What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Return
Nicholas Sparks · Book · 2021
If you loved The Return, start with The Lucky One (Scott Hicks, 2012) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Return across media.
If you loved The Return, you clearly crave stories where wounded characters navigate the quiet, transformative power of new beginnings.
Films on the same thread
The Lucky One
Scott Hicks · Film · 2012
Shares a thread with The Return: Contemporary Romance.
Like the protagonist of The Return, this story follows a veteran searching for peace and connection in a small town after the profound trauma of combat.
Reminders of Him
Vanessa Caswill · Film · 2026
Shares a thread with The Return: Contemporary Romance.
Mirroring the emotional stakes of The Return, this narrative centers on the difficult process of seeking redemption and healing through the lens of a secret romance.
The Notebook
Nick Cassavetes · Film · 2004
Explores: Lost Love, Memory Loss, Second Chance Romance.
You enjoyed the heartfelt romantic discovery in The Return, and this classic tale offers a similarly poignant exploration of memory, love, and life-altering second chances.
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Olivia Newman · Film · 2026
Explores: Grief and healing, Intergenerational friendship, Hidden secrets.
While The Return focuses on military trauma, this story shares its central theme of healing from grief and uncovering hidden secrets to find joy again.
Series on the same thread
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Jenny Han · Series · 2022
Explores: First Love, Summer Romance, Love Triangle.
The Return highlights the weight of personal history, a theme mirrored here as family secrets and life-changing summer experiences reshape the main character's future path.
Reacher
Nick Santora · Series · 2022
Explores: Conspiracy, Small Town Secrets, Justice.
If the veteran perspective in The Return captured your interest, this series provides a gritty, modern look at a former military investigator navigating civilian life.
This Is Us
Dan Fogelman · Series · 2016
Explores: Intergenerational relationships, Family secrets, Trauma and healing.
This series echoes the focus on intergenerational relationships and healing from trauma found in The Return, weaving together the complex stories of individuals seeking redemption.
Heated Rivalry
Jacob Tierney · Series · 2025
Shares a thread with The Return: Contemporary Romance.
Just as The Return explores the burden of secrets, this drama tracks a forbidden romance that evolves through ambition and the weight of personal truths.
Podcasts on the same thread
Making Space with Hoda Kotb
Hoda Kotb, TODAY · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Human resilience, Emotional healing, Self-discovery.
The Return is rooted in the resilience of the human spirit, a theme this podcast explores by documenting real-life journeys of emotional healing and self-discovery.
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
If The Return made you reflect on how the past influences the present, this deep dive provides a broader look at the legacy of historical truths.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Return based on a true story?
The Return is a work of fiction written by Nicholas Sparks. It follows the story of Trevor Benson, a Navy doctor who returns to New Bern, North Carolina, after sustaining injuries in Afghanistan. It is a novel in the romantic tradition of the author's previous bestseller, Dear John.
What is the premise of The Return?
The Return centers on Trevor Benson, a Navy doctor who moves back to New Bern, North Carolina, following a mortar blast in Afghanistan that left him with devastating injuries. His life changes course after he encounters two women who are keeping secrets that impact his future.
Who wrote The Return?
The Return was written by Nicholas Sparks. Published in 2021, this book became a number one New York Times bestseller and explores the life of an injured Navy doctor as he navigates his return home to North Carolina and the mysterious circumstances involving two women.
When was The Return published?
The Return by Nicholas Sparks was published in 2021. The story follows Trevor Benson, a Navy doctor returning to New Bern, North Carolina, after suffering injuries from a mortar blast while serving in Afghanistan, where he becomes entangled in the lives of two women with secrets.