Books like 'The Magic Kingdom'
Readers who enjoyed The Magic Kingdom by Russell Banks also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary 20th century small town
-
The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante, Ann Goldstein
Rated: 4.59 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsIn one volume, the New York Times–bestselling epic about hardship and female friendship in postwar Naples that has sold over five million copies. Beginning with My Brilliant Friend, the four Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante follow Elena and Lila, from their rough-edged upbringing in Naples, Italy, not long after WWII, through the many stages of their lives—and along paths that diverge wildly... -
![The Midnight Rose by Lucinda Riley]()
The Midnight Rose by Lucinda Riley
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 42 ratingsSpanning four generations, The Midnight Rose sweeps from the glittering palaces of the great maharajas of India to the majestic stately homes of England, following the extraordinary life of a remarkable girl, Anahita Chaval, from 1911 to the present day . . -
![]()
![]()
Sponsored links -
![Healing Hearts at Bumblebee Barn by Jessica Redland]()
Healing Hearts at Bumblebee Barn by Jessica Redland
Rated: 4.55 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsWelcome to Bumblebee Barn, home to wonderful animals, stunning views and spectacular sunsets - and resident young farmer, Barney.While Barney loves his life at Bumblebee Barn - a farm that has been in his family for generations - he's struggling to find someone to share it with... -
![Mistletoe and Magic for the Midwife by Jo Bartlett]()
Mistletoe and Magic for the Midwife by Jo Bartlett
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThe brand new instalment in the top 10 bestselling Midwives series!It’s the most wonderful time of the year…But for single mum and busy midwife Nadia, it’s quickly turning into her worst Christmas ever.Her marriage is over, and whilst her husband has moved on, Nadia finds herself back home, squashed into her mum’s spare room with her two small children... -
-
![Final Vow by Kathleen Brooks]()
Final Vow by Kathleen Brooks
Rated: 4.49 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsAs the ultimate bodyguard, Ahmed’s focus has been protecting the lives of everyone he cares about. When the darkest part of his past resurfaces, Ahmed knows he must go on the offensive to protect his future . . . a future with the one woman that can match his toughness and return the love that was once robbed from him... -
![The Sky Beneath Us by Fiona Valpy]()
The Sky Beneath Us by Fiona Valpy
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsAn inspiring, uplifting story of love and loss, courage and adventure, from the bestselling author of The Skylark’s Secret.1927. Violet Mackenzie-Grant is embarking on her dream of studying at the Edinburgh School of Gardening for Women... -
![The Girl with the Diary by Shari J. Ryan]()
The Girl with the Diary by Shari J. Ryan
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 24 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... -
![New Beginnings on Railway Lane by Alison Sherlock]()
New Beginnings on Railway Lane by Alison Sherlock
Rated: 4.55 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsWhen high flying, workaholic Katy Smith is suddenly made redundant, she needs to find a job fast!After mistakenly answering an advert online, she quickly realises that the rundown railway station in sleepy Cranfield isn’t the 5-star London hotels she’s used to working in!But a job’s a job. Right?Chef Ryan Connelly is having a crisis of confidence after his Italian dream turns sour... -
![Take Me Home by Beth Moran]()
Take Me Home by Beth Moran
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsSophie Potter’s job is helping people deal with the worst, because Sophie Potter knows what the worst feels like. An expert at keeping moving, with her trusty motorhome and faithful dog Muffin, Sophie has built her life around keeping her loves and loyalties as few as possible. Fabulous fifty-something Hattie Langford has kept her heart and past safely stored away too... -
![A New Dawn at Owl's Lodge by Jessica Redland]()
A New Dawn at Owl's Lodge by Jessica Redland
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsCould one chance meeting change your life forever?Zara is at a crossroads in life. While she adores her job as a producer's assistant working on hit TV shows, travelling around the country means she doesn't truly feel that she has a home. With a fractured relationship with her family and unrequited love weighing heavily on her heart, she is torn about what her next step in life should be.. -
![The Girls from Sandycove by Siân O'Gorman]()
The Girls from Sandycove by Siân O'Gorman
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsA mother and daughter adrift, a friend in need, and a village to really call home… When Kate O’Hare discovers she’s about to become a mother, she packs up her life in France to return home to regroup and put down some roots... -
![I Wish I Could Be The One by Monica Walters]()
I Wish I Could Be The One by Monica Walters
Rated: 4.76 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsJenahra Henderson Monroe knows what it means to be pretentious but strong. While her religious behaviors come off as condescending and judgmental of others, it’s deeply rooted in pain, drama, and abuse. Not wanting to get members of her family in trouble, she chooses to keep secrets for over twenty years, drowning herself in God’s anointing. When the truth finally emerges, it comes with a cost... -
![The Starfish Sisters by Barbara O'Neal]()
The Starfish Sisters by Barbara O'Neal
