If you enjoyed reading “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens, with its focus on nature and a central mystery, then you might be interested in discovering other authors who write books with a similar atmosphere.
Owens’s novel captured many readers with its vivid descriptions of the natural world and a story that blends coming-of-age with suspense. For readers who appreciate these elements, there are many books and writers that offer comparable reading experiences.
If you enjoy Delia Owens’ “Where the Crawdads Sing,” you might also appreciate Barbara Kingsolver and her novel “Prodigal Summer.”
Kingsolver is an author known for richly drawn characters, immersive settings, and environmental themes that are both thought-provoking and deeply connected to nature. “Prodigal Summer” explores the lives of three interconnected characters living in rural Appalachia.
Their stories weave together themes of community, ecology, and the complexities of love and loss. Kingsolver paints a vivid portrait of human relationships alongside careful insight into the natural world these characters inhabit.
Her storytelling brings readers into close contact with rural life’s beauty and hardships, revealing how people and nature shape each other in profound ways.
If you enjoy the storytelling style of Delia Owens, you might also appreciate Jeanine Cummins. Her novel “American Dirt” follows Lydia, a bookstore owner from Acapulco, forced to flee her home after a violent encounter with a drug cartel.
Together with her young son Luca, Lydia sets out on a dangerous journey toward the United States, facing threats, heartbreak, and resilience along the way.
Cummins paints vivid scenes that show a mother’s courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds, making it hard to put the book down until the last page.
If you enjoy the vivid settings and strong, resilient characters of Delia Owens, Alice Hoffman may captivate you as well.
Hoffman’s novel “Practical Magic” introduces readers to the Owens sisters, Sally and Gillian, whose family history brims with enchantment, secrets, and untamed love. The story follows their struggle to escape a centuries-old family curse, a haunting legacy in their lives.
Hoffman weaves a believable world full of mystery and warmth, blending the beauty of everyday life with subtle magical elements. Her characters are unforgettable women who endure and triumph through the unexpected hardships life tosses their way.
Books by Kristin Hannah often explore the deep connections between characters and their environments, similar to Delia Owens’ stories. A good example is “The Great Alone,” which follows the Allbright family as they try to build a new life in the rugged wilderness of Alaska.
The novel focuses on a young girl named Leni, who is caught between the beauty of nature and the struggles within her family. Hannah carefully shows how isolation affects people’s relationships and transforms their lives.
For readers drawn to Owens’ vivid descriptions of nature and emotional storytelling, Kristin Hannah offers powerful narratives and memorable characters.
Elizabeth Strout is an American author known for deeply personal stories and memorable characters rooted in everyday life. Readers who enjoyed Delia Owens’ emotional and atmospheric storytelling may also appreciate Strout’s novel “Olive Kitteridge.”
Set in a small coastal town in Maine, this book tells the story of Olive, a retired teacher whose life intertwines with those around her.
Through separate but connected stories, the novel explores Olive as a character full of contradictions—she is tough yet vulnerable, judgmental but compassionate.
Strout skillfully portrays the quiet struggles and joys of ordinary life, offering readers an honest glance at human relationships, loneliness, and the courage required by even small moments.
Books by Tara Westover offer powerful, personal storytelling that readers of Delia Owens might appreciate. In her memoir, “Educated,” Westover shares her incredible journey from her isolated upbringing in rural Idaho to earning a PhD from Cambridge University.
Raised by survivalist parents, she grew up without formal schooling and medical care and faced extraordinary challenges within her family. Westover’s story portrays resilience, courage, and the determination to build her own future despite formidable obstacles.
Her vivid narrative explores themes of self-discovery, the thirst for knowledge, and the complicated bonds of family.
Sue Monk Kidd is an author readers of Delia Owens might appreciate for her vivid storytelling and strong characters. Her novel “The Secret Life of Bees” is set in South Carolina in the early 1960s.
The story follows a girl named Lily Owens, who leaves her troubled home with her caretaker, Rosaleen. Lily searches for answers about her mother’s past, and that leads her to an unusual trio of sisters in a small town known for honey production.
This thoughtful book captures themes of friendship, loss, and the search for identity, all told through rich, inviting prose and unforgettable characters.
Ann Patchett is an author known for thoughtful novels with vividly drawn characters and memorable settings, qualities appreciated by fans of Delia Owens.
