Kathryn Stockett wrote *The Help*, a book set in Jackson, Mississippi, during the 1960s. It tells the story from different points of view, especially from Black maids working in white households.
Readers really connected with the characters and the way the book looked at race and social issues in the South. If you enjoyed that book and are searching for authors who create stories with a similar feel, here are some writers you might want to check out.
Sue Monk Kidd is a storyteller who crafts vivid narratives set in intensely personal landscapes. Readers who enjoyed Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help” will find resonance in Kidd’s novel, “The Secret Life of Bees.”
Set in South Carolina during the mid-1960s, this story follows fourteen-year-old Lily Owens. Lily runs away from a difficult relationship with her father and stays with three fascinating sisters who run a honey-making business.
This warm, engaging story explores powerful connections between women, the search for family truths, and the reality of racial tensions during the Civil Rights Movement. Kidd brings emotion and clarity to Lily’s memorable journey toward self-discovery and healing.
Toni Morrison is an American author known for powerful novels that explore themes of race, identity, and family bonds. Readers who enjoyed Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help” will likely appreciate Morrison’s “Beloved,” a story about Sethe, an escaped slave haunted by her past.
Set in Ohio after the Civil War, Sethe is determined to protect her children from the cruelty she faced herself. But painful memories resurface when a mysterious young woman appears, forcing Sethe to confront truths she’s long fought to suppress.
Morrison creates incredible depth and genuine emotional insight in unforgettable characters that linger long after the final page.
Lisa Wingate is an author known for novels that explore emotional depth and richly developed characters. Readers who enjoyed Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help” may find Wingate’s “Before We Were Yours” appealing. The book is inspired by a shocking true story set in the United States.
It follows two timelines, the first in 1939 Memphis with twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her siblings who are suddenly torn from their parents and thrown into an abusive orphanage.
The second timeline presents Avery Stafford, a modern-day woman from an influential political family, who uncovers a secret in her family’s past that leads her to question everything.
Wingate blends history and fiction with sensitivity to create memorable characters and powerful stories.
Harper Lee is an American novelist celebrated for her insightful examination of society, morality, and race relations in the American South. If you enjoyed Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help,” you might appreciate Lee’s classic “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
The story is set in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression. Scout Finch, a young girl whose father, Atticus Finch, is a principled lawyer, narrates the story.
When Atticus decides to defend Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of assaulting a white woman, Scout witnesses the prejudice within her community and also the courage it takes to stand for justice.
Harper Lee weaves together young innocence, complex characters, and a socially charged storyline that reveals important truths about humanity.
Readers who enjoyed Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help” will likely appreciate Kristin Hannah’s storytelling style and heartfelt narratives. Kristin Hannah is an author known for deeply emotional novels that explore family ties, historical events, and strong, relatable characters.
Her novel “The Nightingale” centers around two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Each sister faces the war in her own way and shows bravery under extraordinary circumstances.
Through vivid storytelling, Hannah paints a powerful picture of the resilience and courage women show when history forces them into impossible choices.
Books by Anne Tyler are known for thoughtful portrayals of family life and quiet dramas of everyday people.
Readers who enjoyed Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help” might appreciate Tyler’s “Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant,” which follows the story of Pearl Tull and her three grown children after the family’s father unexpectedly walks out.
Each chapter reveals insights into the family members’ lives and memories, highlighting their struggles to connect and the secrets they keep.
Tyler skillfully explores family dynamics in ways that feel real and relatable, much as Stockett brings out emotional truths in her characters’ lives.
Barbara Kingsolver is an author known for vivid stories about family, culture, and resilience. Her novel “The Poisonwood Bible” explores the lives of the Price family after their move to the Belgian Congo in the 1950s.
Through the voices of the mother and her four daughters, readers witness the profound effects of their journey. Each character tells a distinct part of the story, creating a deeply personal look at courage, tragedy, and growth.
Fans of Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help,” which deals with family dynamics and complex social issues, might appreciate Kingsolver’s thoughtful portrayal of challenging relationships and the strength that comes from unexpected places.
Books by Alice Walker often explore emotional stories about African American women facing adversity with courage and resilience. If you enjoyed Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help,” you might also connect with Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple.”
This book tells the powerful story, through letters, of Celie, a young African American woman living in the rural South in the early 20th century.
