Saagar Kote
Created by Megan Park, Prime Video’s ‘Sterling Point’ follows 17-year-old Annie Jacobson (Ella Rubin), whose life changes after she inherits her late grandfather’s island in Canada. Hoping to learn more about the relative she never knew and the mother she lost as a baby, Annie leaves behind her relatively easy life in NYC, including her adoptive father, Steven (Jay Duplass), and twin brother, Connor (Keen Ruffalo), and travels to Sterling Point. There, she settles into the close-knit community, forms new friendships, finds herself caught between Ellis (Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie) and Rory (Daniel Quinn-Toye), and begins uncovering long-buried family secrets with help from marina owner Joe (Jeffrey Dean Morgan).
What Annie doesn’t expect is to cross paths with someone who may have a deeper connection to her than anyone else, leading her on an emotionally charged journey of self-discovery and growing up. If the themes and visuals of the drama series appealed to you, here are shows similar to ‘Sterling Point’ that explore young characters, emotional turbulence, familial bonds, secrets, and meaning.
12. Cruel Summer (2021-)
From the creative mind of Bert V. Royal, each season of ‘Cruel Summer’ explores how a single life-changing event reshapes the lives of a group of teenagers. Season 1 of the anthology mystery drama series is set in the town of Skylin, Texas, and deals with Jeanette Turner (Chiara Aurelia), whose journey coincides with the disappearance of the popular Kate Wallis (Olivia Holt). Jeanette is then accused by someone of knowing the truth about Kate’s situation, igniting a scandal that threatens relationships.
The second season shifts to Chatham, Washington, where Megan Landry (Sadie Stanley), Isabella LaRue (Lexi Underwood), and Luke Chambers (Griffin Gluck) become entangled in a love triangle that unravels after a shocking crime. While their main stories differ, both ‘Cruel Summer’ and ‘Sterling Point’ center on teenagers whose lives are transformed by long-buried secrets, romance, the tribulations of adolescence, friendships, and other bonds.
11. Hart of Dixie (2011-2015)
With Leila Gerstein at the creative helm, ‘Hart of Dixie’ is a comedy-drama series that explores the life of Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson), an ambitious young doctor from New York whose career plans take an unexpected turn after she fails to win a fellowship. Accepting an invitation to join a medical practice in the small town of Bluebell, Alabama, Zoe arrives only to discover that its owner, Dr. Harley Wilkes, has passed away and left half of the practice to her in his will.
She adjusts to an unfamiliar community and uncovers why Harley chose her as she navigates new relationships, local rivalries, and life in a town far from everything she has known. ‘Hart of Dixie’ and ‘Sterling Point’ shed light on young women who relocate to unfamiliar small communities after an unexpected inheritance changes the course of their lives. Each series balances romance, personal growth, and meaningful relationships with the uncovering of family history.
10. Ginny & Georgia (2021-)
‘Ginny & Georgia’ narrates the tale of Ginny Miller (Antonia Gentry), a teenager trying to find her place in the quiet town of Wellsbury, Massachusetts, after her mother, Georgia Miller (Brianne Howey), decides to give the family a fresh start. While Ginny navigates friendships, romance, and questions about her identity, Georgia works to build a stable future for her children. However, the family’s new beginning is repeatedly threatened as long-held secrets from Georgia’s past resurface. Sarah Lampert’s creative vision drives this drama series, which balances teenage angst, family relationships, romance, and mystery, much like ‘Sterling Point,’ while also exploring how love and difficult choices shape lives in unexpected ways.
9. Life Unexpected (2010-2011)
‘Life Unexpected’ is a drama series created by Liz Tigelaar that explores the experiences of Lux Cassidy (Britt Robertson), a 15-year-old who has spent her entire life moving through Oregon’s foster care system. Hoping to gain independence, Lux petitions the court for emancipation, but the process unexpectedly reunites her with her biological parents, Nate Bazile, AKA Baze (Kristoffer Polaha), and Cate Cassidy (Shiri Appleby). Instead of granting her request, the judge places Lux in their temporary custody, giving the estranged family a chance to build the relationships they never had. At the heart of both ‘Life Unexpected’ and ‘Sterling Point’ is a teenage girl whose circumstances lead to unforeseen emotional growth, new relationships, and a sense of belonging. At the same time, she searches for answers about her family.
8. Everwood (2002-2006)
‘Everwood’ centers on Dr. Andrew Brown, AKA Andy (Treat Williams), a renowned New York neurosurgeon who relocates to the small town of Everwood, Colorado, after the death of his wife. Hoping for a fresh start, Andy moves with his children, Ephram Brown (Gregory Smith) and Delia Brown (Vivien Cardone), but adjusting to their new surroundings proves far from easy. As the family slowly settles into the community, they forge new relationships, confront lingering grief, and begin rebuilding their lives. With Greg Berlanti as the creative force guiding the drama series, it reflects the essence of ‘Sterling Point’ by navigating familial bonds, the power of hope, new relationships, and the search for identity and belonging in unfamiliar places.
7. Dawson’s Creek (1998-2003)
‘Dawson’s Creek’ follows Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek), an aspiring filmmaker growing up in the coastal town of Capeside, Massachusetts, alongside his lifelong best friend Joey Potter (Katie Holmes). When adolescence changes their relationship, the pair must navigate first love, shifting friendships, and personal challenges that shape their futures. The arrival of Jen Lindley (Michelle Williams) further complicates the group’s dynamic, while Joey’s growing bond with Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson) adds new emotional layers to their lives.
