If you enjoy reading books by Julie Orringer then you might also like the following authors:
Anthony Doerr is an author known for his deeply heartfelt stories and vivid detail. His novel “All the Light We Cannot See” takes place during World War II. It follows a blind French girl, Marie-Laure, and a German boy, Werner, as their lives are shaped by the war.
The book explores how their paths eventually cross, and it paints a picture of human resilience and courage in the face of incredible hardship.
If you enjoyed Julie Orringer’s ability to create moving narratives about individuals during wartime, you might find Doerr’s work engaging as well.
Geraldine Brooks is known for weaving historical events into captivating narratives. In her book, “People of the Book,” she tells the story of a rare Haggadah, a Jewish prayer book, saved during the Bosnian War.
Through different time periods, the book’s journey is revealed, showing how it survived wars, exiles, and betrayals. Each chapter uncovers a layer of history, with moments like an escape from the Spanish Inquisition or the role of a librarian who risks everything to protect it.
The way Brooks connects these fragments of the past makes readers feel the weight of what’s been lost and saved.
Kristin Hannah writes stories that are deeply emotional and rich with historical detail, which makes her books a great pick for fans of Julie Orringer.
One of her most well-known novels, “The Nightingale,” is set during World War II and follows two sisters in German-occupied France.
One sister joins the French Resistance, risking everything to help downed pilots escape, while the other tries to protect her family as tensions rise in their village. The story explores love, bravery, and the choices people make in dire circumstances.
Tatiana de Rosnay is a French author known for her emotionally charged novels often set against historical backdrops.
One of her most famous works, “Sarah’s Key,” weaves together the story of a modern-day journalist named Julia Jarmond and a young Jewish girl named Sarah, whose stories are connected through a tragic event during the Vel' d’Hiv Roundup in Paris in 1942.
As Julia investigates the past, she uncovers haunting secrets that have been buried for decades. The book combines history and personal drama, creating a connection between characters separated by time.
Anne Enright is an Irish author known for her rich storytelling and focus on family dynamics. One of her books, “The Gathering,” explores the fallout of a family tragedy.
After the death of her brother Liam, Veronica digs into her family’s past, uncovering long-buried secrets that shaped their lives.
The narrative moves between the present and memories of their childhood, offering a vivid portrayal of love, loss, and the ties that hold families together.
Rebecca Makkai is an author who creates stories filled with rich characters and emotional depth. Her book “The Great Believers” intertwines two timelines. In one, a man named Yale navigates the AIDS crisis in 1980s Chicago, trying to hold his life and relationships together.
In the other, set thirty years later, Fiona, a woman connected to Yale, searches for her missing daughter while reflecting on the losses she endured during that earlier time. The novel explores themes of love, friendship, and how people carry grief over time.
If you enjoyed Julie Orringer’s ability to portray human connections with honesty, Makkai is worth checking out.
Colm Tóibín writes stories that often explore deep emotional connections, family bonds, and personal struggles. In his book, “Brooklyn,” he tells the story of Eilis Lacey, a young woman from Ireland who moves to America in the 1950s.
She faces the challenges of building a life in a new country while balancing loyalty to her family back home. The book captures her journey as she makes choices that define her future, with moments that feel quiet but carry a lot of weight.
Dominic Smith is an author known for crafting immersive historical fiction. His novel, “The Last Painting of Sara de Vos,” tells a story that moves between 17th-century Holland and contemporary New York.
It centers on a rare painting by a Dutch female artist, Sara de Vos, and the lives of those connected to it: the artist herself, a wealthy collector who owns it in the 1950s, and an art historian who once forged it.
The connections between these characters unfold with an emphasis on art, forgery, and the weight of past mistakes. It’s a rich tale that blends history with personal secrets.
Elizabeth Kostova is an author known for weaving history into her stories. Her novel “The Historian” is a mix of mystery and adventure, following a young woman who uncovers secrets about her father’s past and his search for Dracula’s tomb.
The story takes readers through archives, letters, and distant countries. It’s a great choice if you enjoy layered narratives and historical backdrops.
Kate Atkinson is a British novelist known for crafting intricate and richly layered stories.
In her book “Life After Life,” she explores the life of Ursula Todd, who is born on a snowy night in 1910 and, through some unexplained force, keeps experiencing alternate versions of her life after each untimely death.
The novel moves through key historical events of the 20th century, allowing Ursula to live and relive moments that shift with every iteration of her life. It’s a fascinating idea that lets you see how small choices or chance events can change everything.
The story pulls you into its world, creating a sense of wondering what might happen—or happen again—next.
Esi Edugyan is a Canadian author known for her rich storytelling and vivid characters. Her novel, “Washington Black,” follows an eleven-year-old boy named Washington, an enslaved child on a Barbados plantation.
His life takes a dramatic turn when an eccentric inventor brings him along on a journey that spans continents. The story weaves themes of survival and self-discovery, with moments that feel both deeply personal and full of adventure.
Fans of historical fiction might connect with her work the way they do with Julie Orringer’s powerful narratives.
Meg Waite Clayton is an author who writes deeply emotional stories that explore personal and historical struggles. Her novel “The Last Train to London” is set in the years leading up to World War II.
It follows Truus Wijsmuller, a Dutch woman who risks everything to help Jewish children escape Austria before the Nazi invasion. You’ll meet a young aspiring playwright named Stephan and his best friend Zofie-Helene, whose lives are torn apart as the world around them darkens.
The book blends real historical events with strong, unforgettable characters. If you’re drawn to stories that highlight courage and resilience during difficult times, this is a book worth picking up.
Sarah Blake is a writer who creates thoughtful and emotional stories. In her novel, “The Guest Book,” she weaves the tale of three generations of the Milton family, exploring how their choices and secrets shape their lives.
The story begins with the Miltons purchasing an island retreat, a place that becomes a backdrop for their family’s struggles and unspoken tensions. Through beautifully drawn characters, Blake brings their world to life, offering rich moments that linger in the reader’s memory.
Rachel Kadish is an author known for exploring history through detailed and emotional storytelling. Her novel, “The Weight of Ink,” weaves together the lives of two women separated by centuries.
One is a modern-day historian trying to make sense of a cache of 17th-century documents. The other is an exceptional woman from that era, one of a few allowed to serve as a scribe for a blind rabbi.
The story brings to life the challenges of intellectual curiosity and bravery in times when women had little freedom to pursue knowledge.
Lynn Nottage is a playwright known for creating stories with strong emotional depth and a focus on human struggles. Her play “Sweat” looks at the lives of working-class friends in a small town after their factory jobs are threatened.
It explores how economic hardship can test relationships and shift loyalties. The characters feel raw and real, and their conflicts pull you right into their world.