Laila Lalami’s books often look at history and identity, especially through Moroccan experiences and stories of migration. If you find yourself drawn to her writing and the topics she explores, you might be curious about other authors.
Several writers explore similar themes in their books. They write about history, culture, and questions of identity. If you want to discover authors with a similar sensibility, here are some to consider.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian author known for her insightful novels about Nigerian life, identity, and the immigrant experience.
Readers who appreciate Laila Lalami’s exploration of cultural conflicts and layered character portrayals might find a strong connection with Adichie’s writing.
Her novel “Americanah” centers on Ifemelu and Obinze, two young Nigerians who leave their home country, one heading to the United States and the other initially to Britain.
As their lives take different paths, the story vividly portrays their struggles with race, migration, love, and cultural expectations.
The book examines identity through Ifemelu’s sharp-eyed observations of American life in her widely read blog, offering readers reflections that are candid, humorous, and thought-provoking.
If you enjoy Laila Lalami’s insightful portrayal of immigrant experiences and stories of cultural identity, you might appreciate Jhumpa Lahiri’s work. Lahiri explores similar themes with warmth, clarity, and emotional depth.
Her book “The Namesake” centers around Gogol Ganguli, the American-born son of Bengali immigrant parents. Gogol grapples with the complexity of his dual heritage and the meaning behind his unusual name.
Lahiri’s nuanced storytelling captures family ties, the subtle challenges of assimilation, and the delicate dance between tradition and modernity.
If you enjoy Laila Lalami’s thoughtful explorations of identity and belonging, you might resonate with the works of Leila Aboulela.
Her novel “Minaret” follows Najwa, a privileged young woman whose comfortable life in Sudan unravels after political upheaval forces her to relocate to London.
In this unfamiliar city, Najwa grapples with loneliness and finds herself drawn back toward faith and personal reflection. Aboulela captures the nuances of displacement and the quiet strength that can grow from self-discovery.
Her gentle prose and heartfelt storytelling present themes similar to Lalami’s, making her novels a natural next read.
Zadie Smith is a British novelist known for her insightful storytelling and vivid portrayals of multicultural lives.
Her novel “White Teeth” follows the lives of two friends, Archie Jones and Samad Iqbal, from their first meeting during World War II through the tangled paths of their families in contemporary London.
The book dives into personal struggles, cultural clashes, friendship, loyalty, and the humorous moments that life inevitably brings.
Smith captures London’s diverse neighborhoods and complex characters with warmth and sharp wit, making “White Teeth” resonate strongly with readers who appreciate Laila Lalami’s thoughtful explorations of identity and belonging.
Kamila Shamsie is a Pakistani-British novelist known for her thought-provoking stories about identity, belonging, and cultural conflicts. In her acclaimed novel “Home Fire,” she offers a powerful narrative about family loyalty and political tensions in today’s Britain.
The novel follows siblings Isma, Aneeka, and Parvaiz, two sisters and a brother whose lives become entangled with complicated questions of faith, patriotism, and love.
When their brother travels abroad, he gets drawn into dangerous territory, and the sisters have to choose between family ties and personal freedom.
If you appreciate how Laila Lalami explores complex cultural identities and the personal dilemmas her characters face, Kamila Shamsie’s “Home Fire” explores similar themes with equal depth and emotional intensity.
If you enjoy Laila Lalami’s insightful storytelling and exploration of cultural identity, Mohsin Hamid might capture your interest as well. Hamid, a Pakistani-born author, writes thoughtfully about themes of migration, belonging, and the complexities of modern life.
His novel, “Exit West,” gently weaves elements of magical realism with a poignant love story. It follows Saeed and Nadia, two young people from an unnamed city on the verge of collapse.
As conflict intensifies around them, mysterious doors begin to appear, offering escapes to safer destinations. Through this creative twist, Hamid explores how displacement shapes relationships and personal identity in today’s world.
Elif Shafak is a Turkish-British novelist known for thoughtful stories that connect personal lives to broader cultural themes.
Her novel “The Bastard of Istanbul” explores family secrets and identity through the intersecting lives of two young women—one American-Armenian, the other Turkish.
Complex family ties, cultural clashes, and historic tension between Turks and Armenians emerge vividly as the characters navigate personal discoveries and revelations.
For readers who appreciate Laila Lalami’s rich storytelling and insights into cultural identity, Elif Shafak offers narratives full of depth, drama, and authenticity.
Readers who enjoy Laila Lalami’s thoughtful storytelling might appreciate Arundhati Roy. Roy explores deep personal and political themes with a lyrical voice.
