If you have read Sarah Blake, you know her books stay with you. She has a way of writing about families and history that just draws you in. Her novels, like “The Postmistress” and “The Guest Book,” explore family secrets and the weight of the past.
For readers who appreciate similar kinds of stories, here are some authors you might find interesting.
Kristin Hannah is known for writing emotional and heartfelt stories that explore family, love, and resilience. One of her standout novels, “The Nightingale,” focuses on two sisters living in France during World War II.
While one sister hides away in a quiet village, the other risks everything as part of the French resistance. The book captures the struggles and bravery of women in wartime, painting a vivid picture of sacrifice and survival.
Readers who enjoy Sarah Blake’s focus on intimate, historical stories may find Hannah’s work equally engaging.
Jodi Picoult is known for writing emotional and thought-provoking novels that explore family dynamics and moral dilemmas.
One of her books, “Small Great Things,” tells the story of Ruth, an African American nurse accused of a crime after a tragic incident involving the baby of white supremacist parents.
The story unfolds as Ruth faces the legal system, with her fate resting in the hands of Kennedy, her white defense attorney. Picoult dives into themes of race and privilege, giving you characters and situations that leave a lasting impression.
Sue Monk Kidd is an author known for exploring relationships and personal growth. Her novel, “The Secret Life of Bees,” tells the story of Lily Owens, a girl searching for answers about her late mother.
Set in South Carolina during the 1960s, Lily finds herself living with three sisters who keep bees and harbor secrets of their own. The book brings together themes of love, loss, and finding a sense of belonging in unexpected places.
Alice Hoffman writes with a touch of magic woven into everyday life. One of her books, “The Probable Future,” tells the story of a family of women in a small New England town who each manifest a unique gift on their thirteenth birthday.
The youngest, Stella, develops the ability to foresee people’s deaths, which sets off a series of events that bring long-hidden family tensions to the surface.
The novel explores family bonds, secrets, and the connection between the past and the present, all within a setting that feels both ordinary and enchanted.
Kate Morton writes stories that weave together family secrets, history, and mystery. One of her novels, “The Forgotten Garden,” follows Cassandra, a woman who inherits a cottage on the coast of Cornwall after her grandmother’s death.
As Cassandra digs into her grandmother’s mysterious past, she uncovers an abandoned child, a secret garden, and connections to a famous fairy tale author. The book shifts between timelines, revealing how the past shapes the present.
Fans of rich, multi-generational stories may find her work intriguing.
Ann Patchett writes stories that explore relationships and human connections in very personal ways. Her book “Commonwealth” starts with a stolen kiss at a christening, which sets off a chain of events that alters two families forever.
Over fifty years, it shows how a shared history ties people together, even through divorces and shifting family dynamics. The novel doesn’t shy away from showing the ways people hurt, forgive, or remain tethered to one another.
Fans of Sarah Blake might enjoy how Patchett brings family stories to life with depth and authenticity.
Jennifer Egan is an author known for her creative storytelling and unique narrative styles. Her book “A Visit from the Goon Squad” is a fascinating blend of interconnected stories that revolve around music, memory, and the passage of time.
One chapter is presented as a PowerPoint slide deck, giving readers a different way to connect with the characters. The book follows people tied to Bennie Salazar, a music producer, and Sasha, his troubled assistant, as their lives link in unexpected ways over the years.
Geraldine Brooks writes historical fiction that brings the past to life with vivid characters and rich storytelling. One of her books, “People of the Book,” follows the journey of a centuries-old Jewish manuscript through war, survival, and preservation.
The story weaves together the lives of people who protected the manuscript over the years. From a Muslim librarian in Sarajevo to an inquisitor’s scribe in Renaissance Venice, the book gives a deeper look into history through their personal struggles and sacrifices.
Barbara Kingsolver writes stories that focus on people, their relationships, and the environments around them. Her book, “The Poisonwood Bible,” follows a missionary family who moves to the Congo in 1959.
The tale is told through the voices of the mother and her daughters, each with their own view of what unfolds. The family’s journey explores faith, culture, and survival while life in the Congo changes them in ways they never expected.
Elizabeth Strout writes stories about everyday life and relationships. Her book, “Olive Kitteridge,” is set in a small town in Maine. It focuses on Olive, a retired schoolteacher, and shows her interactions with the people around her.
The book reveals their struggles, joys, and secrets through different chapters that feel like little windows into their lives. Olive herself is a strong personality—blunt but deeply human.
One moment that stays with you is when Olive steals away to sit quietly in the midst of a party, feeling detached and yet craving connection. The book captures the complexity of human emotions in a way that feels honest and relatable.
Meg Wolitzer is an author known for capturing the complexities of relationships and the layers of personal ambition. Her book, “The Wife,” tells the story of Joan Castleman, who reflects on her life and choices as the wife of a celebrated author.
The story follows her while she travels to Sweden with her husband, as he prepares to receive a prestigious literary prize. Through Joan’s sharp and sometimes biting perspective, we see the sacrifices, compromises, and secrets that shaped their marriage.
Tayari Jones is an author known for her ability to weave complex family relationships into her stories. One of her most well-known books, “An American Marriage,” follows Celestial and Roy, a young couple whose lives are torn apart when Roy is wrongly convicted of a crime.
Their relationship is tested as Celestial tries to move forward while Roy works to hold on to what they had. The book explores loyalty, love, and the fractures that can form under pressure.
It’s the kind of story that pulls you into the lives of the characters and makes you think about the choices people make in difficult situations.
Lisa See is an author who writes stories rooted in relationships, heritage, and family bonds.
One of her books, “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,” takes place in nineteenth-century China and follows two girls, Lily and Snow Flower, who are connected through a secret writing system. Their friendship grows over decades, shaped by traditions and society’s expectations.
The story offers a glimpse into their struggles, loyalty, and the cultural world they live in.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is known for her ability to craft stories that feel rich and personal. Her novel “Half of a Yellow Sun” is set during the Biafran War in Nigeria.
The book follows the lives of three characters: an educated woman named Olanna, her lover Odenigbo, and Ugwu, their young houseboy. Through their experiences, the story shows the impact of the war on personal relationships and daily life.
One of the most fascinating elements is how Ugwu’s perspective shifts as he grows and finds his place in the world. It’s a story that brings history closer through the lens of ordinary lives.
Liane Moriarty writes about ordinary lives turned upside down by secrets and unexpected events. One of her books, “Big Little Lies,” focuses on the lives of three women in a small coastal town.
At first, their challenges seem everyday—parenthood, marriage, friendships—but deeper issues surface after a fundraiser ends with someone dead. The story weaves together an unraveling mystery with sharp observations on relationships and social pressures.
Fans of Sarah Blake might enjoy Moriarty’s ability to explore personal struggles against a backdrop of drama and suspense.