Books like 'Growing Up'
Readers who enjoyed Growing Up by Angela Thirkell also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical military, war & conflict 20th century historical-fiction humor war ww2 classics religion family
-
The World Starts Anew by Jean Grainger
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsBallycreggan, Northern Ireland, 1955Erich Bannon is happy in the small Irish village he has thought of as home since he arrived as a terrified, traumatized seven year old, one of the last Jewish children to escape Berlin in 1939. Now, at 23, it feels like all of his friends are drawn to The Promised Land, and he can understand why, but Israel is not for him... -
![The Secret Midwife by Soraya M. Lane]()
The Secret Midwife by Soraya M. Lane
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsLondon, 1995: When on the fiftieth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz a news broadcast runs an appeal for information on the identity of a midwife who saved hundreds of lives, Emilia knows it is time to finally tell her story... -
![The Winds of War by Herman Wouk]()
The Winds of War by Herman Wouk
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsLike no other masterpiece of historical fiction, Herman Wouk's sweeping epic of World War II is the great novel of America's Greatest Generation.Wouk's spellbinding narrative captures the tide of global events, as well as all the drama, romance, heroism, and tragedy of World War II, as it immerses us in the lives of a single American family drawn into the very center of the war's maelstrom... -
![Harpers Heroes by Rosie Clarke]()
Harpers Heroes by Rosie Clarke
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom the bestselling author of the Welcome to Harpers Emporium and The Mulberry Lane Series.The Harpers Girls come face to face with the harsh reality of the cruelty of war.Oxford Street, London 1915Sally Harper quietly battles to keep Harpers afloat in the difficult days of the war, whilst husband Ben is working all hours for the War Office... -
-
![Nellie's Heartbreak: A compelling saga from the bestselling author the Mulberry Lane and Harpers Emporium series by Rosie Clarke]()
Nellie's Heartbreak: A compelling saga from the bestselling author the Mulberry Lane and Harpers Emporium series by Rosie Clarke
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA new stand-alone saga set in Yorkshire around out the outbreak of the second world war and the unlikely relationship between a master and servant.As a small child, Nellie Peace was always dreaming but sensed her mother’s rejection... -
![As the Sun Breaks Through by Ellie Dean]()
As the Sun Breaks Through by Ellie Dean
Rated: 4.70 of 5 stars · 10 ratings************** PRE-ORDER NOW: THE FIFTEENTH CLIFFEHAVEN NOVEL BY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR ELLIE DEAN A fabulous, heart-warming Second World War novel in Ellie Dean's bestselling Cliffehaven series (previously called the Beach View Boarding House series)... -
![On a Turning Tide by Ellie Dean]()
On a Turning Tide by Ellie Dean
Rated: 4.70 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCliffehaven, October 1944As the Allied troops draw closer to victory, life at Beach View Boarding House is still full of uncertainty.Rosie’s plans for her wedding to Ron Reilly are plagued with misunderstandings. And when Ron takes on a secret assignment just days before they are due to say their vows, it seems their plans for a future together may be doomed... -
![With Hope and Love by Ellie Dean]()
With Hope and Love by Ellie Dean
Rated: 4.70 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCliffehaven, May 1945. The war in Europe is over, but for the residents of Beach View Boarding House its effects are still far reaching.Cockney evacuee Ivy and her sweetheart Andy are saving to get married and return to London. But when her sister and parents succumb to one of the last V-2 attacks, Ivy must make a heart-wrenching choice... -
![None Stood Taller: An inspirational WWII story to make your heart soar. (Historical fiction) by Peter Turnham]()
None Stood Taller: An inspirational WWII story to make your heart soar. (Historical fiction) by Peter Turnham
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThis book is a window into Britain's secret wartime past, step through it and this inspirational story of life and love will make your heart soar.It is March 1941, large swathes of the East End of London lie in ruins. Lily Heywood is just one more victim of the Blitz, lying beneath the rubble of her home. An unbreakable spirit, this is not the end for Lily, it is merely the beginning...Categorized as:
historical-fiction military religion spirituality war ww2 20th-century action-adventure -
![The Child Without a Home by Ann Bennett]()
The Child Without a Home by Ann Bennett
