If you enjoy reading books by Bernardine Evaristo then you might also like the following authors:
Zadie Smith is a British author known for her sharp observations of culture and identity. Her novel “White Teeth” tells the story of two families in London—the Iqbals, originally from Bangladesh, and the Joneses, a mixed-race family.
The book explores how their lives and histories intertwine over several decades. It’s full of colorful characters, from a radical scientist to a fanatical religious group, and it touches on themes like immigration, family, and the clash of traditions in a rapidly changing world.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian author known for stories that explore identity, culture, and relationships. Her novel “Half of a Yellow Sun” is set during the Biafran War in Nigeria.
It follows the lives of three characters: a young houseboy, a university professor, and a British expatriate. Their paths cross as they navigate love, loyalty, and survival in the midst of conflict.
The book portrays the human cost of war, while showing how personal lives are shaped by historical events.
Maggie Nelson is an author known for blending personal stories with thoughts on art, culture, and identity. Her book “The Argonauts” is part memoir and part exploration of love and family.
It looks at her relationship with her partner and their journey through parenthood, reflecting on gender and identity along the way. Nelson’s writing feels personal, with moments that draw you closer to her world.
Brit Bennett is an American author who writes about identity, family, and personal history, weaving complex relationships and emotional depth into her stories.
Her novel, “The Vanishing Half,” follows the lives of two twin sisters who grow up in a small Black community in the South. As they reach adulthood, their lives take completely different paths.
One sister embraces their shared heritage, while the other decides to pass as white, building a new life in secrecy. This story spans decades, examining how their choices affect not only them but also their children and those around them.
Fans of Bernardine Evaristo’s focus on identity and intergenerational stories might enjoy Bennett’s take on these themes.
Marilynne Robinson is an author known for crafting stories that focus on deep emotions and family relationships. Her novel “Gilead” is a quiet, thoughtful book written as a letter from an aging preacher named John Ames to his young son.
Set in a small Iowa town, it reflects on faith, love, and the memories that linger through generations. Ames shares moments from his own life, including his friendship with another minister and the struggles that shaped his beliefs.
The writing is intimate, and the story unfolds with warmth and reflection. If you enjoy books that explore complex family ties, Robinson’s work might interest you.
Toni Morrison is an incredible storyteller whose writing often explores identity, history, and community. One of her most powerful novels is “Beloved,” which tells the story of Sethe, an escaped slave who builds a life for herself and her family after fleeing to Ohio.
However, her past will not let her go. Haunted by the memory of a horrifying choice she made to protect her children, she is also confronted by the arrival of a mysterious figure named Beloved.
The book digs deep into the emotional scars of slavery and the lengths a mother will go to for her children. It’s rich with unforgettable characters and moments that stay with you.
Ali Smith is a Scottish author known for her inventive storytelling and unique perspective on the world. Her novel “How to Be Both” is a great place to start.
It intertwines two narratives—a contemporary teenager grappling with loss and a Renaissance artist reflecting on life centuries earlier. The way the two stories connect feels fresh and surprising, with moments that make you stop and think.
Fans of Bernardine Evaristo’s layered, thought-provoking works may find Smith’s writing equally satisfying.
Yaa Gyasi is a talented author known for weaving stories that explore family, identity, and history.
Her novel, “Homegoing,” begins with two sisters born in 18th-century Ghana who follow drastically different paths—one is married off to a British colonizer, while the other is sold into slavery.
The book traces their descendants, showing how their lives are shaped by the choices and fates of their ancestors. Through generations, it connects moments of personal struggle to broader historical events, offering a rich and layered story rooted in resilience and heritage.
Arundhati Roy is an author known for blending deeply personal stories with larger social issues. Her debut novel, “The God of Small Things,” unfolds in Kerala, India, and explores the lives of a fractured family.
At its heart are Estha and Rahel, twins connected by an unspoken bond, as their childhood is shaped by love, loss, and societal pressures. The book looks at how one tragic event ripples through their lives, touching on caste and forbidden relationships.
Roy’s vivid storytelling and emotional depth might remind readers of Bernardine Evaristo’s ability to show how lives are shaped by history and identity.
Jesmyn Ward is known for writing stories rooted in the American South, exploring deep family ties and the weight of history. In her novel “Sing, Unburied, Sing,” she tells the story of a boy named Jojo as he journeys with his family to pick up his father from prison.
The trip unearths old wounds and brings unexpected visitors from the past. Through Jojo and his mother Leonie’s perspectives, the book reveals struggles with love, grief, and the lingering presence of spirits that carry forgotten stories.
It’s a powerful tale about connections between the living and the dead.
Jhumpa Lahiri is an author who writes about identity, family, and the idea of home. Her book “The Namesake” follows Gogol, a young man born in the United States to Indian immigrant parents.
The story explores his struggle with his name, his heritage, and how he fits into the world around him. It’s a journey through cultural expectations and personal choices, told with deep attention to the emotions of the characters.
Lahiri creates a world that feels close and real.
Esi Edugyan is a Canadian writer known for creating rich and unique characters. One of her novels, “Half-Blood Blues,” tells the story of a Black jazz musician, Sid Griffiths, as he navigates pre-World War II Europe.
The narrative jumps between the past and the 1990s, tracing the fate of Sid’s friend and bandmate, Hiero, a young trumpet prodigy arrested by the Nazis. The story dives into themes of music, betrayal, and survival, all against a backdrop of historical turmoil.
It’s a powerful book with unforgettable moments that stay with you long after you finish.
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is an author known for crafting stories that explore pressing social issues through bold and imaginative narratives.
In his book “Friday Black”, he combines sharp satire and rich storytelling to highlight racism, consumerism, and the struggles of everyday life.
One standout story in the collection features a young black man working at a retail store during a chaotic shopping event, where violence and greed spiral out of control. Adjei-Brenyah’s work captures raw moments that feel immediate and unforgettable.
Fans of Bernardine Evaristo’s ability to blend social commentary with engaging characters may find his writing equally compelling.
Helen Oyeyemi is a British author known for her unique and imaginative stories. One of her novels, “Boy, Snow, Bird,” reimagines the Snow White fairy tale while exploring themes of identity and family.
The story starts in 1950s Massachusetts, where Boy, a young woman, marries a widower and becomes stepmother to his beautiful daughter, Snow.
When Boy and her husband have a child named Bird, secrets about race and appearance begin to unravel within the family, leading to unexpected truths. Oyeyemi’s writing mixes fairy-tale elements with real-world questions in a way that feels fresh and thought-provoking.
Colson Whitehead is an American author known for exploring deep and thought-provoking themes through engaging stories. His novel, “The Underground Railroad,” reimagines the historical network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom as an actual underground train system.
It follows Cora, a young woman escaping a brutal life on a plantation, as she travels through different states, each with its own dark and complex reality. The book combines history with bold storytelling, offering a unique lens on America’s past.