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsFrom the USA Today bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids comes an emotional novel about two women facing the betrayals, heartbreaks, and refuge of true friendship.Phoebe and Suze used to be closer than sisters. Growing up in a quiet and wildly beautiful coastal town in Oregon, they shared everything... -
![The View from Prince Street by Mary Ellen Taylor]()
The View from Prince Street by Mary Ellen Taylor
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsFrom the author of The Brighter the Light comes the story of two women connected by the grief they never got over and the journey they embark on to finally move forward.It’s been fifteen years since her sister died, and Rae McDonald still hasn’t recovered from the accident―or the ways she tried to cope with it. Not even a PhD in psychology has helped her deal with her feelings... -
-
![The Storyteller of Casablanca by Fiona Valpy]()
The Storyteller of Casablanca by Fiona Valpy
Rated: 4.49 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsIn this evocative tale from the bestselling author of The Dressmaker’s Gift, a strange new city offers a young girl hope. Can it also offer a lost soul a second chance?Morocco, 1941. With France having fallen to Nazi occupation, twelve-year-old Josie has fled with her family to Casablanca, where they await safe passage to America... -
![The Words We Whisper by Mary Ellen Taylor]()
The Words We Whisper by Mary Ellen Taylor
Rated: 4.55 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsAs a hospice nurse, Zara Mitchell has already seen more death than most people will experience in a lifetime. So when her older sister asks her to help care for their ailing grandmother, Zara agrees—despite strained family relationships.Though pale and tired, Nonna has lost none of her sharp mind... -
![A Vintage Vacation by Maddie Please]()
A Vintage Vacation by Maddie Please
Clover Harrington might be sixty-one, but she’s still bossing it in the corporate world and can still run rings around her younger colleagues. And then she is made redundant…... -
![The Lucky Shamrock by Carolyn Brown]()
The Lucky Shamrock by Carolyn Brown
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsNew York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown’s bighearted novel about family, secrets, small-town Texas romance, and―with a little bit of luck―starting over. Family doesn’t mean everyone has to like each other. That’s the case when cousins Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja return to Shamrock, Texas, to help manage their grandmother’s flower shop, the Lucky Shamrock... -
![Trick of Light by Katie Winters]()
Trick of Light by Katie Winters
Rated: 4.66 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsA Sutton daughter flees Savannah, a monstrous husband, and his sexist family. But when she returns to Nantucket, she learns that the past is not done with her yet -- and that a long-lost love may not have forgotten about her, either.Bethany Sutton is one of the most sought-after surgeons across the east coast. Her expertise has brought hundreds of patients back to good health... -
![When We Were Young by Michele Brouder]()
When We Were Young by Michele Brouder
Rated: 4.66 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsThe orderly, sterile life of Martha Hahn Cotter is disrupted by the unexpected arrival of the teenage granddaughter she’s never met. Quick to send the girl back home, she reaches out to her estranged daughter. Days later, her daughter arrives, resulting in an inevitable showdown as old wounds and past secrets surface... -
![We Are Family by Beth Moran]()
We Are Family by Beth Moran
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsFrom No. 1 bestselling author Beth Moran comes a story about family, friends and facing your fears. Thirty-three-year-old Ruth Henderson and her daughter Maggie have some hard choices to make. Following the tragic death of Maggie's father, they are left with a mountain of debt and broken hearts... -
![What Next? by Shari Low]()
What Next? by Shari Low
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsVal Murray and her best friend, Josie had been planning a ‘Thelma and Louise’ bucket list style holiday. Now Josie is gone, and Val needs to make the trip before it’s too late. But Val doesn’t want to do it alone, so she enlists the help of her nieces, Carly and Carole, and their best pal, Jess, who jump at the chance to join Val on a trip of a lifetime... -
![Seabreeze Reunion by Jan Moran]()
Seabreeze Reunion by Jan Moran
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsWhat could possibly go wrong at a family reunion? At the Seabreeze Inn, you just never know...Ivy and Shelly are looking forward to hosting a long-awaited family reunion at the Seabreeze Inn... -
![A Greek Island Escape by Kate Frost]()
A Greek Island Escape by Kate Frost
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsCan a Greek escape be the start of something special?Xanthe Fox has it all: a famous, drop-dead gorgeous boyfriend, a dream career and bright future – until heartbreak sends her life into a tailspin... -
-
![Heading Home to Lavender Cottage by Alison Sherlock]()
Heading Home to Lavender Cottage by Alison Sherlock
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 24 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... -
![One Last Thing Before I Go by Michele Brouder]()
One Last Thing Before I Go by Michele Brouder
