Recommendations based on Maineby J. Courtney Sullivan

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

  1. American Wife

    by Curtis Sittenfeld
    A woman's story of her life as a wife, mother and political spouse.

    On what might become one of the most significant days in her husband’s presidency, Alice Blackwell considers the strange and unlikely path that has led her to the White House–and the repercussions of ... (Goodreads)

  2. The Engagements

    by J. Courtney Sullivan
    A novel that explores the concept of marriage through the stories of four couples and the creation of the iconic De Beers diamond campaign.

    A, People Magazine, Top 10 Best Book of the Year, The bestselling author of Maine returns with an exhilarating novel about Frances Gerety, the real pioneering ad woman who coined the famous slogan “A ... (Goodreads)

  3. Prep

    by Curtis Sittenfeld
    A teenage girl's struggle to find her place and identity in an elite prep school.

    Curtis Sittenfeld’s debut novel, Prep , is an insightful, achingly funny coming-of-age story as well as a brilliant dissection of class, race, and gender in a hothouse of adolescent angst and ... (Goodreads)

  4. Commencement

    by J. Courtney Sullivan
    Four women navigate post-college life, facing challenges and discovering themselves. A story of friendship, love, and self-discovery.

    A sparkling debut novel: a tender story of friendship, a witty take on liberal arts colleges, and a fascinating portrait of the first generation of women who have all the opportunities in the world, ... (Goodreads)

  5. The Distant Hours

    by Kate Morton
    A woman unravels the secrets of a distant castle, uncovering a family mystery.

    A long lost letter arrives in the post and Edie Burchill finds herself on a journey to Milderhurst Castle, a great but moldering old house, where the Blythe spinsters live and where her mother was ... (Goodreads)

  6. Beautiful Ruins

    by Jess Walter
    A romantic story of fate, secrets, and destiny, spanning from Italy in the 1960s to present day.

    "The best novel of the year." — Maureen Corrigan, NPR's Fresh Air A #1 New York Times bestseller, this “absolute masterpiece” (Richard Russo) is the story of an almost-love affair that begins on the ... (Goodreads)

  7. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

    by Betty Smith
    A coming of age story set in Brooklyn, depicting a young girl's struggles and growth.

    The novel is split into five "books", each covering a different period in the characters' lives. Book One opens in 1912 and introduces 11-year-old Francie Nolan, who lives in the Williamsburg ... (Wikipedia)

  8. Night Road

    by Kristin Hannah
    A mother's journey of self-discovery, as she struggles to overcome tragedy.

    For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children's needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach, are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close-knit ... (Barnes & Noble)

  9. The Love Season

    by Elin Hilderbrand
    A summer romance between a woman and her ex-husband's best friend, set on the idyllic island of Nantucket.

    Welcome to, The Love Season,—a riveting story that takes place in one day and spans decades; a story that embraces the charming, pristine island of Nantucket, as well as Manhattan, Paris and Morocco. ... (Barnes & Noble)

  10. Backseat Saints

    by Joshilyn Jackson
    A woman flees her abusive husband and confronts her past, seeking redemption and a new life.

    Rose Mae Lolley's mother disappeared when she was eight, leaving Rose with a heap of old novels and a taste for dangerous men. Now, as demure Mrs. Ro Grandee, she's living the very life her mother ... (Goodreads)

  11. The Beach Trees

    by Karen White
    A woman travels to Biloxi, Mississippi to uncover the truth about her sister's disappearance and finds herself drawn to a family with a tragic past.

    From the bestselling author of, After the Rain,, Sea Change, and The Color of Light... From the time she was twelve, Julie Holt knew what a random tragedy can do to a family. At that tender age, her ... (Goodreads)

  12. Freedom

    by Jonathan Franzen
    A family saga revealing the struggles of a divided nation, and the power of love to heal.

    The novel opens with a brief look at the Berglund family during their time living in St. Paul, Minnesota , from the perspective of their nosy neighbors. The Berglunds are portrayed as an ideal ... (Wikipedia)

  13. Faith

    by Jennifer Haigh
    A family's faith is tested when a priest is accused of sexual abuse. The novel explores the complexities of belief, loyalty, and forgiveness.

    "[Haigh is] an expertnatural storyteller with an acute sense of her characters' humanity." — NewYork Times "We have the intriguing possibility that the next great American author is already in ... (Barnes & Noble)

  14. Silver Girl

    by Elin Hilderbrand
    A woman escapes to Nantucket to start a new life after her husband's Ponzi scheme is exposed. She confronts her past and finds new love.

    Meredith Martin Delinn just lost everything: her friends, her homes, her social standing - because her husband Freddy cheated rich investors out of billions of dollars. Desperate and facing ... (Barnes & Noble)

  15. The Island

    by Elin Hilderbrand
    A family drama set on Nantucket Island, where secrets and betrayals threaten to tear apart the seemingly perfect lives of the wealthy community.

