If you are drawn to Nick Hornby’s books, it’s probably because you enjoy stories that are funny and smart, with characters that feel like people you actually know. His books often explore the messy parts of life and love, usually with music or football thrown in.
If you’re looking for authors who write books with a similar vibe, here are some writers you might want to check out.
Jonathan Tropper is an author who writes sharp, funny, and emotionally honest novels about flawed characters and complicated lives. His book “This Is Where I Leave You” centers on Judd Foxman, whose life takes an unexpected turn when his father dies.
Forced to sit Shiva with his dysfunctional family for seven days, Judd must confront old grudges, heartbreak, and hilarious family chaos. Tropper offers readers humor and sincerity in equal measures, with characters that feel real and relatable.
Readers who enjoy Nick Hornby’s witty and insightful portrayals of human relationships will find a lot to appreciate in Tropper’s storytelling.
Books by David Nicholls share a similar blend of humor, warmth, and authentic emotional depth that fans of Nick Hornby often appreciate.
In Nicholls’ novel “One Day,” readers follow Emma and Dexter, two university friends whose complicated relationship unfolds over twenty years, revisited on the same day each year.
Nicholls crafts relatable characters and realistic dialogue, portraying the awkwardness, charm, and disappointments that shape adulthood.
The book moves effortlessly between comedy and bittersweet moments, capturing how friendships evolve into deeper connections or drift apart through life’s twists and turns.
If you enjoyed Hornby’s ability to explore relationships with wit and compassion, Nicholls’ contemporary storytelling might feel equally satisfying.
Tony Parsons is a British author known for his witty yet thoughtful stories about everyday life, love, and family dynamics.
His novel “Man and Boy” tells the story of Harry Silver, a regular guy whose comfortable life suddenly unravels as his marriage hits trouble and he’s left alone to raise his young son.
Harry navigates the tricky territory of single parenthood while confronting his own mistakes and shortcomings. Parsons’ narrative is full of humor and warmth, reflecting honestly on modern relationships, fatherhood, and personal growth.
Readers who enjoy Nick Hornby’s relatable characters and authentic outlook on life may find Tony Parsons’ straightforward yet emotionally rich storytelling equally appealing.
If you enjoy Nick Hornby’s sharp wit and stories about everyday people facing life’s unexpected challenges, you might also appreciate Marian Keyes.
Her novel “Rachel’s Holiday” introduces readers to Rachel Walsh, a young woman whose life spirals out of control after she moves from Ireland to New York City.
When Rachel’s indulgent lifestyle catches up with her, she finds herself back in Ireland in a rehabilitation center, mistakenly expecting it to be a glamorous retreat filled with celebrities.
Instead, she’s faced with her family, tough realities, and the need to take a sincere look at herself. Marian Keyes explores serious topics with humor and warmth, creating memorable characters who feel like real people you’ll genuinely root for.
Helen Fielding is a British novelist known for witty humor and relatable characters. Her novel “Bridget Jones’s Diary” is a sharp and funny look at modern love and life in London.
Bridget Jones is a single woman in her 30s who struggles between career challenges, romantic chaos, and daily habits. Told in diary format, the story is filled with amusing observations, embarrassing mishaps, and thoughtful friendships.
Readers familiar with Nick Hornby’s humorous and honest portrayal of life’s ups and downs in books like “High Fidelity” may find a similar enjoyable experience in Helen Fielding’s lively and authentic storytelling.
Readers who enjoy Nick Hornby’s insightful yet humorous take on everyday life may appreciate British author Mike Gayle. Gayle often explores friendship, love, and self-discovery with warmth and a sharp eye for detail.
In his novel “Turning Thirty,” we meet Matt Beckford, who dreads reaching the milestone age because his life doesn’t match his youthful ambitions. As his birthday approaches, Matt reconnects with old friends, reassesses past relationships, and questions the choices he’s made.
Gayle captures the emotional confusion and self-reflection of turning thirty, offering a relatable narrative that’s both funny and thoughtful.
Matt Dunn is a British author known for his humor and honest look at relationships, love, and life’s everyday ups and downs. His novel “The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook” follows Edward Middleton, who suddenly finds himself single after ten years with the same woman.
Shocked by his girlfriend’s goodbye note that accuses him of letting himself go, Edward embarks on a mission to transform himself and win her back.
The book humorously captures Edward’s mishaps and insecurities, yet also touches on deeper themes of self-discovery and personal growth.
Fans of Nick Hornby, who enjoy relatable characters and smart humor set against modern relationship dilemmas, may find Matt Dunn’s storytelling style both funny and insightful.
