Books like 'Looking Back'
Readers who enjoyed Looking Back by Belva Plain also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance friendship high-school family female-mc coming-of-age literary-fiction
-
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... -
![The English Billionaire by Serenity Woods]()
The English Billionaire by Serenity Woods
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsImagine meeting the richest, most gorgeous guy in London… And he's obsessed with YOU...On my thirtieth birthday, I decide it’s time to make some changes.Okay, it’s really only one change.No more men.Gone is the boyfriend who cheated on me with my best friend.Gone are all the disastrous relationships that have left me dispirited and jaded... -
![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 -
![Table for Five by Izzy Bromley]()
Table for Five by Izzy Bromley
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWhen your life falls apart, all you need is a friend…Abbie Finch loves her job.Unfortunately, her boss doesn’t love her.When she finds herself unexpectedly unemployed, Abbie realises that she’s let all her friendships fall by the wayside and has no one to turn to.Lost and lonely, Abbie decides to leave her comfort zone and join the neighbourhood café’s community table...Categorized as:
literary-fiction friendship family female-mc coming-of-age fiction audiobook womens-fiction -
-
![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... -
![Secrets at the Loch by Hannah Ellis]()
Secrets at the Loch by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFor years Lexie has kept everyone at arm’s length. Her heart is so guarded it’s almost impenetrable.Until Nick.When the geeky teacher moves in next door, Lexie finds it increasingly difficult to ignore her attraction to him. To protect herself, she pushes him away, convincing herself that hurting him isn’t a big deal.She never imagined him leaving town. Or how much she’d miss him when he left... -
![Finding Hope at the Loch by Hannah Ellis]()
Finding Hope at the Loch by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSometimes all we can do is hope things will turn out exactly as they’re supposed to ... A fairy-tale wedding in a castle should be a dream come true for Isla. Unfortunately, she’s not as taken with the idea as everyone around her. While her family and Logan organise everything, she’s left feeling that her opinion doesn’t count. Meanwhile, Lexie is dealing with family problems of her own... -
![Winter Wishes in Hope Cove by Hannah Ellis]()
Winter Wishes in Hope Cove by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA warm and uplifting winter romanceAll Emily wants for her wedding is a low-key celebration with family and friends. But with a best friend like Josie, it’s no surprise that there’s a touch of drama to the day.Meanwhile, Tara is dealing with problems of her own. In a bid to face up to her past, she sets out to make amends with her estranged father and reunite with her half siblings... -
![The House on Lavender Lane by Hannah Ellis]()
The House on Lavender Lane by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsOne shocking incident forces six friends to re-evaluate everything Emily only meant to spend a week in Hope Cove. But when the quirky locals involve her in various events, she happily extends her stay. She just wishes Jack were with her and not stuck working back in Oxford.For Lizzie, Emily’s visit is well timed... -
![Love by Jillian Dodd]()
Love by Jillian Dodd
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFollow the lives and loves of those who work at Captive Films: Riley Johnson -- Captive Films' CEO and millionaire playboy is hot, privileged, and seriously single. He's got it all--a brand new jet, exotic cars, a luxury penthouse, and a different aspiring actress (or two) in his bed every night...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family female-mc friendship literary-fiction audiobook book contemporary -
![To Love and Be Loved by Amanda Prowse]()
To Love and Be Loved by Amanda Prowse
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsIn this life-affirming tale from bestselling author Amanda Prowse, one woman built a new life to escape her humiliation. Now, can she put the shame behind her and finally find happiness?Young and desperately in love, Merrin had the whole world ahead of her. But just as her new life was about to start, the ground beneath her feet was cruelly swept away... -
![Breathtaking by Courtney Turcotte Bond, adam boyd stevens]()
Breathtaking by Courtney Turcotte Bond, adam boyd stevens
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTo the outside world, Cara’s life seems perfect. The only one who knows the dark secrets inside her home is her best friend and next-door neighbor, Adam. Cara’s only escape is by writing and sharing her stories with him through their facing bedroom windows late at night...Categorized as:
coming-of-age literary-fiction female-mc friendship romance fiction young-adult contemporary -
![Sunset by Jessie Cave]()
Sunset by Jessie Cave
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe debut adult novel from Jessie Cave is a spry yet reflective comedy of sisterhood, loneliness and second chances as a rootless young woman starts to piece her life back together again.Sunset is an unconventional love story about putting yourself back together when the sky has fallen in.Ruth and Hannah are sisters. They build each other up, and tear each other down... -
