Books like 'The Smart One'
Readers who enjoyed The Smart One by Jennifer Close also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance family drama coming-of-age season-summer literary-fiction female-mc friendship breakup
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One Long Weekend by Shari Low
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsAll NEW from the #1 Bestselling Author Shari Low.When all seems lost, hope remains... Val Murray has mislaid her most precious mementoes of the people she’s loved and lost. Can her family, the wonders of technology and a little divine intervention somehow mend her shattered heart?Sophie Smith had to take a rain check on a marriage proposal...Categorized as:
friendship family breakup domestic-drama female-mc coming-of-age romance contemporary -
![Someone I Used To Know by Paige Toon]()
Someone I Used To Know by Paige Toon
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsSo much can change in half a lifetime… Then At fifteen, George is the foster brother Leah never asked for. As the angry, troubled boy struggles to come to terms with his circumstances, Leah finds herself getting drawn closer to him. Theo’s wealthy family have mysteriously pulled him out of boarding school and he’s now enrolled at the local state school with Leah and George...Categorized as:
breakup coming-of-age domestic-drama family female-mc friendship literary-fiction adult -
![Wife Support System by Kathleen Whyman]()
Wife Support System by Kathleen Whyman
Rated: 5.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWe’ve got the balance all wrong. Instead of living with our partners, struggling to do everything by ourselves and only seeing each other now and then, we should do it the other way round. We should live together and see them now and then.Erica knows her suggestion sounds extreme, but when her nanny leaves without notice, she’s extremely desperate... -
![The Light in the Hallway by Amanda Prowse]()
The Light in the Hallway by Amanda Prowse
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsFrom the bestselling author of The Girl in the Corner comes the moving story of a man whose life is changed in an instant. How do you start again when you lose the only love you’ve ever known? When Nick’s wife Kerry falls ill and dies, he realises for the first time how fragile his happiness has always been, and how much he’s been taking his good life and wonderful family for granted... -
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![Cocoa Beach Boardwalk by Cecelia Scott]()
Cocoa Beach Boardwalk by Cecelia Scott
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAs Samantha Sweeney dives into the renovation of Sweeney House with her mother, she repairs more than the inn—she and Dottie have never been closer. Fueled by a newfound strength and independence, Sam is certain she’s up to the task of bringing her family's inn back to life, no matter what unexpected challenges they might encounter...Categorized as:
season-summer female-mc family breakup domestic-drama romance fiction womens-fiction -
![Falling for a French Dream by Jennifer Bohnet]()
Falling for a French Dream by Jennifer Bohnet
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsEscape to hills high above the French Riviera with international bestseller Jennifer Bohnet.After tragically losing her husband, Nicola Jacques and her teenage son Oliver relocate to his father’s family's olive farm in the hills above the French Riviera... -
![Retuned: The Price of Time by Tania Joyce]()
Retuned: The Price of Time by Tania Joyce
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA vacation. An unforgettable accident. Lives are changed forever.Gemma and Kyle wanted a quick getaway before they recorded their new album.But one fateful mistake changes their lives forever.Heartbreaking decisions must be made.Friendships will be tried and tested...Categorized as:
literary-fiction coming-of-age friendship female-mc contemporary fiction romance new-adult -
![A Million Dreams by Dani Atkins]()
A Million Dreams by Dani Atkins
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsBeth Brandon always dreamed of owning a florist, but today the bouquets of peonies and bright spring flowers are failing to calm her nerves. Because today, Beth has a life-changing decision to share with her husband.Izzy Vaughan thought she and her husband would stay together forever, but sometime last year, their love began to fade... -
![Fireworks over the Loch by Hannah Ellis]()
Fireworks over the Loch by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA sleepy Scottish village is about to be woken up … With her boyfriend moving to her hometown of Lannick, Leana Mackenzie is floating on cloud nine. All she needs now is for them to find a home of their own. Alasdair’s lack of interest in house-hunting soon has her worried.For Isla and Logan, moving in together is the logical next step in their relationship... -
![Always and Forever Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters]()
Always and Forever Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhat if we’re all just searching for something?Anna Stewart is lost. After barely surviving a car accident as a teenager, Anna is scared of settling. Flitting between jobs, boyfriends and homes whenever she gets bored, she has no idea what the future holds...Categorized as:
