Here are 47 books that Shelterwood fans have personally recommended if you like Shelterwood. Book DNA is a community of 13,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of The Last Lifeboat

Cindy Thomson Author Of Enya's Son

From Cindy's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Cindy's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Cindy Thomson Why Cindy loves this book

I really cared about the characters and how they endured the things they were forced to face. War affects ordinary people and we don't always hear about it.

By Hazel Gaynor ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Last Lifeboat as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


If you love Shelterwood...

Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Book cover of Only The Beautiful

Tanya E. Williams Author Of Growing Into Greatness

From Tanya's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Tanya's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Tanya E. Williams Why Tanya loves this book

I loved this book because its vineyard setting pulled me in and then the controversial history of female sterilization kept me glued to the page. I was shocked to learn of how far into the twentieth century women were being forced into procedures that prevented them from having children. An important read, for sure.

By Susan Meissner ,

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked Only The Beautiful as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A Best Historical Fiction of Spring Pick by Amazon, PopSugar, AARP, and BookBub!

A heartrending story about a young mother’s fight to keep her daughter, and the terrible injustice that tears them apart, by the USA Today bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile Things and The Last Year of the War.
 
California, 1938—When she loses her parents in an accident, sixteen-year-old Rosanne is taken in by the owners of the vineyard where she has lived her whole life as the vinedresser’s daughter. She moves into Celine and Truman Calvert’s spacious house with a secret, however—Rosie sees colors when…


Book cover of The Briar Club

Virginia Campbell Author Of Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty

From Virginia's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Virginia's 3 favorite reads in 2025

Virginia Campbell Why Virginia loves this book

Author evokes America in the early 1950s. Characters are compelling and the ending is surprising but satisfying.

If you love Lisa Wingate...

Book cover of Crossing: A Chinese Family Railroad Novel

Crossing by Lisa Redfern,

Crossing is a vividly human re-imagining of the love, sacrifices, and accomplishments that two Chinese brothers - American Immigrants - experience as they travel to California to build the Transcontinental Railroad. 

Book cover of Here One Moment

Hulapants

From Hulapants' 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why Hulapants loves this book

I absolutely loved all of the characters

By Liane Moriarty ,

Why should I read it?

9 authors picked Here One Moment as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the beloved author of Big Little Lies, Apples Never Fall, and The Husband’s Secret comes a moving novel of love, marriage, family, and trying to find certainty in a fragile world.
 
“A riveting story so wild you don’t know how she’ll land it, and then she does, on a dime.”—Anne Lamott

Life is full of twists and turns you never see coming. But what if you did?
 
The plane is jam-packed. Every seat is taken. So of course the flight is delayed! Flight attendant Allegra Patel likes her job—she’s generally happy…


Book cover of Before We Were Yours

Kendra Broekhuis Author Of Between You and Us

From my list on impossible choices that will rip your heart out.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been a stay-at-home mom and author for the past decade, and during that time, I went through the stillbirth of my second baby. Grief taught me a lot about compassion, including the importance of being able to see the nuance of difficult subject matters. I learned it’s easy to theorize what to do in a situation until you're in that situation. For that reason, I love books in all sorts of genres that are layered with characters’ past griefs, impossible scenarios, and tensions regarding the choices they make. I picked five of my favorite books with a heart-ripping plot that sparks interesting discussion and leaves readers pondering, "What would I have done?"

Kendra's book list on impossible choices that will rip your heart out

Kendra Broekhuis Why Kendra loves this book

This book is a split-time masterpiece, and I was equally invested in both timelines. It also taught me about historical, harrowing events surrounding the adoption industry in the United States that I didn’t know about before.

While the characters in this story face impossible scenarios, it’s also a lesson on the kind of grief that comes from horrific choices being made for a person that can’t be undone.

By Lisa Wingate ,

Why should I read it?

