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15 Authors like Gabriel Bump

Gabriel Bump is an American novelist known for his sharp, thoughtful fiction. His notable debut novel, Everywhere You Don't Belong, explores identity, race, and belonging through a heartfelt coming-of-age story set in Chicago's South Side.

If you enjoy reading books by Gabriel Bump then you might also like the following authors:

  1. Paul Beatty

    Paul Beatty mixes humor and sharp satire to expose and question society's views on race and identity. His novel The Sellout uses wild humor and absurd scenarios to explore race relations and identity in America, pulling the reader into a funny yet thought-provoking experience.

  2. James McBride

    James McBride captures human complexity and warmth by exploring themes of identity, family, and community against historical backdrops.

    His novel The Good Lord Bird combines humor, history, and vivid characters into an engaging story about abolitionist John Brown, told through the eyes of a young enslaved boy named Onion.

  3. Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

    Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah writes dynamic, imaginative narratives that confront race, injustice, and consumerism in society.

    In his short story collection, Friday Black, he uses speculative fiction to reveal uncomfortable truths, blending realism with dystopian elements that stay with the reader long after finishing.

  4. Colson Whitehead

    Colson Whitehead experiments across genres, addressing America's past and present problems related to race and power structures.

    In The Nickel Boys, he tells an emotional, heartbreaking story about injustices and resistance in a reform school during the Jim Crow era, based on real events.

  5. Jesmyn Ward

    Jesmyn Ward crafts beautifully detailed stories that speak openly about family, poverty, grief, and resilience in America's South.

    Her powerful novel Sing, Unburied, Sing weaves together past and present, reality and myth, to explore racial history, family bonds, and the complexity of love and loss.

  6. Kiley Reid

    If you enjoyed Gabriel Bump's honest and humorous perspective on race and belonging, you'll find Kiley Reid's writing equally engaging. Her debut novel, Such a Fun Age, thoughtfully explores race, privilege, and social dynamics with warmth and wit.

    Reid blends genuinely funny moments and sharp observations to show how complicated and messy modern relationships can be.

  7. Bryan Washington

    Bryan Washington's work shares Gabriel Bump's authentic voice and down-to-earth storytelling. In his novel Memorial, Washington creates realistic characters who grapple with family, love, and identity.

    His writing captures everyday life's struggles and joys, especially how complicated relationships can get, and does so with honesty and sensitivity.

  8. Ocean Vuong

    Ocean Vuong combines poetic language with deeply personal storytelling in a style that's powerful and moving. If you appreciate Gabriel Bump's exploration of identity and family, you might enjoy Vuong's novel On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous.

    Through a heartfelt letter from a son to his mother, Vuong examines themes like family trauma, immigration, sexuality, and the search for meaning.

  9. Brandon Taylor

    Like Gabriel Bump, Brandon Taylor brings sharp sensitivity and emotional honesty to his fiction. In his novel Real Life, Taylor explores themes of race, sexuality, and isolation within academia.

    His writing reveals the quiet tensions and challenges his characters face daily, capturing how difficult coping with loneliness and belonging can truly feel.

  10. Tommy Orange

    If you admired Gabriel Bump's thoughtful insights into community and identity, Tommy Orange is another author worth exploring. Orange's novel There There tells the story of twelve Native American characters attending an event in Oakland, California.

    Orange brings to life themes of urban Native identity, displacement, and community, creating stories that stay with you long after you finish reading.

  11. Zadie Smith

    If you enjoy Gabriel Bump’s thoughtful and honest reflections on identity and community, you might also appreciate Zadie Smith. Her novels often explore multicultural life, family dynamics, and personal struggles with a sharp wit and emotional depth.

    In her book White Teeth, Smith portrays the lives of immigrant families in London, balancing humor with complex insights into race, identity, and belonging.

  12. Mitchell S. Jackson

    Readers who connect with Gabriel Bump's exploration of race, urban life, and coming-of-age stories might find Mitchell S. Jackson a meaningful next read. Jackson's writing blends vivid prose with thoughtful reflections on family, poverty, and survival.

    His semi-autobiographical novel, The Residue Years, vividly depicts the struggle of a mother and her son as they fight to hold their family together in a challenging Portland neighborhood.

  13. Justin Torres

    If Gabriel Bump’s tender yet unflinching storytelling resonates with you, Justin Torres may also become a favorite. Torres writes short, emotionally intense stories, beautifully capturing family bonds, intimacy, and personal struggles.

    His book We the Animals is told in swift, poetic chapters that depict themes of brotherhood, racial identity, poverty, and growing up amid turbulent family dynamics.

  14. Mat Johnson

    Like Gabriel Bump, Mat Johnson thoughtfully examines race, identity, and the absurdities of modern American life. Johnson’s sharp wit blends social commentary with humor and insight, creating memorable fiction grounded in real-life tensions.

    His novel Loving Day follows a biracial protagonist as he confronts questions of race, fatherhood, and identity in a satirical yet perceptive narrative.

  15. Ben Lerner

    Fans of Gabriel Bump might appreciate Ben Lerner's introspective narratives that explore personal identity, ambition, and the complexities of contemporary life.

    Lerner's style is thoughtful, questioning, and often humorous as he closely examines internal struggles and the challenges of adulthood.

    In his novel, The Topeka School, he explores adolescence, family dynamics, and masculinity, uncovering deeper layers within ordinary experiences.