Diane Johnson writes witty novels often set in France. Her bestseller Le Divorce humorously explores the complexities of relationships and cultural differences.
If you enjoy reading books by Diane Johnson then you might also like the following authors:
Elizabeth Bowen was an Irish author known for insightful portrayals of human relationships and society. If you enjoy Diane Johnson’s sharp observations of human nature, Bowen’s novel The Death of the Heart could be a great match.
The book tells the story of Portia, a sheltered teenager who moves in with her sophisticated half-brother and his emotionally distant wife in London. Over time, Portia starts to understand the adults around her and their hidden feelings and secrets.
Bowen describes the subtleties of social interactions with clarity and skill, creating believable characters and complex emotions. There is a quiet tension throughout the novel, as readers watch Portia navigate between innocence and disillusionment in 1930s London society.
Edith Wharton is an author you might enjoy if you like Diane Johnson’s stories of culture clashes and social nuance. Wharton’s book The Age of Innocence takes you into high society New York of the 1870s.
This story follows Newland Archer, a wealthy young man bound by the strict expectations of his community. He’s about to marry May Welland, a proper and respected young woman from his elite circle.
But when May’s cousin Countess Ellen Olenska returns from Europe under scandalous circumstances, Newland begins to question his choices. Wharton gives you characters caught in a battle between personal desire and rigid social traditions.
She skillfully portrays how deeply society’s rules shape lives, relationships, and happiness.
If Diane Johnson’s sharp insights into social expectations and personal dilemmas resonate with you, The Age of Innocence offers a classic, beautifully observed exploration of similar themes in another time and place.
Books by Nancy Mitford offer sharp wit and keen observation of high society manners and family dynamics.
In her novel The Pursuit of Love, Mitford explores the humorous yet complicated world of the Radlett family, focusing closely on Linda Radlett’s earnest quest for romance and fulfillment.
The story humorously reveals Linda’s adventures and misadventures through marriages and relationships, with nuanced critiques of upper-class life and traditions.
Readers who appreciate Diane Johnson’s humorous exploration of cultural differences and social satire, as in Le Divorce, will find enjoyment in the similarly astute social commentary and vibrant characters Nancy Mitford presents.
If you enjoy Diane Johnson’s sharp wit and keen observations on relationships and social dynamics, you might appreciate Barbara Pym.
Her novel Excellent Women introduces us to Mildred Lathbury, an unmarried woman who quietly navigates post-war London’s daily routines and subtle social entanglements.
Mildred becomes involved in the lives of her glamorous new neighbors, the Napiers, and her eccentric circle from the local church, uncovering quiet dramas and gentle humor in ordinary situations.
Pym’s style captures everyday life’s gentle absurdities and social etiquette with warmth, subtle irony, and remarkable depth.
Muriel Spark was a Scottish novelist famous for her sharp wit and clever storytelling. Her writing captures human relationships and social dynamics with dry humor and sharp observation, qualities readers of Diane Johnson often admire.
In Spark’s novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, we meet a charismatic teacher named Jean Brodie who fascinates and influences a special group of girls at an Edinburgh school during the 1930s.
Brodie’s unorthodox teaching methods inspire loyalty and controversy, setting the stage for complex questions about authority, morality, and personal influence.
Spark crafts a fascinating portrait of human nature, friendship, and betrayal, offering a vivid and precise look at society and character interaction.
Penelope Lively is a British author known for her sharp insights into family relationships, cultural tensions, and the subtle complexities of everyday life.
If you enjoy Diane Johnson’s carefully observed characters and witty depictions of human nature, you might appreciate Lively’s novel Moon Tiger.
The book follows Claudia Hampton, an elderly historian who lies in a hospital bed and decides to write a history of the world, framed by her own rich and eventful life.
Claudia recalls her experiences during World War II in Egypt, her intense romance with a soldier, and reflects upon her complicated family ties and career. Through memory, relationships, and history, Lively creates a thoughtful story that’s both personal and universal.
Readers who enjoy Diane Johnson’s sharp insights and subtle storytelling will likely appreciate the works of Rumer Godden. Godden writes novels that explore deep human emotions and complex relationships with finesse and empathy.
Her novel The River tells the story of a young English girl named Harriet growing up in colonial India. Harriet and her siblings experience the intensity of adolescent emotions against the vibrant yet unpredictable backdrop of an Indian river town.
Through friendships, rivalries, and loss, Harriet discovers truths about herself and the world around her. Godden captures these childhood experiences with sensitivity and honesty, making the book memorable and touching.
Books by E. M. Delafield offer witty portrayals of everyday life and social customs that fans of Diane Johnson will likely appreciate.
Her novel, Diary of a Provincial Lady, is written as the daily journal of an unnamed middle-class Englishwoman who juggles domestic chaos, financial worries, social obligations, and humorous domestic mishaps.
