If you enjoy reading books by Lisa Taddeo then you might also like the following authors:
Ottessa Moshfegh writes stories that focus on flawed, complicated characters and the messier sides of life. Her book “My Year of Rest and Relaxation” follows a young woman in New York who decides to escape her life by using pills to sleep for a full year.
The story explores her loneliness, her strange relationships, and her search for some kind of peace. It’s sharp, dark, and often surprisingly funny, with a main character who’s unlikeable but fascinating to watch.
Sally Rooney writes about relationships in a way that feels raw and immediate. Her book “Normal People” follows Connell and Marianne, two young people from the same small Irish town. Connell is popular in school, while Marianne is more of a loner.
Their connection grows as they navigate secret meetings, college life, and the shifts in their dynamic. The story explores how class, miscommunication, and personal growth weave into their relationship over the years.
Rooney really captures the complexity of human connection through her quiet but powerful storytelling.
Rachel Cusk is known for writing novels that examine relationships and personal identity with sharp clarity. Her book “Outline” follows a writer traveling to Greece to teach a summer writing course.
The story unfolds through conversations she has with strangers and acquaintances, revealing their desires, failures, and regrets. These interactions form a quiet but powerful portrait of human connection and disconnection.
Megan Nolan is an Irish author who writes with raw honesty about human relationships and emotions. Her book, “Acts of Desperation,” tells the story of a young woman who becomes obsessed with an older man.
The narrator is incredibly self-aware, laying bare her insecurities and her need for love, no matter how damaging it may be. The relationship in the book is messy and full of power struggles, giving a glimpse into how far someone might go to feel wanted.
It’s intimate and unflinching, with moments that feel almost too personal to witness.
Elena Ferrante is an Italian author known for exploring intense and complex relationships. One of her most talked-about books is “My Brilliant Friend,” the first in her Neapolitan series.
It tells the story of two childhood friends, Elena and Lila, growing up in a poor neighborhood in Naples. Their friendship is deep but also competitive and fraught with tension.
The story follows them as they navigate school, family struggles, and the shifting dynamics of their lives. Ferrante’s writing pulls you into their bond and the vivid world they inhabit, making you feel every triumph and heartbreak.
Tayari Jones is an author who tells stories about love, choices, and how people deal with complicated relationships. Her book “An American Marriage” follows Celestial and Roy, a young couple with their lives ahead of them, until Roy is wrongfully imprisoned.
Their love is tested over the years as Celestial’s life outside of prison moves forward, while Roy holds onto the hope of returning to the life they had. The book explores how time, separation, and personal ambition affect their bond.
It’s a deeply personal story that makes you think about loyalty, fairness, and the weight of circumstances.
Cheryl Strayed is an author who writes with raw honesty about life, love, and loss. Her memoir, “Wild,” tells the story of how she hiked over a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail alone after her life fell apart.
Grieving her mother’s death and dealing with the fallout of her divorce, she heads into the wilderness, facing both the harshness of nature and her own inner struggles. Strayed’s way of describing her journey—both physical and emotional—makes the book unforgettable.
Lauren Groff writes with a sharp focus on the hidden layers of human relationships and emotions.
Her book, “Fates and Furies,” looks at a marriage from two perspectives: first through the eyes of Lotto, a man who believes his marriage is perfect, and then through Mathilde, his wife, whose view of their life together reveals unexpected truths.
The story explores ambition, loyalty, and the secrets people keep from those closest to them. Fans of Lisa Taddeo might find Groff’s nuanced storytelling fascinating.
Eve Babitz writes about life in Los Angeles with wit and a sharp sense of observation. In her book “Eve’s Hollywood,” she paints a vivid picture of growing up in the glitzy, sometimes messy world of mid-century LA.
The book reads like a series of snapshots, where you’ll meet actors, musicians, and artists who crossed her path. One moment, she’s recounting afternoons at Chateau Marmont. The next, she’s describing parties that feel larger than life, yet strangely personal.
Babitz captures the chaos and glamour of an era, making you feel like you’re right there with her.
Dodie Bellamy is known for writing deeply personal and raw works that blur boundaries between fiction, memoir, and essay. One of her standout books, “The Letters of Mina Harker,” reimagines Bram Stoker’s Mina from *Dracula*, throwing her into chaotic modern life.
The story unfolds through letters filled with candid confessions and unexpected encounters. The mix of gothic elements and contemporary struggles creates a vivid, arresting portrait of someone trying to make sense of a fractured world.
Bellamy’s voice is honest and unfiltered, drawing readers into the messy, human side of her characters.
Deborah Levy is an author who writes stories that explore human relationships with sharp insight and emotional depth. In her novel “Hot Milk,” she takes readers to the sun-baked beaches of Spain, where a young woman, Sofia, cares for her mysterious and demanding mother, Rose.
The story weaves questions about family, identity, and obsession as Sofia tries to untangle her own desires while unraveling her mother’s strange behavior. Levy’s writing often feels intimate, showing characters in moments where everything in their lives could shift.
Zadie Smith is an author known for writing about relationships, identity, and the messiness of modern life. Her book “Swing Time” follows two childhood friends who dream of being dancers.
Their friendship unravels as they grow up, shaped by ambition, betrayal, and the contrasts between their lives. One friend chases fame, while the other works for a celebrity in Africa. The story weaves personal struggles with larger themes of race, class, and culture.
It’s an intimate look at how friendships can both shape and break us.
Maggie Nelson writes in a way that blends personal experience with thoughtful observation. One of her standout books, “The Argonauts,” is part memoir, part cultural reflection.
It explores love, identity, and family through her relationship with her partner, Harry Dodge, who is gender fluid. The book covers topics like queer parenting and shifting understandings of self, all while weaving in moments from their lives that feel both raw and deeply human.
Nelson’s voice is reflective and direct, and she has a way of making big ideas feel intimate. Fans of Lisa Taddeo might appreciate her candid approach to personal narratives.
Melissa Febos is a writer who explores themes of identity and relationships with raw honesty.
Her book “Girlhood” brings together personal stories and cultural analysis to look at the pressures and experiences of being a young girl growing up in a society that often objectifies women.
Febos shares moments from her own life, including her struggles with body image and her journey to define her sense of self.
The book also touches on topics like boundaries and societal expectations, making it a thought-provoking read for anyone interested in stories that examine personal and cultural transformation.
Jenny Offill is an author known for her sharp and thoughtful storytelling. Her book, “Dept. of Speculation,” explores the life of a woman navigating marriage, motherhood, and her creative ambitions. Told in fragments, it captures the messy, beautiful chaos of ordinary life.
The narrator reflects on love, trust, and the small moments that shape a person’s world. Fans of Lisa Taddeo may enjoy how Offill writes about inner struggles with honesty and depth.