If you enjoy reading books by Irvine Welsh then you might also like the following authors:
Chuck Palahniuk is an author known for sharp, dark humor and bold storytelling that cuts right to the edge. His most famous novel, “Fight Club,” follows a weary office worker who meets the unpredictable, dangerous Tyler Durden.
They form an underground club where ordinary men come together to fight as a way to feel alive. Soon, the club grows into something more powerful and risky than anyone expected.
Palahniuk writes stories that dig into human behavior and tap into the hidden frustrations beneath everyday life.
Readers who enjoyed Irvine Welsh’s gritty style in “Trainspotting” will find Chuck Palahniuk has a similar fearless approach in looking at uncomfortable and shocking truths.
Bret Easton Ellis is an American author known for writing sharp, sometimes dark stories about characters who live excessive lifestyles.
His novel “Less Than Zero” centers around Clay, a college student who returns to Los Angeles for Christmas break and reconnects with his wealthy friends. Clay drifts through parties and clubs littered with drugs and casual cruelty.
Ellis shows the emptiness behind their privileged world in a casual, unapologetic style. Readers who liked Irvine Welsh’s direct way of storytelling about troubled characters may find Ellis’s frank depiction of youth and excess in “Less Than Zero” appealing.
William S. Burroughs was an American novelist who wrote about strange characters on the edge of society. His books deal with addiction, crime, and bizarre experiences told with dark humor and sharp realism.
One of his most famous novels, “Junkie,” dives straight into the daily realities and struggles of a young man’s drug addiction. It describes the underground drug culture in 1950s America without judgment or sentiment.
Readers who enjoy Irvine Welsh’s gritty and straightforward style in “Trainspotting” might find a similar appeal in Burroughs’ honest and direct storytelling in “Junkie.”
Hunter S. Thompson wrote about topics of counterculture and excess with honesty and dark humor. His book “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” takes readers on a wild trip through Las Vegas.
Thompson tells the story of journalist Raoul Duke and his lawyer Dr. Gonzo, who drive out into the Nevada desert in search of the American dream. Through their drug-hazed adventures, they encounter bizarre situations and unusual characters in lounge bars and casinos.
The sharp observations and bold writing style make this story memorable. Readers who enjoy Irvine Welsh’s realistic and darkly humorous stories about nightlife and fringe personalities will likely appreciate Thompson’s writing as well.
James Kelman is a Scottish author known for stories about regular people and their everyday struggles. His writing shows life as it is, direct and without glamour, often set against the backdrop of gritty Glasgow streets.
In his novel “How Late it Was, How Late,” Kelman introduces Sammy, a man who wakes up blind after a rough weekend, with no idea how he got there. The story follows Sammy as he tries to figure out what happened and how to get his life together again.
Readers who enjoy Irvine Welsh’s stories of urban life and troubled characters might appreciate Kelman’s realistic style and straightforward storytelling.
Martin Amis was an English novelist known for writing darkly humorous stories that often deal with edgy themes and flawed characters. Readers who enjoyed Irvine Welsh’s books might want to try Amis’ novel “Money.”
It follows John Self, a movie director who travels between London and New York while spending recklessly on films, alcohol, and disastrous choices. The story shows the chaotic, sometimes ugly sides of human behavior but does so with sharp wit and entertaining dialogue.
It’s a story about greed and excess, presented with lively storytelling and memorable characters.
Patrick McCabe is an Irish author known for vivid stories about troubled characters on the edges of society. Readers who appreciate authors like Irvine Welsh may find McCabe’s style and subject matter appealing.
His novel “The Butcher Boy” follows Francie Brady, a young boy who grows up in a small Irish town during the 1960s. Francie’s life becomes increasingly dark after his family faces tragedy and conflict with neighbors.
As Francie struggles to cope, he creates his own unsettling view of reality. McCabe shows Francie’s inner thoughts and how small-town life shapes his strange and sometimes terrifying actions.
Alex Garland is a British writer who creates gritty stories with characters facing tough situations. His novel “The Beach” centers on Richard, a young traveler who finds a mysterious map in Thailand.
