If you enjoy reading novels by Alice Munro then you might also like the following authors:
Lorrie Moore is an American author known for short stories filled with sharp dialogue and realistic characters. Readers who appreciate Alice Munro may also enjoy Moore’s collection “Birds of America.”
This book shows characters at difficult points in their lives, often with humor and insight. One memorable story called “People Like That Are the Only People Here” portrays a mother facing tough medical news about her child.
Moore keeps her writing easy and natural, yet every conversation feels true-to-life and meaningful.
Anne Enright is an Irish author who writes novels and short stories about relationships and family complexities. Her book “The Gathering” follows Veronica, a woman who returns home for her brother Liam’s funeral.
After his death, Veronica reflects on their family memories and faces some uncomfortable truths about the past. The story quietly reveals secrets and emotions within one family over generations, told in a deep and reflective way.
Readers of Alice Munro may appreciate Enright’s honest look at human nature and detailed attention to family relationships.
Elizabeth Strout is an American author known for her honest and subtle storytelling. Readers who enjoy Alice Munro’s short stories often mention Strout’s novel “Olive Kitteridge” as one they especially appreciate.
The book follows Olive, a blunt and often abrasive retired teacher living in a coastal town in Maine. Each chapter reveals different parts of Olive’s life and those around her.
Through ordinary events, Strout gently shows the struggles, regrets, and connections of small-town lives in a compassionate way.
Carol Shields was a Canadian-American author known for her thoughtful and clear storytelling. Readers who appreciate Alice Munro’s realistic characters and everyday situations might enjoy Shields’ novel “The Stone Diaries.”
The book follows Daisy Goodwill through her life, from childhood to old age. It looks closely at her family, marriages, and the quieter moments that shape her journey. Shields writes simply and gracefully, focusing on small moments that reveal truth about people’s lives.
Joyce Carol Oates is an American author who writes stories about ordinary people faced with difficult situations. Her short story collection “Heat” explores emotional tension in everyday relationships.
For example, in the story “Shopping,” the friendship between two women slowly breaks down because of a routine trip to the mall. Readers who enjoy Alice Munro might appreciate how Oates describes situations that feel real and personal.
Margaret Atwood is a Canadian writer often admired by readers of Alice Munro. Atwood’s storytelling captures everyday life with honesty and depth. In her novel “Cat’s Eye,” Atwood explores childhood friendships and the pains of growing up.
The main character Elaine returns to Toronto as an adult to revisit memories of friendships from her past. Elaine recalls her difficult relationship with Cordelia, a friend who shaped much of her childhood.
The novel moves between past experiences and present reflections to show their lasting effect on Elaine. Anyone who appreciates Alice Munro’s sensitive yet straightforward style may find “Cat’s Eye” a thoughtful read.
Jhumpa Lahiri writes short stories that explore the quiet moments in life. Her stories often focus on characters who move between cultures. In “Interpreter of Maladies,” Lahiri follows several people who face small but meaningful turning points.
One story in the book shows a family vacation in India, where a simple sightseeing trip unexpectedly reveals personal tensions.
Lahiri creates real and honest characters, and readers who enjoy Alice Munro’s thoughtful portrayals of everyday life will appreciate her careful attention to detail.
Alice McDermott is an author who writes clear and detailed stories about ordinary people and their lives. Her writing often explores everyday moments and feelings subtly, and readers who appreciate Alice Munro’s style may connect with her work as well.
In her novel “Charming Billy,” McDermott tells the story of Billy Lynch, a man with a generous heart whose life is marked by a lost love.
When his family gathers after Billy’s funeral, memories surface that reveal the depth of Billy’s life, shaped by emotions, family secrets, and unspoken truths.
This quiet story slowly uncovers why Billy became the man he did, with characters who reflect on loss and the hidden sides of family relationships.
Tessa Hadley is a British author who writes thoughtful stories about everyday family life and relationships. Readers who enjoy Alice Munro might find something familiar in Hadley’s book “The Past.”
This story follows four adult siblings who reunite at their grandparents’ old house to decide if they should sell it or keep it. As they stay together, memories come back, secrets show up, and family tensions rise once again.
Hadley writes clearly and carefully about the small moments that reveal big truths in families.
Elizabeth Bowen was an Irish writer known for her careful observation of human relationships and emotions. Readers who enjoy the stories of Alice Munro may also appreciate Bowen’s book “The Death of the Heart.”
The novel tells the story of Portia, a sixteen-year-old girl who moves to London and lives with her older half-brother and his wife after becoming orphaned.
Bowen explores themes of innocence, betrayal and social tensions through Portia’s experiences as she tries to make sense of complicated adult situations. The characters reveal themselves gradually, in a quiet fashion that readers of Munro may find familiar.
Eudora Welty is an author who writes about ordinary people’s daily lives in small Southern towns. Readers who like Alice Munro’s style may enjoy Welty’s collection of short stories, “A Curtain of Green.”
In this book, Welty explores the lives of everyday characters who live simple but unexpected situations.
For instance, in one story called “Why I Live at the P.O.,” the narrator humorously explains how family tensions led her to leaving home and moving into the local post office.
The stories convey a clear sense of place and show Welty’s sharp eye for how people interact in their communities.
Laurie Colwin was an American writer known for her warm, relatable stories of daily life and human relationships. Readers who enjoy Alice Munro’s insightful style might appreciate Colwin’s novel “Happy All the Time.”
The book explores the lives and relationships of two couples, Guido and Holly along with Vincent and Misty. Colwin presents characters who face questions about happiness, love and ordinary life. The focus stays on small but meaningful moments and dialogues between people.
Her storylines gently reveal the humor and emotional truth behind everyday situations.
William Trevor was an Irish author known for short stories and novels about ordinary lives. If you’re a reader who enjoys Alice Munro’s short, thoughtful looks at people’s daily experiences, you might appreciate Trevor’s careful storytelling.
His collection “After Rain” offers several stories that quietly explore relationships, family connections and small-town life. In one story a woman travels back to Italy after many years, and memories of the past gradually surface.
Trevor pays close attention to what his characters feel and remember, often showing how small details can influence a person’s whole life.
Mavis Gallant is a Canadian writer known for insightful short stories about ordinary people facing emotional complexities. Readers who enjoy Alice Munro might also appreciate Mavis Gallant’s collection “Paris Stories.”
These stories explore the daily lives of characters who move abroad, adjust to unfamiliar surroundings, or attempt to hold onto their identity in a foreign place.
In one memorable story, a young woman living in Paris struggles to understand her place among acquaintances whose values differ greatly from hers. Gallant portrays these situations clearly and honestly, making each character feel real and familiar.
Shirley Hazzard is an Australian-American author known for thoughtful stories that explore human relationships and emotional depth. Readers who appreciate Alice Munro’s quiet yet powerful storytelling may find similar appeal in Hazzard’s novels.
One of her well-known books is “The Great Fire.” The story takes place shortly after World War II in Asia, focusing on Aldred Leith, an English soldier navigating life after war. He meets Helen, a thoughtful young woman whose world contrasts sharply with his experiences.
Their unexpected meeting evolves into a relationship that brings out complex feelings and memories for both of them. Through clear, precise writing, Hazzard gently examines post-war lives and lingering effects on individuals.