Gail Honeyman writes books that really get under your skin, in the best possible way. Her stories often feature characters navigating the everyday challenges of life with a mix of humor and heart.
If you are on the lookout for authors who create a similar reading experience, then keep reading.
Readers who enjoy Gail Honeyman’s insightful storytelling might find Matt Haig appealing. Haig often creates characters who face emotional challenges and explore life’s big questions.
His novel, “The Midnight Library,” follows Nora Seed, a woman overwhelmed by regrets, who discovers a library between life and death. Each book she opens reveals a different version of her own life, based on choices she could have made.
As Nora experiences these alternate realities, she confronts themes of possibility, fulfillment, and the meaning of happiness. Haig’s writing gently balances thoughtful connections with human warmth, making his novels resonate long after the final page.
Fredrik Backman is a Swedish author known for thoughtful yet funny novels that explore human emotions and everyday relationships. If you enjoyed Gail Honeyman’s “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine,” you might connect with Backman’s “A Man Called Ove.”
The book is about Ove, a cranky and isolated older man who strictly enforces neighborhood rules and isn’t fond of socializing. His life changes when a lively young family moves in next door.
Through unexpected friendships and humorous situations, Ove’s tough exterior gradually reveals warmth and heart. It’s an uplifting story filled with relatable characters and subtle humor, offering insight into loneliness, community, and second chances.
Books by Jojo Moyes often explore everyday life with humor, emotional depth and memorable characters. Readers who enjoyed Gail Honeyman’s “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” may connect with the novel “Me Before You.”
This book features Louisa Clark, an ordinary young woman who takes a job caring for Will, a quadriplegic man whose life took a dramatic and painful turn after an accident.
As Louisa attempts to boost Will’s spirits, their relationship unfolds in unexpected ways, challenging how they both view life, love and what truly matters.
Moyes creates characters who feel authentic, vulnerable and refreshingly flawed, making the reader genuinely care about their journeys.
If you enjoy Gail Honeyman’s blend of humor, warmth, and honest looks at life’s tougher moments, you might appreciate the novels of Liane Moriarty.
Moriarty is an Australian author known for relatable characters and plots that explore friendship, family dynamics, and complex relationships.
In her popular book “Big Little Lies,” Moriarty tells the intersecting stories of three mothers in a seaside community whose seemingly perfect lives are disrupted by hidden secrets and tensions.
A school trivia night ends in tragedy, and readers slowly uncover scandal and rivalry behind closed doors. Moriarty captures everyday suburban dramas with wit and emotional insight, painting realistic people pushed to extraordinary situations.
Her style has a similar charm and heartfelt depth that Gail Honeyman’s readers often connect with.
Anne Tyler writes thoughtful stories filled with quirky, relatable characters who quietly capture your attention. Her book “The Accidental Tourist” tells the story of Macon Leary, a cautious travel writer who hates to travel and prefers staying isolated in his structured world.
After personal loss shakes up his routine, Macon meets Muriel, an unpredictable dog trainer who gently nudges him toward an unexpected new life.
Tyler’s knack for warm humor and quiet insight into human relationships offers a satisfying read for anyone who enjoyed Gail Honeyman’s “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.”
Books by Elizabeth Berg often explore everyday moments and relatable characters with warmth and authenticity. Readers who appreciated Gail Honeyman’s “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” may enjoy Berg’s novel “The Story of Arthur Truluv.”
The story follows Arthur Moses, a kind elderly man who visits his late wife’s grave every day to talk and reminisce. At the cemetery, he befriends Maddy, a lonely teenager facing struggles at home and school.
Their unexpected friendship, along with Arthur’s nurturing neighbor Lucille, creates a heartfelt story about connection, loss, and the quiet ways people support each other through life’s challenges.
If you enjoy Gail Honeyman for her sensitive storytelling and heartfelt characters, Nina George might also appeal to you. George is a German author known for novels that explore love and solace with warmth and depth.
In her novel “The Little Paris Bookshop,” Jean Perdu is a bookseller who operates a floating bookshop in Paris. He’s gifted in sensing the perfect book to heal other people’s troubles but carries his own hidden sadness.
