if you liked this book, read this one

One of my favourite things about reading is spotting the similarities to other books. Sometimes it’s the themes, or certain characters that remind me of each other, or the setting, or even just the overall vibe.

If I enjoyed a particular book, I will be googling something along the lines of ‘books for fans of _____’ or ‘what to read after ______’, hoping for another book to give me that similar feeling.

It’s also one of the easiest ways to recommend books to other people. We all want our taste to be validated a little bit, or to be guided in the right direction when the decision fatigue sets in.

So here are some book recommendations based on other books you may have enjoyed:

If you liked

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

Try

The Coin by Yasmin Zaher

Both are stream of consciousness novels following sardonic, unhinged female narrators as they attempt to navigate identity, trauma, and mental illness against the vapid backdrop of New York City.

If you liked

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Try

Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

Both are moving novels that tackle childhood trauma, poverty, addiction, and coming of age in an rural American community.

If you liked

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

Try

Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

Both are multi-perspective family sagas that explore the dysfunctions and buried resentments of affluent households, tracing generational trauma, financial anxiety, and unspoken grievances.