If you enjoy reading novels by Susan Choi then you might also like the following authors:
Readers who appreciate Susan Choi’s thoughtful exploration of character psychology and realistic portrayals of social tensions might enjoy Colson Whitehead’s novels. Whitehead skillfully blends historical context with deep personal narratives.
In “The Nickel Boys,” he tells the story of Elwood Curtis, a hopeful and disciplined teenager sent to a harsh juvenile reformatory called Nickel Academy under unjust circumstances.
Set during 1960s Florida segregation, the novel exposes powerful truths about institutional corruption and racial injustice. Whitehead engages readers with well-developed characters and clear, impactful storytelling.
Readers who enjoy Susan Choi’s exploration of human relationships and thoughtful character studies might find Nicole Krauss equally captivating. Krauss is known for her insightful and emotionally rich novels.
In “The History of Love,” Krauss tells the story of Leo Gursky, an elderly man who escaped Europe during World War II and now lives quietly in New York, haunted by memories of lost love.
His paths subtly cross with those of Alma Singer, a thoughtful teenager named after the heroine in her parents’ favorite novel. As each seeks answers to mysteries in their own lives, their stories gently intertwine in unexpected ways.
Krauss builds a narrative full of warmth, humor, and deep yearning, offering a reflection on loss, connection, and the enduring power of literature.
Lauren Groff is a thoughtful novelist known for exploring complex psychological and emotional themes. Readers who enjoy Susan Choi’s layered examinations of character and relationships may appreciate Groff’s “Fates and Furies.”
The novel follows the marriage of Lotto and Mathilde across decades, illustrating how differently each person experiences the very same partnership.
Groff carefully builds the story first from Lotto’s viewpoint, filled with charm and privilege, before shifting seamlessly to Mathilde’s perspective, revealing secrets and deeper truths Lotto never imagined.
The two narratives together form a striking portrait of love, identity, and the quiet gaps between how we see ourselves and how our loved ones see us.
Books by Meg Wolitzer often explore intricate human relationships and subtle emotional shifts. If you appreciate Susan Choi’s thoughtful character explorations and insights into personal identity, Wolitzer’s novel “The Interestings” is a great choice.
The novel follows a close-knit group of friends who meet as teenagers at a summer arts camp in the 1970s. Wolitzer vividly depicts how youthful ambition, envy, success, and failure shape their lives through adulthood.
The characters struggle with different outcomes and complicated relationships over decades, offering reflection on friendship, creativity, and life’s unpredictable paths.
Books by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie often explore complex personal relationships and larger social themes through thoughtful, character-driven storytelling.
Her novel “Americanah” follows the journey of Ifemelu and Obinze, young Nigerian lovers separated by geography and circumstance.
Ifemelu moves to America and faces new questions about identity, race, and belonging, while Obinze tries to build a new life in London before finding himself back in Nigeria. Adichie’s writing combines insightful social commentary with warm, richly detailed characters.
Readers who appreciated Susan Choi’s attention to character psychology and nuanced exploration of identity in books like “Trust Exercise” might find Adichie’s narratives equally captivating.
Rachel Kushner writes sharp, thought-provoking fiction that explores complex histories and human relationships, similar to the style that Susan Choi readers appreciate.
Her novel “The Flamethrowers” follows Reno, a restless young woman immersed in the New York art scene of the 1970s. Drawn to speed and motorcycles, she soon finds herself caught between her passion for art and politics, and the gritty reality of revolutionary Italy.
Kushner brings the decade alive through striking imagery, engaging characters, and nuanced portrayals of political upheaval. This novel resonates deeply with fans of stories that challenge assumptions about love, identity, and creativity.
Jennifer Egan is an American author known for novels that explore complex characters in modern settings. If you enjoy the psychological depth and nuanced relationships in Susan Choi’s books, you might want to explore Egan’s “A Visit from the Goon Squad.”
This novel weaves together individual stories of interconnected characters across different time periods. It spans decades, shifting from the punk rock scene of the past to a speculative future.
Each chapter follows a different character, revealing surprising connections and dramatic turns in unexpected ways. Egan blends humor, tragedy, and sharp insight into human nature to show how time shapes identities and relationships.
Books by Celeste Ng often explore family dynamics, identity, and the quiet tensions beneath seemingly ordinary lives. If you enjoy Susan Choi’s thoughtful explorations of character and relationships, Celeste Ng’s “Little Fires Everywhere” could resonate with you.
