Maisy Card is a talented Jamaican-American author known for exploring family and cultural identity. Her debut novel, These Ghosts Are Family, weaves together the complexities of generational secrets and personal histories, earning widespread acclaim.
If you enjoy reading books by Maisy Card then you might also like the following authors:
Yaa Gyasi writes thoughtful novels about family, identity, and the impact of history on people's lives. Her style is clear and emotional, bringing characters to life in a way that stays with readers long after the last page.
Her novel Homegoing follows generations of a family, vividly exploring the legacy of slavery and colonialism.
Tiphanie Yanique is a storyteller with strong Caribbean roots, weaving together elements of magical realism with themes of culture, love, and identity. Her writing blends vivid descriptions of place with engaging characters.
Her novel Land of Love and Drowning portrays an unforgettable family saga rooted in the Virgin Islands' history, culture, and myths.
Nicole Dennis-Benn focuses her writing on powerful stories about Jamaica, examining issues of gender, sexuality, and class. Her prose is vibrant yet straightforward, honestly depicting harsh realities while affirming strength and resilience.
In Here Comes the Sun, Dennis-Benn explores the lives of women navigating difficult circumstances amid a society shaped by tourism and inequality.
Marlon James is acclaimed for his bold storytelling style, vivid imagery, and deep exploration of Jamaican history and mythology. His narratives challenge readers—provoking thought, emotion, and a fresh understanding of complicated characters.
His novel A Brief History of Seven Killings unfolds through multiple voices and perspectives surrounding an attempted assassination of Bob Marley, capturing the gritty realities of 1970s Jamaica.
Jesmyn Ward crafts stories that shine a powerful light on race, poverty, and the deep South. Ward's writing feels intimate yet raw, drawing readers close to the heartache and struggles of her characters.
Her novel Sing, Unburied, Sing merges themes of family, loss, and spirituality as it follows a journey through modern-day Mississippi, bringing clarity and compassion to difficult truths.
Brit Bennett writes thoughtful novels that explore how race, family, and identity intersect. Her stories are emotional and insightful without ever feeling heavy-handed.
In The Vanishing Half, Bennett tells the tale of twin sisters whose lives diverge as one chooses to pass as white, sparking powerful conversations on race, belonging, and self-definition.
Jacqueline Woodson is known for capturing the quiet, powerful moments of coming-of-age and self-discovery. Her graceful, poetic writing style draws readers gently into her characters’ worlds.
In Red at the Bone, Woodson explores family, race, and class through the lens of a multigenerational story, highlighting how past decisions ripple into the present.
Colson Whitehead brings depth and originality to stories that tap into America's history and persistent racial tensions. His prose is vivid and sharp, and he can move seamlessly between realism and surrealism.
In The Underground Railroad, he reimagines history, depicting slavery and escape through a literal railroad system, blending reality and imaginative elements to powerful effect.
Honorée Fanonne Jeffers crafts stories layered with historical insight, poetic voice, and deep cultural resonance. Her narratives draw simultaneously from personal stories and broader American history.
In The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois, Jeffers traces generations of a Black family through American history, revealing the weight of the past on contemporary identities and lives.
Robert Jones Jr. writes in lyrical, immersive prose that explores complex historical themes and intimate relationships. His work thoughtfully addresses racial trauma and resilience, particularly through a queer lens.
In The Prophets, he tells the heartbreaking yet hopeful love story of two enslaved men, shining a beautiful, necessary spotlight on the intersection of race, sexuality, and spirituality.
Nafissa Thompson-Spires creates stories that are sharp, witty, and insightful. She explores identity, race, and social expectations, often with humor and compassion.
Her book, Heads of the Colored People, is a collection of short stories examining black identity and experiences in contemporary America. Like Maisy Card, Thompson-Spires skillfully uses compelling characters to explore complex cultural themes.
Zadie Smith writes novels that are both deeply thoughtful and highly readable. She often looks closely at multicultural identities, family dynamics, and class struggles.
Her celebrated novel, White Teeth, captures the diversity and complexity of life in modern London through vibrant, believable characters. Fans of Maisy Card will appreciate Smith's talent for vivid storytelling and resonant social themes.
Andrea Levy is known for novels addressing Caribbean history, migration, and the experiences of black British communities.
In her powerful novel, Small Island, she connects deeply personal narratives to broader historical contexts, telling the stories of immigrants navigating a new world and identity struggles wrapped up in race and class.
Readers of Maisy Card's work who value stories of diaspora and belonging will feel right at home with Levy.
Bryan Washington writes exceptionally honest and affecting fiction about personal relationships, sexuality, race, and community life.
His debut novel, Memorial, explores the complexity of modern relationships, cultural identity, and family tension through sharp dialogue and realistic characters. If you enjoyed Maisy Card's personal and culturally nuanced stories, you'll find Washington equally rewarding.
Kiley Reid crafts engaging narratives filled with sharp social commentary and authenticity. Her debut novel, Such a Fun Age, tackles privilege and systemic biases through the experiences of a young black woman navigating tricky personal and professional circumstances.
Reid's approachable style and thoughtful explorations of race, belonging, and class are sure to resonate with readers who liked Maisy Card's storytelling.