Jamie Ford writes books that stay with you long after you turn the final page. His stories often explore the past, especially the experiences of Chinese Americans. He’s great at writing about families, secrets, and the emotions that tie us all together.
If you enjoy books with a similar feel, you might be interested in discovering other authors who tell stories with comparable themes and styles.
Readers who enjoy Jamie Ford’s emotional storytelling and focus on family and cultural history might appreciate Lisa See. She often explores Chinese-American experiences and family bonds in her novels.
In “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,” See tells the story of Lily and Snow Flower, two girls matched as lifelong friends through an ancient Chinese custom called laotong.
Against the backdrop of 19th-century China, the novel follows their deep friendship, secret messages exchanged through a private women’s script, the challenges of growing up, marriage, and societal expectations.
This book sheds light on traditional Chinese culture and the strength and complexity of female bonds.
If you enjoy Jamie Ford’s stories that explore family bonds, cultural heritage, and emotional depth, Amy Tan may also resonate with you. Tan’s novel, “The Joy Luck Club,” introduces readers to four mothers who immigrated from China, and their American-born daughters.
The book moves between past and present, revealing each mother’s history in China and how it shapes her relationship with her daughter in America. Readers get an intimate look at generational differences, secrets, hopes, and misunderstandings that affect these families.
Amy Tan brings you into different lives and times, showing the strength and heartbreak that exist between mothers and daughters.
Readers who enjoy Jamie Ford’s heartfelt storytelling and historical settings may also connect with the novels of Kristin Hannah. Hannah crafts emotional stories that often explore complex family relationships against significant historical backdrops.
Her novel “The Nightingale” takes readers to occupied France during World War II. Two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, face danger and sacrifice as they resist Nazi oppression in their own distinct ways.
Vianne fights quietly to protect her children at home, while Isabelle joins the resistance openly. The choices they both must make show the strength, courage, and resilience of ordinary women in extraordinary times.
Readers who enjoy the heartfelt, character-driven storytelling of Jamie Ford may appreciate Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Adichie, a Nigerian author known for vivid characters and powerful emotional themes, explores family ties, personal identity, and historical tensions with warmth and clarity.
Her novel “Half of a Yellow Sun” brings to life the struggles and aspirations of several interconnected characters during Nigeria’s civil war in the late 1960s.
Through the lives of twin sisters Olanna and Kainene and their loved ones, readers experience love, loss, and resilience against a backdrop of conflict and profound societal change.
Adichie’s polished prose and strong, relatable characters create a powerful tale of human endurance and hope.
Gabrielle Zevin writes heartfelt stories that blend tenderness, nostalgia, and human connection—qualities readers of Jamie Ford will appreciate.
Her novel “The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry” follows the life of A.J., a grumpy bookstore owner whose world shifts dramatically when he discovers a young child left mysteriously in his shop.
Through humor, meaningful friendships, and unexpected second chances, Zevin crafts a warm narrative filled with emotion and depth. Fans of Jamie Ford will feel right at home in Zevin’s thoughtful exploration of love, loss, and redemption.
Celeste Ng writes novels that explore complex family dynamics and the hidden tensions within communities. Her book “Little Fires Everywhere” takes us inside the carefully ordered lives of the Richardson family in the picture-perfect suburb of Shaker Heights, Ohio.
When artist Mia Warren and her teenage daughter Pearl enter this world, their unconventional ways unsettle the status quo. As secrets surface and relationships shift, the residents face challenging questions around motherhood, race, class, and identity.
Readers who enjoyed Jamie Ford’s emotional storytelling and thoughtful portrayal of family relationships in “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” will find “Little Fires Everywhere” equally thought-provoking and resonant.
Readers who enjoy Jamie Ford’s heartfelt stories might also appreciate Helen Hoang’s novels. Hoang creates characters who navigate life and love while tackling challenges related to identity and acceptance.
Her novel “The Kiss Quotient” features Stella Lane, a smart and successful woman on the autism spectrum. Stella decides she needs help improving her relationships, so she hires Michael Phan, an escort who agrees to teach her the basics of dating.
Their unconventional arrangement leads to genuine connection, unexpected feelings, and personal growth as they discover what truly matters in life and love.
Readers will find a touching and beautifully crafted story about two people who defy society’s expectations while staying true to themselves.
Readers who enjoy Jamie Ford’s novels could find Min Jin Lee equally captivating. Lee’s book “Pachinko” is a multi-generational family saga set against Japan’s colonization of Korea.
The story follows Sunja, a Korean woman who relocates to Japan after an unexpected event reshapes her life. Through the lens of Sunja’s family, Lee illustrates the impact of discrimination, resilience, love, and sacrifice as identity and survival intertwine over decades.
