If you enjoy reading novels by Emma Straub then you might also like the following authors:
Ann Patchett is an author known for novels filled with realistic characters, family drama, and thoughtful looks at relationships and connections—qualities readers who enjoy Emma Straub’s fiction will appreciate.
Her book “Commonwealth” follows two families linked by one unexpected kiss at a christening party. This event changes both families’ paths, blending sibling rivalries, shifting loyalties, and generational bonds in unexpected ways.
The story moves seamlessly through decades, exploring the ways small decisions shape lives, families, and futures. Patchett creates characters that feel genuine and relatable as they navigate everyday life’s messiness and joys.
If you enjoy Emma Straub’s thoughtful stories about family, relationships, and life’s everyday moments, Taylor Jenkins Reid might become your new favorite author.
Reid writes authentic characters who tackle love, heartbreak, ambition, and personal struggles with honesty and depth. In her novel “Malibu Rising,” she transports you to the sun-soaked beaches of 1980s California.
The story follows the famous Riva siblings as they prepare for their legendary end-of-summer party. Over one wild night, secrets unravel, tensions explode, and long-held resentments rise to the surface, changing the siblings’ lives forever.
The narrative moves seamlessly between past and present, exploring family bonds, fame, and the powerful yet complicated connections between siblings.
Readers who enjoy Emma Straub’s warm, character-driven narratives will likely appreciate Elizabeth Strout’s thoughtful storytelling.
Her novel “Olive Kitteridge” offers an insightful look into small-town life through the eyes of Olive, a retired schoolteacher who is blunt, opinionated, and unexpectedly endearing. Set in coastal Maine, the story unfolds in a series of connected vignettes.
Each story shows different aspects of Olive’s complicated personality, highlighting her struggles, strengths, and relationships with her family and neighbors.
Strout’s honest portrayal of ordinary lives reveals quiet dramas beneath everyday events, making “Olive Kitteridge” rewarding for those seeking emotional depth and authentic human connections.
Readers who enjoy Emma Straub’s sharp and insightful storytelling may also appreciate the novels of J. Courtney Sullivan. Sullivan’s books blend complex family relationships with relatable characters that resonate deeply.
In “Maine,” she explores the tensions and secrets of the Kelleher family, brought together one summer at their seaside cottage after generations of complicated family dynamics.
Through the perspective of four women spanning different generations, the plot unfolds to reveal the bitterness, humor, and warmth woven into their lives. Sullivan captures the truths about family bonds and expectations that subtly shape each character’s decisions.
Readers who enjoy Emma Straub’s witty portrayals of family dynamics and relationships may appreciate the novels of Curtis Sittenfeld. Sittenfeld often explores complicated friendships, romantic entanglements, and the quieter tensions that simmer beneath everyday life.
Her novel “Eligible” reimagines Jane Austen’s classic “Pride and Prejudice” in a contemporary Cincinnati setting. The Bennet sisters of this modern retelling face reality TV romance shows, financial pressures, and clashing family expectations.
With humor and insight, Sittenfeld updates familiar characters and social nuances of Austen’s world, bringing them into a sharp and fresh modern context.
Maggie Shipstead offers insightful storytelling and characters you’ll feel connected to, qualities readers appreciate in Emma Straub’s writing too. Shipstead’s novel “Seating Arrangements” centers on the Van Meter family during a wedding weekend on a New England island.
Family tensions bubble beneath the polished surface, as old resentments, romantic mishaps, and social expectations collide.
Shipstead brings humor and insight into the quirks of family dynamics and upper-class society, making it a perfect fit if you enjoy Emma Straub’s nuanced look at relationships and everyday drama.
Meg Wolitzer writes novels that explore friendship, family, and life’s big choices in a thoughtful and honest way. Her book “The Interestings” follows six friends who meet at a summer art camp in the 1970s.
Wolitzer traces their lives into adulthood, capturing their dreams, disappointments, and the lasting effect of early bonds. If you enjoy Emma Straub’s perceptive look at relationships and everyday moments, Wolitzer’s storytelling offers a similar warmth and depth.
Liane Moriarty is an Australian novelist known for sharp character portrayals and smart storytelling about everyday relationships and secrets. If you enjoyed Emma Straub’s insightful look at family dynamics, Moriarty’s novel “Big Little Lies” is worth checking out.