Celie endures hardship and abuse but her inner strength and the bonds she forms with other women help her find her voice and self-worth. Walker brings readers into Celie’s personal experiences with raw honesty and warmth, making it hard to put this book down.
Fannie Flagg is an author with a knack for writing authentic, heartwarming stories set in the American South.
Her novel “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe” tells the story of friendship between Idgie and Ruth, two very different women in the tiny town of Whistle Stop, Alabama.
The book shifts between the past and present as the elderly Ninny Threadgoode recounts memories of the cafe’s lively days to Evelyn Couch, a woman struggling with her own sense of self.
The book explores family bonds, race relations, and small-town secrets with humor and genuine warmth.
Fans of Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help,” which also portrays women’s friendships, small-town life, and southern charm, will likely enjoy Fannie Flagg’s storytelling and relatable characters.
Readers who enjoyed Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help” might also appreciate Elizabeth Strout’s thoughtful storytelling and complex characters. Strout often explores small-town dynamics and personal relationships with depth and empathy.
In her novel “Olive Kitteridge,” she introduces readers to Olive, a sharp-tongued former schoolteacher in coastal Maine whose prickly exterior hides a surprising tenderness.
Told through interconnected stories, the book gently reveals the quiet dramas and deep emotions of ordinary lives. Elizabeth Strout’s careful observation and honest portrayal of human nature offer readers a meaningful and heartfelt experience.
If you enjoy Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help,” you might also appreciate the books of Delia Owens. Her novel, “Where the Crawdads Sing,” is a beautifully layered story set in the marshlands of North Carolina.
The main character, Kya Clark, grows up isolated in the marsh after being abandoned by her family at a young age. Her life takes a dramatic turn when townspeople accuse her of murder, forcing her to confront the outside world.
The novel weaves together themes of resilience, community prejudice, and the powerful connection between a person and their natural surroundings. Owens’ vivid descriptions and compelling characters create a captivating tale of loneliness, survival, and the search for belonging.
If you enjoy Kathryn Stockett’s heartfelt storytelling and vibrant southern atmosphere, Dorothea Benton Frank offers another wonderful voice to explore.
Her novel “Sullivan’s Island” centers around Susan Hayes, who returns to her childhood home on the South Carolina coast after a difficult divorce.
As Susan faces family secrets, humorous moments, and meaningful reunions, the story portrays the strong bonds connecting mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends.
Frank captures southern coastal life and family dynamics with genuine warmth and humor, making “Sullivan’s Island” a cozy and satisfying read.
Books by Minrose Gwin explore emotional depth and historical detail in the American South, similar to Kathryn Stockett’s approach in “The Help.”
In her novel “The Queen of Palmyra,” Gwin introduces readers to Florence Forrest, an eleven-year-old girl living in Mississippi during the turbulent 1960s.
Florence’s father engages in reprehensible activities involving the Ku Klux Klan, while her mother distracts herself baking cakes to avoid confronting painful truths.
The story unfolds through Florence’s eyes as she gradually understands racial tension, family secrets, and the complexities of the society around her.
Gwin thoughtfully portrays a child’s attempt to make sense of love, loyalty, and injustice, capturing the conflicting realities of everyday life in the segregated South.
Jeannette Walls is an author known for her straightforward yet emotionally powerful storytelling style. Her memoir “The Glass Castle” is a remarkable account of her unconventional upbringing by parents who chose adventure and freedom over stability and security.
Walls describes the harsh realities of poverty and the resilience required to survive her often chaotic childhood.
Readers who enjoyed Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help” may appreciate Jeannette Walls’ ability to create vivid scenes filled with authenticity, humanity, and insight into complicated family relationships.
If you enjoy Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help,” you’ll likely appreciate Beth Hoffman’s “Saving CeeCee Honeycutt.” Hoffman writes stories of friendship and resilience that focus on strong female characters, set within vibrant Southern backdrops.
“Saving CeeCee Honeycutt” introduces readers to twelve-year-old Cecelia Rose Honeycutt, a young girl burdened by her mother’s instability.
After tragedy strikes, CeeCee moves to Savannah, Georgia, where her eccentric great-aunt Tootie and a host of lively Southern women become her new family.
This novel beautifully captures warmth, humor, and the healing power of community, filled with memorable characters who reflect the spirit of Southern life.