The novel provides a rich historical backdrop and vivid characters, elements that readers familiar with Jamie Ford will appreciate.
Readers who enjoy Jamie Ford’s emotional journeys through history may also appreciate Sue Monk Kidd.
Her novel “The Invention of Wings” follows the intertwined lives of Sarah Grimké, a young woman born into privilege, and Handful, the enslaved girl given to Sarah as a gift on her eleventh birthday.
Set in early nineteenth-century Charleston, the book captures their struggles and unlikely friendship as Sarah dreams of freedom and Handful yearns to break free from bondage.
Sue Monk Kidd vividly portrays these strong characters, showing the harshness of their reality and their courageous pursuit of change.
Readers will find themselves immersed in the vivid scenery of Charleston, moved by the characters’ powerful determination, and drawn into a story rooted deeply in history and compassion.
Ruta Sepetys is an author well-loved for her deeply moving historical fiction. Her writing captures the hidden sides of history through personal stories, carefully crafted characters, and vivid emotional depth.
For readers who enjoy Jamie Ford’s heartfelt storytelling and exploration of history, Sepetys provides an equally absorbing journey. One of her most captivating novels is “Between Shades of Gray”.
The book shares the story of Lina, a Lithuanian teenager whose life is suddenly torn apart by Stalin’s brutal regime during World War II. Lina and her family face unimaginable challenges, but their resilience, love, and quiet courage create moments of powerful human connection.
Sepetys’ storytelling and emotional honesty bring to light a chapter of history often overlooked, making “Between Shades of Gray” a moving read someone won’t quickly forget.
Jeannette Walls is an author whose work often explores the strength and fragility of family ties through hardship and personal history. Her memoir, “The Glass Castle,” tells the story of her unconventional upbringing in a family that was free-spirited yet deeply troubled.
She recalls experiences of poverty, parental instability, and the colorful yet difficult adventures her parents led her through.
Walls shares vivid anecdotes, such as her father’s ambitious dream to build an elaborate glass house and her mother’s artistic detachment from practical concerns.
Readers who enjoyed Jamie Ford’s emotional depth, focus on family bonds, and ability to portray complicated relationships against difficult historical backdrops, will probably feel a connection to Walls’ deeply personal storytelling style in “The Glass Castle.”
Diana Gabaldon is an author known for historical novels filled with vivid characters and moving relationships. If you’ve enjoyed Jamie Ford’s blend of rich history and emotional depth, Gabaldon offers an immersive reading experience.
A good introduction to her work is “Outlander,” the first book in a series following Claire Randall, a nurse from the 1940s who finds herself suddenly transported to 18th-century Scotland.
Torn between two different worlds—and two very different men—Claire’s story is filled with adventure, romance, and historical detail. Gabaldon weaves themes of family, love, and personal sacrifice into captivating narratives you may find hard to put down.
Ann Patchett is a thoughtful storyteller known for beautifully crafted characters and engaging emotional depth. Readers of Jamie Ford, who enjoy intimate stories set against historical backdrops, could find Ann Patchett appealing.
Her novel “The Dutch House” focuses on siblings Danny and Maeve Conroy. After their father’s sudden remarriage, they lose their family home and inheritance, left instead with a lingering obsession over their past.
The story follows their bond across decades, filled with nostalgia, resilience, and quiet revelations, all centered around the grand but mysterious house of their childhood.
Patchett captures family dynamics and emotional complexity in ways that resonate deeply, similar to how Jamie Ford explores past relationships and their lasting resonance.
If you enjoy Jamie Ford’s thoughtful storytelling and characters who navigate complex family relationships, Elizabeth Strout might be a great match.
Her novel “Olive Kitteridge” centers around Olive, a blunt, often irritable, yet profoundly insightful retired schoolteacher in coastal Maine. Olive’s story unfolds through snapshots of her interactions with those around her.
Her relationships—with husband Henry, her son Christopher, and neighbors in her small town—reveal glimpses of humor, sorrow, and empathy hidden within ordinary lives.
Strout pays close attention to everyday details and presents Olive in an honest, humanizing way that leaves readers reflecting long after the final page.
Isabel Allende is a Chilean author known for weaving together history, family drama, and cultural identity in rich storytelling. Her novel “The House of the Spirits” traces the lives of the Trueba family across several generations in Chile.
The story beautifully blends realism with elements of magical fantasy, shadowed by political upheaval and personal struggles.
Like Jamie Ford’s narratives that explore deep family bonds against historical backdrops such as in “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,” Allende portrays personal relationships shaped by historical events.
Readers may find a similar emotional depth and historical richness in Allende’s writing.