Rated: 4.66 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe retired librarian from Hideaway Bay, Carol Rimmer, has been handed a terminal diagnosis. As she looks over the course of her life, she decides she must do one more thing before she goes. But she’s going to need help and who better to ask than Thelma Schumacher. Despite their history, she puts aside any dislike she has for the woman and asks for help in her last task... -
![The Next Best Day by Sharon Sala]()
The Next Best Day by Sharon Sala
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsBeloved and bestselling author Sharon Sala brings you a brand-new contemporary romance filled with second chances, new beginnings, and a Southern small town you won't want to leave... -
![Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin]()
Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 44 ratingsA POIGNANT RUNAWAY BESTSELLER full of French charm and memorable characters, Fresh Water for Flowers is Valérie Perrin's English debut.Violette Toussaint is the caretaker at a cemetery in a small town in Bourgogne... -
![A Leap of Faith For The Cornish Midwife by Jo Bartlett]()
A Leap of Faith For The Cornish Midwife by Jo Bartlett
Rated: 4.69 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsPre-order the brand new instalment in the top 10 bestselling Cornish Midwife series!Midwife Izzy is devastated to learn that her beloved grandmother is dying. Abandoned as a baby by her own mother, her grandparents have been the only family Izzy has ever known and she wants to spend every last precious moment with them... -
![The Orphans of Berlin: The BRAND NEW heartbreaking World War 2 historical novel by Jina Bacarr for 2022 by Jina Bacarr]()
The Orphans of Berlin: The BRAND NEW heartbreaking World War 2 historical novel by Jina Bacarr for 2022 by Jina Bacarr
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 24 ratings'A moving novel of strength and resistance in the face of evil but also an inspiring journey of resilience after loss.' Erin Litteken, bestselling author of The Memory Keeper of KyivA heartbreaking World War 2 novel that tells the story of two women’s fight for love, family and hope, as the world crumbles around them... -
![A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft: Cosy up with a BRAND NEW gorgeously romantic read from the million-copy sensation Jessica Redland for 2025 by Jessica Redland]()
A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft: Cosy up with a BRAND NEW gorgeously romantic read from the million-copy sensation Jessica Redland for 2025 by Jessica Redland
Rated: 4.70 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA BRAND NEW feel-good novel from MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER Jessica Redland, guaranteed to leave a smile on your face! New friends, new life, new love…Single dad, Joel Grainger, is devoted to his little girl, Imogen, doing all he can to be a key part of her life. But with Imogen’s mum being ever more difficult and Joel’s job suddenly in doubt, he’s worried that everything is about to change... -
![Mine After Dark by Marie Force]()
Mine After Dark by Marie Force
Rated: 4.65 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsIt’s the dead of winter on Gansett Island, and Riley McCarthy’s mood matches the lousy weather as he and his family work to bring their new business, McCarthy’s Wayfarer, back to life. He can’t deny that he’s been in a funk since Nikki Stokes and her twin sister, Jordan, left the island last fall without saying goodbye... -
![Take What You Can Carry by Gian Sardar]()
Take What You Can Carry by Gian Sardar
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsAn aspiring photographer follows her dreams and faces her fears in a poignant novel about finding beauty, promise, and love amid the chaos of war-torn Kurdistan.It’s 1979. Olivia Murray, a secretary at a Los Angeles newspaper, is determined to become a photojournalist and make a difference with her work... -
![The Sawmill Book Club by Carolyn Brown]()
The Sawmill Book Club by Carolyn Brown
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsA restless woman discovers the comforts of small-town Texas—and more—in a bighearted novel about the next chapters in life by New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown.Unsure of the future but ready for risks, Libby O’Dell trades big-city life for whatever the back roads hold... -
-
![It Had to Be You by Beth Moran]()
It Had to Be You by Beth Moran
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsPreorder the BRAND NEW novel from Number 1 Bestselling author Beth Moran! ‘Another gorgeous tale from the queen of comfort reads’ Growing up, sisters Libby and Nicky never knew who they’d find at breakfast.Their parents fostered children of all ages, and although the girls loved playing their part in providing a safe haven, it meant that life was rarely peaceful... -
![Finding Family at Seabreeze Farm by Jo Bartlett]()
Finding Family at Seabreeze Farm by Jo Bartlett
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsPre-order the next instalment in Jo Bartlett's wonderful Seabreeze Farm series!Another wonderful new series from the top 10 bestselling author of The Cornish Midwife, Jo Bartlett. Welcome to Seabreeze Farm.Freya Halliwell is looking forward to marrying the man of her dreams and starting their new life together... -
![Finding Happiness at Heritage View by Helen J. Rolfe]()
Finding Happiness at Heritage View by Helen J. Rolfe
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWelcome back to Heritage Cove, the little village by the sea brimming with character, community and friendship. The perfect place to fall in love…Running Heritage View Stables is everything Hazel ever dreamed of. She loves working with the horses and managing the business with her brother... -
![Bad Seed by Sharon Sala]()
Bad Seed by Sharon Sala