![I Wanted You To Know by Laura Pearson]()
I Wanted You To Know by Laura Pearson
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsDear Edie, I wanted you to know so many things. I wanted to tell you them in person, as you grew. But it wasn’t to be.Jess never imagined she’d be navigating single motherhood, let alone while facing breast cancer. A life that should be just beginning is interrupted by worried looks, heavy conversations, and the possibility of leaving her daughter to grow up without her... -
-
![There's Something About Mira by Sonali Dev]()
There's Something About Mira by Sonali Dev
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFrom USA Today bestselling author Sonali Dev comes the heartfelt story of a woman determined to reunite a lost ring with its owner, who ends up finding herself along the way.Mira Salvi has the perfect life—a job she loves, a fiancé everyone adores, and the secure future she’s always imagined for herself...Categorized as:
female-mc friendship family coming-of-age romance fiction contemporary womens-fiction -
![2142 Green Hollow Rd by Katie Winters]()
2142 Green Hollow Rd by Katie Winters
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe Sisters of Edgartown made a pledge. One they'll never break. One stronger than the winds off the Nantucket Sound and deeper than the great Atlantic Ocean.There had always been six of them. Until suddenly, the Nantucket Sound waters took one of their own. Michelle drowned at the age of seventeen.Everything changed after that... -
![My Wicked Billionaire by Serenity Woods]()
My Wicked Billionaire by Serenity Woods
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNever fall in love when it’s supposed to be just for fun… It’s the day before my brother’s wedding in Dunedin, in the South Island of New Zealand. It’s also the last day of my studies before I qualify as a veterinarian. At last, I can put aside my ditzy image and be the sophisticated career woman I’ve always wanted to be. Except I don’t notice my watch has stopped, and I miss my flight... -
![No Place Like Home: A Novel by Barbara O'Neal]()
No Place Like Home: A Novel by Barbara O'Neal
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAn enriching and deeply moving novel about love and loss, the bonds of family and friends, and coming home by the USA Today bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids.Life didn’t turn out the way Jewel Sabatino planned. However long she’s been gone, home is waiting.At seventeen, Jewel fled Colorado for New York City and didn’t look back... -
![The Weekend Getaway by Hannah Ellis]()
The Weekend Getaway by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA weekend break changes everything…The chemistry between Keira and Noah is instant. It only takes one date for Keira to realise there’s something special between them.When Noah invites her to a family party in his hometown, she eagerly agrees, and by the end of their weekend away she’s absolutely head over heels. Not only for Noah, but for his close-knit family and the stunning Isles of Scilly... -
![Sex by Jillian Dodd]()
Sex by Jillian Dodd
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFrom USA Today bestselling author Jillian Dodd comes the eleventh book in the addictive Keatyn Chronicles series. Discover a breathless fairy-tale romance with swoon-worthy characters set in a glittering celebrity world. Fans of reality TV will devour this pulse-pounding, sexy Hollywood drama...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family female-mc friendship literary-fiction audiobook book contemporary -
![Whispers at the Bluebell Inn by Hannah Ellis]()
Whispers at the Bluebell Inn by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsRumours travel fast in a village… Josie loves her new life in the country with Sam. But she has a secret that she doesn’t want anyone to know. Unfortunately, it’s hard to keep anything to yourself in a tiny village. Lizzie is adjusting to motherhood, and finding it more demanding than she ever expected... -
![Escape to Oakbrook Farm by Hannah Ellis]()
Escape to Oakbrook Farm by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsVillage life is supposed to be quiet… Josie Beaumont is a free spirit. She changes jobs about as often as she changes her relationship status. Frequently! The only constants in her life are the comfy old shoes that she refuses to part with.When unemployment looms again, she’s intrigued by a job opportunity at a dog kennels in rural Devon... -
![Alaskan Dawn by Edie Claire]()
Alaskan Dawn by Edie Claire
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA brand new novel of romantic women’s fiction from the author of the award-winning Long Time Coming and Meant to Be! Haley knew that carrying her twin sister’s baby would be a sacrifice.She just didn’t know how great. Overachieving attorney Haley Olson has always done the responsible thing. So when her twin sister Micah needs a surrogate mother, Haley willingly volunteers... -
![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 coming-of-age female-mc romance fiction contemporary audiobook -
