Jonathan Tropper writes books that hit you in the gut, but make you laugh while you are hurting. His stories often center on families that are a mess.
There is always a guy at the heart of things trying to figure life out, usually while dealing with some kind of crisis in suburbia. If you are looking for authors who explore similar territory with humor and heart, read on.
Tom Perrotta writes witty, sharp novels about flawed, relatable people caught in moments of transition. Fans of Jonathan Tropper who appreciate characters that stumble through life’s absurdities will likely connect with Perrotta’s work.
In “Little Children,” Perrotta portrays suburban life filled with unfulfilled dreams and uneasy desires. This novel introduces Sarah and Todd, young parents disillusioned by the routines of marriage and parenthood.
Their lives intersect—leading to unexpected and risky choices that shake up their ordinary neighborhood.
Perrotta carefully blends humor and tension into a thoughtful exploration of suburban restlessness, turning ordinary frustrations into thoughtful and sometimes unsettling reflections.
Readers who enjoy the humor and emotional depth of Jonathan Tropper might appreciate Nick Hornby. Hornby’s novels showcase relatable characters, smart dialogue, and a candid view of everyday challenges.
One of his standout books is “High Fidelity,” which centers on Rob Fleming, a music-obsessed record store owner who copes with a recent breakup by revisiting past relationships.
Rob’s reflections, driven by music and pop culture references, offer both comedy and insight into adult relationships and self-realization. Fans of Tropper’s style may connect strongly with Hornby’s realistic yet humorous take on personal growth and love.
Books by Anne Tyler often explore families and ordinary lives with humor, insight, and compassion. Her novel “The Accidental Tourist” introduces Macon Leary, a travel writer who hates traveling.
After a personal tragedy shakes his world, Macon retreats into a routine life governed by eccentric habits and systems meant to minimize his discomfort. When he meets Muriel, an outgoing dog trainer, the careful structure he’s built around himself begins to fracture.
The novel combines witty observations with touching moments, showing how unexpected relationships can lead to second chances.
Readers who enjoy Jonathan Tropper’s ability to balance humor and genuine emotion in family dramas will likely connect with Tyler’s authentic and relatable characters.
If you enjoy Jonathan Tropper’s blend of humor, honest emotion and relatable characters, David Nicholls might be a great discovery. Nicholls has a knack for finding comedy in the everyday messes of life.
His novel “One Day” follows Emma and Dexter, two friends who meet at university and spend one day together each year over two decades.
Through shifting careers, complicated relationships, missed chances and heartfelt moments, the book explores how lives evolve and intersect in surprising ways. Nicholls’ sharp dialogue and engaging characters reflect real life’s funny, sad, and wonderfully unpredictable moments.
Readers who enjoy Jonathan Tropper’s blend of humor, family dynamics, and honest storytelling will appreciate Liane Moriarty’s novels. Moriarty is an Australian author known for developing relatable characters and twists in everyday suburban life.
Her novel “Big Little Lies” centers around three very different women whose lives intersect when their kids attend the same kindergarten class.
From marriage struggles to parenting challenges, each woman has her secrets; yet when tragedy occurs at a school trivia night, those secrets tumble into the open, shaking their comfortable community.
Moriarty balances sharp humor, suspense, and insightful character portrayals in this entertaining exploration of friendship, family, and the lies people tell themselves and each other.
Matthew Norman writes funny, insightful novels about relatable characters facing everyday struggles and turning points. Readers who enjoy Jonathan Tropper’s sharp wit and authentic characters might connect well with Norman’s storytelling.
In his novel “We’re All Damaged,” Andy Carter’s life hits rock bottom after losing his wife and job. He returns to his hometown in Nebraska, forced to confront the life and family he left behind.
Sparks fly when Andy meets Daisy, a quirky woman with mysterious baggage of her own. Norman explores broken relationships, hilarious family drama, and the messy, lovable side of humanity in this comedic yet heartfelt story.
If you enjoy Jonathan Tropper’s humorous and insightful portrayals of complicated family relationships, Emma Straub might be a perfect addition to your reading list. Straub offers witty narratives with relatable characters and believable family drama.
In her novel “All Adults Here,” Astrid Strick, the matriarch of a modern family, confronts personal regrets and secrets after witnessing an unexpected accident in town.
As the story unfolds, her grown children face their own particular struggles and choices, making for a realistic, funny, and deeply human exploration of family dynamics.
Straub crafts characters that feel authentic, blending humor, warmth, and honesty into stories readers can easily connect with.
Readers who enjoy Jonathan Tropper’s humor and heartfelt storytelling might appreciate Fredrik Backman’s novels. Backman writes warm, funny, and thoughtful stories that explore deep emotional connections among memorable characters.
