“He’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”
Very few novels have left a mark quite like Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. Its brooding moors, tempestuous romance, and unforgettable characters – particularly the passionate, tormented Heathcliff – have captivated readers for generations. And now, with the new film adaptation starring Margot Robbie bringing the story to the big screen, a whole new audience is discovering the intensity and heartbreak of this gothic masterpiece. If you’re a fan of the sweeping drama, forbidden love, and darkly atmospheric world of Wuthering Heights, you’re not alone – and the story doesn’t need to end with the final page or the closing credits. From classic tales of doomed romance to modern novels that echo Brontë’s emotional intensity, join us at What We Reading for the best books like Wuthering Heights that any fan of the book or the movie will find irresistible!
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë
We’re kicking off our list of books like Wuthering Heights with another one of the classic works by the Brontë sisters, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. Published originally under the pen name ‘Currer Bell’ across three editions in 1847, Jane Eyre has become one of the most popular Victorian romance novels through its depiction of feminism, class, sexuality, and spirituality.
One of the pioneering forces behind prose fiction, the novel charts the life and struggles of an orphaned, plain and fiercely independent governess. Defying the patriarchal norms of her time, she seeks love, equality, and self-respect, and soon finds herself ensnared in the affection for Mr Rochester, her brooding employer. Similar to Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre is a moody, intense romance read that grounds readers in its time and place.
Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca begins in Monte Carlo, where our leading heroine falls head over heels in love with the charismatic widower, Maxim de Winter. He suddenly proposes to her, and she accepts. Orphaned and working as a lady’s maid, she cannot believe her luck. It is only when they arrive at his sprawling country estate, Manderley, that she comes to learn how large a shadow his late life will cast over their lives. Before long, a lingering evil from beyond the grave emerges, threatening to upend their new life together.
First published back in 1938, Rebecca has become one of the most influential gothic romance books of all time alongside Wuthering Heights. Through its creepy English manor setting and deeply introspective lens, Rebecca explores themes of obsession, deception, memory, and the enduring grip the past can have on us all.
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Hearts In Atlantis – Stephen King
Stephen King’s Hearts in Atlantis is composed of five interconnected, sequential narratives, set in the years from 1960 to 1999. Each story presented is firmly grounded in the tumultuous decade that was the sixties, and each of them is haunted by the Vietnam War.
Full of danger, full of suspense, and most of all, full of heart, Stephen King’s book promises to take readers to a place they have never been, and others to a place they have never been able to forget. For fans of Wuthering Heights, Hearts in Atlantis is another eerie read about obsession and longing.
Possession – A.S. Byatt
In A.S. Byatt’s Possession, a pair of young scholars investigates the lives of two Victorian poets. Following a trail of letters, journals, and poems, they unearth a complex web of passion, deceit, and tragedy, and their quest soon becomes a desperate race against time. Possession is an exhilarating novel of wit and romance, at once a literary detective novel and a triumphant love story, a perfect blend if you adored Wuthering Heights and are looking for what to read next.
The Gargoyle – Andrew Davidson
The unnamed beautiful narrator of Andrew Davidson’s The Gargoyle is driving along a dark road when he is distracted by what seems to be a flight of arrows. He crashes into a ravine and wakes up in a burns ward, undergoing the tortures of the damned. His life is over – he is now a monster. But in fact, this is only just the beginning for him.
One day, Marianne Engel, a wild and compelling sculptress of gargoyles, enters his life and tells him that they were once lovers in medieval Germany. In her telling, he was a badly burned mercenary, and she was a nun and a scribe who nursed him back to health in the famed monastery of Engelthal. As she spins her tale, and relates equally mesmerising tales of deathless love in Japan, Greenland, Italy, and England, he finds himself drawn back to life – and finally, to love.
Lady Audley’s Secret – Mary Elizabeth Braddon
Another one of the classic Victorian feminist novels, Lady Audley’s Secret is set within the English countryside and tells the story of the charming, beautiful Lady Audley, newly married to the affluent Sir Michael Audley. On the surface, she appears flawless – graceful, kind, and devoted – however, underneath her elegant exterior lies a troubling secret that threatens to upend her life and the lives of those around her.
When Sir Michael’s nephew, Robert Audley, begins investigating the suspicious disappearance of a man connected to Lady Audley, he gradually discovers a web of deception, hidden identities, and shocking past crimes. The novel explores themes of ambition, morality, and the dangers of obsession, all set against a backdrop of Victorian England’s strict social conventions, perfect if you loved Wuthering Heights.
Mexican Gothic – Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Beautiful socialite Noemi Taboada receives a frantic letter from her newlywed cousin, begging her to save her from a mysterious doom. The letter leads her to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside, though Noemi is unprepared for what awaits her inside. Soon, though, the grand estate begins to invade her dreams with visions of blood and doom.
Her only ally in this most inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, it looks as though he wants to help Noemi in her quest, but he could also be hiding a dark knowledge of the family’s dark history. There are many secrets behind the walls within High Place. And Noemi, mesmerised by the terrifying seduction of the estate and its inhabitants, may soon find it impossible to leave this enigmatic place.
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The Thirteenth Tale – Diane Setterfield
The enigmatic Vida Winter has spent sixty years creating various outlandish life histories for herself. Now old and ailing, she at last wants to tell the truth about her remarkable life. She summons biographer Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth remains an ever-present pain. Struck by a curious parallel between Miss Winter’s story and her own, Margaret takes on the commission.
As Vida disinters the life she meant to bury for good, Margaret is mesmerised. She succumbs to the power of Vida’s storytelling, but remains suspicious of her sincerity. She demands the truth from Vida, and together they confront the ghosts that have haunted them while becoming, finally, transformed by the truth themselves.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
