Recommendations based on The Things We Wish Were Trueby Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. Small Great Things

    by Jodi Picoult
    A gripping story of racism and justice, exploring the intersections of power and privilege.

    #1, NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER • With richly layered characters and a gripping moral dilemma that will lead readers to question everything they know about privilege, power, and race,, Small Great ... (Barnes & Noble)

  2. The Letter

    by Kathryn Hughes
    A letter from the past unravels secrets and changes the lives of two women forever.

    Every so often a love story comes along to remind us that sometimes, in our darkest hour, hope shines a candle to light our way. Discover THE LETTER by Kathryn Hughes, the Number One bestseller that ... (Barnes & Noble)

  3. When I'm Gone

    by Emily Bleeker
    A woman discovers the secrets of her late husband, leading to a journey of self-discovery.

    An Amazon Charts and, Wall Street Journal, bestseller. Dear Luke,First let me say—I love you…I didn’t want to leave you… Luke Richardson has returned home after burying Natalie, his beloved wife of ... (Barnes & Noble)

  4. A Piece of the World

    by Christina Baker Kline
    A woman's journey of self-discovery as she comes to terms with a painting that made her famous.

    A New York Times bestseller. "Exquisite. A must-read.” —Kristin Hannah From the #1, New York Times, bestselling author of the smash bestseller, Orphan Train, a stunning and atmospheric novel of ... (Barnes & Noble)

  5. Yellow Crocus

    by Laila Ibrahim
    A story of courage and resilience in the face of slavery and racism in the Antebellum South.

    Moments after Lisbeth is born, she’s taken from her mother and handed over to an enslaved wet nurse, Mattie, a young mother separated from her own infant son in order to care for her tiny charge. ... (Goodreads)

  6. A Beautiful Poison

    by Lydia Kang
    In 1918 New York, a wealthy family's daughter is murdered and three friends become suspects. Secrets and lies unravel in this historical mystery.

    Just beyond the Gilded Age, in the mist-covered streets of New York, the deadly Spanish influenza ripples through the city. But with so many victims in her close circle, young socialite Allene ... (Goodreads)

  7. The Whistler

    by John Grisham
    A corrupt judge and his accomplice are exposed by a whistleblower, leading to a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

    A mysterious source contacts the (fictional) Florida Board on Judicial Conduct (BJC), , promising information that will reveal the identity and crimes of the most corrupt judge in U.S. history. ... (Wikipedia)

  8. Good as Gone

    by Amy Gentry
    A mother's search for her missing daughter leads to a shocking discovery of secrets and lies.

    A, New York Times Book Review, Editors' Choice,"So gripping you might start to question your own family’s past." —,Entertainment Weekly,“[One] of the most anticipated summer thrillers . . . Gentry's ... (Barnes & Noble)

  9. Exhume

    by Danielle Girard
    Medical examiner Annabelle Schwartzman investigates a series of murders that lead her to confront her own dark past.

    Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman has finally found a place to belong. As the medical examiner for the San Francisco Police Department, working alongside homicide detective Hal Harris, she uncovers the tales ... (Goodreads)

  10. The Misremembered Man

    by Christina McKenna
    A heartwarming tale of love, loss, and redemption in rural Ireland. A man's past haunts him until he finds love and acceptance.

    The Misremembered Man is a beautifully rendered portrait of life in rural Ireland which charms and delights with its authentic characters and gentle humor. This vivid portrayal of the universal ... (Goodreads)

  11. All the Little Children

    by Jo Furniss
    A mother and her children are stranded in the woods after a deadly virus wipes out most of the population.

    An Amazon Charts bestseller.,, When a family camping trip takes a dark turn, how far will one mother go to keep her family safe?, Struggling with working-mother guilt, Marlene Greene hopes a camping ... (Barnes & Noble)

  12. Dead Certain

    by Adam Mitzner
    A successful lawyer's life is turned upside down when a client he defended for murder returns to his life.

    An Amazon Charts Most Read and Most Sold book., Ella Broden is living a double life. By day, Ella works as a buttoned-up attorney on some of the city’s most grueling cases. By night, she pursues her ... (Barnes & Noble)

  13. Witness to a Trial

    by John Grisham
    A short story about a murder trial, told from the perspective of a witness.

    A startling and original courtroom drama from, New York Times, #1 Bestseller John Grisham that is the prequel to his newest legal thriller, THE WHISTLER A judge’s first murder trial. A defense ... (Goodreads)

  14. The Queen's Poisoner

    by Jeff Wheeler
    A young boy's cunning and bravery help him survive a treacherous court full of secrets and danger.

    The first book in the million-copy,, Wall Street Journal, bestselling Kingfountain series from Jeff Wheeler., King Severn Argentine’s fearsome reputation precedes him: usurper of the throne, killer ... (Barnes & Noble)

  15. Where We Belong

    by Emily Giffin
    A woman's struggle to reconcile her past and present, embracing an unexpected future.

    The author of several blockbuster novels, Emily Giffin's, New York Times, bestseller,, Where We Belong, delivers an unforgettable story of two women, the families that make them who they are, and the ... (Barnes & Noble)

  16. Last Train to Istanbul

    by Ayşe Kulin
    A Turkish family defies societal norms and risks everything to save Jewish citizens during WWII. A tale of love, sacrifice, and courage.

