If you enjoy reading books by Kathleen Grissom then you might also like the following authors:
Sue Monk Kidd is an author known for stories that explore deep relationships and personal growth. Her novel “The Secret Life of Bees” follows Lily, a young girl who runs away with her housekeeper to escape a troubled home.
They find refuge with three eccentric sisters who keep bees on their farm. The story weaves themes of family, love, and healing, all set against the backdrop of the American South in the 1960s. It’s heartfelt and filled with moments that stay with you.
Lisa Wingate is an author who writes heartfelt stories that combine family, history, and personal growth.
One of her well-loved books, “Before We Were Strangers,” is about Avery, a lawyer who uncovers a hidden chapter of her family’s past through a decades-old photograph of a woman holding a baby.
Her journey takes her to a nursing home where an elderly woman, May, reveals an incredible story about loss, survival, and enduring hope. The book moves between May’s experiences as a young girl and Avery’s quest to piece everything together.
It’s a story about secrets, resilience, and connections that shape entire lives.
Kristin Hannah is known for her emotionally driven novels that often explore family, resilience, and the bonds between people. One of her standout books, “The Nightingale,” tells the story of two sisters in France during World War II.
Each sister faces the harsh realities of war in her own way, with one joining the resistance and the other making sacrifices to protect her family. The story is rich with moments of bravery and heartache, showing how people survive during the darkest times.
Sarah McCoy writes historical fiction that often weaves together human emotion and history. Her novel, “The Baker’s Daughter,” tells the story of two women connected across decades.
In 1945 Germany, Elsie is a young baker’s daughter whose life changes when she hides a Jewish boy during the Holocaust. Decades later in Texas, a journalist named Reba uncovers Elsie’s past while working on an article about her bakery.
Their stories reveal deep experiences of love, loss, and courage. McCoy’s writing tends to explore how the past shapes the present. If you’ve enjoyed Kathleen Grissom’s books, Sarah McCoy offers heartfelt storytelling in a similar vein.
Tara Conklin is an author known for weaving historical elements into her novels. Her book “The House Girl” tells the story of two women from different centuries.
In the 19th century, Josephine is an enslaved woman with a talent for art, while in the present day, Lina, a lawyer, discovers Josephine’s work while investigating a legal case. Their lives connect in unexpected ways, highlighting hidden truths about freedom, art, and identity.
Christina Baker Kline is an author who writes stories that connect the past and present in ways that feel personal and memorable.
One of her books, “Orphan Train,” focuses on the forgotten history of the orphan trains that relocated children from crowded cities to rural communities in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The story introduces us to Vivian, an elderly woman with a past tied to these orphan trains, and Molly, a teenager in foster care who helps her clean out her attic. Their unlikely friendship uncovers secrets from Vivian’s life that show how their struggles mirror each other.
Kline weaves the historical backdrop with these two women’s lives in a way that feels both heartfelt and honest.
Ann Weisgarber writes historical fiction that focuses on ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges. Her book “The Personal History of Rachel Dupree” is set in the South Dakota Badlands during the early 1900s.
It tells the story of Rachel, an African American woman who struggles with isolation and tough decisions while living on a remote ranch with her family. The harsh landscape and Rachel’s inner conflicts create a powerful and intimate story, pulling readers deep into her life.
Weisgarber’s ability to create vivid settings and heartfelt characters makes her a great choice for fans of Kathleen Grissom.
Kim Michele Richardson is an author known for creating immersive stories with strong, heartfelt characters. Her book “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” is set in 1930s Kentucky and follows Cussy Mary, one of the last “Blue People” of the region.
She works as a traveling librarian for the Pack Horse Library Project, delivering books to isolated communities in the Appalachian mountains. The story explores her encounters with prejudice, poverty, and the power of books to build connections.
Cussy’s determination and resilience make her journey both moving and unforgettable.
Ellen Marie Wiseman writes historical fiction that draws readers into emotional and vivid stories. Her book, “The Orphan Collector,” follows a young girl, Pia, in Philadelphia during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.
After losing her mother to the virus, Pia must care for her infant brothers in a city filled with fear and loss. A neighbor with dark intentions sees an opportunity, setting off a dangerous search for Pia’s family.
Wiseman’s storytelling brings the struggles and strength of her characters to life, making her a great choice for fans of Kathleen Grissom.
Beatriz Williams is a writer known for crafting stories that combine history, romance, and family secrets.
One of her books, “The Secret Life of Violet Grant,” follows Vivian Schuyler, a young woman in 1960s New York who receives an old suitcase linked to her aunt, Violet, a scientist who disappeared in Europe decades earlier.
As Vivian starts uncovering the story behind Violet’s life, she learns about forbidden love, ambition, and betrayal against the backdrop of World War I. The dual timelines bring both women to life, creating an engaging connection between past and present.
Ruta Sepetys writes historical novels that focus on forgotten or overlooked moments in history, often told through heartfelt and vivid stories.
One of her books, “Salt to the Sea,” follows the lives of four teenagers during World War II as they fight to survive while fleeing toward the ill-fated Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship carrying thousands of refugees.
The characters come from different backgrounds, each with a secret tied to their past, and their paths cross in unexpected ways. Sepetys captures both the humanity and the horrors of war through their journey.
Delia Owens is an author and wildlife scientist who wrote the novel “Where the Crawdads Sing.” The story is about Kya, a girl who grows up alone in the marshlands of North Carolina after her family leaves her.
Locals call her the “Marsh Girl” and avoid her, though she has an extraordinary connection with the natural world. When a well-liked man from the town is found dead, Kya becomes the prime suspect, and her life gets pulled into the town’s secrets.
The book weaves her life in the wild with the mystery surrounding the death, creating a vivid picture of survival and loneliness.
Paula McLain is an author who brings historical figures and settings to life with vivid storytelling. Her novel “The Paris Wife” focuses on Hadley Richardson, the first wife of Ernest Hemingway, and their marriage set against the backdrop of 1920s Paris.
The book captures the charm and chaos of the expatriate community, with appearances by people like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gertrude Stein. Through Hadley’s eyes, readers get a glimpse of both the excitement and struggles of life with a rising literary star.
Patricia Harman writes with a strong sense of place and character, creating stories that feel intimate and heartfelt. In her novel “The Midwife of Hope River,” she tells the story of Patience Murphy, a midwife working in rural West Virginia during the Great Depression.
The book follows Patience as she faces poverty, prejudice, and her own troubled past while helping women bring new life into the world. With each delivery, you get a glimpse into the lives of her patients, from coal miners’ wives to young mothers on the run.
Harman brings the struggles and resilience of these characters to life, making it easy to get lost in their world.
Geraldine Brooks writes historical fiction that brings the past to life through vivid characters and detailed storytelling. Her book, “March,” tells the story of the absent father from Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women.”
In Brooks’ hands, Mr. March becomes a man grappling with the horrors of the Civil War and his own moral choices. The novel takes readers into the harsh realities of war and explores how these experiences shape him as a father and husband.
Brooks has a talent for exploring untold perspectives, making her work hard to put down.