20 Authors Like Jodi Picoult
Authors Like Jodi Picoult
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Jodi Picoult is a celebrated author known for her emotionally charged novels that often delve into complex moral and ethical dilemmas. What readers love most about her work is how she tackles sensitive topics such as family dynamics, illness, identity, and justice, with great depth and nuance. Her characters are relatable and multifaceted, making it easy for readers to empathize with their struggles. Picoult’s writing draws readers in with emotionally intense storylines that often come with unexpected twists, which keep them turning the pages.
Her popularity is reflected in her status as a bestselling author, with numerous books like My Sister's Keeper, The Storyteller, and Small Great Things achieving both commercial and critical success. Her ability to craft narratives that resonate deeply with readers, while also exploring divisive social issues, has earned her a loyal fan base.
While Picoult is undoubtedly a literary powerhouse, expanding your reading list to include other authors who tackle similar themes can bring fresh perspectives. Authors like Kristin Hannah, Liane Moriarty, and Diane Chamberlain write stories rich in emotional depth, family tension, and moral quandaries but with their own unique spins on these themes. For instance, Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale offers a historical backdrop with its tale of resilience during World War II, while Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies combines domestic drama with suspenseful storytelling. By exploring different authors, readers can enjoy diverse writing styles, new settings, and different twists on familiar themes.
Reading broadly enriches the experience and allows you to discover how different authors handle similar plots, often offering unexpected insights and variety in tone, voice, and plot development. This variety makes reading all the more engaging and exciting, as each new author brings something different to the table.
And so today, I am sharing a round-up of authors your readers should consider if they like Jodi Picoult. Click here for an Author Interview with Jodi Picoult.
Authors Like Jodi Picoult
In this post, I’m going to dive into who Jodi Picoult is and what makes her novels resonate so deeply with readers. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just curious about her work, understanding her style can help you set expectations for the list of authors I’ll be sharing. These authors write similarly compelling and emotional stories but with their own unique twists, offering fresh perspectives on familiar themes. By the end of this, you’ll have a new batch of books to add to your reading list that are sure to keep you just as hooked.
Who Is Jodi Picoult
Jodi Picoult is a bestselling author who has published over 25 novels since her debut in 1992. She is known for her skillful blend of emotional depth and thought-provoking moral dilemmas. Her books often tackle sensitive social issues such as racism, medical ethics, and family conflict, drawing readers into the complexity of real-life situations.
Some of her most popular and best-selling titles include My Sister's Keeper, which explores the ethics of genetic engineering within a family, The Storyteller, a poignant narrative about Holocaust survivors and forgiveness, and Small Great Things, a gripping tale of race, prejudice, and justice. Many of her novels, including Nineteen Minutes and Handle with Care, have reached the top of the New York Times Best Seller list, reflecting her widespread appeal. Picoult’s works have also been adapted into films and television series, further solidifying her popularity as a writer whose stories resonate with both literary and mainstream audiences.
Her ability to tap into real-world issues and present them in ways that are deeply personal to her characters is a hallmark of her writing, which continues to attract readers from all walks of life. If you’re a fan of Jodi Picoult, you might be interested in this list of Best Jodi Picoult Books.
Authors If You Like Jodi Picoult
Kristin Hannah
Kristin Hannah is famous for her emotionally evocative historical fiction, often centered on strong female characters and resilience. The Nightingale and The Great Alone are two of her best-selling novels. Like Picoult, Hannah delves into the bonds of family, love, and survival but often places her stories in historical contexts, giving readers a broad emotional and historical perspective.
Also included in Inspiring Women's Books by Female Authors
Liane Moriarty
Known for her domestic thrillers and deep explorations of friendship, secrets, and betrayal, Liane Moriarty’s best-selling books include Big Little Lies and The Husband’s Secret. Her work often includes multiple perspectives and intricate character relationships, much like Picoult’s novels, but with a lighter, more suspense-driven edge.
Also included in Books Like Gone Girl
Diane Chamberlain
Often compared to Picoult, Diane Chamberlain writes emotional family dramas with unexpected twists and thought-provoking themes. Her best-selling novels like The Silent Sister and Necessary Lies focus on secrets and moral choices, much in the same vein as Picoult’s storytelling, but often with an added historical or mystery component.
Nicholas Sparks
Nicholas Sparks is known for his romantic dramas, which focus on love, loss, and sacrifice. The Notebook and A Walk to Remember are two of his most famous novels. Like Picoult, Sparks explores relationships and emotional turmoil, though his work is more romance-driven, with themes of heartbreak and enduring love.
