Table of Contents
Introduction: Why We Crave Books like Normal People
Since its 2018 release, Sally Rooney’s Normal People has captivated millions with its unflinching portrait of love, identity, and modern relationships. Following Connell and Marianne from school in rural Ireland through their tumultuous college years, Normal People examines class, intimacy, and self-worth with a quiet intensity that leaves readers breathless.
It’s no surprise that “books like Normal People” has become a popular search among those yearning for similar stories of messy, magnetic relationships. The novel’s exploration of vulnerability and power dynamics redefined contemporary literary fiction—and readers crave more.
Books by Sally Rooney You’ll Love if You Adored Normal People
Conversations with Friends – Sally Rooney
Synopsis: Rooney’s debut follows Frances and Bobbi, two college students who enter a tangled relationship with an older married couple.
Random fact: Hulu adapted it into a miniseries in 2022.
Similarity: Delivers the same razor-sharp dialogue and complex power struggles as Normal People, examining love, class, and identity in modern Ireland.
Awards: Shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize.
Goodreads Review: “Conversations with Friends is for anyone searching for books like Normal People—Rooney’s insight into millennial relationships is unmatched.”
The Life of Sally Rooney
Sally Rooney, born in 1991 in Castlebar, Ireland, became the literary voice of a generation almost overnight. Dubbed the “Salinger for the Snapchat generation” by The Guardian, Rooney’s spare yet intense prose makes her work instantly recognizable. She studied at Trinity College Dublin—where parts of Normal People are set—and her background in English and American Literature informs her sharp social observations.
Fun fact: Rooney was a competitive debater before turning to fiction.
Sales data: Normal People sold over 3 million copies worldwide by 2023, topping charts in the UK and US, and winning the 2019 British Book Award for Book of the Year.
Inspirations Behind Normal People
Normal People draws inspiration from Irish coming-of-age classics and emotionally raw works like Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels. Rooney has cited writers like Anne Enright and Karl Ove Knausgård as key influences. Adaptations like Call Me By Your Name also shaped the atmospheric tone Rooney aimed for in Normal People, blending nostalgia with emotional urgency.
6 Books Like Normal People Every Fan Should Read
1. Exciting Times – Naoise Dolan
Synopsis: Ava, an Irish millennial teaching English in Hong Kong, navigates an affair with Julian and her feelings for Edith.
Random fact: Rights were sold for a TV adaptation by Phoebe Dynevor (of Bridgerton).
Similarity: Like Normal People, it’s a witty, disaffected exploration of love, power, and class.
Awards: Longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction.
Goodreads Review: “For readers searching for books like Normal People, Dolan’s debut is sardonic, smart, and uncomfortably honest.”
2. One Day – David Nicholls
Synopsis: Emma and Dexter’s lives intersect over two decades on the same day each year, chronicling missed opportunities and enduring connection.
Random fact: Adapted into a Netflix series in 2024.
Similarity: Centers on a complicated, time-spanning love story filled with yearning and heartbreak.
Awards: Won Galaxy Book of the Year 2010.
Goodreads Review: “Books like Normal People? One Day captures that same bittersweet exploration of love and time.”
Visit David Nicholls’ official site
3. Beautiful World, Where Are You – Sally Rooney
Synopsis: Two friends, Alice and Eileen, navigate relationships, fame, and friendship in a story filled with philosophical emails and aching realism.
Random fact: First printing topped 1 million copies.
Similarity: Shares Rooney’s signature themes: class, intimacy, and existential angst.
Awards: Shortlisted for the 2021 An Post Irish Book Awards.
Goodreads Review: “If you liked Normal People, read these: Beautiful World is Rooney at her sharpest and most self-aware.”
4. The Idiot – Elif Batuman
Synopsis: Selin, a Turkish-American freshman at Harvard, stumbles through love and intellectual discovery in the mid-90s.
Random fact: Batuman’s memoir was a Pulitzer finalist before she published this novel.
Similarity: Brilliantly awkward coming-of-age tale that dissects relationships and identity.
Awards: Pulitzer Prize finalist for Fiction 2018.
Goodreads Review: “Searching for books similar to Normal People? The Idiot is hilariously deadpan and deeply affecting.”
Author’s profile on Penguin Random House
5. Luster – Raven Leilani
Synopsis: Edie, a 23-year-old in a dead-end publishing job, becomes involved with a married man and his family, confronting race, class, and desire.
Random fact: HBO announced plans for a limited series in 2021.
Similarity: Sharp, raw exploration of millennial loneliness and power dynamics.
Awards: Won the Dylan Thomas Prize 2021.
Goodreads Review: “Luster is among the most daring books like Normal People—it’s brutally honest and impossible to put down.”
6. Call Me by Your Name – André Aciman
Synopsis: The intense summer romance between Elio and Oliver in 1980s Italy unfolds in lush, sensual prose.
Random fact: The 2017 film adaptation was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.
Similarity: Themes of desire, class, and longing echo the emotional landscape of Normal People.
Awards: Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction.
Goodreads Review: “If you liked Normal People, read these: Aciman’s novel is another devastatingly beautiful portrait of first love.”
Explore André Aciman’s official page
FAQs about Books Like Normal People
What is the main theme of Normal People?
The main theme is the complexity of love, intimacy, and how class and communication shape relationships.
Is there a sequel to Normal People?
No, Sally Rooney hasn’t written a direct sequel, but her later novels explore similar themes.
What age group is Normal People for?
It’s best suited for adults and mature young adults due to its themes of sex, mental health, and power dynamics.
Was Normal People based on Sally Rooney’s life?
While not autobiographical, Rooney drew on her experiences at Trinity College Dublin and her observations on class.
Is there a movie adaptation of Normal People?
There’s no movie, but a 12-episode Hulu/BBC miniseries aired in 2020 to critical acclaim.
Why are books like Normal People so popular?
Readers connect with the raw, authentic depiction of modern relationships and the introspective, emotionally charged writing style.
