If you enjoy reading books by Belva Plain then you might also like the following authors:
Books by Barbara Taylor Bradford often explore family sagas, complex relationships and strong, determined characters overcoming life’s challenges. If you enjoy Belva Plain’s novels, Bradford’s “A Woman of Substance” might catch your interest.
It tells the story of Emma Harte, a young servant girl who climbs from poverty to power and builds herself an empire through hard work, determination and unstoppable ambition.
Emma’s journey spans decades, abundant with romance, betrayal and loyalty, and highlights the bonds that shape a family legacy. Readers who appreciate Plain’s character-driven narratives and rich storytelling are likely to find Bradford’s novels equally absorbing and enjoyable.
Anne Rivers Siddons is an author known for stories that explore family ties, personal struggles, and relationships in the American South.
Readers who appreciate Belva Plain’s detailed portrayals of family life and emotional experiences will likely find a similar appeal in Siddons’ novels.
Her book “Colony” takes readers into the world of Maude Gascoigne, originally from Charleston society, who marries into a wealthy family in Maine.
Her annual summers spent at Retreat, an exclusive coastal colony, reveal long-held family secrets, challenges in love, and shifting loyalties. Work, marriage, and tragedy intertwine throughout the story.
Siddons’ rich descriptions and realistic characters provide a meaningful portrait of family resilience and unexpected changes over generations.
Judith Krantz is a popular author known for her entertaining and glamorous novels about strong, ambitious women who navigate love, family, and success. Readers who enjoy Belva Plain’s family sagas and dramatic storytelling may appreciate Krantz’s “Scruples.”
The story follows Billie Ikehorn, a determined young woman who rises from modest beginnings to become the owner of an expensive boutique in Beverly Hills.
Along the way, Billie faces romantic challenges, personal secrets, and family conflicts amid luxury, Hollywood drama, and wealth. Krantz vividly portrays her characters’ desires and emotions, capturing readers with layers of compelling relationships, scandal, and triumph.
Rosamunde Pilcher is an author known for warm and heartfelt family sagas set in beautifully detailed countryside landscapes. If you enjoy Belva Plain’s emotional storytelling and richly drawn characters, Rosamunde Pilcher will draw you into her world.
One of Pilcher’s most beloved novels is “The Shell Seekers,” which introduces readers to Penelope Keeling, a woman reflecting on her life, love, and family relationships as she grows older.
The story captures you with vivid portrayals of her past against the backdrop of the English coast and lush Cornwall landscapes. Family secrets, romantic memories, and the fascinating history of an inherited painting form the core of Penelope’s bittersweet journey.
If you appreciate stories filled with deep human connection and genuine emotion, Rosamunde Pilcher offers a rewarding reading experience.
Irwin Shaw was an American novelist famous for his powerful storytelling and deep character studies. If you enjoyed Belva Plain’s emotional family dramas, Shaw’s “Rich Man, Poor Man” is worth exploring.
This saga follows the Jordache brothers, Rudy and Tom, whose very different decisions steer them down contrasting paths in life. Rudy chases success in business and politics, while Tom deals with struggles and uncertainties.
Through the lens of these two brothers, Shaw paints a picture of ambition, rivalry, family, and the complexities of American society after World War II.
Shaw’s engaging style and detailed character portrayals will resonate with fans of Belva Plain’s approach to relationships and life’s challenges.
M. C. Beaton was a Scottish author famous for her charming cozy mysteries and historical romances. Readers who enjoy the engaging family stories of Belva Plain might also appreciate Beaton’s ability to create vivid settings and relatable characters.
One delightful introduction could be “Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death.” In this first novel of the Agatha Raisin series, Agatha moves from city life in London to a quaint Cotswolds village.
Her attempt to fit into village life goes awry after she enters a baking competition with a store-bought quiche, only to find herself drawn into a puzzling murder mystery.
With humor, engaging characters, and a satisfying plot, Beaton’s novels offer a charming escape into the English countryside.
Readers who have enjoyed Belva Plain’s stories of family drama and emotional depth may also appreciate books by Jodi Picoult. Picoult is known for her sensitive portrayal of complex family relationships and moral dilemmas.
Her novel “My Sister’s Keeper” focuses on the Fitzgerald family, whose younger daughter Anna was conceived specifically to be a donor match for her older sister, Kate, who suffers from leukemia.
As Anna approaches her teenage years, she seeks medical emancipation, questioning her identity and role within the family. Picoult carefully navigates the complicated emotions and ethical questions each family member faces, creating tension and empathy from the first chapter.
Readers interested in compelling explorations of family bonds, difficult choices, and heartfelt stories will find this novel memorable.
