Kathleen Grissom is known for historical fiction. Her notable works include The Kitchen House and Glory Over Everything, stories set in early American history.
If you enjoy reading books by Kathleen Grissom then you might also like the following authors:
Readers who enjoy Kathleen Grissom’s heartfelt storytelling may also appreciate novels by Sue Monk Kidd. Her book The Invention of Wings tells the powerful story of Sarah Grimké and Handful, two young women from completely different worlds in early 19th-century Charleston.
Sarah, the daughter of a wealthy family, is given Handful as a personal maid on her 11th birthday—a gift she does not want. Their complex relationship develops against a backdrop of injustice and social change.
Kidd’s thoughtful narrative explores difficult themes of freedom, friendship, and bravery through rich, nuanced characters whose lives remain memorable long after the last page.
Lalita Tademy is an author known for her captivating historical novels rooted in family histories and real-life experiences. Her acclaimed book Cane River follows four generations of African American women from slavery into freedom.
Tademy drew inspiration from extensive personal research into her own family’s past in Louisiana. The stories she shares give readers a personal glimpse into themes of family bonds, resilience, and the fight for a better future.
Fans of Kathleen Grissom’s The Kitchen House, which also explores family dynamics set against historical hardships, will easily connect with Tademy’s storytelling.
Readers who enjoy Kathleen Grissom’s immersive historical novels might appreciate Diane McKinney-Whetstone, a writer known for painting vivid pictures of African American life, with deep emotional resonance and well-developed characters.
Her novel Tumbling is set in 1940s and 1950s Philadelphia and introduces Noon and Herbie, a couple who build a family and community despite personal secrets and struggles.
The story weaves together love, hardship, and redemption against the backdrop of a neighborhood facing transformation. McKinney-Whetstone’s storytelling style brings history and human drama together seamlessly.
Books by Tara Conklin often appeal to readers who enjoy Kathleen Grissom’s historical narratives filled with emotional depth. Conklin’s novel The House Girl brings together the stories of two distinct women separated by over a century yet connected through art and legacy.
Josephine, a young house slave in 1850s Virginia, seeks freedom and dignity through her talent for painting. Lina, a contemporary lawyer working on a high-stakes reparations case, discovers Josephine’s artwork and begins to uncover the truth behind its origins.
This compelling parallel provides readers insight into powerful themes of identity, justice, and history.
If you enjoy Kathleen Grissom’s heartfelt historical tales, Sarah McCoy might also captivate you. McCoy skillfully creates touching narratives centered around strong, resilient characters confronting life’s toughest challenges.
Her novel The Baker’s Daughter transitions between World War II Germany and modern-day Texas. It tells the story of Elsie Schmidt, a baker’s daughter in Nazi Germany, forced into a difficult decision when she helps a young Jewish boy on Christmas Eve.
Decades later, in present-day El Paso, journalist Reba Adams interviews elderly Elsie, whose hidden past forces Reba to face her own struggles.
The novel intertwines two powerful stories, rich in historical detail and emotional depth, perfect for readers who appreciate Grissom’s memorable storytelling style.
If you enjoy Kathleen Grissom’s rich storytelling and compelling characters, Valerie Martin could be a great discovery for you.
Her novel Property takes place in Louisiana during the 1820s and centers on Manon Gaudet, a plantation owner’s wife who wrestles with isolation and authority amid the harsh realities of southern society.
Martin explores complex relationships between masters and slaves, notably through Manon’s strained interactions with Sarah, her enslaved servant.
The novel provides an intimate portrait of power struggles and moral ambiguity, giving readers a captivating glimpse into an intense, often hidden side of early American history.
Readers who enjoy Kathleen Grissom’s layered and emotionally engaging historical fiction might appreciate Edward P. Jones, an author known for powerful storytelling set in richly detailed historical contexts.
His novel The Known World explores the little-known history of Black slave owners in the antebellum South. Jones introduces us to Henry Townsend, a freed slave who rises to own a plantation and slaves himself.
The novel examines the complexities of morality, power, and identity in a world defined by slavery. Through vivid characters and nuanced storytelling, Jones reveals the harsh contradictions at the heart of America’s past.
Colson Whitehead is an American novelist known for stories rich in historical depth and emotional power. His book The Underground Railroad is a perfect choice for readers who appreciate Kathleen Grissom’s The Kitchen House.
The Underground Railroad follows the journey of Cora, a young enslaved woman in Georgia who dreams of freedom. She makes a daring escape along an actual underground railroad—Whitehead imagines it as a real network of tunnels and trains beneath Southern soil.
