“You don’t love someone because they’re perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they’re not.”
Few authors are able to capture emotional complexity quite like Jodi Picoult. Renowned for her gripping, thought-provoking stories, Picoult blends family drama, legal tension, and moral dilemmas into stories that linger with you long after the final page. Her books often delve into difficult questions – what it means to be a good person, and the grey areas between right and wrong – all while presenting characters who feel heartbreakingly real. If you’re on the hunt for authors like Jodi Picoult, chances are you’re craving books that challenge your perspective, orbit around ethical conflicts, and dive deep into family dynamics and emotional journeys. Perhaps you’ve just dusted off My Sister’s Keeper or The Book of Two Ways and want something that captures that same emotional pull. Join us here at What We Reading as we round up the best authors like Jodi Picoult!
Diane Chamberlain
First up on our curated list of authors like Jodi Picoult is Diane Chamberlain. Chamberlain is often referred to as one of the absolute go-tos for Picolout fans on the back of her emotionally rich narratives and complex characters. Her works expose family secrets, personal trauma, and morally sensitive areas through a compassionate and nuanced lens.
Start with: The Silent Sister or Big Lies in a Small Town
Kristin Hannah
Kristin Hannah crafts deeply emotional novels that explore the strength of women, the complexity of relationships, and the scars left by trauma. Like Picoult, her stories often revolve around family and sacrifice, complete with powerful emotional arcs.
Start with: The Great Alone or The Nightingale.
Check Out The Best Authors Like Kristin Hannah
Heather Gudenkauf
Heather Gudenkauf pens suspenseful yet emotionally resonant novels that often feature children in peril, ethical quandaries, and family secrets – much like some of Picoult’s most defining themes. Her background as a teacher adds authenticity to her depiction of vulnerable characters.
Start with: The Weight of Silence or Not a Sound
Check Out The Best Heather Gudenkauf Books
Lisa Genova
Lisa Genova, a neuroscientist turned novelist, writes fiction grounded in science and human emotion. Her books explore life-altering diagnoses and how they affect relationships, identity, and choice, perfect for readers who adore the morally complex landscapes of Picoult’s books.
Start with: Still Alice or Left Neglected
Barbara Delinsky
Barbara Delinsky creates emotionally layered novels that explore personal identity, secrets, and the complexities of family and love. Her stories often unfold in small communities and ask big questions – hallmarks that help to make her a natural fit for anyone who loves Jodi Picoult.
Start with: Before and Again or The Secret Between Us
Emily Griffin
Emily Griffin is best known for her smart, emotionally nuanced takes on relationships and personal choices. Whilst she leans more towards domestic dramas rather than courtroom battles, her novels are rich with moral complexity, difficult decisions, and deeply human flaws.
Start with: Heart of the Matter or The Lies That Bind
Celeste Ng
Celeste Ng is acclaimed for her powerful, character-driven novels that explore family dynamics, identity, and social justice. Her books often zoom in on suburban life and expose the fault lines that lie beneath our exteriors, much like Picoult’s sharp observations of privilege, race, and morality.
Start with: Little Fires Everywhere or Everything I Never Told You
Check Out The Best Celeste Ng Books
Liane Moriarty
Liane Moriarty’s novels blend dark humour, emotional tension, and psychological insight, often revealing the quiet dramas lurking behind suburban facades. Similar to Picoult, she peels back layers of ordinary lives to reveal shocking secrets and moral dilemmas.
Start with: Big Little Lies or The Husband’s Secret
Sue Miller
Sue Miller’s books are steeped in introspection and emotional realism. Her stories hone in on the complexities of marriage, ageing, grief, and familial bonds, often with a quiet but profound ethical undercurrent that is sure to resonate with any Picoult reader.
Start with: While I Was Gone or Monogamy
Ann Hood
Ann Hood combines themes of grief, motherhood, and personal transformation in moving, intimate stories. Like Picoult, she explores the emotional weight of loss and the resilience of the human spirit, often centring on women navigating major changes in their lives.
Start with: The Obituary Writer or The Book That Matters Most
Comparison Table: Authors Like Jodi Picoult
| Author | Similarity to Picoult | Recommended Book |
| Diane Chamberlain | Emotional family drama, moral complexity | The Silent Sister |
| Kristin Hannah | Emotionally charged plots, strong female leads | The Nightingale |
| Heather Gudenkauf | Suspenseful family drama, ethical dilemmas | The Weight of Silence |
| Lisa Genova | Medical ethics, emotional depth, science meets heart | Still Alice |
| Barbara Delinsky | Personal identity, family secrets, small-town settings | The Secret Between Us |
| Emily Griffin | Domestic drama, moral complexity in relationships | Heart of the Matter |
| Celeste Ng | Race, class, identity, and motherhood in moral conflict | Little Fires Everywhere |
| Liane Moriarty | Suburban secrets, morally complex characters | Big Little Lies |
| Sue Miller | Quiet emotional drama, family and personal reflection | While I Was Gone |
| Ann Hood | Grief, motherhood, emotional growth | The Obituary Writer |
Looking for more authors like Jodi Picoult? This comparison chart helps you quickly find writers with a similar emotional and thematic style!
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).