-
![Miracles in Wild Rose Bay: A completely uplifting Irish romance full of family secrets by Susanne O'Leary]()
Miracles in Wild Rose Bay: A completely uplifting Irish romance full of family secrets by Susanne O'Leary
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA truly unforgettable Irish romance set on the shores of the Wild Atlantic Way.Arriving in Sandy Cove to views of the shimmering ocean, Tara O’Rourke is excited to get to work. She’s been sent from New York City to take photos of Ireland for a travel magazine, and she knows the perfect area to visit: the mysterious, picturesque Wild Rose Bay... -
![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... -
![Moonlight and Promises by Michele Brouder]()
Moonlight and Promises by Michele Brouder
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsRead the generational saga about three sisters and their grandmother and her friends in the beachside town of Hideaway Bay.Always the rebel and the oldest of the Monroe sisters, Isabelle returns to Hideaway Bay at the request of one of her sisters. She’s never stayed long enough in any one place. The last thing Isabelle Monroe wants is to be tied down...Categorized as:
literary-fiction family female-mc romance fiction contemporary anthologies small-town -
![Meet Me At Sunrise by Michele Brouder]()
Meet Me At Sunrise by Michele Brouder
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsRead the generational saga about three sisters and their grandmother and her friends in the beachside town of Hideaway Bay.After reuniting with her sisters at her grandmother’s funeral, Alice Monroe determines that Hideaway Bay may be the place for her. Nursing a broken heart, Alice throws herself into transforming her grandmother’s house into an inn...Categorized as:
literary-fiction female-mc friendship family romance fiction contemporary anthologies -
![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... -
![Summer of Second Chances by Andrea Hurst]()
Summer of Second Chances by Andrea Hurst
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsShelby, at sweet sixteen, finds herself without friends, a place to call home, and still waiting for her first kiss. At the mercy of yet another move, she’s left to spend the summer with her grandmother at Moonwater Lake. Theo, a widowed, elderly man in town suggests she start a dog-walking business... -
![Always You and Me by Dani Atkins]()
Always You and Me by Dani Atkins
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFrom the bestselling author of Fractured comes a moving, heart-mending and uplifting novel of love, hope and second chances.Then…On the eve of her wedding to Adam, Lily’s best friend Josh unexpectedly walked out of her life, and she hasn’t seen him since.Lily and Adam are blissfully happy, until he falls ill...Categorized as:
friendship literary-fiction female-mc family romance fiction contemporary womens-fiction -
![Four Wishes by Christine Nolfi]()
Four Wishes by Christine Nolfi
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsMeade Williams has a successful company, an ailing father—and a secret desire to find love at last. Dr. Mary Chance isn’t sure the time is right to expand her family. Birdie Kaminsky has married the man of her dreams, but yearns to grow closer to her powerful sister. And young Glade Wilson must confront the daunting truth that she’ll become a mother before finishing high school... -
![As Long As I Have You by Bella Andre]()
As Long As I Have You by Bella Andre
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAll Mari Everett’s life, she’s had two secret dreams: To own a bookstore, and to reunite with her long lost father. But when he passes away unexpectedly and she inherits his home and business, the only way she can learn about his life—especially why he abandoned her when she was three and never came back—is by leaving California to take over his bookstore in London... -
![Summer at the Old Boathouse: A wonderfully heartwarming romantic comedy by Hannah Ellis]()
Summer at the Old Boathouse: A wonderfully heartwarming romantic comedy by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsOf all the guys, she falls for the one who’s off limits… Emily Winters would do anything for her best friend Josie. Every week they meet for a catch up at the Old Boathouse - an idyllic little café by the Thames where Josie’s boyfriend Jack works. As the summer draws on, life seems perfect. Emily’s writing career is taking off and she’s throwing herself into the dating scene... -
-
![The World at My Feet by Catherine Isaac]()
The World at My Feet by Catherine Isaac
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe dazzling new novel from Richard & Judy book club author Catherine Isaac, The World at my Feet is a story about the transforming power of love, as one woman journeys to uncover the past and reshape her future. The secrets that bind us can also tear us apart… 1990. Harriet is a journalist. Her job takes her to dangerous places, where she asks questions and tries to make a difference... -
![For All She Knows by Jamie Beck]()
For All She Knows by Jamie Beck
