Is their life after the Cazalets???

Was also going to recommend Mary Wesley.

Hmm, Any Human Heart by William Boyd? It's a gorgeous book.

And the Life After Life series by Kate Atkinson?

Susan Howatch's big family sagas (based very loosely on older Royal dynasties) such as Penmarric, The Wheel of Fortune, Cashelmara, The Rich are Different.

Monica Dickens is a good call. One Pair of Feet, the cook-general autobiographical pre-war one is a great read, and there's The Fancy and The Happy Prisoner with wartime and post-war themes.

Thanks for that title Bridget, I was being too lazy to check. I have also enjoyed Monica Dicken's books, she wrote one about her life as a domestic servant and cook. Can't check that as I gave my copy to my sister. what I find fascinating about these kind of books is the real reflection of the times and attitudes that are revealed as opposed to ideallised versions such as Downton Abbey. I certainly don't agree with many of the prejudices or even identify with theprotaganists as I had a very different upbringing. I mention that as watching the Sky Arts Book Club discussion made me reflect on how I have rarely looked to books for reinforcement. (Not the best word , can't think at the moment. I think W. Boyd was making that point?

Try The Quincunx for a family saga.

@cateycloggs EJ Howard's autobiography is Slipstream. I second your recommendation of Elizabeth Taylor, a brilliant writer. I'd also recommend some of Monica Dickens' novels, Mariana has something of the same feel as The Light Years as it is set in the same period. And her autobiographical book One Pair of Feet is wonderful, about her experiences as a nurse during WW2 - a VAD, I think.

@highlandcoo thanks so much for posting the link to Hugh Schofield's article about the basis for The Greengage Summer; I have read a couple of Rumer Godden's autobiographical books, but nothing referring to that episode. I might have known it was based on her own life!

Have you read The Camomile Lawn by Mary Wesley? Similar time and family setting to The Cazalets.

Was going to suggest Rosamunde Pilcher but have been beaten to it! Elizabeth Darrell and Beryl Kingston are similar in being lovely immersive authors.

The shell seekers by Rosalind Pilcher is a similar read for me for if I am in need of something comforting.
Reread the cazalets after having each child as such lovely reads.

Also just remembered Jean Rhys - The Wide Sargosso Sea (how one madwoman got into an attic) and her novels based on her life trying to make a living as an actress in '30s and '40s Britain and Europe - not fun, not "true to life" but definitely making art out of her own life and perceptions - a 'difficult woman'.

I would also recommend the rest of E J Howard's books and her autobiography - can't remember the title (Postscript?) but it gives fascinating background to 20th Century social and literary life including background to Amis, father and son. Also, Elizabeth Taylor (not the actress), a great, cool writer of middle class English life with intense feeling behind the sang froid. Have you tried Virago Classics like Antonia White , Frost in May and the rest of her quartet? If you have ever seen the film Brief Encounter, the kind of books the female protagonist would have been borrowing are also published by Virago, eg Kate o'Brien, EH Young. A theme is developing here. My first post by the way.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54526146

Hope this link works! An interesting article about the true story behind Rumer Godden's The Greengage Summer. The writer was talking on Radio 4 just the other day. Wish I could remember on what programme.

Jodi Taylor is brilliant. I picked up the recommendation on here and am now evangelical!

I moved on to The St Mary’s Chronicles by Jodi Taylor. It’s my go to recommendation for everyone!

I wish I had the Cazalet books to read over again, not that I haven't re-read all of them (apart from the 5th which I agree isn't worth it). I definitely need a lot of engaging comfort reads to see me through the next several months. Never read Jonathan Coe, will have a look there. I'm reading the latest Robert Galbraith atm and enjoying.
OP have you read any of Rumer Godden's adult fiction? Some is marketed as YA. I highly recommend The Greengage Summer, The River, Kingfishers Catch Fire, and for a really good long read, In this House of Brede.

Forsyte Saga.

I’ve also read the Cazalet books, bar number 5. Was also told not to bother. All I know about it is from a preview chapter at the end of book 4 (a 2013 edition), and also looking at the first couple of pages in a bookshop (mainly to look at the updated family tree).
It’s an interesting series because there’s no real “plot” as such, just following the family members over the years.

Oh yeah, about book 5. You'll be tempted. Don't.

Have you read EJH's other books, OP? Some of them are more engaging than others. I especially liked Something In Disguise and Getting It Right. I need to get hold of a copy of The Beautiful Visit, which I haven't read for years. I'm a big fan of Jonathan Coe too, and on that basis I'll second the Christopher Brookmyre recommendation. A very different kind of writer, but one who really makes you feel invested in his characters. Very funny too. Start with Quite Ugly One Morning and go chronologically. You don't need to, but I feel it's more orderly.

Totally agree re book 5.

I agree OP the Cazalets are fab. But be warned, the fifth novel, written twenty years after the others, is a real disappointment IMO. When I next reread them - I've read the series at least three times - I'm going to pretend the last one doesn't exist.

I love Jonathan Coe too, and am just working my way through the CS books at the moment. Have really enjoyed the TV version.

For crime, I recommend Peter May's Black House trilogy, Val McDermid's Karen Pirie series, and Ann Cleeves' Shetland books. If you like dark humour with your crime Christopher Brookmyre is a good read.

And if you like Jonathan Coe, I think you might like Iain Banks as well. Not his sci-fi, published under Iain M Banks, but his mainstream novels. The Crow Road is a great one to start with.