UK can also be better for a student like you, who is very clear about what she wants to study and not wanting a lot of distribution requirements in less-desired subjects (i.e. STEM). Since you prefer to go north, you could also consider a few Canadian options - these also tend to be more major-focused than US schools. Dalhousie in Nova Scotia, for example, is lovely and less expensive than many OOS publics in the US. About - Department of English - Dalhousie University
To offer a contrarian option to look at, Sewanee is small and southern, but a beautiful campus and surroundings, and great for English/writing/lit. Could be one to look at in comparison to the larger schools on your list.
Have you thought about the 5-college consortium in MA? Mount Holyoke would be a reach but not a ridiculous reach; UMass would be a high match or maybe low reach.
Good luck!