Books like 'Once Upon a Time, There Was You'
Readers who enjoyed Once Upon a Time, There Was You by Elizabeth Berg & Gabrielle de Cuir also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance family realistic drama coming-of-age kidnapping aging epic literary-fiction
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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 literary-fiction adult anthologies -
Marred: Kyle and Violet by Tess Thompson
Rated: 4.70 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsKyle Hicks started with nothing. Now he's a self-made man. And as luck would have it, his latest project as a real estate developer lands him in Cliffside Bay with his very best friends, The Dogs. At the end of his grueling work days, Kyle's got just enough time left for his buddies and not much else... -
Sail Away by Ashley Farley
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThree women form a village to help a friend in need. Becca has embarked on the most important mission of her life. She trusts no one, and she’s running out of time. On a whim, she rents a beach cottage on Palmetto Island for the summer. She’s searching for a solution to her problem. Help comes in an unexpected friendship with the young woman next door... -
Ms. Bitch by Tricia O'Malley
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFinding happiness is the best revenge.From the outside, it seems thirty-six-year-old Tess Campbell has it all. A happy marriage, a successful career as a novelist, and an exciting cross-country move ahead. Tess has always played by the rules and it seems like life is good.Except it’s not. Life is a bitch. And suddenly so is Tess...Categorized as:
breakup domestic-drama family female-mc literary-fiction realistic action-adventure adult -
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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... -
The Inn on Amelia Island by Hope Holloway
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe uplifting and unforgettable conclusion to the Seven Sisters series!After coming together following their father’s stroke, the Wingate women have found second-chance romance, faced trials and tribulations, and built wonderful lives on Amelia Island. Their father is fully recovered and healthy, their businesses are flourishing, and the whole family is bursting with love and laughter... -
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
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... -
The Bookstore on Amelia Island by Hope Holloway
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA sisterhood saga full of family, faith, and friendship...Life for widowed Grace Wingate Jenkins has been simple enough these past few years on Amelia Island, running a bookstore and raising a painfully shy toddler girl. But when that simple life is turned upside down, Grace realizes she’s also been given a gift in the form of a friend who has an entirely different perspective... -
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... -
Home At Last by Judith Keim
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLouise “Lulu” Kingsley is thrilled to discover after years of wishing for a sibling, Cami Chandler is her half-sister. When Cami invites her to live with her at Chandler Hill, Lulu jumps at the chance to leave behind all the heartache in her recent life... -
A Pinch of Passion by Kelly Collins
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe leads a privileged life. He has a chip on his shoulder. Can the very thing that divides them be what draws them together? Allie Parks lives life in the fast lane—literally. As a partner in Luxe Resorts, she’s learned that if her money won’t open a door, her looks will... -
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
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... -
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Making Wishes at Bay View by Jessica Redland
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsNever give up on a wish for a happy ever after... Callie Derbyshire has it all: her dream job as a carer at Bay View, finally she has found the love of her life. Everything is perfect.Well, almost.Ex-partners are insistent on stirring up trouble, and Callie’s favourite resident, Ruby, hasn’t been her usual self... -
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... -
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 epic family female-mc literary-fiction 20th-century -
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsThe list he left had just one item on it. Or, at least, it did at first…Mabel Beaumont’s husband Arthur loved lists. He’d leave them for her everywhere. ‘Remember: eggs, butter, sugar’. ‘I love you: today, tomorrow, always’.But now Arthur is gone. He died: softly, gently, not making a fuss. But he’s still left her a list. This one has just one item on it though: ‘Find D’... -
Defend Me by Kelly Collins
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe’s an extrovert. He’s an introvert. Can polar opposites find happiness together? As a teenager, Rose Rogers couldn’t wait to get out of Frazier Falls. She took the first chance she got and left for New York, where she made a name for herself at Flair Magazine. Until now, she’s never looked back... -
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 breakup domestic-drama fiction contemporary holidays -
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
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... -
Coming Home to Hideaway Bay by Michele Brouder
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWhen Lily Ford returns to her lakeside hometown of Hideaway Bay for her grandmother’s funeral, the reunion with her estranged sisters is anything but easy as old wounds surface quickly. Recently widowed and still reeling from the secrets her late husband left behind, Lily finds herself at a crossroad, questioning everything about herself and the people she thought she knew... -
Sara's Promise by Deanna Lynn Sletten
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDo you believe in soul mates? William Grafton had the perfect life with his lovely wife, Sara, and two wonderful children. But one day his perfect forever was shattered when Sara died suddenly, leaving him alone to raise his children and wonder how he would ever get through life without his soul mate... -
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Island Thyme Cafe by Andrea Hurst
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHer Dark Past Eclipsed her Future…Until New Love Brought Endless Possibilities When her estranged daughter visits Madrona Island for the summer, Jude Simon, owner of the popular Island Thyme Café, is forced to face the dark secrets from her past. Years ago, she found out about her husband’s infidelity from an article in the local paper... -
Love at Last Sight by Jordan Lynde
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratings“Rose, I’m sorry, but your eyesight will be gone by the end of this year.” Who knew one simple sentence could change a life so drastically? Rose is a normal seventeen year old girl with a normal life, normal friends, and what she thought to be normal vision. When she receives the news her vision is slowly deteriorating, she doesn't know what to think. Her life is over... -
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... -
What I Remember Most by Cathy Lamb
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsIn a new novel rich in grace, warmth, and courage, acclaimed author Cathy Lamb tells of one woman's journey of reinvention in the wake of deep betrayal.Grenadine Scotch Wild has only vague memories of the parents she last saw when she was six years old. But she's never forgotten their final, panicked words to her, urging Grenadine to run... -