Set in the carefully planned suburb of Shaker Heights, Ohio, this novel follows two sharply contrasting families whose lives intersect unexpectedly.
The Richardson family’s orderly existence is disrupted when mother and daughter Mia and Pearl Warren move into their rental property. As secrets gradually emerge, Ng skillfully examines questions of motherhood, race, privilege, and what it truly means to belong.
The revelations spark conflict that challenges both families and their community.
Elizabeth Strout is an American novelist known for insightful stories about everyday people, capturing their internal struggles and family ties. Readers who appreciate Susan Choi’s thoughtful exploration of complex characters might enjoy Strout’s “Olive Kitteridge.”
This book centers on Olive, a sharp-tongued former schoolteacher from a small town in Maine. Told through connected stories, the narrative reveals Olive’s relationships, her moments of regret and compassion, and the hidden tensions beneath ordinary lives.
Strout portrays life’s quiet truths with honesty and subtle humor, creating characters that stay with readers long after the last page is turned.
Books by Tayari Jones explore deep emotional conflicts and complex characters, a style Susan Choi readers might appreciate.
Jones’s novel “An American Marriage” tells the story of Roy and Celestial, a newlywed couple whose marriage is torn apart when Roy is wrongly convicted and sentenced to prison.
The book focuses intimately on how their bond changes during Roy’s incarceration and his struggle to reclaim his life afterward. Honest dialogues, nuanced relationships, and questions about justice and loyalty all come together to shape Jones’s powerful storytelling.
Readers who enjoyed the emotional depth and intricate character dynamics of Susan Choi’s “Trust Exercise” may find Tayari Jones’s “An American Marriage” equally rewarding.
Rebecca Makkai is a writer known for novels that explore complex character dynamics, psychological depth, and thought-provoking narratives. If you’re a fan of Susan Choi’s sharp character studies, Makkai’s “The Great Believers” could capture your attention.
This novel shifts between two timelines—the devastating AIDS crisis in 1980s Chicago, and a woman in contemporary Paris trying to reconnect with her estranged daughter.
Makkai builds unforgettable characters and scenes as she weaves stories of friendship, loss, trauma, and redemption into one moving tale. The emotional depth and careful exploration of human relationships make this book one worth exploring.
Adam Haslett is an author whose novels thoughtfully explore emotional complexity and family dynamics. In his book “Imagine Me Gone,” Haslett introduces readers to a family confronted with the ongoing challenges of mental illness.
The novel portrays each family member’s perspective with deep empathy and honesty. This results in a moving portrayal of love, pain, and resilience. Haslett carefully develops his characters, gradually revealing their vulnerabilities and hopes.
Readers who appreciate Susan Choi’s talent for sensitive character exploration and emotional insight may find Adam Haslett’s work equally rewarding.
Readers who enjoy Susan Choi’s insightful exploration of identity and relationships will find Jhumpa Lahiri’s work deeply rewarding. Lahiri’s writing skillfully captures the human experience of people caught between cultures.
Her book “The Namesake” follows Gogol Ganguli, whose unusual name symbolizes the struggle he faces growing up with immigrant parents in America.
Through Gogol’s journey from youth into adulthood, Lahiri beautifully illustrates how identity and family expectations shape our lives. Her prose is clear, precise, and often quietly powerful, qualities that fans of Susan Choi will genuinely appreciate.
Jonathan Franzen is an American author known for novels that closely examine contemporary family dynamics and personal relationships. If you enjoyed Susan Choi’s exploration of complex characters and emotional tensions, Franzen’s “The Corrections” might resonate with you.
This novel introduces readers to the Lambert family—an aging couple and their three adult children—each struggling with individual disappointments and unrealized dreams.
Franzen’s portrayal of family interactions and personal struggles provides an authentic, relatable look at modern suburban life. His narrative unpacks ordinary family events with empathy and humor, revealing the underlying anxieties and hopes of each family member.
If you enjoy Susan Choi’s sharp observations and character-driven stories, Claire Messud is an author worth trying.
Her novel “The Woman Upstairs” follows Nora Eldridge, a third-grade teacher whose carefully ordered life shifts dramatically when she becomes involved in the glamorous Shahid family.
Nora’s quiet existence begins to unravel as she gets closer to this intriguing family, exposing hidden desires and tensions beneath her calm exterior.
Messud invites readers into the honest inner thoughts of her main character, building toward insights about ambition, art, and the facade of everyday life.