Laura Dave’s books often explore family dynamics, relationships, and secrets. Her stories usually have a contemporary setting and feature characters that feel very real.
If you love novels with a similar focus on emotional depth and character-driven narratives, here are some authors you might find interesting.
Jennifer Weiner writes stories that focus on relationships, personal growth, and life’s messy moments.
In her book “Mrs. Everything,” she follows two sisters, Jo and Bethie, as they grow up in 1950s Detroit and navigate decades of societal changes, family challenges, and their own identities.
The story dives deep into the bond between sisters and how their paths diverge in ways they never expected.
Taylor Jenkins Reid writes stories that focus on relationships, personal struggles, and the passage of time.
One of her standout books, “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,” centers on a reclusive Hollywood icon, Evelyn Hugo, who finally decides to share the truth about her glamorous and messy life.
As she recounts her rise to fame and her seven marriages, Evelyn reveals the love of her life, her sacrifices, and the way the choices she made shaped her legacy. It’s full of secrets and offers an intimate look at the cost of ambition and love.
Emily Giffin writes stories about relationships, choices, and the imperfections of life.
One of her most popular books, “Something Borrowed,” follows Rachel, a lawyer in New York, who wakes up after her 30th birthday to find herself tangled in an unexpected affair with her best friend’s fiancé.
It explores loyalty, desire, and those moments where life doesn’t seem to follow the rules we think it should. Giffin’s characters feel real, making you want to see how their messy lives unfold.
Kristin Hannah writes emotional, character-driven stories that explore relationships and resilience. One of her well-known novels, “The Nightingale,” takes place in France during World War II.
It follows two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, as they face the horrors of the war in very different ways. Vianne stays in her village, confronting the challenges of German occupation and protecting her family, while Isabelle becomes part of the French Resistance.
The bond between the sisters is tested by war, difficult choices, and the weight of survival. Hannah creates a vivid sense of place and captures the struggle of ordinary people during extraordinary times.
Colleen Hoover writes emotional stories that focus on relationships, personal growth, and choices. Her book, “It Ends with Us,” follows Lily, a woman who starts a new chapter of her life in Boston.
She meets Ryle, a charming neurosurgeon, but their relationship stirs memories of her first love, Atlas. The story explores love, pain, and how past experiences shape the decisions we make.
Hoover knows how to create characters that feel real and situations that make you think about life in a different way.
Liane Moriarty is an Australian author known for crafting stories that dig into relationships and secrets within everyday lives. Her novel “Big Little Lies” follows three women whose lives intersect at their children’s school.
What starts as drama between parents builds into something darker, unraveling hidden truths and a shocking event at a school fundraiser. The book is a mix of humor and tension, filled with characters that feel real and complex.
Fans of Laura Dave, who enjoy stories laced with twists and sharp insights into human nature, might find Moriarty’s work engaging.
Jojo Moyes writes heartfelt stories that focus on relationships and personal growth. One of her well-loved books, “Me Before You,” follows Louisa, a quirky young woman who becomes a caregiver to Will, a man left paralyzed after an accident.
Their connection starts off rocky but grows into something profound that changes both of them. Moyes has a talent for drawing you into her characters’ lives and making their struggles feel real. Fans of Laura Dave’s emotional storytelling might find Moyes’ work equally engaging.
Jodi Picoult is an author known for exploring deep family relationships and moral questions in her novels. Her book “My Sister’s Keeper” tells the story of Anna, a young girl who was conceived to be a bone marrow donor for her older sister, Kate, who has leukemia.
As Anna grows older, she begins to question the role she was born to play in her family and makes a shocking decision that leads to a legal battle. The story pulls you in with its shifting perspectives and the bonds between siblings and parents.
Sally Hepworth writes stories that grab your attention with family drama, secrets, and relationships. Her book, “The Mother-in-Law,” is about Lucy, a woman who tries to connect with her mother-in-law, Diana. Diana is cold and distant, but when she turns up dead, suspicions grow.
The book looks at family tension and hidden pasts, revealing twists that keep you hooked. Fans of Laura Dave will likely enjoy how Hepworth explores the complexities of family bonds.
Elin Hilderbrand is known for her heartfelt stories set on Nantucket, where she often explores family dynamics and personal challenges. In her book “The Perfect Couple,” a lavish wedding takes a dark turn when a body is discovered the morning of the ceremony.
The investigation pulls everyone into question, and hidden secrets begin to unravel. The story mixes romance and mystery, drawing readers into the complicated lives of the characters living in a picturesque seaside town.
Nicholas Sparks is known for writing heartfelt stories about love, loss, and second chances.
One of his well-loved novels, “The Notebook,” follows the love story of Noah and Allie, two people from different worlds who fall deeply in love but are pulled apart by life and circumstances.
Years later, their paths cross again, leading to moments that test the strength of their bond. Sparks balances emotional moments with relatable, human experiences, which might remind readers of Laura Dave’s storytelling style.
Mary Kay Andrews writes stories packed with heartfelt moments, family secrets, and a touch of humor. One of her standout novels is “The High Tide Club.”
The story kicks off when Josephine, an elderly woman on a coastal Georgia island, asks lawyer Brooke Trappnell to help her make amends with old friends she’s wronged.
What starts as a simple request draws Brooke into unraveling decades-old mysteries, including murder and hidden truths about Josephine’s life. Andrews blends Southern charm with engaging drama, creating characters who feel genuine and situations that keep readers curious.
Catherine Steadman is an actress and author who writes mystery thrillers with twists that keep readers hooked. Her book “Something in the Water” follows Erin and Mark, a couple honeymooning in Bora Bora.
While snorkeling, they discover something unexpected in the water, which sets off a chain of dangerous events. The story unfolds with suspense and moments where you wonder how far someone might go to protect their future.
It’s a story about choices, secrets, and the consequences that come with them.
Lisa Jewell writes stories that draw you into the lives of her characters and the secrets they keep. In her book “The Family Upstairs,” a young woman named Libby inherits a house in an upscale London neighborhood.
She expects a simple windfall but finds out the home’s dark history involves a cult, missing family members, and unsettling events that happened decades ago. As Libby starts piecing everything together, the threads connect her to people whose lives were shaped by the same house.
Mhairi McFarlane writes heartfelt and witty stories that often blend romance with honest emotions. One of her books, “If I Never Met You,” follows Laurie, a lawyer whose long-term boyfriend suddenly leaves her.
To save face at work, she enters a fake romance with her charming colleague Jamie. As their plan unfolds, sparks start to feel very real. McFarlane creates characters that feel authentic, with moments that are both funny and deeply touching.
If you enjoy Laura Dave’s mix of emotion and great storytelling, McFarlane’s work might be your next favorite.