season-summer breakup domestic-drama family female-mc friendship fiction contemporary -
![Midnight Shores on Whisling Island by Julia Clemens]()
Midnight Shores on Whisling Island by Julia Clemens
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhisling Island is a beautifully enchanting place, one of healing and growth.Allen is coming home. And sweet Lily is beside herself in joyful, anxious anticipation. After preparing for his homecoming, ensuring that their reunion will be perfect, Lily is thrown a curveball. One she isn't sure how to recover from... -
![The Cafe on Amelia Island by Hope Holloway]()
The Cafe on Amelia Island by Hope Holloway
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA hearwarming sisters saga full of hope, humor, and heart...Tori Wingate knows that spending the entire summer on Amelia Island running the family-owned Riverfront Café means she’s falling right into the arms of a new man for a brief romance. But the more she realizes that all she wants to do is sail into the sunset with the handsome doctor…the more life proves it has other plans...Categorized as:
family season-summer friendship literary-fiction breakup domestic-drama female-mc romance -
![Gone Too Soon by Dani Atkins]()
Gone Too Soon by Dani Atkins
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsI’d have done everything differently if I had known she'd be gone so soon… When Lisa married Alex, she gave his life meaning. She was a professional astronomer: a stargazer. And when she gazed at Alex, she saw that behind his tough exterior was a man she could love.Alex, Lisa and their young son Connor made a happy little universe...Categorized as:
breakup coming-of-age domestic-drama drama family female-mc friendship literary-fiction -
![My Silent Daughter by Emma Robinson]()
My Silent Daughter by Emma Robinson
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsYour daughter will not speak… But can she teach you how to live?Ever since Ruby was tiny, she has been unique. Her smiles are magically rare, her building blocks are always colour-coded, and she communicates only in gestures. Sometimes, being Ruby’s mother is hard, but the way she sees the world makes it new for Sara every day...Categorized as:
literary-fiction friendship female-mc breakup domestic-drama contemporary fiction womens-fiction -
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![There Must Be An Angel by Sharon Booth]()
There Must Be An Angel by Sharon Booth
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"This lovely book tugged at every heart-string. A treat from start to finish. I loved it!" Valerie-Anne Baglietto. When Eliza Jarvis discovers her property show presenter husband, Harry, has been expanding his portfolio with tabloid darling Melody Bird, her perfect life crumbles around her ears... -
![Vineyard Winds by Katie Winters]()
Vineyard Winds by Katie Winters
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe eighteenth book of the Vineyard Sunset Series is coming next. This vibrant cast of characters live out their dreams on Martha's Vineyard. This is the story of the Sheridan and Montgomery siblings, a heartwarming journey of friendship, loss, and love that will have you wanting the next book... -
![Shifting Sands by Meredith Summers]()
Shifting Sands by Meredith Summers
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAndie Miller may have made a terrible mistake in moving back to Lobster Bay.Andie always wanted something more than small-town beach life. That’s why she worked so hard at her prestigious career as an antique appraiser in New York City. She does have one regret though, she never got to make that one big important antique find of a lifetime... -
![Starry Skies Over The Chocolate Pot Cafe by Jessica Redland]()
Starry Skies Over The Chocolate Pot Cafe by Jessica Redland
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA few minutes of courage might change your life… Emotionally, Tara Porter finds the festive period a challenge. Christmas Day is a reminder of the family she lost, and New Year’s Eve holds bitter memories of the biggest mistake of her life: marrying Garth Tewkesbury. Shunning invitations to celebrate, she seeks refuge in her flat with only her giant house bunny, Hercules, for company... -
![A Summer Escape and Strawberry Cake at the Cosy Kettle: A feel good, laugh out loud romantic comedy by Liz Eeles]()
A Summer Escape and Strawberry Cake at the Cosy Kettle: A feel good, laugh out loud romantic comedy by Liz Eeles
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe Cosy Kettle café is the perfect place to escape this summer, for fans of Cathy Bramley, Jenny Colgan and Debbie Johnson...Categorized as:
season-summer female-mc literary-fiction friendship breakup domestic-drama humor contemporary -
![Outback Secrets by Rachael Johns]()
Outback Secrets by Rachael Johns
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsKeeping secrets comes naturally to him ... but will it ruin his chance at love?Liam Castle knows the secrets of everyone in Bunyip Bay. As the owner of the pub, he's heard it all - from marriage proposals and farming disasters to family rifts and everything in between. The locals love to confide in him, but no one knows he's hiding a tragic past.And he wants to keep it that way... -
