Kiley Reid gained acclaim with her contemporary fiction debut novel, Such a Fun Age, exploring race, relationships, and modern life with empathy and wit.
If you enjoy reading books by Kiley Reid then you might also like the following authors:
Readers who enjoyed Kiley Reid’s insightful take on social dynamics and identity will likely appreciate Candice Carty-Williams.
Her novel, Queenie, follows the life of a young Jamaican-British woman in London as she juggles complicated relationships, career struggles, and questions about self-worth.
Queenie’s candid voice and relatable humor keep the narrative engaging while addressing important topics like race, mental health, and modern dating.
Carty-Williams provides thoughtful commentary under the surface of a lively, vibrant story, offering characters and situations that remain memorable long after the book concludes.
Raven Leilani is an exciting voice in contemporary fiction, especially if you’re a fan of Kiley Reid’s honest exploration of race, class, and relationships.
Her debut novel, Luster, follows Edie, a young Black woman who struggles to find her way through New York City’s complicated art scene and dating life.
When she becomes involved in a relationship with Eric, an older white man in an open marriage, her life takes unexpected turns. Edie’s experiences with love, loss, and identity resonate deeply.
Her dynamics with Eric’s family unfold in surprising and often uncomfortable ways, offering sharp insights into modern life. Luster explores themes of loneliness, desire, and creative ambition, wrapped in humor and honesty.
Leilani’s straightforward, vibrant narrative leaves readers eager for more.
Zadie Smith is a British novelist known for thoughtful explorations of race, class, identity, and culture. Her novel Swing Time follows a complex friendship between two mixed-race girls from North London who bond over their shared passion for dance.
The story moves from their gritty neighborhood to West Africa, tracking how their lives branch out in unexpected ways. Smith examines complicated questions with honesty and wit, painting multidimensional characters that stick with you long after finishing the book.
Readers who appreciated Kiley Reid’s sharp insights into modern relationships and racial dynamics in Such a Fun Age will find plenty to connect with in Smith’s authentic storytelling.
Curtis Sittenfeld is an American author known for her sharp observations and engaging stories about contemporary life. Her novel Such a Fun Age shares similarities with Kiley Reid’s style, especially in capturing modern relationships and social nuances.
In Prep, Sittenfeld portrays Lee Fiora, a teenage girl navigating the social complexities of a prestigious boarding school. Lee’s authentic voice and experiences make the story feel genuinely relatable.
This novel doesn’t shy away from awkward social dynamics, class tensions, and the subtle pressures teenagers often face. Sittenfeld’s smart and honest writing will appeal to readers who enjoyed Kiley Reid’s thoughtful exploration of identity and society.
Books by Brit Bennett often explore themes of race, family dynamics, and personal identity with clear-eyed honesty and emotional depth.
If you enjoyed Kiley Reid’s sharp observations in Such a Fun Age, you might appreciate Bennett’s powerful storytelling in The Vanishing Half.
This novel follows twin sisters who grow up in a small Southern Black community before choosing separate lives: one sister decides to live as white, while the other raises her daughter in their hometown.
The story spans decades and generations, highlighting how past decisions shape family bonds and personal identities. Bennett provides unforgettable characters and nuanced narratives that linger with you long after reading the final pages.
Sally Rooney is an Irish novelist known for sharp insights and vivid portrayals of modern relationships and social dynamics.
Her novel Normal People explores the complex connection between Connell and Marianne, two young people from different social backgrounds whose lives repeatedly intertwine throughout high school and university.
The story takes an honest look at intimacy, class differences, and personal struggles, showing how these factors shape who we become and how we relate to each other.
Readers who connected with Kiley Reid’s focus on social commentary and character-driven narratives in Such a Fun Age may similarly appreciate Rooney’s thoughtful and authentic storytelling.
Readers who enjoyed Kiley Reid’s sharp wit and exploration of modern anxieties may find Ottessa Moshfegh equally engaging. Moshfegh has built a reputation for dark humor, complex characters, and sharp insights into human behavior.
One of her standout novels is My Year of Rest and Relaxation. Set in New York City around the year 2000, the book follows an unnamed narrator who decides to take a drastic step toward rebooting her life.
She attempts a year-long hibernation through an unconventional mix of sleeping pills and solitude. The narrator’s peculiar therapist, Dr. Tuttle, adds a layer of absurdity to the story.
This strange experiment in isolation leads to unexpected discoveries, absurd situations, and a deep dive into the narrator’s emotional world.
Moshfegh’s storytelling combines humor and unsettling insight, giving readers a vivid look into loneliness and the search for meaningful connection.