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsCan she have the man of her dreams and the life she's always wanted?It's love at first sight when head pastry chef Brendan Pope meets private investigator Harley Banks at Serenity Inn for her latest investigation. But unknown to them both, Harley has a hitman after her, courtesy of the wrong-doer she put behind bars on her last case... -
![New Beginnings at Wildflower Lock by Hannah M. Lynn]()
New Beginnings at Wildflower Lock by Hannah M. Lynn
The start of a BRAND NEW series from Hannah Lynn, bestselling author of the Holly Berry Sweet Shop series! New starts and hopeful hearts...At 25, Daisy May’s life is not living up to expectations. Her childhood dreams of being an artist feel as unachievable as a committed relationship or managing to save enough money for a deposit on a house. But a surprise inheritance could change all that... -
![The Potter's House by Hannah Ellis]()
The Potter's House by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.66 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSometimes facing up to the past is the only way to create a better future…Since the tragic death of his father, Lowen Treneary has kept to himself in his pottery studio on the remote island of Bryher.His quiet life is just the way he likes it.Until Pippa comes along.The local café owner plunges his peaceful existence into chaos and brightens his days while she’s at it... -
![Under a Greek Moon by Carol Kirkwood]()
Under a Greek Moon by Carol Kirkwood
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThe escapist Sunday Times bestselling debut from the nation’s best loved TV presenter, Carol Kirkwood.‘Loved it! It sizzles with secrets and passion... -
![The Oceans Between Us by Gill Thompson]()
The Oceans Between Us by Gill Thompson
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 30 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... -
![No Place Like Home: A Novel by Barbara O'Neal]()
No Place Like Home: A Novel by Barbara O'Neal
Rated: 4.49 of 5 stars · 16 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... -
![Coral Weddings by Jan Moran]()
Coral Weddings by Jan Moran
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsThree weddings and a food truck... It's wedding season in Summer Beach, and you're invited!From a USA Today bestselling author.At the Coral Cottage, this summer is as busy as ever. Marina's sister Kai moved up her wedding, but she won't say why, and her new theater production is a guarded secret. Still, Marina is determined to expand her Coral Cafe with a new food truck and staff... -
-
![The Perfectly Imperfect Woman by Milly Johnson]()
The Perfectly Imperfect Woman by Milly Johnson
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsThe brand new, feel-good bestseller from the wonderful Milly Johnson... -
![The Mother of All Christmases by Milly Johnson]()
The Mother of All Christmases by Milly Johnson
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsTHE MOST PERFECT CHRISTMAS FEEL-GOOD READ!'Every time you discover a new Milly book, it’s like finding a pot of gold' Heat Eve Glace - co-owner of the theme park Winterworld - is having a baby and her due date is a perfectly timed 25th December. And she’s decided that she and her husband Jacques should renew their wedding vows with all the pomp that was missing the first time... -
![Birds of a Feather by Katie Winters]()
Birds of a Feather by Katie Winters
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsAn abandoned mansion. A mysterious death. And one woman's quest to discover the truth about her ex-husband.This is Rose's story.Rose came to Nantucket thirty-one years ago to work as a nanny for the wealthy Walden Family. Rose had no money and no prospects. But she dreamt of a life beyond her Mississippi hometown -- and she got more than she bargained for... -
![These High, Green Hills by Jan Karon]()
These High, Green Hills by Jan Karon
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 38 ratingsFor years, Mitford's sixtysomething rector has been happily married to his parish. Now he's also married to Cynthia, his vivacious next-door neighbor. For Father Tim, life in Mitford has never been so full of surprises. His wife is "aging" his already ancient kitchen walls, not to mention burning his draperies. The mountain boy he's learned to love as his own makes a heartrending decision... -
![Forgotten on Sunday by Valérie Perrin]()
Forgotten on Sunday by Valérie Perrin
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsAn unforgettable story about an unlikely friendship and about healing the wounds of a broken past from the million-copy bestselling author of Fresh Water for Flowers.Justine is 21 years old and has lived with her grandparents and her cousin Jules since the death of her parents. As a nursing assistant at a retirement home, she spends much of her days listening to her residents’ stories... -
![The Dressmaker's Gift by Fiona Valpy]()
The Dressmaker's Gift by Fiona Valpy
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 55 ratingsA Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon Charts bestseller.From the bestselling author of The Beekeeper’s Promise comes a gripping story of three young women faced with impossible choices. How will history – and their families – judge them?Paris, 1940. With the city occupied by the Nazis, three young seamstresses go about their normal lives as best they can...
Fantastic book recommendations by romance book lovers for romance book lovers.
Find out more about romance.io.
Find out more about romance.io.
Get recommendations by genres & tropes
Use the romance book finder to mix and match over 100 content keywords to find the books that match your preferences
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.