Her novel “The God of Small Things” follows twins Rahel and Estha in Kerala, India, whose childhoods are shaped by family secrets and cultural struggles. The narrative moves skillfully between their past and present, uncovering a forbidden love that had lasting consequences.
Roy’s vivid characters and emotional depth offer a rich, complex reading experience.
If you enjoy Laila Lalami’s thoughtful exploration of identity, family connections, and cultural history, Yaa Gyasi is another author worth discovering.
In her novel “Homegoing,” Gyasi offers a powerful portrayal of two half-sisters born in Ghana whose lives take dramatically different paths. One sister marries a British governor in a privileged marriage, while the other sister is captured and sold into the Atlantic slave trade.
Each chapter vividly portrays the lives of their descendants across several generations. Gyasi opens up lasting emotional connections with characters you encounter briefly, leaving readers impacted by the legacy of history through personal, intimate stories.
If you enjoy Laila Lalami’s thoughtful exploration of identity and belonging, you might also appreciate Randa Jarrar. Born to Egyptian and Palestinian parents, Jarrar often writes about characters who navigate multiple cultures with humor and authenticity.
Her novel “A Map of Home” follows Nidali, a young woman who grows up in Kuwait, Egypt, and eventually settles in Texas. Nidali’s journey is less about geography and more about discovering who she truly is amid family expectations, cultural contrasts, and teenage rebellion.
Jarrar blends vivid storytelling with relatable themes, creating a story that sticks with you long after you’ve finished reading.
Cristina Henríquez is an author known for her heartfelt storytelling about immigrant experiences and cultural identity. Her novel “The Book of Unknown Americans” centers around two families who come to America seeking better opportunities.
The story follows Maribel Rivera, a young girl from Mexico recovering from a serious accident, and Mayor Toro, the shy, thoughtful boy from Panama who falls deeply for her. The book paints a vivid picture of hope, love, and the daily struggles families face in a new country.
Readers who appreciate Laila Lalami’s thoughtful narratives about immigration, belonging, and human connection will likely find themselves equally drawn to Henríquez’s sincere and relatable characters.
Readers who appreciate Laila Lalami might also enjoy Imbolo Mbue. Mbue is a Cameroonian-American author known for her thoughtful storytelling and strong characters.
Her debut novel, “Behold the Dreamers,” follows Jende Jonga, a Cameroonian immigrant striving to build a better life for his family in New York City.
When Jende takes a job as chauffeur for a top executive at Lehman Brothers during the financial crisis, he and his family become closely linked to the wealthy Edwards family.
The novel explores the complex dynamics between these two families, their hopes and anxieties, and the realities behind the American dream. Mbue’s careful attention to characters and cultural detail provides an honest look at immigration, identity, and aspiration in America.
Readers who enjoy Laila Lalami’s novels may also appreciate the work of Hisham Matar. Matar is a Libyan-American novelist known for exploring themes of identity, exile, and loss in nuanced and thoughtful ways.
His autobiographical book, “The Return,” follows Matar’s journey back to Libya after decades abroad. It is a personal search for the truth behind his father’s disappearance under the Qaddafi regime. Matar mixes family memoir, investigative storytelling, and literary meditation.
The story moves fluidly between intimate memories and cultural observations, conveying the deep ache of uncertainty and the lasting bonds of family.
Tayari Jones is an American author known for novels that explore the emotional landscapes of relationships, identity, and family life. She tells authentic, vivid stories of complex characters facing personal and social challenges.
If you appreciate Laila Lalami’s rich portrayal of identity and belonging, Tayari Jones offers similarly meaningful and thought-provoking insights into the heart of family bonds and injustice.
Her novel “An American Marriage” focuses on newlyweds Roy and Celestial, whose lives are upended when Roy is wrongly imprisoned.
The book follows the strain placed on their marriage by circumstances beyond their control, raising deep questions about commitment, loyalty, and the lasting impact of injustice.
Jones thoughtfully illustrates how external forces can break into our innermost relationships, forcing her characters to navigate difficult moral and emotional choices.
Aminatta Forna is an author whose writing beautifully explores identity, memory, and cultural complexities, similar to the themes readers enjoy in Laila Lalami’s novels. In her book “The Memory of Love,” Forna tells a deeply moving story set in post-civil war Sierra Leone.
Adrian, a psychologist from Britain, arrives in Sierra Leone to help trauma survivors rebuild their lives.
He meets two men with quite different struggles—Kai, a young surgeon dedicated to healing others, and Elias, an elderly professor haunted by his past decisions during the war.
Together, their stories weave a powerful narrative about love, loss, and the search for meaning in difficult times. Forna’s storytelling captures the emotional layers of people living between two worlds, a quality readers familiar with Lalami might greatly appreciate.