![The Imperfection of Us by Nick Alexander]()
The Imperfection of Us by Nick Alexander
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsDawn and Rob were never meant to be together. It’s the summer of 1990 and seventeen-year-old Dawn is infatuated with Billy. He’s cool, in a band and the opposite of her other besotted gentle electrician Rob. But then Billy disappears, and Rob is still around. He's there when Dawn falls pregnant and he’s there for the sleepless nights...Categorized as:
family breakup domestic-drama female-mc friendship literary-fiction romance marriage -
![Swimming Lessons by Mary Alice Monroe]()
Swimming Lessons by Mary Alice Monroe
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsIt's been five years since the original turtle lady, old Miss Lovie Rutledge, passed away, but her legacy lives on with some special women, especially Toy and her daughter, young Little Lovie. Toy Sooner kept her graveside vow to her beloved mentor. She left behind an abusive, dysfunctional lifestyle to become a strong single mother and aquarist at the South Carolina Aquarium... -
![Under a Greek Moon by Carol Kirkwood]()
Under a Greek Moon by Carol Kirkwood
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe escapist Sunday Times bestselling debut from the nation’s best loved TV presenter, Carol Kirkwood.‘Loved it! It sizzles with secrets and passion...Categorized as:
breakup coming-of-age domestic-drama family female-mc friendship literary-fiction season-summer -
![A Good Life by Virginie Grimaldi, Hildegarde Serle]()
A Good Life by Virginie Grimaldi, Hildegarde Serle
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLaughter, tears, the transformative power of love, unexpected revelations, and striking natural these are the ingredients that combine to make best-selling author Virginie Grimaldi’s English debut the feel-good read of 2024. Grimaldi is among France’s top ten contemporary authors and her uplifting, unputdownable literary novels have quickly garnered her millions of adoring fans...Categorized as:
literary-fiction family season-summer coming-of-age female-mc romance fiction contemporary -
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![The Summer's End by Mary Alice Monroe]()
The Summer's End by Mary Alice Monroe
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsIn the powerful and heartwarming conclusion to her bestselling Lowcountry Summer trilogy, New York Times author Mary Alice Monroe brings her readers back to the charm and sultry beauty of Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, to reveal how the pull of family bonds and true love is as strong and steady as the tides... -
![One More Day by Emma Heatherington]()
One More Day by Emma Heatherington
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen everything is lost, can their love survive?Annie Madden and her husband Peter seemed to have the perfect life. They had two beautiful children, a wonderful home and each other. That was before everything changed. Now Annie must face a different life, after a devastating event casts a shadow over her family, and their future...Categorized as:
literary-fiction female-mc family friendship breakup domestic-drama fiction contemporary -
![What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange]()
What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFrom New York Times bestselling author Tracey Lange, a poignant story about the resilience of family, the importance of community, and the magic of middle school hockeyWhen Kyle McCray gets word his father has suffered a debilitating stroke, he returns to his hometown of Potsdam, New York, where he doesn’t expect a warm welcome... -
![The Day She Came Back by Amanda Prowse]()
The Day She Came Back by Amanda Prowse
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsWhen her loving, free-spirited grandmother Primrose passes away, Victoria is bereft, yet resilient—she has survived tragedy before. But even her strength is tested when a mysterious woman attends Prim’s funeral and claims to be the mother Victoria thought was dead... -
![Summer at Coastguard Cottages by Jennifer Bohnet]()
Summer at Coastguard Cottages by Jennifer Bohnet
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsEight weeks to change their lives! Bruce is learning to live again after the recent death of his wife.Megan is counting on this summer to patch up the cracks in her marriage.Carrie is looking for her birth mother, after inheriting a fortune from the father she never met.Guy is still dealing with the trauma of the last few months and needs time to put the past behind him...Categorized as:
breakup domestic-drama family female-mc friendship literary-fiction season-summer adult -
![The Beach Babes by Judith Keim]()
The Beach Babes by Judith Keim
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOld friends are the best…Catherine “Cate” Tibbs, Brooke Ridley, and Amber Anderson, friends since they were awkward thirteen-year-olds who named themselves “The Beach Babes,” are about to face their 40th birthdays. Because they haven’t been able to get together for some time, Cate arranges for them to rent a house along the Gulf Coast of Florida for a long weekend... -
