Sally Rooney‘s Normal People struck a chord with readers everywhere following its release. Through its achingly beautiful portrayal of young love, adulthood, and the ways people drift in and out of each other’s lives, this captivating romance has understandably resonated deeply, especially after its acclaimed screen adaptation brought the story to an even wider audience.
But what do we read after a book like that? Whether readers are drawn to the emotional rawness and honesty, contemporary romance, or even its introspective tone, these are other novels that echo Normal People‘s spirit—even if none are quite the same. From slow-burning relationships to sharp character studies, we look back at ten books that capture similar themes of connection, vulnerability, and what it means to try to find your place in the world.
10
‘Outline’ (2014)
Written by Rachel Cusk
Following a recently divorced British writer and mother traveling to Athens to teach a summer writing course, Outline is structured as a series of ten conversations over one week, with each chapter centering on the protagonist’s encounter with people, whether those are seatmates on the plane, students, fellow teachers, or friends.
Out of all the titles mentioned on the list, Outline is perhaps the least like Normal People, at least narrative-wise. Still, both novels are widely celebrated for introspective and psychologically rich explorations of character, each offering a window into how we process relationships, trauma, and change. It also deeply focuses on meaningful conversations and the complexities of communication, including how people misunderstand each other and struggle to articulate feelings.
9
‘Everything I Know About Love’ (2018)
Written by Dolly Alderton
Although a memoir, Dolly Alderton‘s Everything I Know About Loveis a worthy pick for fans of the Sally Rooney novel. Candid, witty, and open, Dolly Alderton‘s memoir recounts her experiences as she navigates her twenties, blending stories, lists, text conversations, and even recipes.
For those fascinated by Normal People‘s self-discovery focus and deep dive into the messiness of personal relationships, Everything I Know About Love may be worth picking up. It resonates especially with those in early adulthood, supported by universal insights about connection, growth, and the mundane moments that shape one’s life. All in all, it is a voice-driven, introspective, and witty read that’s similar to what readers usually appreciate in Rooney’s book.
8
‘Cleopatra and Frankenstein’ (2022)
Written by Coco Mellors
Set in New York City, starting in the late 2006 through the late 2000s and 2010s, Coco Mellors‘ 2022 bold novel delves into the whirlwind relationship between Cleo, a 24-year-old British artist adrift in New York, and Frank, a charismatic ad executive two decades her senior. Their impulsive marriage ripples through their lives and those of their friends and family, shining a light on love, loneliness, ambition, and the cost of reckless choices.
Driven by vulnerability and an emotionally resonant narrative—much like Rooney’s novel—this captivating novel closely examines the highs and lows of adult relationships, communication breakdowns, and what it truly means to know oneself or another person. It’s an essential pick for those interested in introspective, character-driven books, with a relationship marked by longing and miscommunication at its heart and a harrowing depiction of mental health, addiction, and the effects of trauma.
7
‘On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous’ (2019)
Written by Ocean Vuong
Equal parts beautiful and haunting, Ocean Vuong‘s lyrical novel, written as a letter from a young Vietnamese American man to his illiterate mother, dives into trauma, identity, love, and language, meditating on cultural memory and also personal history.
Although a tad more poetic, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is told in an accessible voice, and much like Normal People, it offers a raw and intimate exploration of identity and relationships. Sure, it’s not a romance in the conventional sense. However, it still addresses key themes anchored by a voice-driven narrative, featuring characters grappling with trauma and the search for the self. Vuong’s novel delves not only into family, trauma, and memory but also into the immigrant experience, cultural displacement, and self-acceptance.
6
‘Alone With You in the Ether’ (2020)
Written by Olivie Blake
Best known for The Atlas Six, Olivia Blake is the writer behind the contemporary literary romance Alone With You in the Ether, which follows the random but nevertheless transformative encounter of two troubled individuals—a bipolar counterfeit artist and a postgraduate math student obsessed with order and routine—set against the backdrop of Chicago.