9 authors picked Before We Were Yours as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE BLOCKBUSTER HIT—Over two million copies sold! A New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly Bestseller

“Poignant, engrossing.”—People • “Lisa Wingate takes an almost unthinkable chapter in our nation’s history and weaves a tale of enduring power.”—Paula McLain

Memphis, 1939. Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family’s Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge—until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage,…


Book cover of Gone With the Wind

Jessica James Author Of Noble Cause: A Novel of Love and War

From my list on enemies to lovers romantic.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have lived in Gettysburg, PA, all of my life, so I’m drawn to historical fiction, especially the Civil War era. The 1860s is the perfect setting for the enemies-to-lovers trope, and I am lucky enough to be surrounded by history all of the time. In doing lots of research, I have found that enemies fell in love more often than you might think during the Civil War. I hope you enjoy this list of books that got me interested in reading and continue to keep my attention to this day.

Jessica's book list on enemies to lovers romantic

Jessica James Why Jessica loves this book

This is a beloved book for many, but I love it so much because both of the characters are so unlikeable—yet you fall in love with them. I also love the conflict and the dueling, strong personalities of Scarlet and Rhett.

The plot is full of emotion and passion, and yet there are no sex scenes, which is another reason why I like it so much.

By Margaret Mitchell ,

Why should I read it?

13 authors picked Gone With the Wind as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The story of the tempestuous romance between Rhett Butler and Scarlet O'Hara is set amid the drama of the Civil War.


If you love Shelterwood...

Book cover of The Silent Women

The Silent Women by Tara Lynn Masih,

"A profound and often affecting story of resilience." —Kirkus Reviews

The Silent Women, an extraordinary novel inspired by the real women of Oak Ridge, Tennessee—the Manhattan Project’s “Secret City," where thousands kept the deadliest secret of World War II—is a sweeping, absorbing, and deeply human story about chosen…

Book cover of The Glass Castle

Zarah Dara Author Of What The Quiet Knew

From my list on hidden trauma and the lives we never speak about.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m passionate about this theme because I grew up inside the kind of silence most people never see—the kind shaped by responsibility, fear, love, and the need to stay strong before you’re old enough to understand why. I’ve lived through the quiet wounds, the invisible burdens, and the unspoken grief that shaped every part of me. Stories like these make people like me feel less alone. They remind us that survival has its own language, and that the things we carry silently are worth naming. I write about quiet pain because it’s the world I came from, and the world I learned to rise out of.

Zarah's book list on hidden trauma and the lives we never speak about

Zarah Dara Why Zarah loves this book

I loved this book because it captures childhood in the rawest way—messy, painful, confusing, and resilient.

Walls writes about instability and survival with such clarity that I found myself nodding through entire chapters. I related deeply to the burden of growing up too fast and learning how to take care of people before you ever learned how to take care of yourself.

What moved me most was the love within the chaos—the complicated, contradictory love between parent and child that shapes you long after you’ve grown. It reminded me that you can carry pain and tenderness at the same time, and both can be true.

By Jeannette Walls ,

Why should I read it?

29 authors picked The Glass Castle as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Now a major motion picture starring Brie Larson, Naomi Watts and Woody Harrelson.

This is a startling memoir of a successful journalist's journey from the deserted and dusty mining towns of the American Southwest, to an antique filled apartment on Park Avenue. Jeanette Walls narrates her nomadic and adventurous childhood with her dreaming, 'brilliant' but alcoholic parents.

At the age of seventeen she escapes on a Greyhound bus to New York with her older sister; her younger siblings follow later. After pursuing the education and civilisation her parents sought to escape, Jeanette eventually succeeds in her quest for the 'mundane,…


Book cover of If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit

Joseph D'Agnese Author Of Jersey Heat

From Joseph's 3 favorite reads in 2026.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Joseph's 3 favorite reads in 2026

Joseph D'Agnese Why Joseph loves this book

I don’t re-read many books, especially books about writing, but I do find myself turning to Ueland every year and I get something out of it each time. For many years I kept a few extra copies in the office to share with friends. Her book first saw the light of day in 1938. Ueland had a long career as a professional writer, but her claim to fame was teaching wannabe writers at the YMCA in the Twin Cities. Her biggest point is literally the title of her first chapter: “Everybody is talented, original and has something important to say.” This is a slim, wonderful book, only 18 chapters and 179 pages long. She quotes tons of creative types, such as William Blake and Vincent Van Gogh. While her subject is writing, and how every human has the ability to express themselves so long as they stay true to themselves,…

By Brenda Ueland ,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked If You Want to Write as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Brenda Ueland was a journalist, editor, freelance writer, and teacher of writing. In If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit she shares her philosophies on writing and life in general. Ueland firmly believed that anyone can write, that everyone is talented, original, and has something important to say. In this book she explains how find that spark that will make you a great writer. Carl Sandburg called this book the best book ever written about how to write. Join the millions of others who've found inspiration and unlocked their own talent.