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... -
The Memory Library by Kate Storey
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsFor forty-two years, Sally Harrison has been building a library. Each year, on her daughter’s birthday, she adds a new book to her shelves – with a note in the front dedicated to her own greatest work. But Ella – Sally’s only child – fled to Australia twenty-two years ago after a heated exchange, and never looked back... -
Out of the Box Regifted by Jennifer Theriot
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLibrarian Note: Alternate Cover Edition for ASIN: B00JJBPSZS.Betrayal, Lies, Loss, Hurt, Secrets....With a new beginning on the horizon for Olivia Petersen and Ash Harper, what could possibly stop them from finding their happy ever after? In the midst of joy, this blended family finds they have to trust in love and family bonds to get them through what is coming next...or self-destruct... -
Christina by Leanne Davis
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMy entire life I’ve lived with shadows lurking behind what otherwise appears like the perfect family. My mother often disappears into her bedroom for days at a time because her life becomes too much to deal with. I never understood it. I know there are family secrets. I hear the whispers and innuendos. But no one wants me to know the truth. The thing is: I’m not a little girl anymore... -
Denim Diaries 1: 16 Going on 21 by Darrien Lee
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAnother great book in the Denim Dairies... -
Love Redone in Hidden Harbor by Karice Bolton
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNatalie Jennings loves nothing more than waking up and going into work at the florist shop she owns in the heart of Fireweed Island. Every morning is pleasant and filled with sunshine and rainbows. That is until she sees an email for a wedding consult slide right into her inbox with the sender’s name of Cole Hill... -
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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... -
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 womens-fiction mystery contemporary -
How Not To Be A Loser: The perfect uplifting read for 2020 by Beth Moran
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe perfect uplifting read for 2020 Amy Piper is a loser. She’s lost her confidence, her mojo and her way. But one thing she has never lost is her total love for her thirteen-year-old son Joey, and for his sake she knows it’s time for a change. But first she has to be brave enough to leave the house…What she needs are friends and an adventure... -
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... -
The Billionaire's Rival by Jeannette Winters
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLove the Barrington Billionaire's Series? Welcome to their cousins. You're never going to believe how they are connected! Charles Lawson carries the weight of the entire family’s future on his shoulders. As CEO of Lawson Steel it is his responsibility to ensure their legacy continued for the next generation. First on his agenda is to clean up loose ends from the past... -
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... -
Sunset on Whisling Island by Julia Clemens
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsJust off the coast of Washington state, a visit to beautiful Whisling Island will change you. Its residents will give you reasons to laugh, cry, and rejoice. Bess Wilder's entire life changes with one sentence: "I'm so sorry, Bess." Her husband, Jon, has betrayed her, and she isn't sure what to do or feel. Her entire life was dedicated to Jon and her children... -
Home for Winter by Rebecca Boxall
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsSerena Meadows and her twin sister, Luna, are identical in appearance—but the similarity ends there. Luna always had a mean streak and, as a teenager, her selfishness culminated in an almighty betrayal from which Serena thought she’d never recover.Years later the twins are reunited by tragedy and Luna is a changed woman... -
You and Me and Us by Alison Hammer
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe heartbreaking, yet hopeful, story of a mother and daughter struggling to be a family without the one person who holds them together—a perfect summer read for fans of JoJo Moyes and Marisa de los Santos.Alexis Gold knows how to put the “work” in working mom. It’s the “mom” part that she’s been struggling with lately... -
The Vineyard at Painted Moon by Susan Mallery
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsStep into the vineyard with Susan Mallery’s most irresistible novel yet, as one woman searches for the perfect blend of love, family and wine. Mackenzie Dienes seems to have it all — a beautiful home, close friends and a successful career as an elite winemaker with the family winery. There’s just one problem — it’s not her family, it’s her husband’s... -
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It's Better This Way: A Novel by Debbie Macomber
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsAfter her marriage ends, one woman’s struggle to pick up the pieces finally leads to a new beginning—but is the past truly behind her? In this poignant novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber explores the powerful intersections of love and family. It’s been nearly six years since Julia Jones had her heart broken... -
The Things We Do for Love by Kristin Hannah
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsThe youngest of three daughters, Angela DeSaria Malone was always “the princess” of the family, a girl who thought she knew how her life would unfold. High School. College. Marriage. Motherhood. That was how it had gone for her sisters, her cousins, her friends. But it didn’t work out that way for Angie... -
Drive You Wild by Jennifer Bernard
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIt’s game on for love in the third novel of USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Bernard’s sexy, baseball-themed series.Kilby Catfish left-fielder Trevor Stark is a ballpark legend. With his good looks, hitting records, and played-for-the-fans arrogance, Trevor makes women lose their minds and men lose their cool... -
Tiny White Lies by Fiona Palmer
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTwo families escape the rat race to holiday at a remote coastal retreat, but what lies are they telling themselves and each other? The new family drama by beloved Australian storyteller Fiona PalmerAshley has recently lost her husband. Daughter Emily is being bullied online.Best friend Nikki is holding a huge secret... -
Combust : A Single Dad, Firefighter Romance by Laramie Briscoe
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFrom USA Today and WSJ Bestselling author Laramie Briscoe comes the next book in the Bradford Station Series!The heat is on.Situated on the Tennessee and North Carolina border, this town is nothing like you've ever experienced. Hot guys, the women they love, and a town worth saving. Bradford, TN is the epicenter of the next great romance dynasty... -
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Us by Fiona Collins
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFour decades. Four seasons. Four chance encounters with the same man. Spring 1986, Oxford. Rachel has landed on her engaged to handsome author Jonny, soon to be stepmother to his young daughter Teddy, and with a dream to open her own art gallery. It’s everything she wished for during her unsettled childhood...Categorized as:
literary-fiction female-mc family breakup domestic-drama romance fiction contemporary
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