When a forgotten letter leads Jean on a journey through France, readers follow along on an emotional voyage filled with beautiful settings, self-discovery, and conversations about literature. It’s a thoughtful story that connects books, love, and healing in a memorable way.
Beth Morrey is a British author known for her warm, emotionally rich storytelling that resonates deeply with readers who enjoyed Gail Honeyman’s “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.”
In Morrey’s novel “The Love Story of Missy Carmichael,” we meet Missy, a lonely elderly woman who finds herself unexpectedly connected with her community through chance encounters at her local park.
Morrey captures life’s small moments with humor, compassion, and sensitivity, portraying the quiet courage and resilience of a woman starting again later in life.
If you appreciated the uplifting sincerity and heartfelt characters in Honeyman’s work, Beth Morrey’s books offer similar warmth and humanity.
Readers who enjoyed Gail Honeyman’s warm storytelling and heartfelt characters might also appreciate Rachel Joyce.
Her novel “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” follows the journey of Harold, a retired man who unexpectedly sets off on foot to deliver a letter to an old friend.
Harold’s spontaneous decision sparks a quiet but transformative adventure filled with interesting encounters, humor, and layers of emotional depth.
Joyce’s sensitive portrayal of Harold and his discoveries along the way creates a story full of hope, connection, and gentle revelations about life.
Catherine Isaac offers heartfelt stories that explore friendship, family dynamics, and life’s unexpected turns with warmth and authenticity.
Her novel “You Me Everything” centers around Jess, a single mother determined to reconnect her son with his estranged father, Adam. Set against the backdrop of the French countryside, the story explores complicated relationships, second chances, and the strength it takes to confront difficult truths.
Isaac weaves gentle humor and emotional depth into Jess’s journey, creating relatable characters readers genuinely care about. Fans of Gail Honeyman’s “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine” may find a similar emotional pull and vivid storytelling in Isaac’s thoughtful writing.
Sophie Kinsella is an author known for her relatable and warm-hearted novels featuring characters who feel familiar and genuine. Her book “My Not So Perfect Life” follows Katie Brenner, a young woman determined to project a polished and ideal persona on social media.
Katie’s real life, however, is quite messy and far less glamorous. After losing her job unexpectedly, she moves back home to help her family create a quaint rural retreat.
The story unfolds with humor and sincerity, depicting Katie’s struggles to reconcile her public image with her true self, as well as offering an insightful look at friendships, career challenges, and family relationships.
Readers who enjoyed Gail Honeyman’s “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” might find comfort in Kinsella’s honest and humorous approach toward life’s everyday imperfections.
Sarah Haywood offers readers a warm and insightful look at quirky characters in relatable situations. In her novel “The Cactus,” we meet Susan Green, a woman whose life revolves around order, structure, and independence.
Susan’s neatly planned existence faces upheaval when unexpected personal events force her to confront messy emotions and unwanted relationships.
Like Gail Honeyman’s “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine,” this story introduces a memorable protagonist who must navigate the complicated world around her while discovering a new openness to connection and vulnerability.
Haywood expertly blends humor with heartfelt moments, making Susan a character readers easily root for.
If you enjoy Gail Honeyman’s warm, insightful storytelling, Marian Keyes might be your next favorite author. Keyes captures life’s humor and heartfelt struggles through characters you can’t help but root for.
In her book “Rachel’s Holiday,” Rachel Walsh faces an unexpected reality check when her family insists she enter rehab, after her wild adventures in New York spiral out of control.
Expecting a relaxing vacation and glamorous spa treatments, Rachel is caught off guard by real therapy sessions and a surprising journey toward self-discovery.
Filled with relatable moments, humor, and emotional honesty, the story takes readers through Rachel’s ups and downs as she learns about self-acceptance and the power of second chances.
Lisa Jewell is a British author known for her engaging characters and emotionally insightful narratives that resonate with fans of Gail Honeyman. Her novel “Then She Was Gone” centers on Laurel Mack, a mother still grieving her daughter’s disappearance a decade earlier.
When Laurel meets a charming stranger named Floyd, she’s shocked by how closely his young daughter resembles her missing child, Ellie. This discovery opens up old wounds and leads Laurel on a journey full of twists, questions, and emotional revelations.
Jewell skillfully explores family relationships, loss, and the ways our past can unexpectedly resurface and shape our present.