If you enjoy reading novels by Una Mannion then you might also like the following authors:
Anna Burns is an Irish author who writes with a lot of heart and unique insight. Her novel, “Milkman,” is set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles and follows an unnamed young woman.
The story captures how she deals with a suffocating community, the gossip around her, and the unwanted attention from a powerful older man who is known as the Milkman. The book explores how fear and mistrust affect daily life and relationships in a divided society.
It’s told in a deeply personal way that pulls you into her world.
Lisa Taddeo is an author known for her raw and honest storytelling. Her book “Three Women” dives into the real lives of three women as they navigate their relationships, desires, and inner struggles.
There’s Lina, a housewife stuck in a passionless marriage, who tries to rediscover what it feels like to truly be wanted. Sloane, a wealthy woman, allows her husband to choose what happens in their sex life.
Maggie, the youngest of the three, is reckoning with the aftermath of a relationship with her high school teacher. The book captures the complexities of longing and love in a way that feels deeply personal.
Claire Keegan writes stories that feel deeply personal, often focusing on quiet moments that reveal unspoken truths about her characters.
Her novella, “Foster,” tells the story of a young girl sent to live with distant relatives in rural Ireland while her mother prepares for another baby. In this new home, she experiences kindness and care that she has never known before.
The writing is light on dialogue but heavy with emotion, capturing small gestures and details that speak volumes. It’s a story about belonging, family, and the things people leave unsaid. Keegan’s ability to create such vivid, heartfelt moments makes her work unforgettable.
Bonnie Jo Campbell writes stories that dig into the lives of people in rural America, often focusing on those who are struggling against tough circumstances. Her novel “Once Upon a River” tells the story of Margo Crane, a teenage girl living along a river in Michigan.
After a tragedy tears her family apart, she sets off on her own, navigating the waterways and facing the dangers of survival. The book paints a vivid picture of the natural world and dives deep into themes of independence, resilience, and survival.
Readers follow Margo’s journey as she hunts, fishes, and learns to protect herself while searching for a place where she can belong. Campbell’s prose is direct, and her characters feel real.
Elizabeth Strout is a storyteller who focuses on the quiet struggles and connections in people’s lives. Her book “Olive Kitteridge” introduces Olive, a retired schoolteacher in a small coastal town in Maine.
The story unfolds through a series of linked tales about the townsfolk, with Olive playing a role in each. Sometimes she’s a passing presence, sometimes she’s at the center, but her sharp tongue and hidden sadness leave an impression.
One story explores Olive’s strained relationship with her son, while another reveals an act of unexpected kindness she shows to a stranger. Strout’s writing captures the complicated ways people hurt and care for each other.
Louise Erdrich is a brilliant storyteller who often explores themes of family, community, and identity in her work. One of her novels, “The Night Watchman,” is inspired by her grandfather’s fight against the termination of Native American tribes in the 1950s.
The story follows Thomas Wazhashk, a night watchman and tribal chairman, as he works tirelessly to protect his people from losing their lands. Alongside his story, there’s Patrice, a young woman supporting her family while searching for her missing sister.
The novel weaves personal struggles with the larger fight for survival, creating a rich portrait of resilience and connection.
Tana French is an Irish author known for her deeply atmospheric mysteries. Her book “The Likeness” follows Detective Cassie Maddox as she takes on an undercover case like no other. A woman is found dead, and she looks exactly like Cassie.
Even stranger, the victim is using an identity Cassie once created for another undercover operation. To solve the case, Cassie steps into the victim’s life, pretending to be alive.
As she lives among the dead woman’s friends and uncovers buried secrets, questions about identity and trust create a rich, layered story that fans of Una Mannion’s character-driven narratives might enjoy.
Delia Owens is an author who gained attention for her novel “Where the Crawdads Sing.” The story is set in the marshlands of North Carolina and follows Kya, a girl abandoned by her family. She grows up isolated from the world, relying on nature to survive.
As she gets older, her life takes a dramatic turn when she becomes entangled in a murder investigation. The book paints vivid scenes of Kya’s connection to the wild and her struggle to find trust, love, and belonging in a society that shuns her.
Maggie O’Farrell is a storyteller known for creating characters who feel real, with lives shaped by decisions, chance, and circumstance.
Her book “Hamnet” takes readers to 16th-century England, where we follow the family of William Shakespeare (though he remains unnamed) and the devastating loss of his son, Hamnet.
O’Farrell brings the experiences of his wife, Agnes, to life with vivid detail, exploring her connections to nature and her quiet but fierce love for her children. The story reveals how grief can ripple through a family and shows the fragile ties that hold people together.
Marilynne Robinson is known for her thoughtful and quiet storytelling about family, faith, and community. Her novel “Gilead” is written as a long letter from an aging minister, John Ames, to his young son.
Set in a small Iowa town in the 1950s, the story reflects on Ames’ life, his friendships, and the weight of generational history.
The book captures the beauty of ordinary moments, like sharing meals or watching the light shift in a room, while exploring deeper themes of forgiveness and legacy.
Readers who enjoy Una Mannion’s focus on family ties and emotional depth will find a similar richness in Robinson’s work.
Tea Obreht is an author known for crafting stories with vivid settings and a strong sense of atmosphere. Her novel “The Tiger’s Wife” blends folklore and reality, set in a Balkan country recovering from war.
The story follows Natalia, a young doctor searching for answers after her grandfather’s mysterious death. Along the way, she uncovers tales he used to tell, including one about a tiger that escapes from a zoo and a deaf-mute woman linked to it.
The book weaves family secrets and mythical elements into a world that feels both grounded and otherworldly.
Jessie Burton is a writer known for weaving historical fiction with rich characters and vivid settings. Her book “The Miniaturist” transports readers to 17th-century Amsterdam.
It follows a young woman named Nella, who moves into her new husband’s grand home and receives an intricate miniature replica of the house. The objects inside the replica seem to predict unsettling events in Nella’s life.
The story combines mystery and tension with a beautifully detailed backdrop of Dutch society. It’s a great match for readers who enjoy deep storytelling and atmospheric worlds.
Emma Donoghue is an author known for exploring deep human connections and emotionally charged stories. Her novel, “Room,” tells the story of a five-year-old boy named Jack and his Ma, who live in a small, locked room.
Jack knows nothing of the world outside those walls, as Ma has shielded him from their grim reality. The story captures their bond and the tension as Ma begins to plot their escape.
It’s a book that stays with you because of how personal and raw it feels, especially through Jack’s unique perspective.
Elizabeth McCracken has a talent for writing stories that mix humor with an emotional depth that lingers.
In her book “The Giant’s House,” she tells the story of a small-town librarian named Peggy Cort who forms an unlikely bond with a young boy, James, who suffers from gigantism.
As James grows, both physically and emotionally, their relationship becomes something rare and unforgettable. McCracken focuses on their connection in a way that feels personal, exploring the quiet moments of their lives while keeping readers invested in their journey.
Fans of Una Mannion’s ability to blend heartfelt storytelling with vivid characters might find her work rewarding.
Jane Smiley writes stories that bring characters and their relationships to life in a way that feels immediate and personal. Her novel “A Thousand Acres” is a modern retelling of “King Lear,” set on an Iowa farm.
The story follows Ginny, the eldest of three sisters, as their father’s decision to pass down the family farm unearths long-buried secrets and tensions. The book shows the complexities of family ties, with moments that are both heartbreaking and raw.
It’s a story about loyalty, betrayal, and the weight of the past.