Book cover of Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style

Judy Christie Author Of Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children's Home Society

From my list on to help you write a terrific true story.

Why am I passionate about this?

From my days as editor of The Barret Banner in sixth grade, I wanted to find out about people and tell their stories. Through decades as a newspaper reporter and editor, I discovered again and again how much stories matter—and how fascinating in-depth research and interviews are. Everyone has a story, and capturing the voices of real people is important. Getting to know ordinary families whose lives were turned inside-out by an adoption scandal has been a great honor. Listen to someone’s story. You may be surprised what you learn. 

Judy's book list on to help you write a terrific true story

Judy Christie Why Judy loves this book

Oh, boy! I came upon this book while seeking the answer to a basic style question, and, wow, am I glad I did. Dreyer, copy chief of Random House, knows his stuff and can help you learn yours, too, from word usage to punctuation. The book’s way more than that, though. You’ll feel like you’ve taken a lively college class in writing and wish you could have coffee with the professor. I’ve bought copies for several word-nerd friends — it’s humorous, too. 

By Benjamin Dreyer ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Dreyer's English as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'An utterly delightful book to read, Dreyer's English will stand among the classics on how to use the English language properly.' ELIZABETH STROUT

'A complete joy. For those who care about words - and for those who don't - Dreyer's English is the book we have all been waiting for. Wise, funny, no-nonsense, stylish and brilliantly practical.' RACHEL JOYCE
_____________
An indispensable, New York Times-bestselling guide to the craft of writing from Random House's long-time copy chief and one of Twitter's leading language gurus.

We all write, all the time: books, blogs, tweets, emails, emails, emails - and we all…


If you love Lisa Wingate...

Book cover of The Ring

The Ring by Florence Osmund,

Business owner Paige West misses the closeness she had with her now-deceased father. Jessivel Salter, a single mother on the brink of becoming homeless, also misses her dead father, but for very different reasons. When fate unites the two women, Paige is drawn to Jessivel from the start and wants…

Book cover of Where the Crawdads Sing

Arefa Tehsin Author Of The Fourth Girl

From my list on thrillers where women spin and plunge the plot.

Why am I passionate about this?

I spent my childhood treading the Aravalli jungles with my naturalist father, catching snakes and spinning yarns and I learnt early that the most dangerous creatures are rarely the ones with fangs. My father, Raza Tehsin, raised me with the rational approach of solving any mysteries that I came across—whether in nature or otherwise. I grew up to become a writer. Across my twenty-odd published books, from nature writing to my historical mystery novel The Witch in the Peepul Tree, I have experimented with form and genre across age groups and remained fascinated by mysteries. My latest, The Fourth Girl, is a psychological thriller about three friends and the girl who vanished from their lives. 

Arefa's book list on thrillers where women spin and plunge the plot

Arefa Tehsin Why Arefa loves this book

A reader friend recommended this book strongly, but I approached it a bit tentatively at first. Then the marsh swallowed me whole.

What dragged me in wasn't the murder trial, gripping as it was, it was Kya herself, this abandoned girl learning gulls and shells and loneliness the way other children learn arithmetic. I've grown up visiting forests with my naturalist father and still live in wild places so I was quite taken by the natural world written with such tenderness or a woman's solitude given such dignity.

And that ending was simply gasp-worthy. 

By Delia Owens ,

Why should I read it?

61 authors picked Where the Crawdads Sing as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

OVER 12 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
A NUMBER ONE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

For years, rumours of the 'Marsh Girl' have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be…


Book cover of The Last Lifeboat
Book cover of Only The Beautiful
Book cover of The Briar Club

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