Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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Do you ever long for books that feel like a matching pair with your childhood favorites? Today I'm sharing 10 adult book recommendations that capture the same vibe as your beloved childhood favorites, in genres that include mystery, historical fiction, and women's lit. The goal is book recommendations for readers who want that nostalgic feeling with a more grown-up edge, complexity, and mature perspective. I cover adult recommendations for anyone who loved The Secret Garden, Little House on the Prairie, Trixie Belden, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women and SO MANY MORE.

✨ *Let me know* ✨
What book recommendations do you have for those of us who loved these childhood favorites?

Forgotten Garden videos Part 1 youtube.com/live/QUEY-ohTQtE?feature=share
Part 2 youtube.com/live/jKd4Qy-dX1o?feature=share

✨ *Books Mentioned* ✨
thriftbooks.com/share/?code=nEQpL5h4%252f%252fRexpzUSeTnlA%253d%253d
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Secret garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett thriftbooks.com/w/the-secret-garden-by-frances-hodgson-burnett/265048/?resultid=1f7c4363-724b-49a2-877b-fde4c7247862#edition=2236422&idiq=3062562
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen thriftbooks.com/w/garden-spells_sarah-addison-allen/247599/?resultid=89b86e39-8b2d-4494-a9b6-6e391c45ada5#edition=4525492&idiq=56102
Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton thriftbooks.com/w/the-forgotten-garden_kate-morton/249765/?resultid=698ec17f-761f-4344-ae5e-c5994498f23d#edition=4923691&idiq=1560940

Anne of green gables by LM Montgomery thriftbooks.com/w/anne-of-green-gables_lm-montgomery/258962/?resultid=fc3f6410-0a30-4074-a539-1e6d2bc25168#edition=76025544&idiq=89708708
Emma M Lion by Beth Brower amzn.to/4yaYdwd

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder thriftbooks.com/series/little-house/37393
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink thriftbooks.com/w/caddie-woodlawn_carol-ryrie-brink/252780/?resultid=c65fee23-2f46-4095-985d-7b40908a7830#edition=2284396&idiq=6174168
These is my words by Nancy Turner thriftbooks.com/w/these-is-my-words-the-diary-of-sarah-agnes-prine-1881-1901-arizona-territories-by-nancy-e-turner/246505/?resultid=ac30b268-61ed-48c2-a74a-6850067822d0#edition=4450352&idiq=87944

Sweet valley twins by Francine Pascal thriftbooks.com/a/francine-pascal/218158
Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah thriftbooks.com/w/firefly-lane_kristin-hannah/249383/?resultid=31bd2132-0038-4b5b-8e73-72c14bd44b16#edition=4716417&idiq=3856492

Trixie Belden by Julie Campbell thriftbooks.com/series/trixie-belden/37960
Lady Hardcastle Series by TE Kinsey thriftbooks.com/series/lady-hardcastle-mysteries/92011

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Marmee by Sarah Miller thriftbooks.com/w/marmee_sarah-miller/38320716/?resultid=d4f6e605-c093-451f-8d13-3e841033aa1f#edition=64043936&idiq=55235723
Lost summer of Louisa May Alcott thriftbooks.com/w/the-lost-summer-of-louisa-may-alcott_kelly-oconnor-mcnees/647867/?resultid=49016e02-6fb9-4310-8198-8c82430cb7ca#edition=5388758&idiq=3808553

Boxcar Children by Gerturde Chandler Warner thriftbooks.com/series/the-boxcar-children/37722
Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan thriftbooks.com/w/the-bookshop-on-the-shore-a-novel_jenny-colgan/19546998/?resultid=daf0ad21-2ecc-4e56-b128-3bf6fd1bf4e8#edition=20764378&idiq=34057049

Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare thriftbooks.com/w/the-witch-of-blackbird-pond-by-elizabeth-george-speare-karen-cushman/253990/?resultid=e8c7c19e-7735-45cd-b087-e4f417d10558#edition=6054868&idiq=4056227
Circe by Madeline Miller thriftbooks.com/w/circe_madeline-miller/18497916/?resultid=82874bb7-57e7-426d-a717-ebc1016ca0f5#edition=20972123&idiq=30851863

Babysitters Club by Ann Martin thriftbooks.com/series/the-baby-sitters-club/38547
Friday Night Knitting Club thriftbooks.com/w/the-friday-night-knitting-club-by-kate-jacobs/299920/?resultid=d5425677-d57f-42d9-a647-b98accefd692#edition=4088297&idiq=521920
Jane Austen Book Club thriftbooks.com/w/the-jane-austen-book-club_karen-joy-fowler/442291/?resultid=e69bc5ae-f2a6-41aa-953f-92f5ce6d1363#edition=2387058&idiq=2992170

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants thriftbooks.com/w/the-sisterhood-of-the-traveling-pants-simplified-characters-by-ann-brashares/295614/?resultid=295f77f2-cee5-4556-b6f2-7d435ba41c62#edition=2383202&idiq=1847250
Movie - amzn.to/4h3ku9b
Divine Secrets of Ya-Ya Sisterhood thriftbooks.com/series/ya-yas/79668
Movie - amzn.to/4vght8X

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