Sarah Waters crafts historical fiction, frequently set in Victorian England. Her books often feature lesbian protagonists and explore themes of sexuality, class, and social constraints. Readers admire her atmospheric settings, character development, and page-turning plots.
If you love books with a similar atmosphere and focus, you may be interested in exploring other authors.
Emma Donoghue is an author whose novels might appeal to fans of Sarah Waters, as both authors explore complex characters in vivid historical and contemporary settings. Readers who enjoyed Water’s “Fingersmith” could try Donoghue’s “The Wonder.”
Set in rural Ireland in the 1850s, the novel follows Lib Wright, an English nurse hired to observe a young girl named Anna. Anna claims to have survived several months without food, insisting she lives purely by spiritual means.
Lib’s skepticism soon turns into genuine curiosity, and the story builds tension around questions of faith, truth, and deception. Donoghue creates a deeply atmospheric narrative filled with mysteries about Anna’s condition and the community’s hidden motives.
Fans of intricate characters and thoughtful plotting may find “The Wonder” as absorbing as Waters’ novels.
Jeanette Winterson is a British author known for her imaginative storytelling and exploration of identity, sexuality, and passion. Readers who appreciate Sarah Waters might enjoy Winterson’s novel “The Passion.”
Set during the Napoleonic wars, this novel blends historical fiction with magical realism. It follows Henri, a young French cook serving Napoleon, and Villanelle, a mysterious Venetian woman with webbed feet.
Their lives cross paths amid war and intrigue, within a captivating world of canal-filled Venice. Readers drawn to atmospheric historical settings and characters who navigate complex emotional landscapes may find Winterson’s work resonates deeply.
Readers who enjoy Sarah Waters’ lively historical fiction might want to explore “Tipping the Velvet.” Set in Victorian England, this novel follows Nancy Astley, a young woman captivated by Kitty Butler, a charismatic male impersonator performing in music halls.
Drawn into London’s colorful underworld, Nancy navigates her identity, love, and ambition amid the glamour and struggles of her unconventional life. The novel vividly brings the era to life and shares themes of passion and self-discovery similar to Waters’ novels.
Books by Colm Tóibín often explore personal struggles and the complexities of hidden emotions, similar in sensitivity to novels by Sarah Waters.
In “Brooklyn,” Tóibín brings readers into the world of Eilis Lacey, a young woman who moves from Ireland to America for a chance at a better life. The story shows her navigating loneliness, homesickness, and love in a new and unfamiliar setting.
As Eilis settles into her life and finds happiness, an unexpected event forces her to make a heartbreaking choice. The thoughtful storytelling and deep, well-crafted characters offer the emotional depth and realistic detail appreciated by fans of Waters’ historical novels.
Pat Barker is an English writer known for historical novels that vividly explore complex relationships and intense emotions. If you’ve enjoyed Sarah Waters’s richly-drawn characters and careful attention to historical details, try Barker’s novel “Regeneration.”
Set during World War I, this book brings readers inside Craiglockhart War Hospital, where famous war poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen receive treatment for shell shock.
Barker carefully details their experiences and struggles, blending fact with fiction to create an emotional and authentic story. Her thoughtful style offers a deep look at trauma, friendship, and recovery from the scars of war.
Readers who enjoy Sarah Waters’ novels will find Daphne du Maurier’s books similarly engaging. Du Maurier is a master of atmospheric storytelling and complex character relationships.
In her classic novel “Rebecca,” she introduces readers to an unnamed young woman who marries the wealthy and mysterious Maxim de Winter. But life in his grand estate, Manderley, becomes overshadowed by the lingering presence of his first wife, Rebecca.
Secrets and unexpected twists unfold, while the mansion and vivid setting add tension and suspense to the tale. Anyone drawn to moody historical fiction with psychological layers and surprising revelations will appreciate Daphne du Maurier’s storytelling.
E.M. Forster writes novels full of subtle drama and emotional depth, set against carefully drawn historical backdrops. Readers who appreciate Sarah Waters’ thoughtful storytelling and historical sensitivity may also enjoy Forster’s classic, “Maurice”.
This novel centers on Maurice Hall, a young man of middle-class Edwardian England, who wrestles secretly with his attraction to men at a time when society harshly condemns such feelings.
Forster beautifully portrays Maurice’s emotional journey toward self-awareness against a world intent on suppressing his true self.
The novel deals gently but firmly with issues of love, societal expectation, and personal freedom, capturing readers with its sincerity and quiet power.
Books by Alan Hollinghurst often capture themes of desire, class, and cultural shifts with stylish prose and nuanced characters.
If you’ve enjoyed Sarah Waters’ layered explorations of historical settings and complex relationships, Hollinghurst’s “The Line of Beauty” could resonate with you.