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratings‘So captivating, I was on edge while flipping through the pages as fast as I could… Truly heartwarming… Emotional, heartbreaking… I loved this… A must read… Amazing’ Pageturners ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Inspired by the lives of the forgotten orphans of World War Two, this heart-wrenching and moving tale is about fighting for your loved ones when all hope is lost... -
![Eagles Over Britain by Lee Jackson]()
Eagles Over Britain by Lee Jackson
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe German Luftwaffe attacks Britain from the skies.With no allies, she stands alone.Her fate hangs in the balance.As the first Axis aircraft streak across English Channel airspace, so begins a battle for the ages; one that will determine the trajectory of the war... -
![Home Sweet Home: by Lizzie Lane]()
Home Sweet Home: by Lizzie Lane
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWill they meet again? Frances Sweet can’t really remember her real parents. Brought up by her uncle, her cousins Ruby and Mary have always treated her like their little sister.As the war continues to keep her cousins separated from the men they love – Frances is growing up fast enough to catch the eye of dashing American soldier Declan... -
![The Girl with the Diary by Shari J. Ryan]()
The Girl with the Diary by Shari J. Ryan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratings“What if you never come back?” I asked.“I will find you, Amelia. I promise I will find you.”“What if you die trying?”Nazi-occupied Prague, 1942: Amelia is hiding in her closet when flashlights blind her and she’s captured by the SS. Out on the cobblestone street, she is shoved onto a freight train with hundreds of others. Hours pass as they travel in darkness... -
![The Ops Room Girls: An uplifting and romantic WW2 saga by Vicki Beeby]()
The Ops Room Girls: An uplifting and romantic WW2 saga by Vicki Beeby
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhen Evie’s dreams come crashing down, she’s determined to still make something of herself in these trying times…It is 1939 and working class Evie Bishop has received a scholarship to study mathematics at Oxford when tragedy turns her life upside down... -
-
![The Occupation by Deborah Swift]()
The Occupation by Deborah Swift
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA page-turning historical saga that will pull at your heartstrings! For fans of Freda Lightfoot, Pam Jenoff, Sebastian Faulks and Kate Atkinson. One woman’s secret war against the Nazis. One man’s war against himself… 1940, Jersey When Nazi forces occupy Jersey in the English Channel Islands, Céline Huber, who is married to a German, must decide where her loyalty lies... -
![The Orphan Twins by Lesley Eames]()
The Orphan Twins by Lesley Eames
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAn unputdownable saga about love and family, guaranteed to warm your heart this winter...London, 1910. Lily is ten years old when she realises her grandmother, a washerwoman in the backstreets of London's Bermondsey, is seriously ill. She's determined to do what can she can to help and keep her grandmother's illness a secret – even from her beloved twin, Artie... -
![A Code for Tomorrow by John J. Gobbell]()
A Code for Tomorrow by John J. Gobbell
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratings“The sea action is exciting and thoroughly convincing.” —Kirkus Reviews Todd Ingram is back in the fight. After narrowly escaping the Japanese-held Philippines, he is promoted to the destroyer USS Howell.His new assignment puts him in the middle of two epic naval engagements: the Battle of Cape Esperance and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands... -
![All My Tomorrows by Ellie Dean]()
All My Tomorrows by Ellie Dean
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe compelling new Second World War novel from the author of Always in My Heart.In defending herself against her brutal husband, eighteen-year-old Ruby Clark is forced to flee London.She has no idea where Cliffehaven is, or what she will find there, but she knows that she will never be able to return home again.At first it seems she’s fallen on her feet... -
![Shelter from the Storm by Ellie Dean]()
Shelter from the Storm by Ellie Dean
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsNineteen-year-old April Wilton has just enlisted in the WRENs in Portsmouth, where she works servicing engines on ships. She finds herself immersed in dockyard life and surrounded by soldiers - from England and America. The atmosphere is one of spontaneity and impulsiveness, brought on by the unpredictability of war... -
![Wedding Bells on Victory Street: Gripping and heartbreaking World War 2 saga fiction (The Bryant Sisters) by Pam Howes]()
Wedding Bells on Victory Street: Gripping and heartbreaking World War 2 saga fiction (The Bryant Sisters) by Pam Howes
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom Amazon bestseller Pam Howes comes a heartbreaking World War Two novel about a young woman trying to make the best of history’s darkest hour. Is a happy ever after impossible?Liverpool, 1943. For Bella Rogers, life is looking up... -
