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How do messy, real relationships reflect our own struggles with intimacy and self-worth? The main characters from 'Normal People' are an ideal example of how love can empower and destabilize at the same time.
It almost seems like Sally Rooney, a well-known Irish author, has found a formula to create an engaging novel: a love story about young people with a hint of spiciness. Looking for more raw and honest stories? These 12 books like 'Normal People' will make you hold your breath!
"Most people go through their whole lives, without ever really feeling that close with anyone."
This 'Normal People' quote reminds us of the rawness and relatability of this novel, as well as books similar to the 2019 Best British Book Award winner. Our article features pieces of literary fiction with diverse storylines, including coming-of-age stories, self-discovery narratives, and love triangles.
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Quick list: Five books like 'Normal People' to read this fall
'Conversations with Friends' by Sally Rooney — Another hit from the Irish bestselling writer, a compelling exploration of intimacy that delves into complicated friendships, love, and betrayal.
'One Day' by David Nicholls — A touching story about two people whose lives are intertwined over many years, showing how fate and timing shape relationships.
'Exciting Times' by Naoise Dolan — A sharp and humorous portrayal of love, loneliness, and self-discovery set in Hong Kong's expat community.
'Everything I Know About Love' by Dolly Alderton — An honest and funny memoir about romance, friendship, and the challenges of growing up.
'A Little Life' by Hanya Yanagihara — A deeply moving and raw story of friendship, trauma, and the lasting effects of personal suffering.
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12 heartfelt books like 'Normal People' that will stay with you long after reading them
These book recommendations are ideal for fans of 'Normal People.' To elevate your reading experience, use our 100 book reading chart printable.
1. 'Conversations with Friends' by Sally Rooney
Frances and Bobbi, two college students in Dublin, unexpectedly become friends with Melissa and Nick, an older married couple. Their relationships and the associated complexities of vulnerability, love, emotional engagement, infidelity, and identity are explored in Rooney's flaming prose.
Similarities: Examines complex, messy relationships involving love, treachery, and self-discovery.
Best for: For character-driven, thoughtful, and emotionally deep story seekers.
Adaptation: Rooney's debut novel was turned into a limited series by Hulu in 2022.
Do you like stories about messiness and self-sabotage? Then read or listen to 'The Mountain Is You' summary.
2. 'One Day' by David Nicholls
Emma and Dexter first meet on the night of their graduation, and throughout the next twenty years, their bond develops into a friendship and a more complicated relationship. The novel portrays their highs and lows, how fate and timing play a role in their own lives, and the growth and movement of the other person.
Similarities: A complex, evolving relationship that explores themes of love, timing, and growth over the years.
Best for: Readers who enjoy emotional, heartfelt stories concerning love and destiny.
Adaptation: The 2011 TV adaptation connects to the greater emotional depth of the book through both Anne Hathaway's and Jim Sturgess' performances.
3. 'Exciting Times' by Naoise Dolan
Ava, an Irish expat in Hong Kong, is caught in a complex relationship triangle with her mysterious, wealthy boyfriend Julian and his best friend Edith. Along with the difficulties of relationships and struggles with identity in a new city, the story addresses the conflicts of loneliness, love, and self-discovery.
Similarities: It deals with complicated, messy relationships and the emotional discomfort that arises from love, identity, and self-discovery.
Best for: If you like witty, reflective books about complicated love triangles and personal development.
Adaptation: 'Exciting Times' has been selected as a TV show, but there's no confirmed release date yet.
Interested in self-discovery? Learn how to turn your weakness into superpowers with the 'Daring Greatly' summary.
4. 'Everything I Know About Love' by Dolly Alderton
This book is a candid and humorous memoir that examines friendship, love, and self-discovery. Alderton explores the chaos and confusion of navigating relationships, adulthood, and self-discovery in a world of expectations in his honest and frequently humorous writing.
Similarities: This book emphasizes personal development and, like many memoirs, tackles the emotional complexities of friendship, love, and self-discovery.
Best for: Readers seeking an eye-rolling, humorous memoir about love and growth in their twenties.
Adaptation: It was turned into a 2022 BBC series that addresses Alderton's memoir with depth and humor while also examining relationships and self-discovery.
5. 'A Little Life' by Hanya Yanagihara
A complex story about four friends from college, but the focus of the story is Jude, whose traumatic past impacts his relationships and sense of self. This story covers themes of friendship, trauma, love, and the lingering effects of abuse and ultimately offers an unflinching and emotional representation of survival and healing.
Similarities: Addresses complex, deep relationships and trauma, and how those past traumas impact love, friendship, and self-identity.
Best for: Readers who are mentally prepared for heavy, emotionally intense content, topics focused on trauma, healing, and friendship.
Adaptation: It is being adapted into a movie, which Scott Frank is set to direct.
Overcoming trauma and starting healing isn't easy — but you can try to do so with the knowledge from the 'Loving Bravely' summary, get the love you want!
6. 'My Year of Rest and Relaxation' by Ottessa Moshfegh
This is the story of a young woman in New York City who decides to "put life on pause" for a year, isolating herself from her feelings of emptiness and lack of connection. While she tries to make herself numb to the world and those around her, the book explores mental illness, identity, and meaning in a cold world.
Similarities: Uses a darkly introspective lens to examine identity complexities, emotional isolation, and personal disconnection.
Best for: Readers who appreciate self-reflective, darkly humorous stories that deal with issues of identity, mental health, and personal growth.
Adaptation: It is being adapted into a movie project directed by Kristen Roupenian.
7. 'The Idiot' by Elif Batuman
Taking place in the 1990s, 'The Idiot' depicts Selin, a Turkish-American second-year student, experiencing her first year at Harvard. The novel humorously follows Selin's journey as an intellectual through various conflicting situations, including language struggles, love, and the absurdity of growing up.
