If you enjoy reading books by Emma Donoghue then you might also like the following authors:
Sarah Waters is a Welsh author known for stories set in historical eras, with strong, memorable characters. If you liked Emma Donoghue, you might also enjoy Waters’s book, “Fingersmith.” It follows Sue Trinder, a young thief in Victorian London.
She agrees to help cheat a wealthy young woman out of her fortune, but the scheme turns complicated. The story has twists that change everything Sue knows about herself and the people around her.
Waters describes Victorian settings that feel alive, with characters you grow attached to quickly.
Geraldine Brooks is an Australian-American author who writes historical fiction that brings the past to life in a fresh and vivid way. Her novel “Year of Wonders” follows a woman named Anna Frith, who must carry on after her village is struck by plague in 1666.
Anna faces illness, superstition and social breakdown, yet she finds resilience and purpose through the turmoil.
Readers who enjoy Emma Donoghue’s thoughtful storytelling in books like “The Wonder” or “Room” may appreciate the depth and humanity present in Brooks’ exploration of history and personal strength in “Year of Wonders.”
Maggie O’Farrell is an author who writes novels centered around family, history and deep emotions. Her book “Hamnet” follows young Hamnet Shakespeare and his family in 16th-century England. The novel imagines the Shakespeare family’s struggles during the illness of their child.
It shows a close and sensitive portrayal of grief, loss and family bonds. Readers who enjoyed Emma Donoghue’s thoughtful storytelling in historical settings may find Maggie O’Farrell’s “Hamnet” similarly moving.
Kate Atkinson is an English author who writes novels with characters you don’t easily forget. Her novel “Life After Life” follows a woman named Ursula Todd who experiences life multiple times.
She lives and dies repeatedly through the twentieth century, each new life bringing different decisions and unforeseen outcomes. Atkinson weaves together scenes that show how small moments can change history, especially Ursula’s role during World War II.
Readers who enjoy the detailed characterization of Emma Donoghue’s books might find a similar appeal in the thoughtful storytelling of “Life After Life.”
Hannah Kent writes historical fiction that feels vivid and real. Her novel “Burial Rites” tells a story inspired by real-life events in rural Iceland in the 1800s. The book follows Agnes, a woman sentenced to death for murder.
Agnes lives with a family while she waits for her punishment. During her time there, her past slowly unfolds through memories and conversations. Kent shows what life was truly like in this harsh environment.
Readers of Emma Donoghue might enjoy “Burial Rites” because, much like Donoghue, Kent picks intriguing characters and historical settings to make the past come alive.
Eleanor Catton is a writer from New Zealand whose work appeals to readers of historical novels and psychological fiction. Her novel “The Luminaries” takes place in the 1860s during the gold rush in New Zealand.
Walter Moody is one of several intriguing characters who meets others in a hotel on the stormy West Coast. They soon learn each person’s story is tied together by strange events, including the death of a local hermit and a missing wealthy young man.
The novel uses astrology as a theme and is structured to correspond to the phases of the moon. Readers who enjoyed Emma Donoghue’s insightful storytelling might find Eleanor Catton’s detailed settings and unusual characters engaging and worthwhile.
Hilary Mantel is a British author who writes historical novels with sharp storytelling and clear characters. Her well-known book, “Wolf Hall,” centers on Thomas Cromwell, advisor to Henry VIII during the English Reformation.
Mantel’s portrayal of Cromwell moves beyond typical historical figures, giving him depth and complexity. The relationships Cromwell forms with figures like Anne Boleyn and Cardinal Wolsey pull the reader into his world.
The story provides a look at Tudor history from a fresh angle that readers of Emma Donoghue’s carefully written stories could enjoy.
Anne Enright is an Irish author known for exploring family dynamics in her novels. Her book “The Green Road” centers on the Madigan family, whose adult children return to their childhood home for Christmas.
Each character brings complicated feelings and memories from the life they left behind. Enright carefully portrays the details of love and conflict within the family, allowing readers to see the deep connections and strains between siblings and parents.