![The Cape May Garden by Claudia Vance]()
The Cape May Garden by Claudia Vance
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMargaret Wilder's life is about to be turned upside down ......when her husband of fifteen years abruptly leaves without explanation.Now as their young daughters struggle to understand why their dad has been gone for a month without so much as a phone call, Margaret begins to uncover her husband's secrets while unraveling her own long-buried feelings about their marriage... -
![Heading Home to Lavender Cottage by Alison Sherlock]()
Heading Home to Lavender Cottage by Alison Sherlock
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWith nowhere else to go, Harriet Colgan has returned to the sleepy village of Cranfield to sell her beloved aunt and uncle’s cottage, the only place she ever called home.When she arrives at Lavender Cottage, Harriet discovers plans to replace the beautiful lavender fields, her uncle’s pride and joy, with an industrial warehouse...Categorized as:
season-summer breakup domestic-drama family coming-of-age female-mc friendship romance -
![Rolling Toward Clear Skies by Catherine Ryan Hyde]()
Rolling Toward Clear Skies by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA foster mother must contend with the emotional turmoil of her new blended family in a heartfelt novel of hope and second chances by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde.Maggie Blount, divorced mother of two and California physician, puts her private practice on hold when disaster strikes... -
![Vegas Rich by Fern Michaels]()
Vegas Rich by Fern Michaels
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWith a heart full of dreams, Sallie Coleman leaves Texas and heads west determined to get as far from the squalor of her dirt poor beginnings. With its shifting sands, smoky saloons and bingo palaces, Las Vegas seems like a paradise. A paradise where an extraordinary twist of fate makes Sallie the most powerful businesswoman in Nevada. Suddenly she is rich...Categorized as:
breakup domestic-drama drama family female-mc friendship literary-fiction action-adventure -
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![Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan]()
Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsUSA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan returns with a life-affirming exploration of love, loss, and how families come in all shapes and sizes…New York florist Flora Donovan is living the dream, but her bubbly optimism hides a secret. She’s lonely. Orphaned as a child, she’s never felt like she’s belonged anywhere…until she meets Jack Parker... -
![Lizzie & Dante: A Novel by Mary Bly]()
Lizzie & Dante: A Novel by Mary Bly
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe insightful, audacious, and deeply romantic story of a woman whose life turns upside down after she meets an enigmatic chef on vacation in Italy--perfect for fans of Beautiful Ruins or Under the Tuscan Sun...Categorized as:
breakup domestic-drama drama family female-mc friendship literary-fiction season-summer -
![The Stars Don't Lie by Boo Walker]()
The Stars Don't Lie by Boo Walker
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA man who thought he put his shattered past behind him embarks on a reflective journey home in a heartfelt novel by the bestselling author of The Singing Trees and A Spanish Sunrise.Haunted by a tragic decision he made twenty years ago, veterinarian Dr. Carver Livingston has not once returned to his Vermont hometown... -
![Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey]()
Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsRecently separated Amelia Saxton, a dedicated journalist, never expected that uncovering the biggest story of her career would become deeply personal. But when she discovers that a cluster of embryos belonging to her childhood friend Parker and his late wife Greer have been deemed “abandoned,” she’s put in the unenviable position of telling Parker—and dredging up old wounds in the process... -
![Happiness by Danielle Steel]()
Happiness by Danielle Steel
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsSabrina Brooks is a wildly successful bestselling author of gripping thrillers. Unlike her fictional characters, Sabrina lives a quiet life in the Berkshires with her two beloved dogs. But behind this peaceful exterior is a dark, painful past. As a child raised by an emotionally distant father, Sabrina rarely felt love... -
![Pawleys Island by Dorothea Benton Frank]()
Pawleys Island by Dorothea Benton Frank
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsDorothea Benton Frank presents a refreshingly honest and funny novel about friendship, family, and finding happiness by becoming who you're meant to be.Catapulted from her home, her marriage and her children, artist Rebecca Simms has come to Pawleys Island, South Carolina, to hide herself from herself... -
![You Then, Me Now by Nick Alexander]()
You Then, Me Now by Nick Alexander