Patchett’s novel “State of Wonder” follows Dr. Marina Singh, a pharmaceutical researcher sent to Brazil’s Amazon jungle to investigate the mysterious disappearance and reported death of her colleague.
There, Marina confronts ethical questions, science and the daunting beauty of the jungle while she searches for answers.
The novel explores the intersections between science, morality and the complexities of human relationships within a lush, remote setting, creating an absorbing sense of tension and wonder.
Celeste Ng is an author known for thoughtful storytelling and characters shaped by family, secrets, and identity. If you enjoyed Delia Owens, Ng’s novel “Little Fires Everywhere” may appeal to you.
Set in the meticulously planned suburb of Shaker Heights, Ohio, the book tells the story of two families whose lives suddenly collide.
Elena Richardson is a rule-following mother devoted to structure, while Mia Warren, a mysterious artist, arrives as a tenant with her teenage daughter, Pearl.
As their children grow attached, tensions flare over trust, motherhood, and privilege, leading to simmering conflict that shakes both families and the entire community. The novel explores what truly binds or breaks a family apart.
Jojo Moyes is an author known for heartfelt novels filled with memorable characters and emotional depth. In her book “The Giver of Stars,” she transports readers back to Depression-era Kentucky.
The novel tells the story of Alice Wright, an Englishwoman who moves to America after marriage and joins a team of women delivering library books on horseback to isolated families in Appalachia.
Adventure, friendship, hardship, and a community’s courage come alive through these women and their extraordinary mission.
For readers captivated by Delia Owens’ vivid settings and strong characters, Jojo Moyes offers another rich, rewarding journey into themes of resilience and connection.
Books by Marilynne Robinson often explore deep emotional connections to place, nature, and solitude, elements readers of Delia Owens might find appealing.
Her novel “Housekeeping” tells the story of sisters Ruth and Lucille after they arrive in the small, remote town of Fingerbone to live with their eccentric aunt Sylvie. The book beautifully portrays their evolving sense of belonging amid the haunting beauty of a lakeside town.
Robinson skillfully captures the tension between society’s expectations and the freedom found in isolation, themes that resonate with Owens’ gentle, atmospheric storytelling.
Readers who enjoy the evocative storytelling and emotional depth of Delia Owens may also appreciate Cheryl Strayed. Strayed’s memoir “Wild” recounts the author’s solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail after personal loss and turmoil.
With honesty and vulnerability, Strayed shares her journey of self-discovery, depicting her struggles with grief, resilience, and redemption while traversing picturesque yet challenging terrain.
Her relatable voice and candid reflections create a personal narrative that draws readers into her experiences on and off the trail.
Books by Leif Enger offer powerful stories set against vivid rural landscapes, similar to those readers enjoy from author Delia Owens. In Enger’s novel “Peace Like a River,” the Land family embarks on a journey full of hope and mystery through the frozen Midwest.
Narrated by eleven-year-old Reuben, who suffers from severe asthma, the novel follows the family’s search for Reuben’s older brother, Davy, after he runs from the law.
The novel blends adventure, family bonds, and a touch of the miraculous, offering the kind of emotional depth readers admire in Delia Owens’ works.
Anne Tyler writes stories about families and relationships, with vibrant characters and settings that stick with you. Her novel “Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant” captures family dynamics through the eyes of the Tull siblings after their father leaves home.
The chapters shift viewpoints among siblings Cody, Ezra, and Jenny, each recalling events differently and struggling to understand their mother, Pearl.
Tyler builds the story around family meals that never seem to end smoothly, revealing how shared experiences shape memory and emotional bonds.
The characters’ quiet struggles and desires are portrayed with sensitive detail, offering a rich reading experience for fans of Delia Owens’s careful attention to human connections and emotional depth.
Sarah Addison Allen is an author readers might enjoy if they appreciate Delia Owens’ blend of vivid settings and emotional stories. Allen’s novel “Garden Spells” is a magical tale set in a small Southern town.
It tells the story of the Waverley sisters, Claire and Sydney, who reconnect after being apart for many years. Claire tends to her garden of magical herbs and fruits, able to transform dishes into experiences that reveal hidden truths.
Sydney, who returns home with secrets of her own, has a young daughter who becomes central to both sisters’ lives. Together, the family uncovers the power of home, acceptance, and the gentle enchantment hiding within everyday moments.
If you enjoy storytelling that ties together family relationships, nature, and a whisper of magic, “Garden Spells” might resonate strongly.