Readers who appreciate Belva Plain’s heartfelt exploration of family and relationships might enjoy Elizabeth Berg’s novels. Berg’s characters feel real, their emotions and relationships relatable and true to life.
In her novel “Open House,” we meet Samantha, a woman whose husband abruptly leaves her, forcing her to rebuild her life from scratch.
Samantha’s journey through loss, financial struggles, and rediscovering herself highlights the inner strength we all carry, even in difficult times. Elizabeth Berg gives readers a story filled with honesty, warmth, and everyday wisdom about connection and starting fresh.
Danielle Steel is an author known for her heartfelt storytelling and engaging family sagas. Her novels often focus on personal relationships, emotional resilience, and the strength of family ties.
If you enjoy Belva Plain’s themes of family drama and emotional depth, Steel’s novel “The Gift” might appeal to you. This story revolves around a family facing unexpected challenges and an extraordinary event that transforms their lives forever.
Set in a small town during the 1950s, the narrative captures a young girl’s poignant experiences and how her presence reshapes an entire family’s destiny. It’s a powerful exploration of love, sacrifice, and the bonds that hold people together.
If you enjoy Belva Plain’s warm storytelling and engaging family dramas, you may want to explore the novels of Fannie Flagg. Flagg writes humorous, heartfelt fiction filled with memorable characters and vivid Southern settings.
Her novel “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe” follows the friendship between Evelyn Couch, a dissatisfied woman facing midlife challenges, and Ninny Threadgoode, an elderly lady who shares captivating stories from her small hometown.
Through Ninny’s tales, readers meet unforgettable characters like Idgie and Ruth, two determined women who run the Whistle Stop Cafe during the hard days of the Depression-era South.
Flagg’s story moves beautifully between past and present with warmth, humor, and genuine compassion.
If you enjoy Belva Plain’s heartfelt stories of family life, relationships, and personal journeys, you might also like Susan Wiggs. Wiggs creates rich, emotional stories that explore family dynamics, love, and individual growth.
Her book “The Apple Orchard” introduces Tess Delaney, a successful treasure hunter specializing in lost heirlooms. Tess unexpectedly learns of a family she never knew existed, inheriting part of an apple orchard estate in California’s peaceful Sonoma region.
As Tess discovers her family’s past, she also faces personal questions about love, belonging, and the choices that shape our lives. This warm, engaging novel highlights family connections, hidden histories, and the gentle possibilities of second chances.
Alice Hoffman is an author known for stories filled with family drama, engaging characters, and subtle magical touches. If you enjoy Belva Plain’s rich tales of family complexities, you might like Hoffman’s book “Practical Magic.”
It tells the story of sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, who grow up in a household steeped in love, secrets, and a touch of magic. As adults, they face family legacies, romantic struggles, and mysterious forces that test their bond.
Alice Hoffman draws readers into a believable world where everyday events mix smoothly with magical realism, leaving you eager to follow the sisters’ journey from start to finish.
Readers who enjoy Belva Plain’s heartfelt dramas and rich family sagas may also appreciate Mary Alice Monroe. Monroe blends family relationships, personal challenges, and the vibrant settings of coastal life seamlessly in her novels.
Her book “The Beach House” follows Caretta Rutledge, who returns home to the shores of South Carolina after years away. Caretta reconnects with her estranged mother and confronts unresolved family tensions during a summer filled with turtle conservation efforts.
Monroe draws vivid pictures of coastal scenery and delves into meaningful family interactions, resonant with those found in Belva Plain’s storytelling.
If you enjoy Belva Plain’s novels about family drama, love, and the complexities of relationships, Kristin Hannah might be an author you’ll appreciate. Hannah creates strong, relatable characters who face difficult life situations and struggle to find resilience and meaning.
In her novel “The Nightingale,” Hannah tells the story of two French sisters in Nazi-occupied France during World War II.
Vianne, the older sister, deals with survival after her husband leaves to join the fight, while younger sister Isabelle chooses a path of resistance and dangerous heroism.
The novel explores family bonds, bravery, sacrifice, and the hidden roles women played in one of history’s darkest periods.
Luanne Rice is an author you might enjoy if you appreciate the heartfelt family dramas that Belva Plain offers. Her novels often center around complex relationships among family members, filled with emotional depth and real-life struggles.
A great place to start is “The Silver Boat,” a story about three sisters who reunite to sell their late mother’s home on the coastal island where they grew up.
As they sort through memories and old belongings, they uncover family secrets that challenge their perceptions of the past. The sisters find themselves pulled closer together even as tensions rise, forced to reconsider what home and family truly mean.
Luanne Rice brings genuine warmth and understanding to her characters, offering readers thoughtful and comforting explorations of love, loss, and what binds families together.