If you enjoy reading novels by Elif Batuman then you might also like the following authors:
Sally Rooney writes stories focused on relationships and the quiet tensions in everyday life. Her book “Normal People” follows Marianne and Connell, two teenagers from a small Irish town. Connell is popular and well-liked, while Marianne is lonely and keeps to herself.
Their relationship shifts between friendship and romance as they move through high school and college. The story explores their emotional connection, miscommunication, and how they shape each other’s lives.
Rooney’s characters are flawed and realistic, which makes their struggles feel personal and familiar.
Rachel Cusk is an author known for her sharp and precise storytelling. Her book “Outline” follows a writer who travels to Greece to teach a summer writing course. Each chapter introduces conversations she has with others, from her fellow travelers to her students.
Through these interactions, their lives and desires come into focus, revealing a lot about the narrator herself without her disclosing much directly. The structure is fresh and lets you see the complexity of human relationships in a way that feels effortless.
Readers who enjoy Elif Batuman might appreciate how Cusk weaves deep reflection into ordinary moments.
Ottessa Moshfegh writes with a sharp, clear voice that captures flawed characters and their inner worlds.
In her novel “My Year of Rest and Relaxation,” she tells the story of a young woman living in New York who decides to escape her dissatisfaction with life by attempting to sleep for an entire year.
She uses a mix of prescription drugs and a questionable psychiatrist to achieve her goal.
The book explores her interactions with her best friend, the memory of her parents, and her distant relationships with others, all while revealing an honest and darkly humorous perspective on loneliness and modern life.
Zadie Smith is a British author known for her sharp and insightful storytelling. Her debut novel, “White Teeth,” is set in London and follows the lives of two immigrant families over several decades.
The book explores how culture, identity, and family history shape the characters’ lives in unexpected ways. You’ll meet Archie, a man whose life takes a strange turn after a failed suicide attempt, and Samad, his best friend who struggles with tradition and modernity.
The characters are funny, flawed, and full of life, offering a vivid and unforgettable portrait of a multicultural city.
Nicole Krauss writes stories that explore human connection and memory in a thoughtful way. In her novel “The History of Love,” she weaves together the lives of several characters tied to an old manuscript.
One storyline follows Leo Gursky, a lonely man in New York who once wrote a book for the love of his life. His story intersects with Alma, a young girl named after a character in that same book, as she uncovers its mysterious origins.
It’s a story about loss, identity, and how people leave traces of themselves through words and memories.
Jenny Offill is an author whose work often focuses on the small moments and fragmented thoughts that make up daily life. Her book “Dept. of Speculation” follows the story of a woman as she navigates marriage, motherhood, and the struggles of her creative ambitions.
The novel is told in brief, vivid sections that feel like snapshots of a life unraveling and rebuilding. It captures the raw emotions of love, betrayal, and the way we piece ourselves together after things fall apart.
Fans of novels that explore inner lives with precision may enjoy the way Offill crafts her storytelling.
Téa Obreht is known for her ability to blend folklore with personal stories in ways that feel real and emotional. Her novel, “The Tiger’s Wife,” follows a young doctor named Natalia as she navigates the loss of her grandfather.
In the midst of her grief, she uncovers tales from his past, including a mysterious story about a tiger that escaped from a zoo during wartime and the woman villagers feared because of her connection to the animal.
The book threads memories, family bonds, and old legends through a setting shaped by conflict. Fans of character-driven stories with layered pasts might find Obreht’s work appealing.
Elena Ferrante writes stories that feel personal and raw. Her book “My Brilliant Friend,” the first in the Neapolitan series, explores the intense and complicated friendship between two girls, Lila and Elena, growing up in a poor neighborhood of Naples.
The story follows their lives as they navigate school, family struggles, and the pressures of their community. Ferrante captures the closeness, jealousy, and rivalry that can exist between lifelong friends, all against the backdrop of a society undergoing change.
It’s honest and full of emotion, with characters that are flawed and fascinating.
Lydia Davis is a writer known for her sharp, precise style and her ability to craft meaningful stories in very few words. Her book “Can’t and Won’t” is a collection of short stories that range from everyday moments to unexpected reflections.
In one story, a neighbor’s complaint about the narrator’s noisy lawn mower spirals into thoughts about communication and misunderstanding. These snapshots of life are sometimes funny, sometimes strange, but always unforgettable.
Davis has a way of making readers look at the world differently, focusing on the small details that can hold so much meaning.
Susan Choi is an author who writes about relationships, identity, and deeper truths hidden beneath the surface of everyday life.
Her novel “Trust Exercise” opens in a high school for the performing arts, where two theater students fall into an intense and complicated relationship.
Their connection unfolds against a backdrop of power dynamics, manipulation, and blurred boundaries, leaving you constantly reevaluating what’s real. The story later shifts perspectives, revealing how the past shapes the present and how memory can change over time.
It’s a book that plays with structure and perspective in surprising ways.
Claire-Louise Bennett is an author with a knack for capturing the strange and intimate moments of daily life. Her book, “Pond,” is a collection of stories that follow a woman living alone near the Irish coast.
The writing closely examines her observations, memories, and inner thoughts as she interacts with her surroundings. One moment she might reflect on the sound of a stove burner, and in another, she questions social norms or recalls something from her past.
It’s full of small, vivid moments that feel honest and deeply personal. If you enjoy stories where the focus is on thought and atmosphere, this could be worth exploring.
Sheila Heti is a Canadian author known for her thoughtful and unique approach to storytelling. Her book “Motherhood” explores the deeply personal and often unspoken question of whether or not to have children.
The narrator, a writer in her late thirties, grapples with societal expectations, relationships, and her own desires while seeking clarity about this decision.
The book takes the form of an intimate conversation with herself, using elements like yes-or-no answers from a coin toss to guide her reflections. It’s a raw and honest look at a topic many people wrestle with but rarely examine so openly.
Gwendoline Riley writes characters who often feel raw and exposed, navigating difficult relationships with a sharp and sometimes darkly funny touch.
In her book “My Phantoms,” the story revolves around Bridget, a woman working in academia, and her complicated relationship with her estranged mother, Helen. The book focuses on their awkward, strained meetings and the uneasy conversations that reveal years of unspoken tension.
Riley captures the subtle, painful moments that surface between loved ones who struggle to truly connect.
Ali Smith is an author known for playing with time, language, and how stories are told. One of her books, “Autumn,” is often called the first post-Brexit novel. It follows Elisabeth, a young woman, and her friendship with Daniel, her elderly neighbor.
Their conversations weave together art, history, and identity while exploring how people stay connected in a divided world. The book shifts between moments in their lives, creating a sense of how the past influences the present.
If you enjoy sharp observations and emotional depth, Ali Smith has a way of making you feel like you’re part of the story.
Meng Jin has written novels like “Little Gods” and “Self-Portrait with Ghost.” Her work explores questions of identity, memory, and the ties between individuals and cultural history.
Her characters often navigate complex relationships and internal conflicts with a sharp yet intimate lens. Readers who enjoy Elif Batuman’s intellectual depth and character-driven narratives may appreciate Meng Jin’s ability to balance thoughtfulness with emotional resonance.