If you enjoy reading novels by Jhumpa Lahiri then you might also like the following authors:
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a storyteller who brings vivid, personal narratives to life in her novels. Her book “Half of a Yellow Sun” is set during the Nigerian Civil War and follows the lives of three characters whose paths cross in unexpected ways.
There’s Ugwu, a houseboy working for a university professor, Olanna, the professor’s mistress who comes from a wealthy family, and Richard, a British man drawn to Nigeria.
The story shows relationships tested by war, betrayal, and survival, while also painting a picture of the deep personal and social struggles of the time. Adichie leads you into a rich, human world that balances historical context with emotional depth.
Arundhati Roy is an author who writes with a deep focus on human connections and the complexities of family and society. Her novel “The God of Small Things” is set in Kerala, India, and follows the lives of Ammu and her twins, Estha and Rahel.
The story moves between their troubled childhood and their adult lives, exploring love, loss, and forbidden relationships. One striking part of the book is how small choices ripple through generations, shaping their futures in ways they never expect.
Roy’s vivid attention to detail brings the characters to life and paints a picture of a world filled with beauty and pain.
Kiran Desai is an author known for exploring themes of migration, identity, and the intersection of personal and political lives. Her novel, “The Inheritance of Loss,” is set in a small town in the Indian Himalayas.
The story weaves together the lives of a retired judge, his orphaned granddaughter Sai, and their cook, whose son is working illegally in the United States. The book dives into family dynamics, the impact of colonial history, and the struggles of displacement.
One striking moment is when Sai’s sheltered life begins to unravel as she discovers the tensions shaping the world around her. The characters face quiet heartbreaks and hard choices, which makes their stories feel honest and human.
Vikram Seth is an author known for his richly detailed storytelling and deep understanding of human relationships. His novel “A Suitable Boy” follows the journey of a young woman, Lata, as her family searches for an ideal husband for her in post-partition India.
The story weaves through the lives of four intertwined families, capturing everything from political shifts to personal struggles. The book paints a vivid picture of 1950s India, showing the conflicts between tradition and modernity.
Fans of intimate, character-driven narratives, like those in Jhumpa Lahiri’s works, may find this book fascinating.
Anita Desai is an author who writes beautifully about family, identity, and the push and pull between cultures. Her novel “Clear Light of Day” is a story about a brother and sister, Raja and Bim, who reconnect in their old family home in Delhi.
Through their conversations and memories, the book paints a picture of their childhood, their relationships, and the way time has both changed them and left certain wounds untouched.
Desai captures the quiet moments in family life and explores the tension between tradition and personal freedom in a way that feels real and deeply human.
Readers who enjoy stories about complex familial bonds, such as those in Lahiri’s works, will likely appreciate her approach.
Monica Ali is an author known for her storytelling that explores identity, family, and cultural divides. Her novel “Brick Lane” tells the story of Nazneen, a young woman from Bangladesh who moves to London for an arranged marriage.
The book follows her life in the vibrant yet challenging community of Brick Lane, where she navigates love, loss, and the weight of cultural expectations. Her journey unfolds against the backdrop of immigrant experiences, showing both struggles and moments of self-discovery.
The book pulls you into her world, where a chance encounter sparks profound changes in her life.
Amy Tan writes stories that explore family, culture, and identity, often focusing on the experiences of Chinese-American families. Her book “The Joy Luck Club” weaves together the lives of four Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-born daughters.
The mothers meet regularly to play mahjong and share memories of their lives in China, while the daughters navigate their own challenges in America.
The book highlights the misunderstandings and connections between generations, offering a vivid look at love, sacrifice, and heritage. Each chapter dives into one character’s life, bringing a personal and emotional side to the conflicts.
It’s a book full of moments that feel real and heartfelt.
Hanif Kureishi is a British novelist whose work often focuses on identity, family, and cultural clashes. His book, “The Buddha of Suburbia,” tells the story of Karim, a young man in 1970s London, navigating life as the mixed-race son of an Indian father and an English mother.
Karim gets drawn into the chaotic world of suburban parties and urban theater, meeting colorful characters while grappling with his desires and ambitions.
The book paints a vivid picture of growing up between different worlds and captures the confusion of trying to find your place.
Kazuo Ishiguro is known for writing stories that explore memory, relationships, and human longing in a gentle and introspective way.
One of his well-loved books, “The Remains of the Day,” tells the story of Stevens, an English butler who recalls his life while driving through the countryside.
Through Stevens’ reflections, you see the cost of his unwavering loyalty to his employer and how it shapes, and perhaps limits, his connections with others.
The way Ishiguro captures quiet moments and unspoken emotions might remind readers of Jhumpa Lahiri’s ability to convey deep meanings with simple words.
Rohinton Mistry is a Canadian author known for his rich storytelling about Indian life and culture. His novel “A Fine Balance” is set during the political turmoil of 1970s India.
It follows four characters—a widow trying to make ends meet as a seamstress, two tailors escaping caste violence, and a young student from a small town. Their lives connect in unexpected ways, showing their struggles and resilience as they navigate harsh realities.
The book captures the complexity of their relationships and the human spirit amid hardship.
Ha Jin is an author known for exploring themes of displacement, identity, and the clash between personal desires and societal expectations. One of his standout novels, “A Free Life,” follows a Chinese immigrant family as they navigate a new life in America.
The story focuses on Nan Wu, a man who struggles to forge his own path while balancing his responsibilities to his wife and son.
As Nan abandons his academic career to pursue his dream of becoming a poet, readers get a look at the emotional costs of chasing an uncertain future in an unfamiliar world. Ha Jin’s writing has a way of making the characters’ challenges feel deeply personal and real.
Min Jin Lee writes stories about family, identity, and cultural struggles. One of her novels, “Pachinko,” follows multiple generations of a Korean family living in Japan during times of discrimination and hardship.
It begins with Sunja, a young woman in the early 1900s, who becomes pregnant by a man she cannot marry. Her decision to marry a minister and move to Japan instead changes the course of her family’s life.
The book explores their resilience as they face societal prejudice and personal sacrifices, creating a rich portrait of their lives and the ties that bind them together.
Mohsin Hamid is a writer known for his sharp storytelling and thought-provoking narratives. His book, “The Reluctant Fundamentalist,” follows a young Pakistani man named Changez, who builds a successful life in America but begins to feel the weight of his shifting identity.
The story is set as a conversation in a Lahore café, where Changez recounts his experiences to a mysterious American. The book captures the struggles of belonging, cultural expectations, and the impact of global events on personal lives.
Hamid’s way of blending personal stories with larger social themes makes his work memorable.
Zadie Smith is a storyteller with a knack for exploring relationships, culture, and identity. Her novel, “White Teeth,” follows two families in London over several decades.
It weaves together the lives of Archie Jones and Samad Iqbal, old friends whose choices and histories collide in unexpected ways. Through their children, the book dives into generational divides, questions of belonging, and how the past shapes the present.
It’s packed with vibrant characters, from Samad’s traditionalist struggles to Archie’s unpredictable decisions that change the course of his life.
Claire Messud writes stories about characters who are often searching for meaning in their lives and grappling with relationships.
Her novel “The Emperor’s Children” explores the tangled lives of three young friends in New York City on the cusp of adulthood and in the shadow of 9/11. Each character has big dreams but struggles with personal insecurities and unspoken desires.
The way their lives intersect with other people, especially their families, adds depth to the story. It’s a portrait of ambition, privilege, and the ways people try—and fail—to define themselves.