So, you finished Normal People and you just don’t know how to pick yourself back up again? Normal People by Sally Rooney is one of those books that broke the heart of an entire generation. It is bound to be a classic for Gen Z and many Millennials.
For these generations, there is no greater dating script than situationships, and in this novel, the center stage is the relationship between Marianne and Connell. Two young people who grew up on opposite sides of the same small town in Ireland, Marianne from a distant yet rich family and Connell living in a single-parent home but full of love.
The two wind in and out of each other’s lives over time, and this touching book seeps into the reader’s own experience. Plus, somehow the screen adaptation did it justice.
Now it is time for you as a reader to keep on going with these 10 books that you will love if you love Normal People. Get lost in these stories of unrequited love, love lost by social circumstance, and most importantly stories about young people becoming who they need to be as individuals.
Add these 10 books to your reading list if you finished Normal People and are ready for the next soul-sinking read.
10. One Day by David Nicholls
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While many viewers are familiar with the 2011 film, it is often forgotten that One Day is based on a book by David Nicholls. The story follows two people as they go in and out of their lives, falling in and out of love over time.
You might be thinking – that sounds exactly like the plot of Normal People – and you aren’t wrong. The books have a lot in common, which makes it the perfect next read if you are searching for that same gut-wrenching feeling of heartbreak that Normal People left you with — One Day happened to be adapted for a second time on Netflix, and was released in February 2024.
9. Call Me By Your Name by Andrew Aciman
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This is another film that got more hype than the book, whether you have seen the film or not it is highly recommended to go back and read the book Call Me By Your Name, especially if you loved Normal People.
Other than heartbreak and young love, one very specific detail these books share is their remarkably detailed dialogue that just hits differently when you are reading the book compared to watching the adaptation. Dive even deeper into the love spell that is Call Me By You Name with the book.
8. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
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While Normal People follows the love between two people romantically, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara follows four friends’ journey through life, love, and loss.
Normal People is a celebration of the average and mundane aspects of life that make it extraordinary and A Little Life does exactly this through the exploration of four people’s interconnected journies.
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7. The Last Letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes
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The Last Letter From Your Lover is the perfect romance novel, it contains passion, deception, and plot twists with the backdrop of a dreamy summer on the French Riviera.
In this book, a wealthy woman starts an affair that changes everything, but when her family is threatened by circumstance she must choose love or reason. This book earns a spot on this reading list for following the lovers at different times in their lives and reflecting on the two characters’ personal development in overcoming love. This book also has a great film adaptation sharing Shailene Woodley, Callum Turner, and Joe Alwyn on Netfix.
6. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
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One of the most TikTok viral romance books of all time, It Ends With Us quite possibly was the next big romance book following Normal People’s release. It also follows similar troupes in the struggles of growing up and discovering love.
The protagonist is in her post-collage era, settling into her career and dating when all of that is interrupted by a run-in with her first love. Read the book now if you haven’t before the upcoming adaptation is being released in summer 2024.
5. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
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In 2024, most Normal People readers are obsessed with the idea of leaving their corporate jobs behind to travel the world, but Elizabeth Gilbert did that before it was a viral idea.
If you are looking for a little life inspiration amidst life changes, Eay, Pray, Love is the perfect companion. Just like how Connell and Marianne are on the journey to find their path, so is Elizabeth as she travels from Italy to India and Bali in a search for herself – that is not bound to age.
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4. Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
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Dolly Alderton’s memoir Everything I Know About Love is a walk down memory lane as she retraces the events in her 20s that shaped her. It is often commented that she is detailing her mistakes, but arguably the experiences she has from heartbreaks to nights out and all of the events in between led to who she became.
This is a book for lovers of Normal People as it shows another perspective about being young, making mistakes, and discovering who you are. While Normal People does this by complementing stories between two people, Dolly Alerton takes you on her solo journey.
3. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
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This is a step outside of the typical list of books to read if you loved Normal People as it takes a big genre shift while still focusing on some very core values that book lovers enjoy: coming of age, the complications of love, and friendship.
In Kazuo Ishiguro’s critically acclaimed novel, a prestigious and unusual prep school hosts children who are different, their purpose in life is not like that of all children. Despite their extreme circumstances, the protagonist Kathy details her coming-of-age story, the strong friendships that were not always smooth sailing throughout their lifetimes, and how love does not always look like a fairytale.
2. Just Kids by Patti Smith
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Icon Patti Smith reveals her creative life from growing up and craving art to immersing herself in the New York art scene between 1967 and 1974. This unique coming-of-age story is about finding yourself, believing in yourself, and not letting other people tell you that you can’t.
And of course, the book details her relationship with partner Robert Mapplethorpe as they grew as individuals and artists, while also building a life together. You might be able to draw a parallel between the real-life love story and Normal People as an alternative universe where Marianne and Connell find a way to come back together amidst finding themselves.
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1. Seven Days In June by Tia Williams
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Seven Days In June follows a successful writer and single mom who is confronted by her first love for the first time in 15 years. Their re-encounter takes her back to childhood, in the seven intense days they spent together before the end of high school and the unusual circumstances for which they never saw each other again.
This funny yet heart-wrenching novel will explore love over time, and how growth and perspective shape the people we become.
*Disclosure: We only recommend books that we love and would read ourselves. This post contains affiliate links, as we are part of the Amazon Services LCC Associate Program and others, which may earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you.
