If you are a fan of Rebecca Makkai’s books, you probably appreciate her smart characters, her writing that is both funny and thoughtful, and her stories that move through different times and locations.
Consider *The Great Believers*, for example, a book set in Chicago during the AIDS crisis. For those wanting to discover authors with a similar touch, read on.
Ann Patchett writes thoughtful novels that explore human relationships and unexpected connections between people, a style readers of Rebecca Makkai will appreciate.
Her book “Commonwealth” tells the story of two families whose lives become forever intertwined after a chance encounter at a family gathering. The narrative moves across decades, examining the consequences of a blended family and the bonds and betrayals that shape their lives.
Patchett builds characters who feel real and complex, shifting focus between siblings, parents, and step-parents as their stories unfold. Her careful storytelling reveals how a single event can ripple through lives, changing futures in unexpected ways.
Books by Elizabeth Strout often explore the quiet yet profound complexities of ordinary lives. In her novel “Olive Kitteridge,” readers meet Olive, a blunt but fascinating retired schoolteacher from a small town in Maine.
Through interconnected stories, the book paints a vivid portrait of Olive’s life, relationships, and inner world. Strout’s storytelling shares Rebecca Makkai’s ability to capture emotional truths. Both authors highlight the quiet dramas beneath everyday moments.
Emma Straub is an author known for her thoughtful and witty approach to family dynamics and personal relationships. Readers who enjoy Rebecca Makkai’s keen insights into human interactions might appreciate Straub’s novel “All Adults Here.”
This book explores a family in flux, centering on Astrid Strick, a woman reflecting on her parenting choices after witnessing a tragic accident in her town.
As her adult children come back into her life, each with their own struggles and secrets, Astrid starts to question what it means to be a parent, adult, and family member. Straub’s writing is sharp yet warm, filled with humor and emotional honesty.
Celeste Ng is an author known for thoughtful novels that explore complicated family relationships and cultural tensions in modern America. Her popular book, “Little Fires Everywhere,” focuses on two families in the picture-perfect suburb of Shaker Heights, Ohio.
When Mia Warren, an artist and single mother, arrives with her daughter Pearl, their presence disrupts the ordered lives of the Richardson family. Secrets emerge regarding motherhood and identity, and a custody battle divides neighbors and friends.
Ng weaves together stories of race, class, and parenthood, challenging the reader to reconsider the meaning of family and home. Readers who appreciated Rebecca Makkai’s exploration of morally complex situations and family dynamics may find Celeste Ng equally intriguing.
Tayari Jones is a novelist known for exploring deeply personal stories within broader social contexts.
In her novel “An American Marriage,” she tells the powerful story of Celestial and Roy, a newlywed African-American couple whose lives are shattered when Roy is wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit.
Over the years, while Roy serves his sentence, Celestial builds her career and finds support and affection in her childhood friend Andre—complicating matters further when Roy’s conviction is suddenly overturned.
Jones carefully charts how injustice reshapes relationships, loyalties, and personal identity.
Readers who enjoyed Rebecca Makkai’s “The Great Believers,” another novel centered on intimate human connections amid larger societal issues, may find a similar reading experience in Tayari Jones’ work.
If you enjoy Rebecca Makkai’s insightful portrayal of relationships and complex characters, you might appreciate Meg Wolitzer’s thoughtful approach to similar themes.
Wolitzer’s novel “The Interestings” explores the evolving dynamics of friendships formed at a summer camp in the 1970s. As the story progresses through several decades, the novel examines ambition, envy, and how youthful dreams shift with adulthood.
Wolitzer builds realistic characters who navigate the ordinary yet meaningful moments of their lives—first loves, career highs and lows, shifting loyalties— against the backdrop of a changing American cultural landscape.
Her clear-eyed depiction of friendship, success, and disappointment offers rich moments of reflection that resonate deeply with readers who love Makkai’s style.
Readers who enjoy Rebecca Makkai’s thoughtful approach to storytelling may find Lauren Groff equally engaging. Groff’s novels skillfully unravel complex relationships and emotional depth. Her book “Fates and Furies” revolves around the marriage of Lotto and Mathilde.
The novel is structured in two halves, each telling their story through contrasting perspectives. Lotto sees their relationship as almost destined, full of passion and success.
Mathilde’s side uncovers hidden truths and inner conflicts that reshape the reader’s view of everything that came before. It is a novel full of depth, surprise, and fascinating characters.