For anyone who appreciates how Emma Donoghue portrays complex relationships and realistic characters, Enright’s “The Green Road” offers something meaningful to discover.
Jessie Burton is an author who creates clear, detailed scenes and believable characters. Her book “The Miniaturist” is set in 17th-century Amsterdam, where a young woman named Nella moves into her wealthy husband’s home after marriage.
She discovers a miniature version of her house that appears to predict mysterious events in the household. The atmosphere is tense and layered with secrecy.
If you enjoy Emma Donoghue’s focus on carefully crafted characters and historical settings, Jessie Burton offers a similar reading experience.
Laline Paull is a British author who writes novels that explore unique viewpoints, often through unusual narrators. Her book “The Bees” tells the story of Flora 717, a worker bee born into the lowest status in her colony.
Flora has special abilities that set her apart, and she questions the strict rules that govern bee society. Flora’s perspective gives readers a fresh look at power, obedience, and identity, all within the fascinating life of a bee hive.
Paull’s creative approach and insightful storytelling could appeal to readers who enjoy the thoughtful narratives seen in Emma Donoghue’s novels.
Tracy Chevalier is an author known for her insightful storytelling and historical fiction novels. If you enjoyed Emma Donoghue’s work, you might also appreciate Chevalier’s writing style and keen sense of character.
Her book “Girl with a Pearl Earring” follows the life of a young girl named Griet who becomes the maid in the household of painter Johannes Vermeer. She soon appears as the subject of one of his paintings. The story is set in the Netherlands in the 17th century.
It explores the daily life of that time and the complicated balance between servant and master, art and reality. Chevalier brings history to life through believable characters and their personal struggles, which makes her work appealing to readers of Emma Donoghue.
Elizabeth Wein writes historical fiction that feels real and personal. Her novel “Code Name Verity” is set during World War II and follows the friendship between two young women involved in the war effort. One is a pilot and the other a spy.
After the spy’s capture by enemy forces, she must provide sensitive information and try to stay alive. The book skillfully uses letters and confessions to reveal the characters’ experiences and motives in surprising ways.
Readers who enjoyed Emma Donoghue’s realistic use of historical settings and strong character narratives might also connect well with Elizabeth Wein’s storytelling.
If you enjoy historical fiction that offers a vivid sense of place and character, Alison Weir is a writer worth trying. She writes carefully researched novels about real historical figures, especially focusing on women from past centuries.
In her novel “The Lady Elizabeth,” Weir takes readers into the childhood and young life of Queen Elizabeth I before her rise to power.
Elizabeth experiences all the tensions, danger and drama inside the English royal court during the reigns of her father Henry VIII and her sister Mary.
The story offers powerful scenes between Elizabeth and her father, as well as insights into how this difficult upbringing shaped her later decisions as queen.
Readers who like Emma Donoghue’s ability to reveal unusual details and create believable voices for historical characters may find a similar skill in Alison Weir’s novels.
Madeline Miller writes novels that explore fascinating takes on ancient Greek myths. Her book “Circe” follows Circe, a mysterious figure in mythology. The story shows Circe as she grows from a quiet outsider to someone with her own strengths and desires.
She meets famous figures like Odysseus, and deals with conflicts between power, love and family. Miller’s style focuses on clear, emotional scenes, offering fresh views about old myths.
Her stories often center on strong women in situations that remind readers of Emma Donoghue’s characters.
Pat Barker is a British author known for novels that explore complicated human relationships. Her novel “The Silence of the Girls” is a retelling of the Trojan War from the viewpoint of Briseis, a Trojan queen taken captive by Achilles.
The story reveals the experiences of women during wartime who are often hidden from history. Barker’s storytelling offers a fresh take on ancient events and shows the lives of women with honesty and humanity.
Readers who enjoyed Emma Donoghue’s thoughtful portrayals of resilient characters may also appreciate Pat Barker’s approach to historical fiction.