Lauren Groff crafts books that readers often find beautiful and thought-provoking. Her stories frequently explore complex characters, relationships, and the passage of time.
If you are drawn to authors with a similar approach, and a talent for vivid prose, here are some writers you might want to discover.
If you enjoy Lauren Groff’s skillful storytelling and atmospheric narratives, Téa Obreht may appeal to your reading taste. Her book “The Tiger’s Wife” blends reality and folklore within a war-torn Balkan setting.
The story follows Natalia, a young doctor who confronts mysterious myths and family secrets after the death of her beloved grandfather. Obreht weaves together elements of magical realism, personal history, and Eastern European legends.
This combination creates a vivid exploration of grief, memory, and the way myths shape people’s lives.
Readers who appreciate Lauren Groff’s sharp eye for human relationships and subtle yet powerful storytelling might connect well with Claire Keegan. Keegan is an Irish author known for her beautifully crafted prose and layers of emotional depth.
Her novella “Small Things Like These” takes us to a quiet Irish town in the mid-1980s, where we meet Bill Furlong, a coal merchant preparing for Christmas. As Bill goes about his deliveries, he encounters a troubling secret at the local convent.
This quiet, thoughtful story gently explores compassion, morality, and the everyday courage that ordinary people sometimes show. If you value stories that reveal complex human truths in seemingly small moments, Claire Keegan’s work stands out.
Readers who enjoy Lauren Groff’s atmospheric storytelling and vivid character portrayals may also find Maggie O’Farrell’s novels captivating. O’Farrell crafts emotional, character-driven stories that explore family relationships, loss, and resilience.
Her novel “Hamnet” imagines the story behind Shakespeare’s famous play “Hamlet,” centering on Shakespeare’s family and the life of his young son, Hamnet.
Set in 16th-century England, the book beautifully portrays the complexities of marriage, grief, and creative inspiration, offering readers a memorable glimpse into the private world of history’s most famous playwright.
Books by Elizabeth Strout often explore small-town life and the quiet dramas beneath everyday moments. Readers who connect with Lauren Groff’s character-driven stories might find similarities in Strout’s insightful narratives.
In her novel “Olive Kitteridge,” Strout brings to life the blunt but deeply human Olive, a retired schoolteacher whose complex personality shapes the community around her.
Each chapter provides snapshots into the varied lives of townspeople, and through these interconnected stories emerges a touching portrait of loneliness, love, and unexpected kindness.
This mix of beautifully observed characters and subtle emotional depth makes “Olive Kitteridge” resonate with readers drawn to thoughtful, nuanced storytelling.
If you enjoy Lauren Groff’s vivid storytelling and nuanced character portrayals, you might appreciate Lorrie Moore. Her blend of humor, insight, and emotional candor makes her stories memorable and deeply affecting.
In her collection “Birds of America,” Moore explores ordinary lives filled with complexity, mistakes, and quiet moments of revelation. Each story captures life’s odd twists with honesty and wit.
Characters face relatable struggles—from awkward romances to strained family ties—with a mix of sharp observation, sensitivity, and humor.
For instance, in “People Like That Are the Only People Here,” she tackles difficult emotional territory through a mother’s heartfelt inner dialogue during her child’s illness. Moore’s recognizable characters and clear, warm prose resonate long after each story ends.
Readers who enjoy Lauren Groff’s thoughtful exploration of characters and relationships may appreciate Alice Munro’s rich storytelling in her short story collection “Dear Life.” Munro has a sharp talent for capturing ordinary lives with depth and clarity.
“Dear Life” contains several short stories set mostly in small Canadian towns, where characters encounter pivotal moments that quietly shift their understanding of their lives.
In “Amundsen,” a young teacher begins a subtle yet complex relationship with her older employer, which leads to surprising realizations about love and self-awareness.
Munro’s writing is quietly powerful and emotionally honest, inviting readers into the private worlds of believable, nuanced characters.
If you enjoy Lauren Groff’s thoughtful narratives and rich character portrayals, Barbara Kingsolver might resonate with you too. Kingsolver is celebrated for her honest and vivid storytelling that makes complex human relationships feel authentic and relatable.
Her novel “Prodigal Summer” weaves together three separate stories set within a lush, rural community. Each tale follows characters deeply connected to nature, exploring desire, loss, and ecological balance.
Kingsolver’s careful attention to detail and sensitive exploration of her characters’ inner worlds create a layered narrative full of emotional depth and subtle wisdom.