You might also be interested in this list of Best Nicholas Sparks Books
Elin Hilderbrand
Author Interview with Elin Hilderbrand
Elin Hilderbrand is often referred to as the “queen of beach reads” but her novels, like The Identicals and The Perfect Couple, are much more than light summer stories. They often explore complicated family relationships, secrets, and betrayals. While lighter in tone than Picoult’s, Hilderbrand’s novels offer deep character exploration and emotional stakes.
You might also be interested in this list of Best Elin Hilderbrand Books
Emily Giffin
Author Interview with Emily Giffin
Emily Giffin’s novels center on modern relationships, moral dilemmas, and the complexities of love and family. Best known for Something Borrowed and The Lies That Bind, her stories focus on choices and consequences, much like Picoult’s, but with a more contemporary and romantic edge.
Also included in Authors Like Nicholas Sparks
Lisa Genova
Lisa Genova’s background as a neuroscientist heavily influences her emotional, health-related dramas. Her novel Still Alice, about a woman diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, mirrors Picoult’s ability to tackle complex medical and ethical issues within the framework of a deeply personal story.
Anita Shreve
Anita Shreve’s novels often revolve around relationships and tragedy, with a strong sense of place. Her works, like The Pilot’s Wife and The Weight of Water, share Picoult’s focus on deep emotional connections, family drama, and life-altering events.
Wally Lamb
Wally Lamb is known for his deeply introspective novels that deal with trauma, identity, and redemption. His novels, such as She’s Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True, share similarities with Picoult in their exploration of deeply personal struggles and the ways in which characters come to terms with difficult truths.
Alice Hoffman
Alice Hoffman blends magical realism with emotionally resonant storytelling in novels like Practical Magic and The Dovekeepers. While Hoffman’s stories often have mystical elements, her focus on human emotions and relationships resonates with Picoult fans who enjoy stories about love, family, and tragedy.
Ann Patchett
Ann Patchett’s novels, such as Bel Canto and Commonwealth, often focus on complex family dynamics, chance events, and the way strangers can change one another’s lives. Like Picoult, Patchett explores emotional depths, but with a more literary and introspective tone.
Heather Gudenkauf
Gudenkauf’s novels, including The Weight of Silence and Not a Sound, are gripping family dramas mixed with suspense. Her works often revolve around moral dilemmas and secrets, which is what makes her writing a great fit for Picoult fans.
Jacquelyn Mitchard
Author Interview with Jacquelyn Mitchard
Best known for The Deep End of the Ocean, Jacquelyn Mitchard writes emotional stories centered on family and the unexpected challenges they face. Her novels share Picoult’s emotional intensity and exploration of the human condition.
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid is known for novels that explore love, relationships, and personal identity, like Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Reid, like Picoult, focuses on deeply emotional themes but with a contemporary and often celebrity-focused twist.
Barbara Delinsky
Barbara Delinsky’s novels, such as Before and Again and The Secret Between Us, often revolve around families facing moral and emotional dilemmas. Similar to Picoult, Delinsky’s characters deal with difficult choices, secrets, and their consequences.
Colleen Hoover
Also included in Steamy Contemporary Romance Novels
Colleen Hoover writes deeply emotional and often intense love stories like It Ends With Us and Verity. While her focus is more on romance, Hoover’s exploration of trauma, love, and healing shares similarities with Picoult’s exploration of complex emotional journeys.
You might also be interested in Best Colleen Hoover Books
Sarah Pekkanen
Known for her domestic dramas and thrillers, such as The Perfect Neighbors and The Wife Between Us (co-written with Greer Hendricks), Sarah Pekkanen writes about families, secrets, and the ties that bind. Her work, like Picoult’s, delves into the complexities of relationships and the difficult choices characters face.
Mitch Albom
Famous for his inspirational stories like Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom focuses on spiritual and emotional journeys. While his novels tend to have a more philosophical tone, Albom’s emphasis on human connections and life’s big questions is a natural fit for Picoult fans.
Celeste Ng
Celeste Ng’s novels, such as Little Fires Everywhere and Everything I Never Told You, explore family dynamics, identity, and cultural tension. Ng’s writing, like Picoult’s, delves into the intricacies of family relationships, secrets, and the consequences of our choices.
Also included in Best Contemporary Authors
Jean Kwok
Author Interview with Jean Kwok
Jean Kwok writes about immigrant experiences, family, and identity, as seen in her novels Girl in Translation and Searching for Sylvie Lee. Her books focus on difficult family dynamics, much like Picoult’s, but with a deeper focus on cultural identity and belonging.
These authors offer a variety of perspectives while exploring the emotional, moral, and social issues that readers enjoy in Jodi Picoult’s novels. By branching out to these writers, readers can find fresh takes on familiar themes, offering both variety and depth to their reading experiences.
