If I like Sally Rooney I will also like…?

[Helenahandkart]

I’ve run out of books to read. Not very good at finding authors as I don’t generally like fiction.
I enjoyed Sally Rooney because it’s clever and concise and feels very dense, lots of information without too much descriptive waffle. It’s on just the right side of straying too far into philosophical musing.
I don’t want to read anything fantastical, or involving sci-fi & crime solving, or anything described as heartwarming.
Who is my new favourite author please?

Try Gwendoline Riley —start with earlier ones like Cold Water or Sick Notes. She writes short, concise first person novels about young female writers and drifters, and her prose is spare and lovely.

Have you read Anne Enright? Maybe start with The Forgotten Waltz, or her brand new one The Wren, The Wren. Clever, humane, brilliant prose.

Lorrie Moore — maybe start with her short stories and see if you like her style?

Lily King, Writers and Lovers?

Sarah Moss?

@72EasyLessons thank you! I’ll give these a try.

Have you read tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow? Similar sort of feel to Sally Rooney, not quite as navel gazy, don't be put off by the video games!

Beryl Bainbridge? Short, beautiful writing, very dark. Start with 'An Awfully Big Adventure' or 'Master Georgie'.

You might like Rachel Cusk’s Outline, Transit and Kudos (3 books). Or Trust by Domenico Starnone. Or the Elena Ferrante Neapolitan Novels if you haven’t already read them (and can ignore the catastrophically awful covers). I also loved Days of Abandonment by Ferrante.

How about Bel Canto, State of Wonder or The Dutch House by Ann Patchett?

I can't say I've found anyone quite like Rooney but try 'Intimacies' by Katie Kitamura.

I don't like Sally Rooney's books.

Other well loved authors whose writing isn't to my taste are Claire Chambers and Lisa Jewell. So you may like those.

Naoise Dolan gets compared to Sally Rooney a lot.

I'm not sure how much is down to them both being Irish female writers in their early 30s.

These 2 books have been compared with Rooney's work:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Snowflake/dp/B089B33YC9/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=DSM39L4JZKNT&keywords=snowflake+book&qid=1694540606&sprefix=snowflake+book%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Collected-Works-Lydia-Sandgren/dp/1782277986/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1YEWQOYIYNJDG&keywords=collected+works+lydia+sandgren&qid=1694540772&sprefix=collected%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-1

I know, I know! Jumps up and down excitedly
Clare Keegan Small things like these.
Beautiful, concise Irish story, character driven and thoughtful. I have a feeling that there's going to be a film of it.

Also Benjamin Myers writes delightful short novels. He is also a poet so no word is wasted,
I loved The Perfect Golden Circle.

Finally I would also heartily recommend Iron Annie by Luke Cassidy
It is written in dialect which really adds to the texture. I loved it.

I preferred Collected Works to Snowflake.
You might also enjoy Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors or Talking at Night by Clare Daverley

https://www.literature-map.com/sally+rooney

this is a good site to look at for similar authors to those you like

They recommend:

Lauren Groff
Hanya Yangihara
Meg Wolitzer
Odessa Moshfegh

(I don't know any of them but others might)

@highlandcoo omg, how did I not know of this map before. Now going to not read a book and not watch the football but look for new writers.

@Janina What was the football match? I am on edge just now waiting to see if Scotland qualify for the Euros as we've promised our boys that we'll go to Germany if we get through. Keeping everything crossed!

I'm glad you like literature map! I played on it for ages when I discovered it 😊

Thank you! This is exactly what I need in my life.

Thanks for all the suggestions. This lot will keep me busy for a while.