    International bestseller by one of Turkey’s most beloved authors... As the daughter of one of Turkey’s last Ottoman pashas, Selva could win the heart of any man in Ankara. Yet the spirited young ... (Goodreads)

  17. Drowning Ruth

    by Christina Schwarz
    A tragic tale of family secrets and tragic consequences.

    Amanda and Mathilda are two sisters who live in rural Wisconsin ; they are very close, but very different. While Mathilda is petite, well-liked, pretty, and adventurous, Amanda is tall, clumsy, ... (Wikipedia)

  18. The Storyteller

    by Jodi Picoult
    A storyteller's quest to restore faith in the power of storytelling and to mend the wounds of her past.

    25-year-old Sage Singer lives in the small town of Westerbrook, New Hampshire . , A couple of years before the story began, Sage and her mother were in a car accident while Sage was driving. Sage's ... (Wikipedia)

  19. The Two-Family House

    by Lynda Cohen Loigman
    Two siblings, both Holocaust survivors, reunite and grapple with the family secrets that have kept them apart.

    "An emotional but dreamy novel that...will transport you far, far away from your next dreary Monday morning. You may do a lot of sobbing, but don't worry, you'll be smiling by the end." —Bustle, "12 ... (Barnes & Noble)

  20. What Alice Forgot

    by Liane Moriarty
    A woman wakes up with amnesia and must reconstruct her life, rediscovering truths hidden in her past.

    FROM THE #1, NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF, THE HUSBAND'S SECRET, AND, BIG LITTLE LIES,. A “cheerfully engaging”(,Kirkus Reviews,) novel for anyone who’s ever asked herself, “How did I get ... (Barnes & Noble)

  21. The Story of Arthur Truluv

    by Elizabeth Berg
    A young boy and two older people form an unlikely friendship, finding solace in one other amidst life's struggles.

    A beautiful, life-affirming novel about a remarkably loving man who creates for himself and others second chances at happiness. A moving novel about three people who find their way back from loss and ... (Goodreads)

  22. Come Sundown

    by Nora Roberts
    A story of family secrets, romance, and survival in a small Montana town.

    # 1, New York Times, bestselling author of, The Obsession, Nora Roberts, returns with a stunning tale of how blood ties can save us—or destroy us —in, Come Sundown,. The Bodine ranch and resort in ... (Barnes & Noble)

  23. Matchmaking for Beginners

    by Maddie Dawson
    A young woman inherits a matchmaking business and discovers her own ability to bring people together.

    Marnie MacGraw wants an ordinary life—a husband, kids, and a minivan in the suburbs. Now that she’s marrying the man of her dreams, she’s sure this is the life she’ll get. Then Marnie meets Blix ... (Goodreads)

  24. Everything We Keep

    by Kerry Lonsdale
    A young woman's journey of self-discovery, uncovering secrets of her past.

    An Amazon Charts and, Wall Street Journal, bestseller., A luminous debut with unexpected twists,, Everything We Keep, explores the devastation of loss, the euphoria of finding love again, and the ... (Barnes & Noble)

  25. Safe Haven

    by Nicholas Sparks
    A young woman's pursuit of self-discovery in a small coastal town, uncovering secrets from her past.

    Erin flees her abusive alcoholic husband, Kevin, takes on a different identity and changes her name to Katie. She arrives in Southport, North Carolina . Finding work at a seafood restaurant, she ... (Wikipedia)

  26. In Farleigh Field

    by Rhys Bowen
    A WWII story of British spies, unraveling a mystery that could turn the tide of the war.

    “Instantly absorbing, suspenseful, romantic, and stylish—like binge-watching a great British drama on Masterpiece Theater.” —Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author Winner of the Agatha Award ... (Goodreads)

  27. The Invention of Wings

    by Sue Monk Kidd
    A powerful story about a girl's journey to freedom, despite the limitations of slavery.

    Writing at the height of her narrative and imaginative gifts, Sue Monk Kidd presents a masterpiece of hope, daring, the quest for freedom, and the desire to have a voice in the world—and it is now ... (Goodreads)

  28. The Orphan's Tale

    by Pam Jenoff
    Two female circus performers, their friendship, and fight for survival during WWII.

    The Nightingale, meets, Water for Elephants, in this powerful novel of friendship and sacrifice, set in a traveling circus during World War II, by international bestselling author Pam Jenoff., , ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. Key of Knowledge

    by Nora Roberts
    A journey to unlock the secret of immortality, fraught with danger and romance.

    You are the Key. The lock awaits. What happens when the very gods depend on mortals for help? That's what three very different young women find out when they are invited to Warrior's Peak. To ... (Goodreads)

  30. The Kept Woman

    by Karin Slaughter
    A detective investigates the murder of a millionaire and uncovers secrets involving his past affair with a former prostitute.

    Husbands and wives. Mothers and daughters. The past and the future. ,, Secrets bind them. And secrets can destroy them. ,, The author of, Pretty Girls, returns with an electrifying, emotionally ... (Barnes & Noble)