![Wartime at Woolworths by Elaine Everest]()
Wartime at Woolworths by Elaine Everest
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe Woolworths girls have come a long way together . . . Fun loving Maisie, is devoted to her young family and her work at Woolworths. But her happy life with her RAF officer husband, their baby daughter leads her to think of the family she left behind . . -
![Always in my Heart by Ellie Dean]()
Always in my Heart by Ellie Dean
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAs the Japanese begin their assault on Singapore, Sarah Fuller is forced to leave her parents and fianc�, Philip, behind. The long journey to England is fraught with danger, and Sarah and her sister Jane don't even know if their great-aunt is alive, let alone waiting for them. They arrive in Cliffehaven, on the south coast of England, and here Sarah must find work to support them both... -
![So Much Owed: An Irish World War 2 Story by Jean Grainger]()
So Much Owed: An Irish World War 2 Story by Jean Grainger
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsIn a turbulent and uncertain world, the birth of two children revitalise a small Irish town and set the stage for a closer look into lives torn asunder by war. When Dr. Richard Buckley returns home to his wife and beloved hometown of Dunderrig, his mind is wearied by the ravages of The Great War... -
![The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe]()
The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsBorn into a basket of clean sheets—ruining a perfectly good load of laundry—Emmeline never quite fit in on her family's rural Nova Scotian farm. After suffering multiple losses in the First World War, her family became so heavy with grief, toxicity, and mental illness that Emmeline felt their weight smothering her. And so, she fled across the Atlantic and built her life in England... -
-
![Fire and Fury for the Tobacco Girls by Lizzie Lane]()
Fire and Fury for the Tobacco Girls by Lizzie Lane
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAs war rages, everyone has to do their bit...Bristol 1941As the clouds of war grow bleaker both at home and abroad, the Tobacco Girls are determined to do their bit for King and Country. To that end Maisie Miles and Bridget Milligan become voluntary ambulance drivers... -
![A Ration Book Christmas by Jean Fullerton]()
A Ration Book Christmas by Jean Fullerton
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt's 1940 and the German Luftwaffe have started their nightly reign of death and destruction over London's East End. The Brogan family is braced and ready to take on Hitler single-handed, if need be, but with rationing, air-raids and the threat of Nazi invasion hanging over this doughty family, their spirits are taking a bit of a battering.. -
![Christmas with the Ops Room Girls: A festive and feel-good WW2 saga (The Women's Auxiliary Air Force) by Vicki Beeby]()
Christmas with the Ops Room Girls: A festive and feel-good WW2 saga (The Women's Auxiliary Air Force) by Vicki Beeby
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhen there’s so much to be afraid of, can May help bring festive cheer to the Ops Room?After failing to help evacuee siblings whom she witnesses being separated, May wishes she’d had the confidence to speak up. When Jess suggests a pantomime to boost morale on the station, May is desperate to help – but is held back by her own insecurities... -
![The Promise by Ruth Saberton]()
The Promise by Ruth Saberton
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsNo matter what promises you make, some dark secrets refuse to stay buried... When Nell Summers stumbles across a photograph in her late father’s belongings, the faded image of a young soldier leads her to question everything she knows...Categorized as:
historical-fiction ww2 war military fiction historical 20th-century violent-conflict -
![The London Girls by Soraya M. Lane]()
The London Girls by Soraya M. Lane
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom the bestselling author of The Last Correspondent comes a remarkable story of three young women who defy the bombs to do their bit for Britain. Will they survive the dark streets of London to see the Allies win the war?London, 1941. The Blitz... -
![New Recruits at Goodwill House by Fenella J. Miller]()
New Recruits at Goodwill House by Fenella J. Miller
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsMay 1940There are new residents at Goodwill House – WAAF drivers Camilla ‘Millie’ Cunningham and Diane Forsyth, both eager to do their bit for the war effort and excited to be helping the brave boys who fly.And when Millie meets dashing and heroic Spitfire pilot Ted Thorrington, they strike up an instant connection... -
![I'll Be Seeing You: A spellbinding and emotional wartime novel of love and secrets by Margaret Mayhew]()
I'll Be Seeing You: A spellbinding and emotional wartime novel of love and secrets by Margaret Mayhew