Jenny Offill is an American writer known for crafting sharp, thoughtful novels that explore everyday life through an intimate, often fragmented lens.
Readers who appreciate Lauren Groff’s layered storytelling and psychological depth might find resonance in Offill’s novel “Dept. of Speculation.” The book follows a woman reflecting on her marriage, motherhood, ambition, and the quiet tensions beneath her daily routines.
Her thoughts unfold in short, vivid snippets. These brief yet powerful sections accumulate meaning gradually, offering a candid glimpse into life’s complexities and uncertainties.
Fans of Groff’s addictive narratives focused on personal and emotional landscapes will find Offill’s approach fresh, original, and deeply relatable.
If you enjoy Lauren Groff’s insightful exploration of complex characters and family dynamics, you might really connect with Toni Morrison’s novels. Morrison’s writing vividly captures emotional intensity and deep historical themes through stunning prose.
Her book “Beloved” tells the haunting story of Sethe, a woman who escapes slavery but remains burdened by trauma and loss. When Sethe is confronted by a mysterious young woman named Beloved, the past she has desperately tried to bury resurfaces in eerie and powerful ways.
Morrison weaves together history, myth, and intimate human struggles in a story filled with unforgettable images.
If you enjoy Lauren Groff’s sharp observations and characters that keep you curious, Otessa Moshfegh might be a perfect fit.
Her novel “My Year of Rest and Relaxation” follows a young woman in early 2000s New York City, who decides to escape her dissatisfaction by committing to a year of medicated sleep.
Between strange psychiatrist visits, questionable prescriptions, and a complicated friendship, this darkly funny story explores isolation and the peculiar ways individuals seek comfort.
Moshfegh’s exploration of human flaws and her dry humor could definitely resonate with fans of Groff’s thoughtful narratives.
If you enjoy Lauren Groff’s sharp insights and ability to capture complex relationships, you might appreciate Zadie Smith’s writing.
Smith’s novel “On Beauty” is an engaging exploration of family dynamics, academic rivalry, and cultural tensions within an interracial family living near Boston.
The story revolves around Howard Belsey, a liberal art professor, his African American wife, Kiki, and their three children, who each navigate identity, race, and personal struggles in relatable ways.
Smith’s wit and sharp observations create realistic characters whose experiences linger long after you’ve turned the last page.
Colm Tóibín is an Irish author known for his thoughtful storytelling and rich character development. Readers who enjoy Lauren Groff’s emotional depth might appreciate Tóibín’s novel “Brooklyn.”
The story follows Eilis Lacey, a young woman from Ireland who moves to New York in the 1950s. As she adjusts to life in Brooklyn, Eilis grapples with homesickness, new love, and difficult choices that change her life’s direction.
Tóibín’s quiet yet powerful writing style captures the complexity of migration, identity, and belonging in ways that linger well beyond the final page.
Readers who appreciate Lauren Groff might also connect with Marilynne Robinson, an author known for quiet yet powerful portrayals of complex family relationships and inner lives. Her novel “Gilead” tells the reflective story of John Ames, an elderly pastor in a small Iowa town.
Facing mortality, Ames writes a heartfelt letter to his young son, filling it with memories of past generations, honest confessions about faith and doubt, and profound reflections about life’s simple joys.
Robinson’s thoughtful exploration of humanity and lyrical writing will resonate with those who admire Groff’s depth and sensitivity.
Readers who appreciate Lauren Groff’s insightful character portrayals may be drawn to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s thoughtful storytelling and rich, complex narratives.
Adichie’s novel “Americanah” follows Ifemelu and Obinze, two young Nigerians whose lives drift apart when Ifemelu moves to America. There, she faces new challenges around race, identity, and belonging.
The novel explores their separate journeys across different continents and cultures, as they reconnect years later, changed by their varied experiences.
Adichie uses powerful voices and memorable characters to address universal themes of love, cultural identity, and what it means to feel truly at home.
Rachel Cusk explores complex human relationships and everyday life with honesty and sharp observation. Her novel “Outline” introduces readers to Faye, a writer who travels to Athens to teach a writing workshop.
Over the course of conversations with strangers, colleagues, and students, Faye listens and learns about their inner lives and struggles. The people she meets gradually sketch out a vivid portrait of her own identity and emotional landscape.
For readers who appreciate the insightful character dynamics and emotional depth found in Lauren Groff’s fiction, Rachel Cusk’s quiet yet powerful storytelling in “Outline” offers another thoughtful reading experience.