    A summertime story only Elin Hilderbrand can tell: a family in upheaval after a cancelled wedding fill an island summer with heartache, laughter, and surprises. Birdie Cousins has thrown herself into ... (Goodreads)

  16. The Violets of March

    by Sarah Jio
    A woman escapes to a small island to heal from a failed marriage and discovers a mysterious diary that changes her life forever.

    A LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF 2011 A heartbroken woman stumbled upon a diary and steps into the life of its anonymous author. In her twenties, Emily Wilson was on top of the world: she had a ... (Goodreads)

  17. Sisterland

    by Curtis Sittenfeld
    Twin sisters with psychic abilities face a dilemma when one predicts a devastating earthquake. A story of family, identity, and the power of intuition.

    Curtis Sittenfeld, New York Times bestselling author of American Wife and Prep, returns with a mesmerizing novel of family and identity, loyalty and deception, and the delicate line between truth and ... (Goodreads)

  18. Then Came You

    by Jennifer Weiner
    A young woman agrees to be a surrogate for a wealthy couple, but their lives become intertwined in unexpected ways.

    The lives of four very different women intertwine in unexpected ways in this new novel by bestselling author Jennifer Weiner (In Her Shoes; Best Friends Forever). Each woman has a problem: Princeton ... (Goodreads)

  19. Someone

    by Alice McDermott
    A young woman's struggle to find her place in a rapidly changing world.

    An ordinary life - its sharp pains and unexpected joys, its bursts of clarity and moments of confusion - lived by an ordinary woman: this is the subject of Someone, Alice McDermott's extraordinary ... (Goodreads)

  20. The Language of Flowers

    by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
    A young woman's journey of healing and redemption through the power of flowers.

    The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in ... (Goodreads)

  21. The Orphan Master's Son

    by Adam Johnson
    A man's struggle to survive in a totalitarian North Korean regime and his journey to freedom.

    Part 1 details Jun Do's upbringing in a state orphanage and his service to the state, including as a kidnapper of Japanese citizens , and later as a signal operator stationed on a fishing boat. Due ... (Wikipedia)

  22. Rules of Civility

    by Amor Towles
    An ambitious young woman looks to make her mark in 1930s New York, learning the complex rules of high society.

    This sophisticated and entertaining first novel presents the story of a young woman whose life is on the brink of transformation. On the last night of 1937, twenty-five-year-old Katey Kontent is in a ... (Goodreads)

  23. Still Missing

    by Chevy Stevens
    A woman's struggle to free herself from captivity, and reclaim her life.

    On the day she was abducted, Annie O’Sullivan, a 32-year-old realtor, had three goals - sell a house, forget about a recent argument with her mother, and be on time for dinner with her ever-patient ... (Goodreads)

  24. The Appeal

    by John Grisham
    Political thriller about an innocent man accused of murder who fights to expose a corrupt court system.

    Mississippi attorneys Wes and Mary Grace Payton have battled New York City-based Krane Chemical in an effort to seek justice for Jeannette Baker, whose husband and son died from carcinogenic ... (Wikipedia)

  25. Still Life with Bread Crumbs

    by Anna Quindlen
    A photographer moves to a small town and finds unexpected love and inspiration in the beauty of everyday life.

    Still Life with Bread Crumbs begins with an imagined gunshot and ends with a new tin roof. Between the two is a wry and knowing portrait of Rebecca Winter, a photographer whose work made her an ... (Goodreads)

  26. The Imperfectionists

    by Tom Rachman
    A story of interconnected lives, exploring the fragility of human relationships.

    Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachman’s wry, vibrant debut follows the topsy-turvy private lives of the reporters, editors, and executives of an international English language ... (Goodreads)

  27. We Are Water

    by Wally Lamb
    A family's struggle to reconcile their differences and make peace with their past.

    In middle age, Annie Oh—wife, mother, and outsider artist—has shaken her family to its core. After twenty-seven years of marriage and three children, Annie has fallen in love with Viveca, the ... (Goodreads)

  28. The Hour I First Believed

    by Wally Lamb
    A teacher's life is shattered by the Columbine shooting, leading to a journey of self-discovery and healing.

    When high school teacher Caelum Quirk and his wife, Maureen, move to Littleton, Colorado, they both get jobs at Columbine High School. In April 1999, while Caelum is away, Maureen finds herself in ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. Cutting for Stone

    by Abraham Verghese
    A sweeping journey of two twin brothers and their search for identity, belonging and family.

    The story is told by the protagonist, Marion Stone. He and his conjoined twin Shiva are born at Mission Hospital (called "Missing" in accordance with the local pronunciation), Addis Ababa , in ... (Wikipedia)

  30. She's Come Undone

    by Wally Lamb
    A young woman's trial-filled journey to self-acceptance and self-preservation.

    Dolores Price is heartbroken when her handsome, but irresponsible father, Tony, leaves their suburban home for another woman. She and her mother, Bernice, move into her uptight Catholic grandmother's ... (Wikipedia)