If you enjoy reading books by Tawni O'Dell then you might also like the following authors:
Bonnie Jo Campbell writes about hardscrabble lives in rural America, focusing on characters navigating tough choices and gritty realities.
Her book “Once Upon a River” follows Margo Crane, a teenage girl who sets off on a solo journey down a river after a tragedy shakes her world. Margo is resourceful and determined, living off the land while encountering both kindness and danger.
The story captures her fight to survive and her search for a place in a world that often feels unkind. Readers will find a raw and deeply human story in her work.
Larry Watson writes stories that are deeply rooted in family, small towns, and flawed characters. His novel “Montana 1948” is set in a small prairie town in the late 1940s and follows twelve-year-old David Hayden as he uncovers dark truths about his family.
When his uncle, a respected doctor, is accused of a crime, David’s world begins to crack apart. The book explores loyalty, justice, and the hidden darkness in seemingly ordinary lives.
It’s a quiet yet powerful read that leaves you thinking about the cost of loyalty and the weight of silence.
Elizabeth Berg has a way of writing characters that feel like people you know. In her novel “The Pull of the Moon,” the story follows Nan, a recently retired woman who decides to leave her ordinary life behind and take a solo road trip.
Along the way, she reflects on her choices, her marriage, and what it means to truly live on her own terms. It’s a quiet yet powerful look at what happens when a woman decides to stop putting everyone else first and starts listening to herself.
Wally Lamb is known for crafting emotional and character-driven novels. One of his standout works is “I Know This Much Is True.” The story follows Dominick Birdsey as he grapples with the challenges of having a twin brother, Thomas, who suffers from severe mental illness.
The book explores their complicated family history and how trauma has shaped their lives. Dominick’s journey uncovers long-hidden family secrets, and his efforts to understand them offer moments that are both heartbreaking and hopeful.
Lamb’s writing gives readers an intimate look into deeply personal struggles.
Chris Bohjalian is an author who often explores dark, emotional stories grounded in human experiences. In his novel “Midwives,” he tells the story of a midwife named Sibyl Dane. During a home birth, complications arise, and Sibyl makes a choice that leads to a woman’s death.
The aftermath puts her on trial, raising questions about trust, guilt, and the fragile line between life and death. The story focuses on how a family copes under pressure and how one decision can change so many lives.
Jane Smiley is an author known for her ability to explore small-town life and family dynamics with depth and realism. Her novel, “A Thousand Acres,” is set in rural Iowa and follows the story of the Cook family, who own a sprawling farm.
When the father decides to pass the land to his three daughters, old secrets surface and relationships start to unravel. The story pulls you into the complications of inheritance, loyalty, and resentment within a family shaped by both love and betrayal.
If you enjoy stories about flawed characters and deeply rooted connections, this might be one to look at.
Joyce Maynard is an author who captures complicated family dynamics and the ways people navigate loss and redemption. Her book “Labor Day” tells the story of a boy named Henry and his reclusive mother, Adele.
Their quiet lives take a sharp turn when they meet an escaped convict, Frank, who seeks refuge in their home. The novel pulls you into their world as unexpected connections form and emotions rise under the strain of secrecy and danger.
Ann Hood is an author known for her deeply emotional and engaging stories. In her book “The Knitting Circle,” she tells the story of Mary, a woman grieving the loss of her daughter.
Struggling to cope, Mary joins a local knitting group where she meets others who are also dealing with personal heartbreak. As the members share their stories, Mary begins to find strength and connection in unexpected ways.
The book explores how people face loss and try to heal through shared experiences. If you enjoy books with complex emotions and strong character journeys, this is a great one to check out.
Stewart O’Nan writes stories that feel real and grounded, often focusing on everyday people and their struggles. In his novel “Emily, Alone,” he follows Emily Maxwell, a widowed woman in her later years, as she navigates her routine-filled days in Pittsburgh.
The book explores her relationships with family, her memories, and the quiet challenges of solitude. O’Nan’s portrayal of Emily feels heartfelt, shining a light on the small but meaningful moments of an ordinary life.
Robert Goolrick writes emotional, character-driven stories that dive deep into human experiences. His novel, “A Reliable Wife,” is set in early 20th-century Wisconsin and follows a woman who answers a widowed man’s advertisement for a “reliable” wife. But not all is as it seems.
The woman arrives with her own secret plan, while the man, consumed by grief and loneliness, hides a painful past. As their lives intertwine, layers of betrayal, loss, and longing unravel. The backdrop is stark and cold, which matches the tension between the characters.
Fans of Tawni O’Dell might enjoy how Goolrick captures raw emotions and the weight of personal histories.
Sue Monk Kidd is an author known for creating heartfelt stories with strong emotional depth. Her novel “The Secret Life of Bees” is set in South Carolina in the 1960s and follows Lily Owens, a girl searching for answers about her late mother.
Lily finds herself living with three beekeeping sisters, whose lives are shaped by their own struggles and joys. The book offers a mix of family bonds, personal growth, and a sense of hope in the face of hardship. It paints a vivid picture of love and resilience.
Richard Russo writes stories about small-town life and the struggles of everyday people. His book “Empire Falls” centers on a diner manager named Miles Roby, who feels stuck in a town that’s seen better days.
The story explores the lives of the working-class residents and the secrets that shape their relationships. There’s a mysterious woman who owns much of the town, a failing marriage, and a daughter dealing with high school drama.
The book is full of moments that reveal how the past influences people and what it means to hang on when life feels like it’s slipping away.
Leif Enger is an author with a knack for creating heartfelt stories set against vivid landscapes. One of his most popular books, “Peace Like a River,” follows the Land family’s journey across the Midwest in the 1960s.
Reuben, an asthmatic boy, narrates the tale as they search for his outlaw brother, Davy. The story is filled with family bonds, faith, and moments of quiet magic that make it unforgettable.
Enger has a way of writing people who feel real and flawed, with moments of kindness or courage that stick with you.
Sarah Addison Allen writes stories that weave everyday life with a touch of magic, focusing on heart, family, and the bonds that tie people together. Her book “Garden Spells” centers on the Waverley sisters.
Claire lives quietly in their family home, tending a garden full of plants with strange qualities, such as an apple tree that shows people their future. When her estranged sister Sydney returns with a young daughter, secrets from their past reemerge.
It’s a story about healing, trust, and finding where you belong. The charming small-town setting and unique characters draw you into their world.
Barbara Kingsolver is known for writing stories that focus on family, community, and the connection between people and their environment. Her book “The Bean Trees” follows Taylor Greer, a young woman from Kentucky, who sets off on a road trip to escape her small-town life.
Along the way, she unexpectedly becomes the guardian of an abandoned child. The story weaves Taylor’s journey with the lives of the people she meets, creating a heartfelt look at resilience and found family.