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhen Juliet Porter's mother dies, she leaves Juliet some old letters and a photograph which shatter all her previously-held beliefs. They show that her real father was an American bomber pilot in the second world war, some forty years before, and that he had met her mother while serving in England... -
![A Ration Book Daughter by Jean Fullerton]()
A Ration Book Daughter by Jean Fullerton
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCathy was a happy, blushing bride when Britain went to war with Germany three years ago. But her youthful dreams were crushed by her violent husband Stanley's involvement with the fascist black-shirts, and even when he's conscripted to fight she knows it's only a brief respite - divorce is not an option. Cathy's only solace is her little son Peter... -
![A Mother's Journey: Book 1 in the Yorkshire Blitz Trilogy by Donna Douglas]()
A Mother's Journey: Book 1 in the Yorkshire Blitz Trilogy by Donna Douglas
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratings*FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE NIGHTINGALE SERIES* A dramatic and heartwarming new saga series from the well-loved Donna Douglas, this will be one of Orion's biggest launches of 2020.Hull, 1940. Edie Copeland has just arrived on Jubilee Row, carrying a secret and a heavy suitcase... -
![Christmas with the Railway Girls by Maisie Thomas]()
Christmas with the Railway Girls by Maisie Thomas
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe brand new festive Railway Girls novel set in Manchester during WWII. Perfect for fans of Nancy Revell, Daisy Styles and Margaret Dickinson.___________________Manchester, 1941Christmas is the season for family and friends, and this year the railway girls will need each other more than ever.Cordelia appears to have the perfect life... -
-
![The Allotment Girls by Kate Thompson]()
The Allotment Girls by Kate Thompson
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDuring the Second World War, life in the iconic Bryant & May match factory is grimy and tough. Annie, Rose, Pearl and Millie carry on making matches for the British Army, with bombs raining down around them. Inspired by the Dig for Victory campaign, Annie persuades the owners to start Bryant & May allotment in the factory grounds... -
![The Waiting Hours by Ellie Dean]()
The Waiting Hours by Ellie Dean
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSlapton Sands, Devon1943Carol Porter has had a difficult war. Less than a year ago she lost both her husband and baby, and with them her heart. Only recently has she’s found peace, working as a land girl at Coombe Farm. But Carol’s sanctuary, the whole local area in fact, is about to be disrupted.When Pauline Reilly learns of Carol’s situation she’s worried for her little sister... -
![Welcome to Weaver Street by Chrissie Walsh]()
Welcome to Weaver Street by Chrissie Walsh
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIf you love Nadine Dorries and Katie Flynn, you'll love Chrissie Walsh's WWI story of love, loss and triumph!Kitty and Tom Conlon arrive in Liverpool in July 1916 to claim the house Tom’s great-uncle has bequeathed him in his will. The move to England couldn’t have come at a better time. Dublin is in turmoil following the Easter Uprising and Kitty’s brother is now in prison... -
![A Wartime Wife by Lizzie Lane]()
A Wartime Wife by Lizzie Lane
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsStruggling to make ends meet, Mary Anne Randall is offered no help by her drunk and abusive husband. A pawnbroking business run from the wash house at the back of her home is the only way she can hope to keep her three kids fed and clothed... -
![The Girls of Victory Street: An absolutely heartbreaking World War 2 family saga by Pam Howes]()
The Girls of Victory Street: An absolutely heartbreaking World War 2 family saga by Pam Howes
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFrom Amazon bestseller Pam Howes comes an emotional World War Two saga about three young women whose bravery and friendship will see them through the darkest times.Liverpool, 1939. Bella Rogers thought her life was just starting; she can’t wait to get married to her childhood sweetheart, Bobby. But when war is declared and Bobby is called up, his letters stop, leaving Bella heartbroken and alone... -
![The Midwives of Lark Lane by Pam Howes]()
The Midwives of Lark Lane by Pam Howes
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAn absolutely heartbreaking historical family saga All’s fair in love and war… but what happens when the war is over? After the heartbreak of World War Two, newlywed midwife Cathy hoped Liverpool life would offer some joy. But a terrible miscarriage and the escape of her abusive stepfather Jack from prison make happiness hard to find. Meanwhile, Cathy’s beloved granny is ailing... -
![Bluebirds: An uplifting and heart-warming wartime saga, full of friendship, courage and determination by Margaret Mayhew]()
