Emily Fridlund is an American novelist known for literary fiction. Her novel History of Wolves was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, showcasing her thoughtful and evocative storytelling style.
If you enjoy reading books by Emily Fridlund then you might also like the following authors:
Ottessa Moshfegh writes stories that explore the strange and unsettling sides of human nature. Her novels often feature isolated or troubled characters who confront uncomfortable truths.
In her novel My Year of Rest and Relaxation, Moshfegh deals with themes of loneliness and self-destructive behavior, combining dark humor with sharp, insightful prose.
Jesmyn Ward writes vivid, deeply moving fiction that explores family, loss, and racial injustice in America. Her stories often focus on communities in the American South, portraying their struggles and resilience with heartfelt honesty.
In her powerful novel Sing, Unburied, Sing, Ward depicts a family's challenging journey, weaving emotional realism with touches of the supernatural.
Megan Abbott creates suspenseful, psychologically tense novels that explore hidden obsessions and deceit. She often sets her stories in tight-knit groups, such as families or teenage friendships, uncovering simmering conflicts beneath ordinary surfaces.
In Dare Me, Abbott presents the complicated dynamics of high-school cheerleaders, turning seemingly everyday adolescent rivalries into a dark, suspenseful narrative.
Emma Cline's storytelling captures the subtleties of adolescence and young adulthood with sensitivity and precision. She particularly considers the desire for belonging and the allure of dangerous influences.
Her novel The Girls draws inspiration from historical cult events, exploring how innocence can become intertwined with manipulation and violence.
Celeste Ng examines complex familial relationships, exploring how secrets, identity, and community pressures shape people's lives. With clear, accessible prose, Ng quietly unravels tensions hidden beneath suburban harmony.
Her novel Little Fires Everywhere thoughtfully addresses issues of motherhood, race, privilege, and the weight of expectations, creating an absorbing, relatable story.
Gabriel Tallent writes powerful stories about the natural world and difficult family relationships. His novel, My Absolute Darling, tells the story of 14-year-old Turtle as she navigates survival, isolation, and abuse in a beautiful yet harsh coastal landscape.
Readers who appreciate Emily Fridlund's dark, honest exploration of family and coming-of-age would find a lot to connect with in Tallent's work.
Lauren Groff often explores characters who keep secrets beneath seemingly perfect lives. She captures the way people are shaped by their environments and hidden emotional struggles.
Her novel Fates and Furies reveals a marriage by examining it from two very different points of view, highlighting how powerfully perception shapes relationships. If you like Emily Fridlund's careful and insightful look at relationships, Groff offers a similarly thoughtful read.
Daisy Johnson's writing is tense and atmospheric, often blending realism with elements of folklore and myth. Her novel Everything Under reimagines a Greek myth in a contemporary rural English setting, exploring the complicated bonds of family, memory, and identity.
Johnson's focus on complicated parent-child relationships and unsettling rural settings makes her a great pick if you enjoyed Fridlund's storytelling.
Fiona Mozley writes vividly about outsiders, the natural world, and the tension between isolation and community. Her debut novel Elmet follows a family's conflict with their rural community, touching on family bonds, violence, and struggles with societal norms.
If Emily Fridlund's unsettling stories and rural landscapes resonate with you, Mozley's emotionally charged writing will likely appeal as well.
Claire Vaye Watkins creates vivid, unsettling narratives often set against stark western landscapes. Her novel Gold Fame Citrus imagines a near-future California ravaged by drought, focusing on survival, relationships, and climate anxiety.
Watkins' detailed settings and exploration of isolation and interpersonal conflict will resonate with readers who enjoy Emily Fridlund's thoughtful storytelling.
Samantha Hunt writes imaginative, atmospheric stories that blend reality with eerie elements. Her novel Mr. Splitfoot explores ghostly themes, sisterhood, and family secrets.
Her style is poetic and unsettling, a good fit if you admired Fridlund's subtle tension and sense of mystery.
Sarah Shun-lien Bynum's writing is vivid, emotional, and deeply personal. She often captures the complexities of human relationships and coming-of-age experiences with depth and empathy.
Her book Madeleine is Sleeping combines dreamy storytelling with beautiful, sensory-rich prose that readers of Fridlund will find satisfying.
Amy Bloom writes stories that capture families and relationships with emotional honesty and sharp insight. Her novel Away, which follows a woman's journey across continents, shows characters in moments of profound vulnerability and resilience.
Bloom's clear prose, emotional depth, and strong characterization resonate with readers who enjoy Fridlund's nuanced portrayals.
Alice McDermott explores ordinary lives with subtle elegance and great emotional insight. In her book Someone, she tells the quiet yet powerful story of an Irish-American woman navigating life's joys and sorrows.
Her careful attention to everyday details and psychological depth are qualities fans of Fridlund will likely appreciate.
Robin Wasserman is skilled at crafting emotionally complex narratives that examine community, trauma, and coming-of-age struggles. Her novel Girls on Fire delves into teenage friendship, obsession, and dark secrets.
Wasserman's intense and thought-provoking style will suit readers who liked the storytelling and themes found in Fridlund's works.