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsShe’s given her daughter everything. Now it’s time to give her the truth. Becky’s father is not just absent: he’s a mystery, a gaping hole in her past. He died before she was born and for her mother, Laura, the subject is strictly off-limits. But when Laura books an unexpected trip to Greece, Becky decides to join her, determined to get closer to her mother—and to the truth... -
![Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay: The hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy, a perfect summer read for fans of Cathy Bramley! by Katie Ginger]()
Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay: The hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy, a perfect summer read for fans of Cathy Bramley! by Katie Ginger
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsGrab your strawberries and cream and get ready to return to the beautiful Swallowtail Bay! Summer is in full swing and the locals are getting excited for the launch of the Swallowtail Bay strawberry food festival...Categorized as:
breakup domestic-drama family female-mc friendship literary-fiction season-summer adult -
![When We Were Sisters by Cynthia Ellingsen]()
When We Were Sisters by Cynthia Ellingsen
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTwo sisters who haven’t spoken for twenty years. One summer to bring a family back together.Jayne Winters hasn’t seen her sister Charlotte since that last childhood holiday at their grandmother’s North Carolina beach house. Separated after that summer by their parents in a bitter divorce, Charlotte has never forgiven Jayne for not fighting to stay together...Categorized as:
family breakup domestic-drama literary-fiction female-mc friendship womens-fiction mystery -
![Summer on Sunshine Bay by Debbie Mason]()
Summer on Sunshine Bay by Debbie Mason
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWelcome to Sunshine Bay, where the joys of summer last all year round.Lila Rosetti Sinclair returns to Sunshine Bay a bundle of nerves. After being gone for years, sharing the news that she’s engaged—to a man her mother has never met—is going to be difficult to navigate...Categorized as:
season-summer family female-mc breakup domestic-drama romance womens-fiction fiction -
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![The Orphan's Gift by Renita D'Silva]()
The Orphan's Gift by Renita D'Silva
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe allows herself to kiss her perfect child just once. She wraps the baby in her last gift: a hand-knitted cardigan, embroidered with a water lily pattern. ‘You’re better off without me,’ she whispers and although every step breaks her heart, she walks away. 1910, India...Categorized as:
family domestic-drama friendship literary-fiction female-mc breakup romance historical-fiction -
![The Bakery at Seashell Cove: A feel good, laugh out loud romantic comedy by Karen Clarke]()
The Bakery at Seashell Cove: A feel good, laugh out loud romantic comedy by Karen Clarke
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAn absolutely hilarious, uplifting summer read about living life to the full! Meg Larson thought she had everything she wanted: she works in the local bakery, she’s months away from marrying her high-school sweetheart, and home is beautiful, sunny Seashell Cove , where the sky is blue, the sea is turquoise and the sand is golden... -
![Liars Like Us by Mary Campisi]()
Liars Like Us by Mary Campisi
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsUnlock the secrets in Reunion Gap What happens when destiny ignores the rules? Tate Alexander has the good luck to be born with looks and charm, and the bad luck to belong to a family where money and power mean more than honor and integrity. When he returns to Reunion Gap to take over his father’s company, he’s determined to uncover and right the wrongs his father committed... -
![Can I Give My Husband Back?: A totally laugh out loud and uplifting page turner by Kristen Bailey]()
Can I Give My Husband Back?: A totally laugh out loud and uplifting page turner by Kristen Bailey
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsMy sisters call my ex-husband Satan. That tells you everything you need to know about him. I thought I was sorted on the life front. I was a heart surgeon with a loving partner and two gorgeous little girls. Except my husband’s version of ‘loving’ is lying, cheating and sleeping his way around London. Which means I definitely deserve a refund. Unfortunately, moving on isn’t that simple... -
![From Here To Home by Marie Bostwick]()
From Here To Home by Marie Bostwick
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratings"Marie Bostwick is my go-to author…always powerful, inspiring, and uplifting... -
![Fat Girl by K.L. Montgomery]()
Fat Girl by K.L. Montgomery
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsClaire Sterling wants a new body to go along with her new life. She's used to roller coasters. Her weight has been on one for years, and now her entire life is flying off the track. Divorcing in the wake of her husband's affair, moving back home to the Delaware beaches,landing her dream writing gig, braving the online dating world, and facing the big 4-0 are enough to make anyone's head spin...
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