselves while still finding a community waiting to welcome them.

In The Cherry Blossom Boathouse, that backdrop becomes the perfect place for Sophie to take a leap of faith, leaving London behind to transform a neglected lakeside boathouse into the independent bookshop she's always dreamed of.

By the time readers return to Solace Springs in The Sugar Maple Inn, the seasons have changed, but the magic of the setting hasn't.

Grace paused to look at the inn across the lake. A thin layer of mist was beginning to form over the surface, the kind that came with the temperature drop once the sun started its descent behind the mountains. Fallen leaves floated like small boats near the dock—gold, rust, amber—slowly making their way toward the island where the inn's stone tower rose above the treeline. The air smelled like wet earth and wood smoke, that sharp autumn scent that meant winter was coming whether you were ready or not.

One of the joys of writing a series is getting to watch a place change with the seasons. Spring belongs to cherry blossom, fresh starts and possibility. Autumn brings golden leaves, wood smoke, harvest festivals and the comforting promise of cosy evenings by the fire. Solace Springs evolves just like the people who live there.

Perhaps that's why I think Washington State romance novels have such a special appeal.

Whether they're set on the coastline, in the forests or beside a peaceful lake, the landscape encourages characters to slow down long enough to fall in love with another person, a community or sometimes with an entirely new version of themselves.

Until I finally make my own trip across the Atlantic, I'll keep visiting Washington the way so many readers do: through the pages of a good book so here a few to capture your imagination.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

The book that started it all for me. The rain-soaked forests, misty mountains and tiny town of Forks introduced millions of readers to the romance of Washington State. I may have arrived for Edward, but I stayed for the setting.

Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber

This much-loved Seattle series proves romance doesn't always need dramatic scenery. I loved the warmth of a welcoming community in this fab novel, plus the new friendships and everyday moments that make readers fall in love with a place.

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling

Erin brings a touch of magic to a charming Washington town, blending romance, humour and witchy mischief into a story that perfectly captures the cosy atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest.

And a cheeky one to add:

Virgin River by Robyn Carr

Although technically set in Northern California, Virgin River captures everything readers love about the Pacific Northwest: towering forests, small-town life and the comforting feeling that everyone knows your name. If you enjoy close-knit communities and second chances, it's a wonderful companion read.

Join me in Solace Springs

Whether you're discovering Washington State for the first time or, like me, have been dreaming about it for years, I hope you'll come and spend a little time in Solace Springs.

The Cherry Blossom Boathouse welcomes you to the town in spring, when cherry blossom fills the air and Sophie takes the biggest leap of her life. The Sugar Maple Inn returns later in the year, wrapping Solace Springs in golden leaves, harvest celebrations and all the cosy comforts of autumn.

And if you'd like a little taste of Solace Springs before you arrive, why not hop aboard the Welcome Wagon? You'll receive exclusive updates from the town, behind-the-scenes news and a collection of delicious printable recipe cards inspired by life in Solace Springs. I can't wait to welcome you.

Read The Cherry Blossom Boathouse

Read The Sugar Maple Inn