If you enjoy Kiley Reid’s sharp look at race, family, and society, Celeste Ng might be someone you’d appreciate too. Her book Little Fires Everywhere explores how two very different families cross paths in the orderly, affluent suburb of Shaker Heights.
When Mia Warren, a private artist with a mysterious past, and her teenage daughter arrive in town, their lives quickly become tangled with the seemingly perfect Richardson family.
Secrets come to the surface and tensions build, raising thoughtful questions about motherhood, race, privilege, and the true meaning of home.
Ng’s writing is subtle but powerful, making this a perfect read for anyone drawn to engaging stories about contemporary social issues and family dynamics.
Jia Tolentino is a writer known for her sharp cultural observations and insightful humor. Her book, Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion, is a collection of essays that explore themes of identity, internet culture, feminism, and social dynamics.
Tolentino examines ideas through personal stories and broader societal commentary. She discusses experiences from her time on a reality TV show as a teenager, as well as how social media shapes our perceptions of ourselves and others.
If you connected with Kiley Reid’s perceptive take on race, class, and modern relationships in Such a Fun Age, you’ll likely appreciate Tolentino’s clear-eyed views on contemporary culture and identity.
Brandon Taylor is an insightful author whose writing often explores complex friendships and tensions related to identity, race, and class. His debut novel, Real Life, centers around Wallace, a Black graduate student in a predominantly white Midwestern university.
Over just a single weekend, readers get an intimate look at Wallace’s struggles with loneliness and isolation and the subtle yet persistent dynamics of race among his mostly white group of friends.
Taylor expertly captures the small, uncomfortable moments that define Wallace’s experiences, making Real Life resonate strongly with readers who enjoyed the nuanced social themes in Kiley Reid’s Such a Fun Age.
Ling Ma is an author whose insightful storytelling explores themes of identity, belonging, and societal expectations. Her novel Severance offers an absorbing blend of personal drama and eerie apocalyptic fiction.
Candace Chen, the protagonist, navigates life as a young professional in New York City amid a spreading fungal pandemic. Even as society collapses around her, Candace continues her daily routines, reflecting poignantly on modern life, consumerism, and immigration.
Ma’s sharp commentary and nuanced characters create a narrative that is both thought-provoking and deeply relatable. Readers who appreciate Kiley Reid’s sharp reflections on contemporary life and social dynamics in Such a Fun Age may find Ling Ma’s work similarly resonant.
Naoise Dolan is an Irish author known for sharp dialogue and keen insight into relationships and social dynamics.
Her debut novel, Exciting Times, follows Ava, a young Irish woman living in Hong Kong, who becomes entangled in an uncertain relationship with Julian, a wealthy British banker.
When Julian leaves temporarily, Ava meets Edith, a confident local lawyer who offers a completely different perspective on love and belonging. Dolan explores themes of class, identity, and modern romance with humor and clarity, creating characters who feel vividly real.
Readers who enjoyed Kiley Reid’s Such a Fun Age will appreciate Dolan’s clever observations about human connections and societal expectations.
Halle Butler is an author known for her sharp and darkly humorous take on contemporary young adulthood and workplace dynamics. Her novel The New Me revolves around Millie, a thirty-year-old temp worker stuck in a cycle of tedious office jobs.
Millie dreams of escaping her dreary routine and imagines reinvented versions of herself. The story exposes Millie’s frustrations and anxieties through blunt, cringe-worthy, and hilarious everyday moments.
If you appreciated the blunt observations and nuanced social commentary in Kiley Reid’s Such a Fun Age, you’ll likely find enjoyment in Butler’s unfiltered exploration of life’s awkward realities.
Diana Evans is a British author known for insightful novels that explore identity, relationships, and modern life’s complexities in urban settings. Her novel Ordinary People captures the nuances and tensions beneath the surface of everyday relationships.
Set in South London, the story follows two couples trying to manage the demands of parenthood, career ambitions, and personal expectations. Evans richly portrays the daily lives of her characters and taps into the emotional undercurrents that shape their choices.
Readers who appreciate Kiley Reid’s sharp social insights and authentic character portrayals will likely feel at home with Diana Evans’ storytelling style.
Tayari Jones is an author known for exploring relationships, race, and family dynamics in her fiction.
Her novel An American Marriage tells the story of Celestial and Roy, a newlywed Black couple whose lives are turned upside down when Roy is wrongfully convicted and sent to prison.
This novel dives deeply into their struggles and shifting emotions as the separation tests their marriage, loyalty, and self-identity.
If you enjoyed the layered social commentaries and rich characters in Kiley Reid’s works, Tayari Jones provides similarly sharp stories filled with thought-provoking situations and realistic relationships.