Similarities: Emphasis on the messy and awkward process of self-actualization and turbulent relationships, told through a humorous, reflective narrative voice.
Best for: Readers who enjoy 'messy' coming of age stories that mix humor and reflective tension, relating to identity, language, and love.
Adaptation: It is being adapted into a series for Hulu.
8. 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' by Stephen Chbosky
A fifteen-year-old boy named Charlie writes letters to an unnamed friend about his experiences of being a first-year student in the high school in Pittsburgh in the fall of 1991. Charlie makes friends with seniors Sam and Patrick, who help him deal with the highs and lows of puberty while exposing him to novel and exciting experiences.
As Charlie grows closer to them, he begins to confront some memories he has repressed due to traumatic experiences.
Similarities: Explores themes of mental health, trauma, friendship, love, and the messiness of life.
Best for: Those who enjoy sweet coming-of-age novels with emotional heft.
Adaptation: It was adapted into a feature film in 2012, directed by Stephen Chbosky, starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller.
Struggling with a romance in the modern world, as Charlie did? Then the 'Modern Romance' summary is meant for you!
9. 'Call Me by Your Name' by André Aciman.
In the summer of 1983, 17-year-old Elio Perlman spends time with his family in Northern Italy. When Oliver, a 24-year-old graduate student, arrives to assist Elio's father and live in their home, an intense, life-altering romance begins. Set in the Italian countryside, the story explores desire, identity, and the short-lived nature of first love.
Similarities: Deep dives into difficult, emotional relationships and the journey of self-discovery.
Best for: Anyone who enjoys emotional coming-of-age stories.
Adaptation: The 2017 film adaptation directed by Luca Guadagnino, starring Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer, received acclaim from critics and won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
10. 'The Bell Jar' by Sylvia Plath
It's 1953, and Esther Greenwood, aged 19, is awarded a summer internship at a New York fashion magazine. While her fellow interns embrace the excitement of being in New York, Esther feels increasingly isolated and detached.
She battles trauma, social pressures, and future concerns as her mental health is getting weaker. Plath explores identity, mental health, and the challenges women faced in the 1950s through Esther's experiences.
Similarities: Focuses on the nuances of mental health, identity, and societal pressures to portray a reflective and visceral experience.
Best for: Those who enjoy deeper examinations of mental illness and the complications of womanhood in the mid-20th century.
Adaptation: In 1979, the novel hit the big screen with actress Marilyn Hassett portraying Esther Greenwood.
11. 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Aging Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo decides that the world is ready for an honest account of her life, so she selects an unknown reporter, Monique Grant, to write her memoir. Documenting years of fervor, ambition, and heartbreak, Monique listens as Evelyn reveals the sacrifices she made to become a renowned cultural figure.
Once Monique learns the full truth behind Evelyn Hugo's life, she, too, is pushed to confront her own view of love and identity.
Similarities: They both face the things we do for love and the choices made in exchange for fame.
Best for: Character-driven storytelling that confronts the existential questions of the cost of celebrity, love, and becoming a "better" version of ourselves.
Adaptation: Soon to become a feature movie on Netflix, directed by Leslye Headland, with no current release date.
Become fluent in love, and do that with 'The 5 Love Languages' summary. Your relationships can grow stronger and last longer!
12. 'The Song of Achilles' by Madeline Miller
Set in ancient Greece, Patroclus, an exiled prince, forms a strong bond with Achilles, the son of King Peleus. Their friendship, intensified by their time training with the centaur Chiron, temporarily transforms into profound love. The Trojan War draws both men into the chaotic events of battle, making space for fate, heroism, and love.
Similarities: Explores complex relationships, love, identity, and sacrificing the pursuit of fame.
Best for: Readers who enjoy character-driven stories about the cost of love, fame, or personal growth.
Adaptation: The TV series adaptation was directed by Matthew López but is currently paused.
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By reading books about love, identity, relationships, and other similar subjects or themes, you can learn about human emotion and the complexities of personal development. Coming-of-age novels, love stories, or friendship books represent the potential for change.
Take advantage of Headway's curated collection of over 2000 summaries of the best books, with easy access to stories of love, personal growth, and development. Ultimately, we make it easy to explore the world of meaningful books, learn from them, and apply their lessons through daily learning, flashcards, and progress tracking.
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FAQs about books like 'Normal People'
What should you read if you like 'Normal People'?
If you enjoyed 'Normal People,' read Sally Rooney's novel, 'Conversations with Friends,' for more emotionally complex relationships, or David Nicholls's book, 'One Day,' which examines love and timing over decades. 'A Little Life' by Hanya Yanagihara has somewhat heavier themes of friendship, trauma, and emotional growth.
Is 'One Day' similar to 'Normal People'?
Indeed, 'One Day' contains some of the same themes as 'Normal People,' such as love, fate, and the complications of a relationship over the years. Both are focused on the ongoing relationship between two people and how it evolves due to timing, emotional maturation, and personal circumstances.
What is the message of 'Normal People'?
The main message of 'Normal People' is about the interrelation of love, identity, and the emotional challenges of growing up or maturing. It explores the role of trauma and the way vulnerability, self-exploration, and emotional intimacy create individual development and impact close relationships.
Do Connell and Marianne end up together?
Connell and Marianne ultimately end up together, but the ending is bittersweet. Following years of emotional complexity, personal growth, and the effects of their history, they find a sense of resolution in their relationship.
What mental health condition does Connell struggle with in 'Normal People'?
Connell grapples with depression in 'Normal People' that is closely connected to his identity and his relationship with Marianne. His issues with mental health are sensitively portrayed to convey how emotional struggles affect relationships and Connell's eventual journey to self-acceptance and understanding.
