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15 Authors like Steven Rowley

Steven Rowley is an American author known for heartfelt fiction. His popular novels include Lily and the Octopus and The Guncle, stories that blend humor with emotional depth.

If you enjoy reading books by Steven Rowley then you might also like the following authors:

  1. T.J. Klune

    T.J. Klune writes warm-hearted stories that celebrate diversity, found families, and meaningful connections among unlikely characters.

    His book The House in the Cerulean Sea is whimsical, funny, and deeply touching, about a lonely bureaucrat whose life changes when he visits a home for magical children.

  2. Fredrik Backman

    Fredrik Backman creates sincere, humorous, and emotionally insightful novels about ordinary people facing life's challenges. His storytelling highlights empathy, kindness, and the quiet courage of everyday choices.

    A great example is A Man Called Ove, a heartfelt story about an elderly curmudgeon whose grumpy exterior hides deep vulnerability and unexpected warmth.

  3. Kevin Wilson

    Kevin Wilson explores unconventional families and quirky outsiders in books filled with warmth, humor, and inventive storytelling. He skillfully blends eccentricity with relatable struggles, creating narratives both funny and ultimately moving.

    His novel Nothing to See Here centers around two children who literally burst into flames when upset, and the woman who unexpectedly steps in to care for them.

  4. Andrew Sean Greer

    Andrew Sean Greer writes witty, thoughtful narratives that balance humor with a gentle exploration of love, identity, and self-discovery. His novel Less follows Arthur Less, a lovable, self-deprecating writer on a globe-trotting journey to avoid attending his ex's wedding.

    It’s funny, reflective, and quietly romantic.

  5. Armistead Maupin

    Armistead Maupin is best known for capturing the warmth, diversity, and sense of community in San Francisco through his beloved Tales of the City.

    His stories celebrate friendship, acceptance, and the lives of diverse characters who support each other through life's challenges with humor and heart.

  6. Garth Stein

    Garth Stein writes warm, thoughtful stories that often revolve around family, love, and life's unexpected challenges. He explores relationships with sincerity and gentle humor.

    His bestselling novel, The Art of Racing in the Rain, tells the moving and heartfelt story of a race-car driver through the eyes of his perceptive dog, Enzo, capturing emotional depth in a unique and touching way.

  7. Jonathan Tropper

    Jonathan Tropper uses humor and sharp insight to capture ordinary people facing messy family dynamics, midlife struggles, and complicated relationships. His characters feel real, flawed yet likable, calling to mind Steven Rowley's relatable style.

    In his notable novel, This Is Where I Leave You, Tropper blends heartbreak and comedy as a dysfunctional family reunites after the father's death.

  8. David Sedaris

    David Sedaris is known for his witty, often hilarious autobiographical essays that reflect on ordinary situations with sharp humor and honesty. Like Rowley, he captures life's absurdity in relatable stories that make readers laugh while sneaking in deeper truths.

    His book, Me Talk Pretty One Day, offers humorous reflections on his childhood, family, and life abroad, balancing comedy with moments of genuine insight.

  9. Marian Keyes

    Marian Keyes writes novels that skillfully blend humor, romance, and emotional depth, focusing on women's lives, friendships, and family. Her storytelling is warm, funny, and relatable, especially if you appreciate the honest portrayal of relationships you find in Rowley's work.

    In her novel, Rachel's Holiday, Keyes uses empathy and wit to sell a heartfelt tale of one woman's journey through recovery and self-discovery.

  10. Nick Hornby

    Nick Hornby tells engaging stories about flawed yet likable characters, exploring personal relationships, life's ups and downs, and identity with humor and warmth. His narrative voice is down-to-earth, funny, and emotionally true.

    Readers of Steven Rowley might enjoy Hornby's About a Boy, which portrays an unexpected friendship between an immature but lovable adult and a young boy, highlighting growth and connection in a heartfelt manner.

  11. Taylor Jenkins Reid

    Taylor Jenkins Reid builds heartfelt, thoughtful stories centered around relationships and memorable characters. Her writing often explores themes of love, family, fame, and identity, told through relatable characters and authentic emotional journeys.

    The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is an absorbing novel about an enigmatic Hollywood actress revealing secrets from her glamorous and turbulent life.

  12. Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

    If you appreciate witty stories about complicated families and personal relationships, Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney is a great choice. Her writing humorously examines sibling rivalries, family dysfunction, and the pressures of inheritance.

    Her notable debut novel, The Nest, revolves around four adult siblings eagerly awaiting their family inheritance while confronting their own personal and financial struggles.

  13. Emma Straub

    Emma Straub writes perceptive and enjoyable novels about modern family life, friendship, and everyday human experiences. Her style is engaging and gracefully balanced between humor and emotional depth.

    All Adults Here depicts a mother taking stock of life choices while navigating the messy connections and secrets among her adult children, highlighting gently humorous insights about family and identity.

  14. Christopher Moore

    Christopher Moore's work blends humor, satire, and quirky imagination into novels full of memorable characters and offbeat scenarios. His playful voice, originality, and sharp wit will appeal to readers seeking humor and vivid storytelling.

    Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal is a humorous retelling of the early years of Jesus, told from the perspective of his irreverent and mischievous childhood friend, Biff.

  15. Patrick Gale

    For readers interested in moving novels exploring deep emotional connections, family bonds, and questions of identity, Patrick Gale offers thoughtful storytelling.

    His works frequently address themes of love, sexuality, and self-discovery set against vividly portrayed backgrounds.

    A Place Called Winter is a quietly powerful story about a man's journey of self-discovery and resilience in early 20th-century Canada after escaping societal disapproval and personal scandal.