Set in the English countryside between the wars, the author captures minor inconveniences, awkward encounters, and social pretenses with sharp humor.
The book’s protagonist deals with eccentric neighbors, rebellious children, unhelpful servants, and increasingly strained finances, all narrated with ironic wit and great comic timing.
Delafield’s precise observations make commonplace events both humorous and insightful, highlighting her skill at subtle comedy and social commentary.
Readers who enjoy Diane Johnson’s sharp observations of personal relationships and social conventions may also appreciate Margaret Drabble.
Drabble is a British author known for novels that explore human connections, social class, and women’s roles in society with humor and insight.
In her novel The Radiant Way, she follows three close friends—Liz, Alix, and Esther—who navigate the changes and challenges of British society throughout the 1980s.
Their friendship forms the core of the narrative, but the novel also vividly captures the shifting landscape of politics, ambition, and cultural life. Drabble’s storytelling is witty and observant, beautifully capturing everyday experiences alongside broader social themes.
Books by Joanna Trollope tend to focus on family life and relationships, set against cozy English community backdrops. If you appreciate Diane Johnson’s sharp observations on social mores, you might enjoy Trollope’s Other People’s Children.
The novel explores the tensions around blended families, when Matthew and Josie decide to build a life together after divorce. Their children, accustomed to their previous family structures, make the adjustment far from easy.
Trollope portrays each character with depth and compassion, highlighting the emotional dynamics beneath ordinary family life. Her stories reveal the quiet everyday struggles that often drive bigger conflicts, drawing you effortlessly into the heart of these domestic dramas.
Readers who enjoy Diane Johnson’s insightful explorations of human nature and complex relationships may appreciate Anita Brookner, an author celebrated for her sharp observations and nuanced storytelling.
Brookner’s novel Hotel du Lac follows Edith Hope, a successful romance novelist whose quiet escape to a lakeside hotel in Switzerland becomes an unexpected turning point in her life.
As Edith encounters surprising guests at the hotel, she begins reflecting deeply on personal commitments, societal expectations, and what it means to live a fulfilling life. Brookner crafts a subtle yet powerful portrait of self-discovery and emotional growth.
The novel dives into Edith’s inner thoughts and invites readers into her world with warmth and quiet humor.
If you enjoy Diane Johnson’s sharp wit and keen eye for family dynamics, Ivy Compton-Burnett might be another author you’d appreciate. Her novel A House and Its Head offers a penetrating look into a seemingly respectable family shaken by dark secrets and power struggles.
The story revolves around Duncan Edgeworth, a domineering father whose control over his household is quietly challenged by simmering tensions among his wife, children, and servants.
Through brilliantly sharp dialogue and understated humor, Compton-Burnett peels back layers of domestic authority, pretension, and rebellion, exposing the hidden turmoil beneath polished surfaces.
Her style is precise and quietly devastating, a great choice for readers drawn to insightful portrayals of family relationships and societal expectations.
Readers who enjoy Diane Johnson’s sharp observations about contemporary society might appreciate Margaret Atwood. Atwood is known for her thought-provoking novels that explore power dynamics, feminist themes, and often unsettling visions of the future.
Her book The Handmaid’s Tale presents a haunting depiction of a society where women have lost almost all their rights and autonomy under an oppressive regime.
The story follows Offred, a handmaid whose role is limited strictly to bearing children for powerful men and their wives.
Through Offred’s eyes, readers experience the tension, fear, and quiet acts of rebellion that fill this chilling, yet surprisingly believable, dystopian world.
Ali Smith is a Scottish author known for her inventive storytelling, sharp wit, and incisive look at relationships and contemporary society. If you enjoy Diane Johnson’s smart observations on middle-class life and cultural differences, Smith might appeal as well.
Her novel Autumn tells the story of Elisabeth, an art history lecturer, and her elderly neighbor, Daniel, whose unusual friendship spans decades.
The book captures life in post-Brexit Britain through Elisabeth’s eyes and her reflections on culture, art, and politics, interwoven intriguingly with Daniel’s mysterious past.
Smith’s prose is crisp, insightful, and often playful, shedding meaningful light on how abstract issues shape personal experiences and the bonds we form.
If you enjoy Diane Johnson’s sharp observations and deep insights into cultural collisions, you’ll probably appreciate Elif Shafak’s novels. Shafak, a Turkish-British author, skillfully blends narratives of East and West, tradition and modernity.
Her novel The Bastard of Istanbul explores the complex ties between two families—one Turkish, one Armenian-American—whose histories unexpectedly intertwine through buried secrets and strong, intriguing women.
Shafak’s lively characters spark curious dialogues on identity, belonging, and the weight of history, adding layers of depth and warmth to a narrative filled with family drama and powerful memories.