Richard sets out to find a hidden community living in isolation on an untouched island. At first, the secluded beach seems perfect. As tensions within the group rise, paradise slowly starts to fall apart.
The novel is direct and unfiltered, filled with realistic characters who deal with difficult, messy situations. Readers who enjoyed the rough realism found in Irvine Welsh’s stories might appreciate Alex Garland’s honest portrayal of human interactions in “The Beach.”
If you enjoyed Irvine Welsh, Roddy Doyle might also interest you. Doyle is an Irish author known for sharp dialogue and realistic characters. One of his books, “The Commitments,” tells the story of a group of working-class friends in Dublin who form a soul band.
The characters are funny and believable, and their conversations sound authentic. The friends navigate disagreements and dreams, all set against Dublin in the late 1980s.
Doyle captures everyday life with humor and honesty, which might appeal to readers who prefer stories about ordinary people.
Alan Warner is a Scottish author known for books about characters who live on the edge of society. Readers of Irvine Welsh often enjoy his novel “Morvern Callar.” In this story, Morvern is a young woman living in a small Scottish town.
After she wakes up one morning to find her boyfriend dead, she makes some unexpected decisions. Morvern takes his unpublished manuscript, turns it into her own, and then sets off on an unusual journey to escape her small-town life.
The novel shows a realistic side of Scotland through Morvern’s adventures and describes her travels in Spain vividly. Warner creates a clear, raw picture of a young woman finding her own way.
Alasdair Gray was a Scottish author with a style that hits home if you like Irvine Welsh. His novel “Lanark” mixes realism and fantasy in an unusual way. The main character, Duncan Thaw, grows up in post-war Glasgow where he struggles to become an artist.
Another thread of the book follows Lanark through a surreal world called Unthank. The book swerves between these two settings to show a darkly funny picture of life, ambition, and human struggle.
If you appreciate the gritty and unreal worlds Welsh creates, you might enjoy “Lanark.”
If you enjoyed “Trainspotting” by Irvine Welsh, you might also like “Marabou Stork Nightmares.” This book tells the story of Roy Strang, who lies in a coma after an accident. Roy’s mind drifts between reality and a fantasy world in Africa.
The story alternates between Roy’s harsh childhood in Scotland and his imagined journey hunting the dangerous Marabou Stork. Welsh explores dark themes of trauma and violence, with the gritty realism and sharp humor fans already know from “Trainspotting.”
Douglas Coupland is a Canadian author known for his sharp observations about modern life. His book “Generation X” follows the lives of three friends living in California. They are worn out by their boring jobs and the empty promises of society.
Coupland’s writing is darkly funny, blunt and clear-eyed, and it portrays everyday moments and feelings in a way readers of Irvine Welsh could find familiar. “Generation X” describes their conversations and experiences as the three try to find meaning in a confusing world.
If you liked the straightforward storytelling and sharp social commentary in Welsh’s novels, Coupland might appeal to you as well.
Nicola Barker is an English writer known for dark humor and quirky characters. Her fiction often explores life’s messy and gritty sides, similar to how Irvine Welsh portrays raw humanity. Her novel “Darkmans” follows unusual people in a coastal English town.
Reality blends strangely with visions and odd encounters. Barker introduces fascinating characters like Beede, a quiet hospital worker interested deeply in history, and Kane, his unpredictable, lively son.
The characters’ strange experiences intensify as stories from the distant past surface in unexpected ways. The novel’s weird mix of comedy, ordinary life, and unsettling mystery would likely appeal to readers who enjoy Welsh’s fearless, humorous style.
John Niven is a Scottish writer known for his funny and dark style. If you like Irvine Welsh, you may enjoy Niven’s book “Kill Your Friends.” The story shows a harsh and hilarious look at the music industry in the late 1990s.
It follows Steven Stelfox, a ruthless and ambitious record executive who will do anything to get ahead, even commit shocking crimes. Set in a world filled with drugs, greed and dark humor, the novel offers readers a look at how cutthroat success can become.