Crafted by Kevin Williamson, the drama series captures the spirit of ‘Sterling Point’ through its exploration of friendship, romance, family, the complexities of growing up, and the discovery of purpose. The stories revolve around young characters whose evolving relationships and personal journeys unfold against the backdrop of a scenic community.
6. The Lying Game (2011-2013)
In ‘The Lying Game,’ Emma Becker (Alexandra Chando), a teenager raised in foster care, discovers she has an identical twin sister, Sutton Mercer, who grew up with a wealthy family in Phoenix. Hoping to uncover the truth about their birth mother, Sutton persuades Emma to assume her identity temporarily. When Sutton suddenly disappears, Emma is forced to continue living her sister’s life while searching for answers about her whereabouts and the circumstances that separated them as children.
Created by Charles Pratt Jr., the drama series is loosely based on Sara Shepard’s novel series of the same name. Beyond their mystery elements, both ‘The Lying Game’ and ‘Sterling Point’ explore how uncovering the truth can transform personal relationships. The characters in the shows balance emotional growth with the difficult task of deciding who they are and what relationships mean to them.
5. Surviving Summer (2022-2023)
‘Surviving Summer’ is the story of Summer Torres (Sky Katz), a rebellious Brooklyn teenager whose reckless behavior lands her in the distant coastal town of Shorehaven, Australia, as punishment. Determined to return home, Summer initially resists her new surroundings, but her perspective gradually shifts after she befriends a group of young surfers led by Ari Gibson (Kai Lewins). As she becomes immersed in the competitive surfing world, Summer navigates new friendships, growing rivalries, and unexpected romance while discovering where she truly belongs.
The Australian drama series, shaped by the creative team of Joanna Werner and Josh Mapleston, is similar to ‘Sterling Point’ in that it follows a teenage girl who is uprooted from the life she knows and gradually finds a sense of belonging in a different community. The shows also feature new friendships, romance, and waterfront backdrops.
4. Outer Banks (2020-2026)
‘Outer Banks’ depicts the experiences of John B. Routledge (Chase Stokes), the leader of a close group of working-class teenagers known as the Pogues in a coastal North Carolina town divided by class. After his father’s mysterious disappearance, John B. embarks on a search for answers that soon evolves into a dangerous hunt for a legendary treasure tied to his family’s past. As the Pogues race against their rivals, the wealthy Kooks, to uncover the fortune, friendships are forged, romances blossom, and loyalties are pushed to their limits.
Created by Josh Pate, Jonas Pate, and Shannon Burke, the mystery drama series shares the visual flavor and character dynamics that make ‘Sterling Point’ engaging. Both stories center on teenagers in a new place where romance, loyal friendships, and life-changing experiences become just as important as uncovering the truth about their families.
3. Harlan Coben’s Shelter (2023)
‘Harlan Coben’s Shelter’ revolves around Mickey Bolitar (Jaden Michael), whose life is thrown into turmoil after the sudden death of his father. Forced to leave everything behind, Mickey moves to Kasselton, New Jersey, to live with his aunt while his mother recovers in a rehabilitation facility. As he adjusts to a new school and befriends a group of classmates, the mysterious disappearance of Ashley Kent (Samantha Bugliaro) draws him into an investigation that uncovers disturbing secrets hidden beneath the town’s seemingly quiet exterior.
The mystery drama series is adapted from the eponymous novel by Harlan Coben, who co-created the show with Charlotte Coben. Rather than focusing solely on mystery, ‘Harlan Coben’s Shelter’ and ‘Sterling Point’ explore how personal loss leads to unexpected journeys. Each story focuses on a teenager rebuilding their life in an unfamiliar place, where new friendships, hidden truths, and emotional discoveries play a pivotal role.
2. My Life with the Walter Boys (2023-)
Based on Ali Novak’s eponymous novel, ‘My Life with the Walter Boys’ is a Melanie Halsall creation that deals with Jackie Howard (Nikki Rodriguez), whose life is forever changed after a tragic accident leaves her without her family. Hoping to stay focused on her dream of attending Princeton, Jackie moves to rural Colorado to live with her guardian, Katherine Walter (Sarah Rafferty), her late mother’s best friend, and Katherine’s husband, George Walter (Marc Blucas).
Adjusting to life in a bustling household with the Walters’ ten children proves far from easy, especially when she develops unexpected feelings for brothers Alex Walter (Ashby Gentry) and Cole Walter (Noah LaLonde). Much like ‘Sterling Point,’ the drama series focuses on a teenage girl whose life is transformed after moving to an unfamiliar place. The two shows combine the nuances of teenage years and familial bonds with emotional growth and a love triangle that complicates characters’ journeys.
1. The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022-2025)
‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ is the tale of Isabel Conklin, AKA Belly (Lola Tung), whose annual summer vacations take on a new meaning as her lifelong bond with brothers Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno) develops into a complicated love triangle that none of them saw coming. While Belly experiences first love, heartbreak, and the uncertainties of growing up, her changing relationships with the two brothers begin to reshape the lives of everyone around them.
Shaped by the creative vision of Jenny Han, the romantic drama series is based on her novel series of the same name. Fans of ‘Sterling Point’ will appreciate the heartfelt coming-of-age storytelling in ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty.’ Both shows combine romance, self-discovery, bright visuals, and a complex love triangle, following young characters navigating new lives and relationships in picturesque settings.
Read More: Where is Sterling Point Filmed?