Set in a seemingly calm suburb, this book quickly reveals the tensions hidden behind closed doors. Three women from very different backgrounds find their lives tangled together after an incident at the local school.
Moriarty cleverly explores friendships, marriage struggles, and parenting challenges, with a suspenseful narrative leading toward a night everyone in town will never forget.
Readers who enjoy Emma Straub’s sharp insights into everyday life might appreciate Jenny Offill’s writing style and storytelling. Offill’s novel “Dept. of Speculation” tells the story of a marriage through short, vivid fragments that capture moments of connection and disconnect.
The narrator, known simply as “the wife,” navigates parenthood, ambition, love and disappointment with a sense of humor and honesty. Offill uses keen observations to portray domestic life and relationships, making ordinary moments feel meaningful and full of depth.
Emily Giffin is an author who excels in capturing the details and dilemmas of everyday relationships and family drama.
Her novel “Something Borrowed” centers around Rachel, a loyal friend and accomplished lawyer who finds herself drawn into an unexpected romantic entanglement when she falls for her best friend’s fiancé.
The novel humorously explores friendship, loyalty, and the complicated realities of love and longing. For those readers who appreciate Emma Straub’s sharp insights into personal relationships and nuanced storytelling, Giffin’s warm and honest writing will resonate deeply.
Books by Jojo Moyes often explore emotional relationships, family dynamics, and life’s unexpected twists, themes that resonate with fans of Emma Straub’s novels.
In “Me Before You,” Moyes crafts the powerful story of Louisa Clark, who is hired as a caretaker for Will Traynor—a wealthy man left bitter after an accident has drastically changed his life.
Despite their initial differences, Louisa and Will begin to influence each other in surprising ways. Humor, heartache, and a close look at the complexities of love make this novel an engaging read for those who appreciate authentic characters and relatable stories.
If you enjoy Emma Straub’s warm family stories and vivid settings, you might also appreciate Elin Hilderbrand’s novels. Hilderbrand’s books often center around family relationships and personal challenges set against the scenic backdrop of Nantucket Island.
In “The Identicals,” Hilderbrand introduces twin sisters Harper and Tabitha, who have been estranged for years due to past betrayals and misunderstanding.
After a family crisis forces them to switch places—Harper returns to their family home on Nantucket, while Tabitha takes her sister’s spot on Martha’s Vineyard—they each confront unresolved issues and face unexpected truths.
The authentic characters and lively coastal setting make this novel an excellent pick for Straub fans looking for something new.
If you enjoy Emma Straub’s warm-hearted approach and stories about everyday relationships, Rebecca Serle might be a great fit for you. Her novel “In Five Years” follows Dannie Kohan, a driven lawyer who thinks she knows exactly how her life will unfold.
But after a strange dream one night, Dannie glimpses an entirely different version of her future. The vision shakes her certainty and haunts her as she navigates love, friendship, and unexpected challenges.
Rebecca Serle blends relatable characters with gentle emotional depth, which echoes the style that readers love in Emma Straub’s works.
Mary Beth Keane is an author known for thoughtful stories about family, love, and the struggles of everyday life. Her novel “Ask Again, Yes” follows two families whose lives become intertwined after a tragic event.
Set in suburban New York, the story spans decades, depicting the lasting effects of one night’s violence. Keane carefully shows how each character deals with loyalty, forgiveness, and moving forward after tragedy.
Fans of Emma Straub’s honest, heartfelt storytelling will likely connect with Keane’s rich characters and engaging family dynamics.
Abbi Waxman blends family dynamics, humorous dialogue, and relatable characters into novels that feel real and engaging.
In her book “The Bookish Life of Nina Hill,” she introduces readers to Nina, a smart, somewhat introverted bookstore employee who loves trivia nights and quiet evenings alone.
Nina’s carefully structured life turns upside down when she discovers she has an entire family she never knew existed. Waxman captures the charm, anxiety, and warmth of Nina’s adjustment to this news, while throwing in plenty of clever banter and quirky characters.
If you’re drawn to stories of unexpected connections and the everyday humor of family relationships—like Emma Straub’s novels—you’ll find Waxman’s book comfortable and enjoyable.