Life in the Garden State - the complete series

Collect all three books in our bestselling Life in the Garden State trilogy: The World Takes, the award-winning Stay Salty, and Disco Fries & Scenic Drives. Each book is an anthology filled with stories, essays, comics, photography, and poetry from the tip of High Point in Sussex County to the shores of Cape May. Get all three books for 20% off the list price!

The World Takes was the first book in the series, published in 2019. As a publisher based out of Central New Jersey, Read Furiously created an anthology filled with eclectic and talented group of writers and artists to reveal a different side to the state which gave us Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Coca-Cola, Bubble Wrap, Band-Aids, and air conditioners (just to name a few). We named the first book after the “Trenton Makes, the World Takes” bridge - a reminder of the dreams and hard work that so many generations have put into building New Jersey.

As our second volume, Stay Salty was awarded the 2022 Feathered Quill Finalist in the Short Story/Anthology category. Following the tradition of storytelling of The World Takes, Stay Salty features prose, poetry, comics, and photography that showcase the mysterious and fascinating elements that make up New Jersey and its inhabitants. The title pays homage to the delicious salt water taffy from the Shore as well as the grit and determination of Garden State inhabitants.

Our third and final volume, Disco Fries & Scenic Drives, arrived October 2025. Once again filled with stories, essays, photography, comics, and poetry, this book brings together cryptids, Shad Fest, the mall, baseball, weekends at Seaside, diners, scenic drives, and more to celebrate the rich culture and history of New Jersey and the people behind it. Featured in the 2026 CLMP Mid-Atlantic Spotlight

Each story - from Sussex County to Cape May - is a heartfelt reminder of the many voices and experiences that make up a state where anything can, and usually does, happen.