Books by Lisa Jewell offer sharp observations and witty insights into everyday lives and relationships, similar to Nick Hornby’s approach. Her novel “The Family Upstairs” mixes relatable characters with intriguing twists, making it hard to put down.
The story follows Libby Jones, who inherits an old mansion in London left to her by her birth parents. Soon after, Libby begins uncover disturbing secrets of her family’s past, involving mysterious strangers and a dark event many years before.
Jewell expertly builds suspense while keeping the realistic emotional connections that fans of Hornby often appreciate.
If you enjoy Nick Hornby’s funny yet heartfelt take on life’s ordinary moments, Jenny Colgan might be perfect for you. Colgan creates relatable characters and warm, everyday settings in books like “The Bookshop on the Corner.”
This novel tells the story of Nina, a quiet librarian whose life turns upside down after losing her job. She bravely decides to follow her passion for books, moves to a rural Scottish town, and transforms an old van into a traveling bookstore.
Along the way, Nina encounters quirky townspeople and unexpected friendships, discovers romance, and finds herself in charming, often humorous situations. Colgan’s engaging storytelling blends humor and warmth effortlessly, making her books a satisfying read for Hornby fans.
Tom Perrotta is an author who captures everyday life with humor, honesty, and insight. Similar to Nick Hornby, he focuses on ordinary people confronted with surprising and complicated situations.
In his novel “Little Children,” two young married parents, Sarah and Todd, meet at a neighborhood playground. Both feel stuck in their suburban routines and marriages.
A friendship develops that pushes boundaries and prompts them to question their choices, desires, and the expectations society places on them.
Perrotta tells their story in a funny, moving, and relatable way, examining what happens when adults find themselves unprepared for the lives they’re actually leading.
If you enjoy Nick Hornby’s witty storytelling and sharp insights into relationships, you might appreciate Liane Moriarty. Moriarty is an Australian author known for her engaging, humorous, and thoughtful novels about modern relationships, family secrets, and everyday lives.
In her book “Big Little Lies,” Moriarty explores the hidden tensions beneath the surface of seemingly perfect suburban lives. The book follows three mothers whose friendships become tangled webs after a school trivia night ends in a shocking incident.
Moriarty reveals secrets, playground politics, and the humor mixed into life’s darker moments. Her writing has a blend of humor, empathy, and suspense that keeps you hooked.
Graeme Simsion is an Australian author known for his humorous and heartwarming novels that explore everyday life and relationships.
His novel “The Rosie Project” tells the story of Don Tillman, a socially awkward genetics professor who creates an elaborate questionnaire to find the perfect wife. When he meets Rosie Jarman, however, she doesn’t match any criteria on his list.
Still, Don finds himself drawn toward this woman who disrupts his orderly life in unexpected and delightful ways. Simsion’s story offers the kind of wit, warmth, and engaging characters that fans of Nick Hornby often appreciate.
Rachel Joyce is a British author whose novels capture everyday lives and ordinary people in truly extraordinary ways. If you enjoy the warmth, humor, and down-to-earth characters of Nick Hornby’s books, you’ll appreciate Rachel Joyce’s “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.”
In this charming story, Harold Fry, a quiet retiree, receives a letter from an old friend who is very ill. On a sudden impulse, he steps out his front door and decides to walk across England to see her.
As Harold travels, he encounters memorable people, wrestles with his past, and discovers a new perspective on life. Joyce gives readers an honest, funny, and moving narrative centered around human connection and self-discovery.
Readers who enjoy Nick Hornby’s mix of humor, heart, and honest portrayals of life’s ups and downs might appreciate Anna Maxted. Her novel “Getting Over It” offers a witty and thoughtful look at loss, relationships, and finding yourself amid chaos.
Helen Bradshaw navigates through grief after losing her father, copes with complicated family dynamics, and faces the messiness of love and friendship in modern London.
Maxted captures life’s awkward moments and genuine emotions with humor and warmth, similar to the everyday resonance found in Hornby’s stories.
Roddy Doyle shares Nick Hornby’s talent for creating authentic, funny characters who speak and feel like real people.
His novel, “The Commitments,” follows Jimmy Rabbitte Jr., a young music fan in Dublin who puts together a rough and spirited soul band from the working-class community around him.
Doyle captures how the band members struggle, joke, argue, and chase their dreams, mixed in with real heart and clever dialogue.
Readers who enjoy Hornby’s “High Fidelity” and its passion for music and relatable characters will find a similar charm in Doyle’s depiction of friendship, ambition, and everyday humor.