His novel “A Man Called Ove” introduces us to Ove, a cranky older man devoted to strict routines and rules, whose tranquil solitude gets disrupted by the sudden arrival and noisy antics of new neighbors.
As the neighborhood opens itself to Ove’s gruff charm, we discover the touching reasons behind his stubborn exterior. This is a book that shines with wit, tenderness, and a powerful appreciation for life’s unexpected friendships.
Curtis Sittenfeld creates novels filled with humor, complicated family relationships, and relatable, flawed characters—qualities readers of Jonathan Tropper often enjoy. Her novel “Eligible” cleverly reimagines Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” in modern Cincinnati.
Liz Bennet, now a witty magazine writer from New York, comes home during a family crisis to find her childhood home in chaos and her sisters as lovable and problematic as ever.
The arrival of reality-show contestant Chip Bingley and his reserved friend Fitzwilliam Darcy shakes things up for everyone. The story explores romance, social expectations, and family dynamics with sharp wit and a sympathetic touch.
Readers who enjoy Jonathan Tropper’s humorous yet thoughtful narratives about family and life’s unexpected turns would likely appreciate novels by Elin Hilderbrand.
She’s known for books set against the scenic backdrop of Nantucket island, where complex family dynamics unfold alongside seaside life. In her novel “The Identicals,” she introduces readers to twin sisters, Harper and Tabitha, who are separated by past conflicts and distance.
Circumstances force them to switch islands—Nantucket for Martha’s Vineyard—and their separate worlds collide in surprising ways. Through engaging humor and thoughtful storytelling, Hilderbrand explores sisterhood, second chances, and the tangled ties of relationships.
Taylor Jenkins Reid writes character-driven stories that blend humor, emotion, and honest reflection—qualities readers find in the novels of Jonathan Tropper. A standout is her novel “Daisy Jones & The Six,” which captures the energy and drama of a fictional 1970s rock band.
Daisy Jones, independent, fierce, and gifted with a stunning voice, joins forces creatively and emotionally with Billy Dunne, frontman of The Six. Tension rises as fame and excess test the bonds between the band members.
Reid’s dynamic storytelling explores romance, ambition, friendship, and loss, revealing truths about relationships through lively dialogue and vivid characters.
Fans of Tropper, who enjoy sharp banter, intriguing personalities, and stories about life’s complex turns, will feel drawn to Reid’s engaging narrative.
Joshua Ferris writes novels that blend humor, sharp observations, and thoughtful reflections on modern life, similar in feel to those by Jonathan Tropper. His book “Then We Came to the End” takes you deep into office culture with dry wit and relatable situations.
Set during a downturn at a Chicago advertising agency, the story captures people’s quirks and anxieties as layoffs threaten their comfortable routine.
Ferris gives each employee their unique voice, bringing funny yet honest scenarios that reveal humanity hidden behind office roles and cubicle walls. If you enjoy Jonathan Tropper’s frank, humorous views on life’s messy parts, Ferris provides another author worth exploring.
Jennifer Close writes funny, insightful novels that capture life’s messy relationships and awkward transitions. If you’ve enjoyed Jonathan Tropper’s humorous yet honest take on family and personal struggles, you’ll likely find similarities in Close’s style.
Her novel “Girls in White Dresses” explores the lives of college friends navigating their twenties, a phase filled with weddings, dating misadventures, and the pressure to reach adulthood milestones.
The story contrasts societal expectations with the characters’ flawed, relatable attempts at grown-up life, full of humor and real emotional depth.
J. Courtney Sullivan writes sharp, insightful novels about family dynamics, relationships, and friendship, capturing the messy side of life with warmth and humor. Her novel “Maine” follows three generations of women who gather at their family’s beachfront cottage one summer.
As family tensions surface, hidden regrets and long-held secrets unexpectedly come to light. Through friction, laughter, and tension, Sullivan creates characters who are complicated yet deeply relatable.
Fans of Jonathan Tropper’s honest, humorous approach to family dysfunction will likely find parallels in Sullivan’s storytelling.
Books by Herman Koch offer sharp, darkly humorous explorations of family dynamics and hidden tensions beneath ordinary lives. If you enjoy Jonathan Tropper, Herman Koch’s novels deliver that same razor-edged wit with a slightly darker bite.
A great place to start is “The Dinner.” Set entirely over the course of a single unsettling meal, the book focuses on two couples who meet at a fancy restaurant to discuss a disturbing incident involving their teenage sons.
As dinner unfolds through appetizers, main courses, and desserts, the veneers of civility slowly crumble and secrets emerge. Koch expertly builds suspense and peppers dialogue with biting humor, highlighting the uncomfortable truths that families prefer to keep hidden.