Set in Thatcher-era Britain, this novel follows young Nick Guest, who becomes entwined in the glamorous yet morally ambiguous lives of a wealthy political family.
Fueled by ambition, privilege, and hidden affairs, the characters’ interactions subtly reflect the societal tensions of 1980s London. With sharp insights into human behavior and social structures, Hollinghurst crafts a narrative both elegant and provocative.
Hilary Mantel is a British author known for historical novels with rich character development and intriguing storylines. Fans of Sarah Waters who appreciate vivid historical settings and well-crafted narratives would find Mantel’s “Wolf Hall” especially appealing.
Set in 16th century England, the story centers around Thomas Cromwell, advisor to Henry VIII. Mantel explores Cromwell’s rise from humble beginnings into the king’s most trusted counselor.
The book vividly depicts the politics, personal dramas, and religious upheaval of Tudor England. Mantel’s storytelling gives a fresh and intimate look at royal intrigue and power struggles.
If you enjoy Sarah Waters’ atmospheric storytelling and her talent for blending mystery with nuanced character portrayals, then Julia Armfield might appeal to you.
In her novel “Our Wives Under the Sea,” Armfield explores themes of grief, intimacy, and the unknown through the story of Leah and Miri, a married couple facing extraordinary circumstances.
Leah returns home changed after a submarine mission goes mysteriously wrong, becoming distant and unfamiliar to Miri. As Miri tries to reconnect with her wife, strange and unsettling events begin to unfold.
Armfield crafts an eerie yet emotional narrative filled with supernatural undertones, complex relationships, and lyrical prose, a combination that resonates with the subtle suspense present in Waters’ novels.
Readers who appreciate Sarah Waters’ atmospheric storytelling and vivid historical detail might find Maggie O’Farrell equally captivating. O’Farrell skillfully blends emotional depth with intriguing plots in historical settings.
Her novel “Hamnet” imagines the life of Shakespeare’s young son, Hamnet, whose untimely death influences the creation of the famous play “Hamlet.” The story intimately portrays family dynamics, loss, and resilience in 16th-century England.
Readers who enjoy intricate characters and absorbing historical fiction may find O’Farrell’s work deeply rewarding.
If you enjoy Sarah Waters’ atmospheric stories set in Victorian England, you might appreciate Sarah Perry’s historical novels full of mystery and intrigue. Perry’s book “The Essex Serpent” takes place in 19th-century rural Essex and London.
It follows the recently widowed Cora Seaborne, who hears rumors about a mythical serpent terrorizing a small village. Curious and rational, Cora sets out to uncover the truth behind these sightings.
Her encounter with the village vicar, William Ransome, challenges both characters’ beliefs about science, superstition, and human emotions.
The novel mixes elements of gothic suspense, evocative settings, and engaging character dynamics that fans of Waters would likely appreciate.
Readers who enjoy Sarah Waters may also appreciate the work of Malinda Lo, an author known for her vivid exploration of historical settings, queer themes, and atmospheric mysteries.
Her novel “Last Night at the Telegraph Club” centers on Lily Hu, a Chinese American teenager in 1950s San Francisco fascinated by science, daring visions of her future, and a growing attraction to Kathleen Miller, a classmate who introduces her to the Telegraph Club, a lesbian bar.
Against the backdrop of Cold War paranoia and shifting cultural boundaries, Lily navigates questions of identity, belonging, and first love, all while trying to protect her secrets from family scrutiny and societal judgement.
Lo captures the mood, risks, and romance of an era filled with both possibility and fear, a story that echoes Waters’ emotional depth and richly drawn historical worlds.
Readers who enjoy Sarah Waters might find Ali Smith’s work appealing. Ali Smith is a Scottish author known for playful narrative styles and thought-provoking themes.
Her novel “The Accidental” introduces the Smart family, whose troubled vacation turns upside down when a mysterious young woman named Amber suddenly appears at their holiday home.
Amber’s arrival shakes up the family dynamic, revealing hidden tensions and secrets through shifting perspectives. Smith’s distinctive storytelling offers emotional depth, sharp wit, and a subtle exploration of identity and relationships.
Readers who enjoy Sarah Waters might also appreciate Ruth Rendell’s psychological depth and suspenseful storytelling. Rendell’s “A Judgment in Stone” explores the dark corners of human minds and hidden motivations behind apparently ordinary lives.
The book begins bluntly by revealing the shocking crime: Eunice Parchman killed the family who employed her as a housekeeper. But why did she commit such a violent act?
As the novel unfolds, Rendell carefully builds the tension, offering glimpses into the quiet desperation of Eunice and showing how secrets and shame can spiral into tragedy.
Rendell blends suspense with acute psychological observation, creating a haunting narrative that lingers long after the last page.