If you enjoy reading books by Hanya Yanagihara then you might also like the following authors:
Donna Tartt is an author with an eye for capturing the complexity of human relationships and the weight of personal choices. Her book, “The Goldfinch,” follows Theo Decker, a boy who survives a tragic museum bombing.
In the chaos, he takes a small painting that ends up shaping his entire life. The story weaves through Theo’s struggles with loss, guilt, and identity as he grows up, with the painting as a constant reminder of his past.
Tartt’s writing pulls readers into Theo’s world, painting vivid characters and moments that stay with you.
Celeste Ng is an author known for exploring family, identity, and the ways people connect or fall apart. Her book, “Little Fires Everywhere,” weaves together the lives of two very different families in suburban Ohio.
The Richardsons live a picture-perfect, planned-out life, but everything shifts when Mia Warren, a single mother and artist, moves to town with her daughter, Pearl. As these families cross paths, hidden secrets come to light.
The story digs into questions about privilege, motherhood, and the boundaries people cross to protect those they love.
Colm Tóibín is an Irish writer known for his intimate and emotionally rich storytelling. His novel “The Master” explores the life of Henry James, focusing on his struggles with isolation, ambition, and creativity.
Tóibín paints a vivid portrait of James as he navigates relationships and works through personal losses. It’s a quiet, reflective story that offers a deep look at the balance between art and human connection.
Fans of Hanya Yanagihara’s work might appreciate the way Tóibín touches on themes of loneliness and the complexities of emotions.
Maggie O’Farrell is an author known for creating deeply emotional stories that explore relationships and human vulnerability. Her novel “Hamnet” takes you to 16th-century England, centering on the family of William Shakespeare.
The story focuses on his wife, Agnes, a woman with a mystical connection to the natural world, and their son, Hamnet, whose untimely death leaves an unforgettable mark on their lives. The book captures the love within a family and the unimaginable grief of loss.
O’Farrell writes with a sensitivity that brings every moment to life, making the characters feel real and their struggles profoundly moving.
Kazuo Ishiguro is a writer known for exploring deep emotions and human relationships through quiet, understated storytelling. One of his books, “Never Let Me Go,” paints a haunting picture of a group of friends who grow up in an English boarding school.
As the story unfolds, the children slowly learn the unsettling truth about their existence, which ties their future to a purpose beyond their control. It’s a story about love, memory, and what it means to be human, told in a reflective and deeply personal way.
Ocean Vuong is a poet and author known for their deeply emotional and intimate storytelling. Their novel, “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous,” is written as a letter from a son to his mother, who cannot read.
The story explores themes of family, love, and identity through the lens of the son’s experiences as a Vietnamese immigrant growing up in America. Scenes of his life are layered with memories of his mother’s struggles and his grandmother’s past during the Vietnam War.
It’s a beautifully raw and personal book that unpacks generational pain and the complexities of growing up between two worlds.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian author known for her deeply emotional and thought-provoking novels.
Her book “Half of a Yellow Sun” is set during the Nigerian Civil War and follows the lives of several characters as they navigate love, survival, and the devastating impact of the war.
The story focuses on twin sisters Olanna and Kainene, alongside those who come into their lives, showing how relationships are tested under extreme circumstances. It’s a story that brings humanity to history, written with vivid detail and unforgettable characters.
Philipp Meyer is an author known for powerful, emotionally rich stories. His novel “The Son” is an epic tale of family, land, and power in Texas.
It follows the McCullough family, starting with Eli, a boy kidnapped by Comanches in the 1800s who grows into a hardened, ambitious man. The narrative moves through generations, from cattle ranchers to oil tycoons, showing how wealth and violence shape their legacy.
The book paints a vivid picture of life on the American frontier and the struggles of holding onto power across time.
Marilynne Robinson is an author known for emotionally rich stories that explore family, faith, and the passage of time. Her novel “Gilead” is written as a letter from Reverend John Ames, an aging preacher, to his young son.
Set in a small Iowa town in the 1950s, the book reflects on the reverend’s life, his strained relationships, and the histories that bind his family together.
The quiet moments in the story feel personal, offering a look into how people wrestle with love, loss, and forgiveness over generations.
Andrew Sean Greer is an author known for stories that blend humor, emotion, and relatable characters. His Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “Less,” follows Arthur Less, a struggling writer approaching fifty who decides to avoid his ex-boyfriend’s wedding by traveling the world.
As he moves from one misadventure to another in different countries, Arthur reflects on his life, career, and love with a mix of wit and vulnerability. The book is both funny and tender, offering a heartfelt look at self-discovery and the fear of aging.
Jhumpa Lahiri is an author known for her deep exploration of family, identity, and the immigrant experience. Her book “The Namesake” follows the life of Gogol, a young man born to Bengali parents in America.
The story shows his struggles with his name, his heritage, and the tension between the life his parents imagined for him and the one he hopes to create for himself. Lahiri writes with emotional clarity and a focus on the quiet moments that shape relationships and identity.
David Mitchell is known for writing novels that explore deep connections between characters and places across time. One of his most celebrated books, “Cloud Atlas”, weaves together six different stories spanning centuries.
Each story links to the next in unexpected ways, from a 19th-century notary crossing the Pacific to a post-apocalyptic future. The characters grapple with themes like power, identity, and survival, and their lives often echo one another in touching and mysterious ways.
The structure of the book allows readers to see how small choices can ripple through history.
Toni Morrison was a storyteller who created powerful narratives about family, identity, and history. Her book “Beloved” tells the story of Sethe, a woman who escaped slavery but is haunted by the choices she made to protect her child.
The story mixes everyday life and the supernatural, as Sethe confronts her past when a mysterious young woman appears. Morrison’s writing doesn’t shy away from pain, yet it also finds moments of connection and strength in her characters’ lives.
Jonathan Franzen is an author known for crafting detailed portraits of family dynamics and societal pressures. One of his novels, “The Corrections,” explores the lives of the Lambert family.
The parents, Enid and Alfred, hope to bring their three adult children together for one last Christmas at home. The book shifts between the perspectives of each family member, showing their struggles with identity, relationships, and personal failures.
It’s a story about the tension between expectations and reality, with moments that feel painfully honest.
Elizabeth Strout writes deeply emotional stories about human relationships and the struggles people face in their day-to-day lives. One of her most loved books, “Olive Kitteridge”, tells the story of Olive, a retired schoolteacher in a small Maine town.
Through interconnected chapters, readers see Olive’s sharp wit and complex personality, as well as her relationships with her family and neighbors. The book is full of moments that show how a person can be both flawed and deeply caring.
Strout’s writing feels intimate and honest—perfect for readers who appreciate stories that explore the depth of human experience.