“I want to swallow you, have you melt into me and flow through my veins.”
If you were rocked by The Vegetarian by Han Kang, with its exploration of identity, societal expectations and personal transformation, you’re likely craving more thought-provoking and intense reads. Kang’s psychological depth and unsettling themes make it a book club favourite and a standout in modern literary fiction, but there are plenty of works ready to challenge readers. Here at What We Reading, we’re curating the most intense books like The Vegetarian – stories that delve into the complexities of the human psyche, explore mental health struggles and confront dark, often disturbing themes. Whether you’re pulled to psychological fiction, unsettling narratives, or tales about personal and societal transformations, these books will keep you questioning, reflecting, and perhaps even uncomfortable. Read on for our top recommendations that echo the emotional depth and complexity of The Vegetarian – perfect for fans of unsettling literary fiction.
The Vegetarian Summary
The Vegetarian by Han Kang is a dark and haunting exploration of personal transformation, societal expectations, and the consequences of rebellion. The story orbits around Yeong-hye, an apparently ordinary woman living in Seoul with her husband, who abruptly decides to give up eating meat, adopting a strict vegetarian lifestyle. However, this decision ignites a series of disturbing events that unravel the fabric of her life and relationships.
Through the perspectives of her husband, her brother-in-law, and her sister, the novel immerses readers deeply in its themes of obsession, desire, and the complex dynamics of family. As Yeong-hye’s rejection of societal norms becomes more extreme, her mental state deteriorates, leaving those around her grappling with the unsettling repercussions of her choices. The Vegetarian is a powerful meditation on the human body, the boundaries of control, and the profound impact of individual actions on both personal and societal levels.
The White Book – Han Kang
First up on our list of books like The Vegetarian is another one of Han Kang’s best novels, The White Book. The story follows an unnamed writer on a residency who opts to focus on the colour white to creatively channel her inner pain. Through lyrical, interconnected stories, she wrestles with the tragedy that has plagued her family, attempting to make sense of her older sister’s death using the colour white. From attempting to imagine her mother’s first time producing breast milk to watching the snow fall and meditating on the fleeting nature of life itself, she pulls together a poignant, heartfelt story of the omnipresence of grief and how we view the world around us.
Through its starkly beautiful landscape, The White Book offers readers a multilayered exploration of colour and its absence, of the tenacity and fragility of the human spirit, and of our attempts to craft new life from the ashes of destruction.
The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer – Michelle Hodkin
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a gripping psychological thriller that blends mystery, suspense, and supernatural elements. The novel follows Mara Dyer, a teenage girl who wakes up in a hospital after surviving a tragic accident that left her friends dead. Struggling with amnesia and confusion, Mara is unable to recall the events leading up to the disaster, but she begins to experience strange and unsettling occurrences – visions, vivid dreams, and an overwhelming sense of dread.
As she moves to a new school and tries to live a life resembling something close to normalcy, Mara grows increasingly paranoid, convinced that she is somehow responsible for the deaths of her friends. The line between reality and delusion is blurred, and Mara is forced to confront dark secrets about her past while grappling with a mysterious new connection to another new student, Noah Shaw. Like The Vegetarian, Hodkin’s book is full of dark twists and turns, keeping readers guessing as they struggle to work out what’s real and what’s imagined.
The Lover – Marguerite Duras
Set in 1920s French colonial Vietnam, Marguerite Duras’ The Lover follows a young French girl referred to only as “the lover,” who sets out on an illicit and intense affair with a Chinese lover, a relationship that defies the rigid racial and social boundaries of the time in a similar way to how convention is challenged in The Vegetarian. The novel is narrated retrospectively, with the protagonist reflecting on the affair, her troubled family life, and the complexities of her emotions.
Duras’ prose is lyrical and fragmented, capturing the intensity of the lovers’ experiences whilst also demonstrating the power dynamics and cultural tensions that shape their relationship. The Lover is a poignant exploration of love in all its forms – obsessive, painful, and ultimately transformative. Through its raw depiction of desire and societal rejection, the novel sheds light on the complexities of identity, class, and the human condition, making it a natural follow-up for anyone who loved Hang Kang’s books.
The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is a deeply introspective novel that explores the fragility of the human mind and the crushing weight of societal expectations. The story centres around Esther Greenwood, a talented young woman who, after winning a prized internship in New York City, begins to spiral into deep depression. Despite success on the surface, Esther feels increasingly disconnected from the world around her, struggling with the expectations placed on her as a woman and the pressures of conforming to societal norms.
As her mental health begins to suffer, she wrestles with her feelings of alienation, identity, and the suffocating nature of perfectionism. Through her raw and poetic prose, Plath delivers a chilling portrayal of mental illness, capturing Esther’s descent into despair while offering a poignant commentary on gender roles, ambition, and the expectations of young women in the 1950s, making it one of the best books similar to The Vegetarian if you loved its exploration of the search for identity in a world that often seems indifferent.
Eileen – Ottessa Moshfegh
Another one of the best psychological thriller books like The Vegetarian, Ottessa Moshfegh’s Eileen delves into themes of isolation, obsession, and the complexities of self-perception. The novel is set in the 1960s and told from the perspective of Eileen Dunlop, a disillusioned, repressed young woman who works as a secretary in a juvenile detention centre. Living a monotonous and lonely life in a dreary New England town, Eileen is overcome with bitterness and disgust toward her alcoholic and abusive father, as well as her own self-image.
However, her life slowly begins to unravel when she meets the glamorous and enigmatic Rebecca Saint John, a new counsellor at the detention centre. As the two women grow closer, Eileen becomes enmeshed in Rebecca’s dark and dangerous plans, setting the stage for a shocking and chilling series of events. Moshfegh’s trademark sharp prose and keen psychological insight make Eileen a haunting exploration of how suppressed desires and twisted fantasies can lead to unexpected, and irreversible, consequences.
Butter – Asako Yuzuki
Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre, convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen. She is said to have seduced the men with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the imagination of the country, but Kajii refuses to speak to the press, entertaining no visitors. That is, until journalist Rika Machida pens her a letter, asking for the recipe for her beef stew. Kajii cannot help but write back.
Rika, the only woman in her newsroom, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen for herself. As the visits between her and the steely Kajii go on, they become closer to a masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes the schmoozing may soften Kajii up. In reality, Rika herself may be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something inside her awakens, suggesting that she and the serial killer may have more in common than she first thought. Inspired by the true story of “The Konkatsu Killer,” Butter is a raw, unsettling depiction of misogyny, obsession and romance, and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan, perfect for anyone wondering what to read next after The Vegetarian.
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Convenience Store Woman – Sayaka Murata
Like The Vegetarian, Convenience Store Woman is a quirky and thought-provoking exploration of societal expectations, individuality, and the search for personal fulfilment. The story follows Keiko Furukura, a thirty-six-year-old woman who has worked at a convenience store for the past eighteen years. Though she is highly skilled at her job, Keiko is anything but conventional. She doesn’t conform to society’s expectations of marriage or career success, and her unconventional behaviour makes her a subject of concern for her family and colleagues.
Despite this, Keiko finds comfort in the routines of her work, where the structure and predictability of her days provide a sense of stability and purpose. As the pressures to conform grow more intense, Keiko starts to question her place in the world and the meaning of normalcy. With a blend of humour and poignancy, Convenience Store Woman is a beautifully bizarre meditation on the complexities of identity, belonging, and the freedom found in embracing one’s authenticity, no matter how unconventional.
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).
