Robert Goolrick wrote books that can stay with you long after you finish reading. His stories, like *A Reliable Wife*, often explore complicated relationships and the shadows that can exist within them.
If you appreciate authors who explore similar territory with a similar intensity, here are some writers you might want to check out.
Alice Hoffman is known for weaving stories filled with deep emotion and subtle hints of magic. In her book “The Marriage of Opposites,” she tells the story of Rachel, a strong-willed woman living in the Caribbean in the 1800s.
The novel explores her forbidden love with a man her community disapproves of and how her life shapes her son, who would grow up to become the famous artist Camille Pissarro.
Hoffman’s storytelling often blends the ordinary with traces of the extraordinary, creating worlds that feel vivid and engaging.
Wally Lamb writes stories filled with deeply human characters and emotional twists. One of his most well-known books, “She’s Come Undone,” tells the life story of Dolores Price, a woman who struggles through heartbreak, trauma, and self-discovery.
The book follows her from childhood to adulthood as she faces loss, battles with her sense of identity, and works toward finding peace in her own messy, imperfect life.
Lamb creates characters who feel raw and real, pulling you into their struggles and triumphs in a way that lingers long after you finish the book. Fans of Robert Goolrick would appreciate how Lamb captures the complexity of personal pain and redemption.
Elizabeth Strout writes stories that explore the quiet struggles and connections of everyday life. Her book “Olive Kitteridge” follows a retired schoolteacher in a small coastal town in Maine. Olive is blunt and often difficult, yet deeply human.
The book weaves together moments from her life and the lives of those around her, showing how people’s paths intersect in surprising ways. The emotional depth of the characters feels raw and honest, leaving an impression that lingers long after you put it down.
Jeannette Walls is a storyteller who pulls from her own life to create memorable books that stick with you. Her memoir, “The Glass Castle,” recounts her childhood marked by poverty, unpredictability, and parents who were both brilliant and deeply flawed.
Growing up, Jeannette and her siblings often went without food, moved from one dilapidated place to the next, and dealt with the chaos of a father who dreamed big but couldn’t always follow through.
Despite the challenges, there’s a sense of resilience at its heart, as the children learn to rely on each other. Walls paints each moment so vividly that you can almost feel the heat of the desert towns and hear her father’s voice telling his far-fetched plans.
Tana French writes atmospheric mysteries that draw you into the lives of her characters. One of her books, “In the Woods,” follows Detective Rob Ryan as he investigates the murder of a young girl found in the same woods where two children vanished years ago.
Rob has a past tied to those woods, but he doesn’t remember what happened. The story unfolds through his eyes, focusing on his growing obsession with the case and the secrets buried in his own life.
It’s a story filled with tension and emotional depth, perfect for readers who enjoy unraveling layered pasts in intense, character-driven stories.
Anne Tyler writes stories about ordinary people with lives that quietly unfold in ways that feel real and familiar. Her novel “A Spool of Blue Thread” follows the Whitshank family across generations, focusing on their relationships, secrets, and the home they cherish.
The story touches on moments like Red and Abby Whitshank’s aging, their children returning to sort out family dynamics, and how their past holds unexpected truths. Tyler’s attention to family bonds and everyday struggles feels deeply human.
Gail Tsukiyama is known for her historical fiction filled with rich character development and emotional depth. Her book, “The Samurai’s Garden,” tells the story of Stephen, a young Chinese man sent to a small Japanese village to recover from tuberculosis before World War II.
There, he meets Matsu, a quiet caretaker with secrets tied to the town’s history. The story explores resilience, love, and the connections people make despite hardship.
Fans of Robert Goolrick’s introspective style might appreciate the way Tsukiyama focuses on human relationships against a vivid historical backdrop.
Kent Haruf is known for his quiet, heartfelt storytelling, often set in the small, fictional town of Holt, Colorado. His novel “Plainsong” introduces a cast of characters whose lives intersect in unexpected ways.
There’s Victoria, a teenager who finds herself pregnant and alone, and two elderly bachelor brothers, the McPherons, who unexpectedly take her in. Their kindness changes all their lives in ways that feel surprising and genuine.
Haruf paints their struggles and relationships with a tenderness that feels authentic, pulling you right into their world.
Sue Monk Kidd is an author known for her deep and heartfelt storytelling. One of her most popular novels, “The Secret Life of Bees,” is set in the South during the 1960s. It tells the story of Lily Owens, a young girl searching for answers about her mother’s past.
Lily finds herself staying with three beekeeping sisters who teach her about family, resilience, and love in unexpected forms. The book explores themes of identity and forgiveness, all while weaving a rich sense of place.
It’s a beautiful read for those who enjoy emotional and character-driven stories.
Richard Russo writes stories about small towns, ordinary people, and the complicated lives they live. His novel “Empire Falls” takes you into the heart of a struggling New England mill town.
The story follows Miles Roby, a kind-hearted man who runs a dying diner while juggling family tensions, lost dreams, and memories of the past.
The cast of quirky and flawed characters brings the town to life, and there’s an underlying mystery involving a wealthy family that holds power over everyone’s fate. It’s a story about love, failure, and the weight of history that never feels too heavy.
If Robert Goolrick’s emotional depth and atmosphere drew you in, you might find something special here too.
Eowyn Ivey writes stories that often feel grounded in the rugged beauty of Alaska. Her book, “The Snow Child,” is set in the 1920s and follows a couple who lives in the wilderness, far from others. One evening, they build a girl out of snow.
The next morning, a real girl appears, alone and wild. The story blends the harsh realities of frontier life with a touch of magic, creating a world that feels both isolated and mysterious.
Delia Owens is an author known for her atmospheric and heartfelt storytelling. Her novel, “Where the Crawdads Sing,” introduces Kya, a young girl abandoned by her family, who grows up alone in the marshlands of North Carolina.
The story moves through her struggles to survive, her love for nature, and her interactions with the few people who come into her life. When a local man is found dead, suspicion falls on Kya, who becomes the center of a murder investigation.
The book weaves together her isolation, the beauty of the marsh, and human connections in a way that feels vivid and unforgettable.
William Kent Krueger is an author known for creating heartfelt stories with strong emotional depth. His novel “Ordinary Grace” is set in small-town Minnesota during the 1960s and follows a thirteen-year-old boy named Frank Drum.
The story explores how Frank’s family and community are shaken by a series of tragic events. It’s a book filled with loss, secrets, and moments of quiet beauty, all told through the eyes of a boy coming to terms with the fragility of life.
Readers who appreciate rich characters and vivid settings might find his work worth exploring.
Elizabeth Berg has a knack for creating emotional stories that center on everyday lives and relationships. In her novel “The Story of Arthur Truluv,” she introduces readers to an elderly widower named Arthur, who spends his days visiting his late wife’s grave.
There, he meets Maddy, a lonely teenager looking for a connection. Their unlikely friendship grows, and along with Arthur’s quirky neighbor Lucille, they begin to form an unconventional family.
The book explores themes of loss, kindness, and the unexpected bonds people can form when they open their hearts.
Chris Bohjalian is an author known for creating stories that explore human lives in emotionally charged situations. His book “The Night Strangers” blends psychological drama with a haunting mystery.
It follows a pilot who survives a tragic crash, then moves with his family to a small town. In their new home, they discover a sealed door in the basement and get caught up in eerie events connected to the town’s strange history.
The way the characters confront guilt, loss, and fear will pull you into their world.