Normal People is a bestseller that resonated with millions of readers around the globe. This novel touches upon all the topics that we care most about — the complexities of first love, miscommunication, and personal growth. Here are some similar suggestions to add to your reading list:
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
The best book to start with is the memoir Everything I Know About Love written by Dolly Alderton. In her novel, she recounts her chaotic twenties, beginning with the rush of moving to London with her best friends, Farly and India. She vividly describes her disastrous attempts at online dating, cringeworthy encounters, and the emotional swings of fleeting romances. It’s a story of early adulthood and its complexities. Sounds like something you’d like to read? Check out our summary of this beautiful memoir!
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
A Little Life is a beautifully crafted novel about ambition, grief, and romantic adventures. It follows the lives of four college friends — Jude, Willem, Malcolm, and JB — as they enter their adulthood in New York City. More than anything, it was about Jude, a brilliant but deeply wounded lawyer whose past of abuse had only wrought upon him horrible kinds of trauma. He is struggling both physically and emotionally while showing his attempts to build a life against something that could never be shaken off.
Writers and Lovers by Lily King
Writers and Lovers focuses on Casey Peabody, a struggling writer in the 1990s Cambridge, Massachusetts. She's trying to overcome the recent death of her mother, a mountain of debt, and the emotional hardship of navigating two very different romantic relationships: one with a much older, established writer, and the other with a kind, but also struggling, fellow writer. This is a story of a writer, but also a person who must make life-changing choices.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
This coming-of-age novel is told through a series of letters written by Charlie, a socially awkward and introspective teenager, to an anonymous recipient. He details his freshman year of high school. He honestly describes all the complexities of friendships, first love, and his mental health struggles. Charlie joins the group of older students, Patrick and Sam, who introduce him to a world of music, literature, and emotional exploration. And then it follows — the book addresses sensitive topics such as depression, sexual abuse, and the challenges of adolescence.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Secret Story is an international bestseller from the winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 2014, which brought the writer world fame. This is a novel in the best traditions of ancient Greek tragedies. You will join a group of students at an elite New England college with their professor, Julian Morrow. These people live in an almost parallel reality to the life most of their peers live. Tartt crafts a skillful portrait of privilege, obsession, and the haunting consequences of seeking transcendence at any cost.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Daisy Jones & The Six is a must-read, even just because of its style. The story is told through an interview-style narrative, immersing you in a world of passion and heartbreak. Daisy Jones & The Six unfolds as an oral history pieced together from interviews with the band members and their inner circle. It chronicles the meteoric rise and abrupt fall of a legendary 1970s rock group. You will learn about their creative synergy and their personal demons — Billy's addiction and Daisy's search for belonging.
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
Rachel is a student in the lovely Irish city of Cork. Her best friend James, a charismatic, aspiring writer, is falling in love with their married literature professor. The problem is – Rachel is drawn to him too. This passion triggers a chain reaction of emotional turmoil, secrets, and betrayals, forcing Rachel to confront the messy realities of adulthood.
All of these stories share a similar trait – they are so real and touching, so everyone can find themselves on the pages of dialogues, intrigues, betrayals, and passionate love. They will help you understand human interactions, personal struggles, or the difficulties of friendship. Each novel on this list captures, in its own way, the deep connections and conflicts that define our lives. You are sure to find answers to your own life in these drama books! Happy reading!