Bluebirds: An uplifting and heart-warming wartime saga, full of friendship, courage and determination by Margaret Mayhew
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratings1939 - Officer Felicity Newman and a ragtag group of young women arrive at RAF Colston. They are the first of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force: brave female pilots ready to do their bit.But Station Commander, David Palmer, doesn't want them. They're a nuisance, unable to do the work of men, and they would undoubtedly fall apart if the station was bombed... -
![Lizzie's War by Rosie Clarke]()
Lizzie's War by Rosie Clarke
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsLONDON 1940. Another gritty, heart-warming and wholesome drama. A gripping sequel to LIZZIE'S SECRET. Perfect for the fans of Katie Flynn and Nadine Dorries. Against the devastating Blitz of London, normal life must continue for Lizzie Larch. With Sebastian returning to War, Lizzie, must, alone make a success of her business in order to survive and care for herself and her young child... -
![The Girls of Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke]()
The Girls of Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsLove, marriage, birth, death and betrayal make up life in Mulberry Lane, perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries and Cathy Sharp. Maureen Jackson is a prisoner of her father's blackmail. Three years ago, she'd been hoping to marry Rory, the man of her dreams. However after her mother's death Maureen was left to care and work for the overbearing father who claimed he couldn't manage without her... -
![The Sisters of St Croix by Diney Costeloe]()
The Sisters of St Croix by Diney Costeloe
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsOriginal title Death's Dark ValeA gripping story of love, death and danger in Nazi-occupied France from the bestselling author of The Throwaway Children. When Adelaide Anson-Gravetty finds out her father is not the man who raised her, she is both shocked and intrigued... -
-
![The Oceans Between Us by Gill Thompson]()
The Oceans Between Us by Gill Thompson
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsInspired by heartrending real events, a mother fights to find her son and a child battles for survival in this riveting debut novel.For readers of Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly, The Letter by Kathryn Hughes, and Remember Me by Lesley Pearse.A woman is found wandering injured in London after an air raid.She remembers nothing of who she is... -
![We Shall Remember by Emma Fraser]()
We Shall Remember by Emma Fraser
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratings1939. Irena is a young medical student living in Warsaw when the German army invade Poland. Those closest to her are dying and when Irena realises that no one is coming to Poland's aid, it's clear that she is alone. Forced to flee to Britain, Irena meets Richard, a RAF pilot who she's instantly drawn to and there's a glimmer of happiness on the horizon... -
![The Lifeline by Deborah Swift]()
The Lifeline by Deborah Swift
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom the heart of Norway to Shetland in Scotland, one couple fight to overthrow the Nazis…1942, Nazi-occupied NorwaySchoolteacher Astrid Dahl has always kept out of trouble. But when she is told to teach the fascist Nazi curriculum, she refuses and starts a teacher’s rebellion, persuading eight thousand teachers to go on strike... -
![Christmas with the Bomb Girls by Daisy Styles]()
Christmas with the Bomb Girls by Daisy Styles
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsChristmas time with our favourite Bomb Girls at the Phoenix Munitions Factory Christmas time is approaching at the Phoenix Munitions Factory and Gladys, Kitty, Edna and the rest of the Bomb Girls are determined to make this a year to remember... -
![For Better, For Worse: A Second World War saga of love and heartache by June Francis]()
For Better, For Worse: A Second World War saga of love and heartache by June Francis
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWith war on the horizon, can she find peace?Grace and Dougie have been courting for years, so when Dougie decides to emigrate to Australia he expects Grace to follow once she turns twenty-one. Grace used to be besotted with the handsome man, but she is increasingly worried by his bullying behaviour and gambling... -
![The Little Ship: A heart-warming, sweeping wartime saga full of heart which will stay with you for ages by Margaret Mayhew]()
The Little Ship: A heart-warming, sweeping wartime saga full of heart which will stay with you for ages by Margaret Mayhew
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSet largely on the Essex coast before the war, Matt, Guy, and their young cousin Lizzie meet up for holidays and bum around in an old boat. Guy is the eldest, handsome, skilled at everything, a tad selfish. Matt is quieter and has a crippled right arm...
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.