On her journey she faces danger, violence, and haunting moments of hope. Readers who enjoyed the powerful characters and authentic historical atmosphere of Kathleen Grissom’s novels will find a similar strength in Whitehead’s storytelling.
Yaa Gyasi is an author whose storytelling captures powerful emotional journeys and deep historical connection. Her debut novel, Homegoing, spans generations, beginning in Ghana with two sisters who share the same mother but never meet.
Their lives take dramatically different paths when one sister marries a British official and remains in Ghana, while the other is sold into slavery and sent to America. Each chapter follows descendants from these two branches across centuries and continents.
Through vivid characters and evocative storylines, Gyasi explores the enduring impact of slavery, family bonds, and cultural identity in both Ghana and America.
Readers who enjoyed Kathleen Grissom’s The Kitchen House will appreciate Gyasi’s sensitive style and her ability to show how history deeply shapes individual lives.
If you enjoy Kathleen Grissom’s heartfelt historical tales, Toni Morrison might resonate with you too. Morrison writes powerfully about complex characters caught between strength and suffering.
Her novel Beloved tells the story of Sethe, a mother haunted by decisions she made to escape the brutal realities of slavery. The story explores motherhood, pain, and the scars left by the past. Morrison combines history with emotional depth, creating unforgettable narratives.
If you enjoy Kathleen Grissom’s heartfelt storytelling and vivid historical settings, Alice Walker’s novels may resonate deeply with you. Walker is an acclaimed author who skillfully portrays African American life with depth and emotion.
In The Color Purple, Walker introduces Celie, a young woman in early 20th-century Georgia who endures hardship, abuse, and isolation.
Celie’s life changes when she meets Shug Avery, a spirited woman whose courage and independence inspire Celie to find her own voice and strength. Through letters and strong narrative voices, the novel explores powerful themes of friendship, resilience, and redemption.
Walker’s honest portrayal of her characters and their struggles creates a story that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading.
Readers who enjoy Kathleen Grissom’s storytelling may find a kindred spirit in Charles Frazier. His novel Cold Mountain is set during the American Civil War and follows Inman, a wounded Confederate soldier who deserts the army to find his way home.
His journey is filled with peril and hardship, yet driven by love and longing for Ada, the woman he left behind. Back home, Ada struggles to maintain her father’s farm after his death, helped by Ruby, a strong and resilient woman.
The novel vividly shows the harsh realities of war and the strength needed to survive uncertain times. Frazier’s rich descriptions and emotional depth make the novel a memorable and moving read.
If you enjoy Kathleen Grissom’s heartfelt stories of courage and survival, Paulette Jiles is another author worth discovering. Jiles writes historical fiction that transports readers to vivid landscapes and challenges her characters in profound ways.
Her novel News of the World follows Captain Jefferson Kidd, a retired soldier who earns his way by traveling through post-Civil War Texas to share news from around the globe.
His life takes a turn when he’s asked to return a young girl named Johanna, who was kidnapped by the Kiowa tribe, to her relatives hundreds of miles away. The journey through unsettled territory tests their courage and trust as they navigate both human cruelty and kindness.
Jiles brilliantly captures the quiet strength of her characters and the depth of their unexpected bond.
Beverly Jenkins is an author known for historical fiction that brings to life rich periods of African American history. Readers who enjoy Kathleen Grissom’s vivid portrayals of historical struggles may appreciate Jenkins’s novel Indigo.
The story is set in pre-Civil War America, centered around Hester Wyatt, a strong-willed woman who uses her home as a secret stop on the Underground Railroad.
When Galen Vachon, a mysterious man with his own past and secrets, arrives wounded and in need of help, Hester’s life takes an unexpected turn.
Jenkins paints a deeply moving story filled with historical details, powerful relationships, and characters who stay with you long after you finish reading.
Books by Kimberly Brock often explore family secrets and historical mysteries wrapped in southern charm. If you enjoyed Kathleen Grissom’s style in The Kitchen House, you might connect with Brock’s novel, The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare.
The story focuses on Alice Young, a widow who returns to her ancestral home following her father’s death. There, she discovers a family history filled with ancient secrets tied to Eleanor Dare, one of the vanished Roanoke colonists.
Brock weaves together the past and present in a tale that celebrates resilience, motherhood, and the power of storytelling. Readers who appreciate Grissom’s detailed character portrayals and heartfelt historical stories may well find Kimberly Brock’s novels satisfying reads.