If you enjoy reading books by Emily St. John Mandel then you might also like the following authors:
Margaret Atwood is a celebrated Canadian author known for crafting stories that explore power, society, and survival. In her novel “The Handmaid’s Tale,” she paints a chilling picture of a dystopian future where women lose their rights under a totalitarian regime.
The story follows Offred, a woman forced into a state-sanctioned role as a child-bearer for the elite. Her life is a constant battle between submission and resistance, with moments of quiet rebellion that are gripping.
Fans of Emily St. John Mandel’s focus on resilience in harsh worlds might find Atwood’s work equally intriguing.
David Mitchell is known for crafting stories that weave together different characters and timelines in unexpected ways.
One of his standout novels, “Cloud Atlas,” moves through six interconnected stories, taking readers from a 19th-century ship journey to a distant, dystopian future. Each narrative has its own distinct style and voice, yet they all connect in small but meaningful ways.
For instance, a composer in the 1930s discovers a journal kept by a Pacific explorer, and centuries later, a futuristic clone stumbles upon forbidden stories from the past.
The book feels like a puzzle, where every piece reveals something larger about human lives and choices over time.
Kazuo Ishiguro is an author known for exploring themes of memory and loss in a quiet and reflective way. One of his standout novels, “Never Let Me Go,” takes place in a world where children at an English boarding school come to realize their lives have a darker purpose.
The story follows Kathy as she narrates her experiences with her close friends, Ruth and Tommy, uncovering the truth piece by piece. Ishiguro’s storytelling makes the everyday moments of friendship and heartbreak feel deeply meaningful.
Donna Tartt is an author known for her atmospheric and richly detailed novels. In “The Secret History”, she tells the story of a group of college students who become deeply influenced by their charismatic professor and ancient Greek studies.
Drawn together by their obsession with beauty and intellectualism, their bond takes a dark turn when they blur moral boundaries. The book moves through moments of tension and secrecy, creating a sense of unease that grows as the story unfolds.
Tartt’s writing brings the characters and their troubling choices to life with striking clarity.
Colson Whitehead writes stories that often explore large, thought-provoking ideas through unforgettable characters and settings.
One of his standout books, “The Underground Railroad,” reimagines the historic Underground Railroad as an actual network of trains and tunnels beneath the ground. The story follows Cora, a young enslaved woman, as she escapes a brutal plantation and journeys toward freedom.
Each stop along her path reveals a new and startling vision of America, making her struggle both personal and universal. Whitehead’s storytelling can feel vivid and haunting, offering readers a unique perspective on history.
Rebecca Makkai is a writer known for her captivating storytelling and deeply human characters. In her novel “The Great Believers,” she weaves two timelines together. One follows Yale, an art gallery director in 1980s
Chicago, as he navigates love and friendships amid the AIDS crisis. The other takes place decades later, where Fiona, the sister of one of Yale’s friends, searches for her estranged daughter in modern-day Paris.
The book explores how tragedy shapes lives and relationships over time. It’s rich with emotion and memorable characters, offering a poignant look at love, loss, and the long-lasting impact of grief.
Lauren Groff is an author known for her imaginative storytelling and vivid sense of place. Her novel “Matrix” is set in the 12th century and follows Marie de France, a young woman cast out of the royal court and sent to a remote abbey.
Over time, Marie rises to power, transforming the abbey into a thriving and self-sufficient community. The book explores themes of ambition, resilience, and the bonds between women. It brings history to life in a way that’s immersive and full of unexpected turns.
If you enjoy character-driven stories with strong atmospheres, her work is worth exploring.
George Saunders has a way of creating stories that feel close to real life, even when they drift into the strange or surreal. His book “Lincoln in the Bardo” is a mix of historical fiction and ghostly tales.
It centers on President Lincoln visiting the tomb of his young son Willie, who has died during the Civil War. The story is told through a chorus of voices—spirits stuck in a kind of limbo—who reflect on their lives and the world they’ve left behind.
It’s emotional and thought-provoking, with moments that feel heartbreakingly human.
Amor Towles is an author known for his engaging and heartfelt storytelling. One of his novels, “A Gentleman in Moscow,” is set in 1922 and follows Count Alexander Rostov, a Russian aristocrat sentenced to house arrest in a grand hotel.
The story revolves around his life within the hotel, where he forms friendships and discovers unexpected purpose. The charm of the book lies in its richly drawn characters and the way it captures resilience and beauty in confined circumstances.
Lila Bowen, also writing as Delilah S. Dawson, is an author who blends fantasy with western vibes in unique ways. One of her standout books is “Wake of Vultures,” the first in *The Shadow* series.
The story follows Nettie, a tough and determined outcast who works on a ranch and has always felt out of place. One night, she fights off what seems like a man but turns out to be something far more sinister, which opens her eyes to a world filled with monsters and magic.
Nettie’s journey takes her through deserts, saloons, and battles as she faces dangers far beyond the human world. It’s gritty and unforgettable, offering a world where the supernatural feels alive and raw.
Claire North is known for writing stories that blend the everyday with the extraordinary. One of her most intriguing books is “The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August.” It follows Harry, a man who lives his life over and over again, always aware of his past lives.
The twist comes when another person like him warns of a future catastrophe that only Harry can stop. The mix of time loops and moral dilemmas makes the story fascinating and impossible to forget.
If you enjoy layered tales with deep characters, Claire North might be a good fit for you.
Erin Morgenstern is an author known for creating immersive and imaginative worlds. Her book, “The Night Circus,” is about a mysterious circus that arrives without warning, opening only at night.
At its heart is a competition between two young illusionists, Celia and Marco, who have been trained as rivals by their mentors. The stakes are high, but neither of them knows the full extent of the game’s rules.
The circus itself feels alive, with dazzling performances and enchanting secrets hidden in its tents. Fans of rich storytelling and carefully crafted settings may find this book intriguing.
Anthony Doerr writes stories that are rich with detail and emotional depth. His book “All the Light We Cannot See” is set during World War II and follows two characters: a blind French girl and a German boy who is part of the Hitler Youth. Their lives cross in unexpected ways.
The story captures the small, human moments in a time of chaos. Fans of Emily St. John Mandel’s work might appreciate how Doerr creates intimate, character-driven narratives in extraordinary settings.
Elif Shafak is an author who writes stories that weave together characters, places, and emotions in a way that feels both intimate and expansive.
One of her books, “The Bastard of Istanbul,” follows two families—one Turkish, one Armenian—whose histories are tangled by secrets and old wounds. The story takes you from Istanbul to San Francisco, showing how personal and cultural memories shape lives.
The book introduces characters like Asya, a rebellious teenager living in Istanbul, and Armanoush, who travels there in search of her roots. Their lives intersect in unexpected ways, revealing connections across generations.
Colin McAdam writes stories that explore human relationships in unique ways. One of his books, “Some Great Thing,” focuses on two men working as rivals in the construction boom in Ottawa.
It’s about ambition, class, and the ways people clash or connect in unpredictable situations. McAdam’s writing has a knack for capturing both the mundane and the extraordinary moments of life, making the characters feel real and alive.
If you appreciate Emily St. John Mandel’s focus on human emotions and layered storytelling, McAdam might be a good choice.