Along With You in the Ether is definitely a match for Normal People fans who find themselves drawn to the way it examines deeply flawed protagonists. Not only that, it depicts love and the vulnerable conversations it encompasses with the same narrative approach—raw, poetic, philosophical—while never shying away from portraying its characters’ struggles with mood disorders, medication, and the tension between chaos and control.
5
‘The Idiot’ (2017)
Written by Elif Batuman
Nominated as a Pulitzer Prize finalist in Fiction and featured on numerous “Best of the Year” lists, Elif Batuman‘s debut novel centers around a Turkish-American freshman at Harvard in 1995, as she navigates first love, friendship, language, and the bittersweet process of growing into adulthood.
Whether it’s the intimately drawn relationships—much like Connell and Marianne’s dynamic in Normal People, marked by longing, miscommunication, and intellectual chemistry, or its emotional honesty—The Idiot is ultimately a great match for those looking for a story that feels personal and profound. It focuses on identity, belonging, and vulnerability, making it a particularly resonant read for those who gravitate toward introspective, character-driven fiction, especially the one that captures the ambiguity of young adulthood.
4
‘The Rachel Incident’ (2023)
Written by Caroline O’Donoghue
This sharp coming-of-age novel transports audiences to Cork, Ireland, during the aftermath of the 2008 economic crash. The narrative follows its titular character, a literature student, as she finishes college, dives into adulthood, and navigates friendships, love, and the societal shifts of a changing Ireland.
Focusing on the complicated relationship between Rachel and her charming best friend James, The Rachel Incident offers an equally captivating look at the uncertainty, yearning, and growing pains of young adulthood. Much like Normal People, it delves into the messiness of love and friendship with honesty, never shying away from portraying complex entanglements—including feelings for emotionally unavailable men—that ultimately spark powerful self-discovery journeys.
3
‘One Day’ (2009)
Written by David Nicholls
Previously adapted into a film and now into a beautifully told Netflix adaptation, David Nicholls’ One Dayis often compared to Normal People, and it’s not difficult to understand why. The story follows Emma Morley and Dexter Maywhem—who meet on the night of their university graduation—and then tracks their lives by revisiting that same date each year for the next twenty years.
Like Marianne and Connell’s, Dexter and Emma’s relationship is complicated, flawed, filled with longing, missed opportunities, and evolving life paths. Instead of idealizing romance and coming-of-age in the adult world, One Day nails realism the same way that Normal People does: over the years, it expands and fluctuates between friendship and romantic tension, especially as they pursue separate careers and other partners. At its core, One Day is a strong match because of the way it captures not only their relationship but also the way people change, mature, and cope with the unpredictabilities of life.
2
‘Beautiful World, Where Are You’ (2021)
Written by Sally Rooney
Rooney’s Beautiful World, Where Are You may seem like an obvious choice, but it’s still one worth mentioning. Set in contemporary Ireland, the story focuses on four characters in their late twenties and early thirties as they navigate romantic entanglements, deep friendships, and the anxieties of adulthood in a rapidly changing world.
Like what is seen in Normal People, Rooney brings her signature introspective prose and dry humor to Beautiful World, Where Are You, exploring the messy, often frustrating ways we try—and often fail—to express love. The novel captures the heartbreak of miscommunication, the longing it creates, and the potential for growth. As its characters navigate the shift from youth into adulthood, they find themselves questioning their purpose, their place in the world, and how to hold on to each other as their lives begin to move in different directions.
1
‘Exciting Times’ (2020)
Written by Naoise Dolan
Naoise Dolan‘s Exciting Times follows a twenty-two-year-old from Dublin who moves to Hong Kong to teach English. There, she becomes entangled in a love triangle with Julian, a wealthy British banker, and an ambitious Hong Kong-born lawyer, Edith. The novel chronicles a captivating exploration of power, class, sexuality, and modern relationships.
Exciting Times is driven by the protagonist’s complexity—much like the beloved series and novel—with relationships that are heavily marked by miscommunication and a struggle for intimacy, all while delivering an exploration of the role of class and privilege in shaping self-worth and personal bonds. Itshares many thematic similarities with the beloved novel, too, never shying away from addressing feminism and power dynamics, with first-person narration that is equally dry, witty, observational, and clear.