Lily King is a talented author whose novels skillfully explore human relationships, creative ambition, and emotional depth. Readers who enjoy Rebecca Makkai’s nuanced storytelling might appreciate King’s novel “Writers & Lovers.”
In this book, readers meet Casey Peabody, a young writer struggling to complete her novel while dealing with grief and financial hardship.
Casey faces difficult choices about love, identity, and following her artistic dreams, set against the lively backdrop of Boston’s literary scene.
King’s thoughtful, emotionally honest writing makes Casey’s journey relatable and rewarding, especially for those drawn to stories about characters tackling both life’s ordinary demands and extraordinary dreams.
Readers who enjoy Rebecca Makkai’s thoughtful storytelling and exploration of complex characters may also appreciate Jennifer Egan.
Egan is known for her innovative narratives and deeply observed portrayals of human relationships, particularly evident in her novel “A Visit from the Goon Squad.”
In this book, she uses connected stories to unravel the lives and emotional struggles of a group of interconnected people working around the music industry.
With humor, insight, and surprising shifts in perspective, the novel examines themes of aging, ambition, and the unexpected paths life takes.
Donna Tartt is an American novelist known for her sophisticated storytelling and strong character portrayals. If you enjoyed Rebecca Makkai’s captivating narrative and thought-provoking themes, you might find Tartt’s “The Goldfinch” equally appealing.
This book follows thirteen-year-old Theo Decker, whose life changes in an instant after a tragic incident at a New York art museum.
Left alone with a precious painting named “The Goldfinch,” Theo navigates loss, guilt, friendship, and an unforgettable journey into the art world’s dark corners. Tartt explores the complexities of grief and obsession through characters you’ll worry about and root for.
Readers who enjoy Rebecca Makkai’s thoughtful storytelling might also appreciate Nicole Krauss. Krauss explores similar themes of memory, love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships.
In her novel “The History of Love,” she weaves together two parallel stories: one about Leo Gursky, an elderly man who immigrated from Poland and still deeply mourns a lost love from his youth, and the other about Alma Singer, a young girl named after a character in a mysterious book her mother cherishes.
When Alma tries to unravel the history behind the book, the two narratives gradually intertwine, creating a powerful and emotionally resonant tale about connection and hope.
Jess Walter writes novels that explore complex friendships, personal struggles, and the surprising connections between ordinary people. His book “Beautiful Ruins” offers a heartfelt story that spans decades, jumping between Italy in the 1960s and modern-day Hollywood.
This novel follows a young Italian innkeeper who meets a mysterious American actress at his isolated seaside hotel. As the story unfolds, we learn about lost opportunities, hidden passions, and the way small moments shape entire lives.
Walter’s characters feel utterly human, flawed yet relatable, reminding readers of Rebecca Makkai’s style of presenting intimate narratives within larger historical contexts.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian author known for her insightful novels exploring themes of identity, cultural conflicts, and the immigrant experience. Her novel “Americanah” follows Ifemelu and Obinze, two Nigerian teenagers who fall in love during secondary school.
Life takes them on separate paths when Ifemelu moves to America and Obinze journeys to London. The book captures their journeys through different societies, examining racism, identity, and belonging.
Adichie creates characters with depth and realism, similar to Rebecca Makkai’s style in portraying complex lives shaped by cultural pressures and deeply personal choices.
Julie Orringer is an American author known for sharp storytelling and emotionally resonant novels.
Her novel “The Invisible Bridge” unfolds in 1930s Europe and follows the story of Andras Lévi, a young Hungarian-Jewish architecture student who moves to Paris to pursue his studies.
In Paris, he falls deeply in love with Klara, a mysterious woman whose past gradually comes to light. Their romance faces numerous tests as Europe inches closer to war.
Orringer vividly captures personal dramas against the sweeping backdrop of historical events, providing a mix of intimate connections and powerful storytelling that fans of Rebecca Makkai will find appealing.
Readers who enjoyed Rebecca Makkai’s thoughtful exploration of complex characters and emotional nuance may find a strong connection to Alice Munro’s short story collections.
Munro, a Canadian author celebrated for her insightful portrayals of everyday lives, shines particularly in her collection “Dear Life.” This set of stories captures quiet, powerful moments that change her characters forever.
Readers meet ordinary people facing unexpected twists of fate, family secrets, and personal revelations in small-town Canadian settings.
Each story gently uncovers deep layers within relationships and choices, offering readers a chance to experience subtle yet profound insights into human experiences.