If you enjoy reading books by Bryan Washington then you might also like the following authors:
Ocean Vuong writes with lyrical precision and sharp emotional insight. His work often explores identity, sexuality, family relationships, and the immigrant experience in America.
In his novel On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, he tells a deeply personal story about a Vietnamese-American son addressing his mother through letters, revealing their shared history and quiet, complex emotions.
Brandon Taylor captures moments of quiet intensity and the delicate inner workings of his characters. He writes about race, sexuality, loneliness, and connection in ways both subtle and emotionally honest.
His novel Real Life follows Wallace, a young Black gay graduate student who struggles with isolation and identity among his white peers at a Midwestern university.
Garth Greenwell combines poetic language with intimate storytelling. His writing deals honestly with desire, shame, loneliness, and the complexity of human relationships.
In What Belongs to You, Greenwell explores the intense relationship between an American teacher and a Bulgarian man he meets on the streets of Sofia, showing desire’s power and scarcity.
Andrew Sean Greer writes engaging and thoughtful stories with warmth and humor. He often touches on queer identity, aging, loneliness, and the complexities of love and relationships.
His Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Less introduces readers to Arthur Less, a middle-aged writer who embarks on a trip around the world to escape heartbreak and discover himself in the process.
Justin Torres uses fierce energy and heartfelt emotion in his storytelling style. He focuses on complicated family bonds, cultural identity, youth, and sexuality.
His novel We the Animals describes the raw dynamics within a mixed-race family through the perspective of the youngest brother, who searches for identity amidst turmoil and tenderness at home.
Michael Chabon writes sharp, engaging stories about relationships, family, identity, and belonging. He mixes humor and heartfelt seriousness, exploring the humanity in everyday lives and struggles.
Readers who like Bryan Washington’s approach to complex relationships and messy identities might appreciate Chabon’s fresh and vivid storytelling.
A good place to start is The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, a novel that combines history, friendship, and creativity with warmth and authenticity.
James Baldwin writes richly emotional and insightful stories that tackle race, sexuality, belonging, and identity head-on.
His honest and lyrical style displays deep sensitivity to human experience, relationships, and inner conflicts, similar to themes Bryan Washington often explores.
Giovanni’s Room is a beautiful example of Baldwin’s skill, focused on themes of queer identity, love, and isolation, painting a powerful emotional portrait that leaves a lasting impression.
Torrey Peters brings humor, honesty, and emotional clarity to her work, exploring complicated identities, desires, and relationships within the trans community.
If you enjoy Bryan Washington’s candid and humane portrayals of marginalized lives, Peters offers an equally refreshing and genuine voice in her debut novel Detransition, Baby.
The book offers thoughtful, deeply empathetic insights into motherhood, gender, and connection, told openly and without pretension.
K-Ming Chang creates beautifully vivid, imaginative stories rooted in family histories, cultural myths, queer identity, and immigrant experiences.
Her writing blends poetic language and surreal imagery to examine relationships and identities, resonating with readers who appreciate Bryan Washington’s lyrical storytelling and deep sense of place.
Chang’s debut novel, Bestiary, is a perfect introduction, full of vibrant language, mythological twists, and emotional depth.
Paul Mendez is a thoughtful, direct storyteller exploring themes like sexuality, race, identity, and finding one’s place in the world.
He focuses on flawed, honest characters who navigate challenging realities, a style readers familiar with Bryan Washington’s clear-eyed empathy will appreciate.
Mendez’s debut novel, Rainbow Milk, deals with themes of belonging, race, sexuality, and self-discovery, offering readers a moving and authentic story of connection and resilience.
Rivers Solomon writes thought-provoking fiction that explores identity, race, gender, and societal issues through imaginative storytelling. Their novel, The Deep, reimagines the myths of ocean-dwelling descendants of enslaved women who were tossed into the sea.
Readers who appreciate how Bryan Washington tackles themes of identity and belonging in everyday life will find Solomon's speculative approach fresh and meaningful.
Alexander Chee is known for storytelling that blends emotional depth with sharp cultural insights. In his novel Edinburgh, Chee sensitively explores trauma, sexuality, and identity, much like Bryan Washington does with nuanced human relationships.
Chee's thoughtful prose may appeal if you value Washington's subtle, graceful handling of complex characters.
T Fleischmann combines memoir, essay, and poetry to creatively examine gender, identity, and art. In their notable work, Time Is the Thing a Body Moves Through, Fleischmann reflects deeply on transformation, queer experience, and the meaning of community.
Their unconventional narrative form and introspective style could resonate strongly if you enjoy Bryan Washington's exploration of personal identity through lived experiences.
Akwaeke Emezi delivers bold, imaginative stories centered on identity, culture, and spirituality. Their novel, Freshwater, navigates questions of self and mental health through a vivid portrayal of Igbo spiritual traditions.
Fans of Bryan Washington's honest and authentic portrayal of internal struggle and personal identity may find similar powerful storytelling in Emezi's work.
Jamal Joseph writes candidly about activism, race, and personal transformation. His memoir, Panther Baby: A Life of Rebellion and Reinvention, takes readers through his journey as a young activist with the Black Panthers and later as a professor and mentor.
Joseph's direct and emotionally honest writing echoes Bryan Washington's thoughtful exploration of race, community, and the deep connections we forge in search of our place in the world.