If you enjoy reading novels by Ian McEwan then you might also like the following authors:
Kazuo Ishiguro is a master at creating deeply personal stories that stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. One of his most well-known novels, “Never Let Me Go,” follows Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth, who grow up in what seems like an idyllic English boarding school.
As they grow older, they begin to uncover unsettling truths about the purpose of their lives. The story is quiet yet haunting, exploring love, friendship, and what it means to face the limits of your fate.
If you’re drawn to Ian McEwan’s emotional depth and thought-provoking narratives, Ishiguro’s work might feel like a natural next step.
Julian Barnes is an author known for exploring the complexities of human relationships and memory. His book “The Sense of an Ending” follows Tony Webster, a retired man reflecting on his younger days after an unexpected inheritance stirs up old secrets.
The story deals with the way we interpret our past and the gaps in what we remember. A mysterious diary, a love triangle, and unresolved emotions pull you into Tony’s search for the truth, showing how the past can shift under new light.
Fans of Ian McEwan’s focus on human behavior might find Barnes a great match.
Zadie Smith is an author known for creating detailed and deeply human stories. Her book, “White Teeth,” explores the lives of two families in London over several decades. It focuses on themes like friendship, identity, and the impact of history on personal lives.
The story begins with an attempted suicide gone wrong and grows into a multi-generational tale. The characters feel real and flawed, navigating cultural conflicts, family secrets, and unexpected turns.
Smith captures a vibrant, layered picture of modern life in a way that makes each page feel alive.
Martin Amis is known for his sharp writing and dark wit. His book “The Information” is about two writers whose friendship turns into a bitter rivalry. Richard, a struggling novelist, watches his old friend Gwyn succeed in the literary world, which fuels his jealousy.
The story follows Richard as he schemes against Gwyn, leading to situations full of bad decisions and biting humor. It dives into ambition, failure, and the pettiness that can arise between friends.
Fans of Ian McEwan’s layered and unsettling storytelling may find Amis’ style equally fascinating.
Margaret Atwood is a Canadian author who creates stories that often explore human relationships and the darker corners of society.
Her novel, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” is set in a world where a totalitarian regime strips women of their rights and forces them into roles based on their ability to produce children.
The story follows Offred, a woman trapped in this system, as she struggles with fear, memories of her old life, and a quiet defiance against her oppressors. The book is unsettling and thought-provoking, with a focus on resilience and human connection under extreme conditions.
It’s a gripping read for anyone who enjoys exploring complex human experiences like those in Ian McEwan’s work.
Colm Tóibín is an Irish author known for his deep focus on character and relationships. One of his standout novels, “Brooklyn,” tells the story of Eilis Lacey, a young woman who leaves her small Irish town in the 1950s to build a new life in New York.
It’s a quiet and moving tale of homesickness, love, and the struggle to choose between two different worlds. Eilis finds herself torn between her old life in Ireland and the new opportunities that America offers, showing how difficult decisions can shape who we become.
Graham Swift writes stories that often explore relationships, memory, and the passage of time. If you enjoy Ian McEwan, you might want to check out his book “Waterland.”
It’s about a history teacher named Tom Crick, who looks back on his life while teaching his students about the Fenlands of England. The story weaves together local history, personal tragedies, and the secrets of his marriage.
The setting feels vividly real, with the marshy landscapes tied deeply to the characters’ lives. It’s a book that lingers on what shapes us and how the past refuses to stay buried.
Pat Barker is a writer known for exploring the depths of human emotion and experience during times of war and upheaval. Her book “Regeneration” takes place during World War I and focuses on soldiers recovering in a psychiatric hospital.
The story introduces figures like Siegfried Sassoon, a poet and soldier who speaks out against the war, and Dr. Rivers, a psychiatrist grappling with the ethics of sending men back to fight.
The book dives into the psychological scars left by combat and the bond between patients and their doctor. It’s a thoughtful and haunting portrayal of a world trying to make sense of devastation.
Hanif Kureishi is a British author known for exploring relationships, identity, and the messiness of human lives. His novel “The Buddha of Suburbia” follows Karim, a mixed-race teenager growing up in the London suburbs during the 1970s.
The story takes us through his experiences with family, love, and the punk rock and theater scenes of the time. Karim’s journey opens up a world of ambition, self-discovery, and cultural conflict, all set against the backdrop of a changing England.
The book captures personal struggles with humor and sharp observations.
Jim Crace is a British author known for his thoughtful and atmospheric novels. One of his books, “Harvest,” tells the story of a small, agrarian village that begins to unravel over the course of a few days.
When the villagers spot smoke rising from the nearby woods, they realize strangers have arrived, and tensions quickly escalate. At the same time, the arrival of a landowner’s surveyor signals that their way of life may soon end.
The book explores the fragile balance of tradition and change in a close-knit community. Fans of Ian McEwan might appreciate Crace’s attention to human relationships and the way consequences ripple through a group of people.
Sebastian Faulks is an author known for writing deeply human stories that explore the complexities of relationships and history. One of his most well-known novels, “Birdsong,” tells the story of Stephen Wraysford, a young man who experiences love and loss during World War I.
The book shifts between Stephen’s love affair in pre-war France and his time in the brutal trenches. Through Stephen’s journey, Faulks paints a vivid picture of personal courage and the toll of war on the human spirit.
Fans of Ian McEwan might find a similar emotional depth and attention to the quiet, life-changing moments in Faulks’ writing.
John Banville is an Irish author known for his precise and lyrical style. One of his novels, “The Sea,” tells the story of Max Morden, a widowed art historian who returns to a coastal town he visited years ago.
While staying in a boarding house, he reflects on his past, including a childhood friendship with a rich family and the secrets that shaped his life.
The novel weaves memory and loss as Max revisits moments that have haunted him, creating a rich portrait of grief and the way the past lingers.
A.S. Byatt is a skilled British author known for weaving layered and richly detailed stories. One of her most celebrated novels, “Possession,” follows two modern-day scholars who uncover the secret love affair of two Victorian poets.
The story moves between the past and the present, exploring hidden letters, poems, and diaries. The novel blends romance, mystery, and literary history, creating an engaging narrative about obsession, creativity, and the connections between people across time.
Fans of Ian McEwan’s thoughtful and intricate storytelling might find Byatt’s work equally fascinating.
Michael Ondaatje is a writer known for crafting stories that explore human connections and personal histories. His novel “The English Patient” is set during the final days of World War II.
The story follows four characters brought together in an abandoned Italian villa—a badly burned man, his nurse, a Canadian thief, and a Sikh sapper. As their lives intersect, secrets from their pasts come to light.
The burned man recounts his desert expeditions and a tragic love affair that altered his life. Through these characters, the book weaves a deeply emotional tale of love, loss, and the scars of war.
Ali Smith has a talent for crafting stories that are both thought-provoking and deeply personal. In her novel “How to Be Both,” she explores themes of identity and perspective through two narratives. One follows George, a teenage girl grappling with loss in modern-day England.
The other centers on Francesco del Cossa, a Renaissance artist reflecting on life and art. The way these two lives connect across time is unexpected and clever.
Smith plays with structure and language in a way that feels fresh, drawing you into her world while questioning how we see and interpret stories and the people within them.