Books like Back roads by Tawni O'Dell

In Tawni O’Dell’s debut novel, Harley Altmyer should be in college, but instead he is tethered to his Pennsylvania backwoods hometown, left to tend to his three younger sisters and an ailing mother. Harley’s days are filled with managing the chaos of home life—providing meals, diapers, and stability—while dreaming of a different path. Complications arise when he becomes infatuated with Callie Mercer, a woman his age living nearby. The intensity of this obsession pushes Harley beyond his limits and forces him to confront buried family truths. As these revelations surface, Harley must decide whether to continue in the dangerous rhythm of his current life or break free. Set in Pennsylvania, the novel explores themes of family responsibility, sibling bonds, and the struggle for personal freedom within a dysfunctional home.

First publish date: 1999