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsTwo mothers face the consequences of their choices in a gripping novel about friendship, family, and forgiveness by Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Jamie Beck.Grace first met Mimi when she blew into their sons’ toddler playgroup like a warm bay breeze that loosened Grace’s tight spaces... -
![Upside Down by Danielle Steel]()
Upside Down by Danielle Steel
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsOscar-winning actress Ardith Law is a Hollywood icon. Radiant at sixty-two, she is the epitome of glamour and a highly respected artist. But her success has come at a she has a strained relationship with her daughter, Morgan, who at thirty-eight still blames Ardith for putting her career before being a mother... -
![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... -
![Heart the Lover by Lily King]()
Heart the Lover by Lily King
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratings“Lily King has written another masterpiece. This book overflows with her brilliance and her heart. We are so lucky.” —Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author of This Time TomorrowFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Writers & Lovers comes a magnificent and intimate new novel of desire, friendship, and the lasting impact of first loveYou knew I’d write a book about you someday...Categorized as:
literary-fiction friendship coming-of-age female-mc family romance fiction contemporary -
![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... -
![Tangled Vines by Megan Mayfair]()
Tangled Vines by Megan Mayfair
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAmelia O'Sullivan is a photographer who has always viewed herself through the wrong lens. When her marriage publicly crashes around her, she flees to the safety of her aunt's country property to pick up the pieces... -
![Love Child by Ashley Farley]()
Love Child by Ashley Farley
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSmall-town romantic suspense from USA Today bestselling author, Ashley Farley Casey Hobbs has never met her father. She doesn’t know his identity or where he lives or whether he has children. She’s spent the past three years at her mother’s sickbed, watching cancer eat away her organs and their bank account... -
![Prove Me Right by Anna Brooks]()
Prove Me Right by Anna Brooks
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOne weakness can change everything. Meara and Liam were friends before they could talk, in love since they could drive, and planning their future before they graduated high school. In order to start the life they’ve always dreamed of, Liam just has to finish his tour with the band. He doesn't want anyone else. Liam's only ever had eyes for Meara, and he can't wait to finally get home to her... -
![Unstrung by Laura Spinella]()
Unstrung by Laura Spinella
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEven as a violin prodigy, Olivia Klein courted trouble. But when her marriage to high-stakes investor Rob Van Doren takes another wrong turn, Olivia acts out once too often. A night of bad behavior results in community service hours. Time is to be served with Theo McAdams, an inner-city teacher whose passion for music eclipses Olivia’s... -
-
![The Beachside Flower Stall by Karen Clarke]()
The Beachside Flower Stall by Karen Clarke
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRoses for romance, daisies for hope, daffodils for unrequited love... Drop by The Beachside Flower Stall for friendship, family and a beautiful bouquet. Carrie Dashwood fled Dorset when her best friend Megan stole her first love, Tom Hudson . Now ten years later, Carrie is back to help run her aunt Ruby’s flower stall in the beautiful seaside town of Shipley... -
![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... -
![Hattie's Home for Broken Hearts by Tilly Tennant]()
Hattie's Home for Broken Hearts by Tilly Tennant
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEscape to the daisy-strewn windswept Dorset cliffs, to the donkey sanctuary at Sweet Briar Farm, where Hattie Rose is about to find, that in this world, the most unlikely opposites can sometimes attract … Hattie was once thrilled to call the beautiful city of Paris her home...Categorized as:
family female-mc literary-fiction friendship humor contemporary womens-fiction fiction -
![The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer]()
The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMikki Brammer's The Collected Regrets of Clover is a big-hearted and life-affirming debut about a death doula who, in caring for others at the end of their life, has forgotten how to live her own, for readers of The Midnight Library... -
![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...Categorized as:
family friendship literary-fiction female-mc romance contemporary small-town fiction -
![Very Nearly Normal by Hannah Sunderland]()
Very Nearly Normal by Hannah Sunderland
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratings‘Delightfully romantic’ ISABELLE BROOM‘A compelling, quirky love story’ MIRANDA DICKINSONEffie’s not perfect. Neither is Theo. But together, they’re pretty close. Matilda ‘Effie’ Heaton has always felt like she’s swimming against the tide. Everyone around her has life sorted, but Effie’s living with her parents and crying into a wine bottle at night...
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.
