14 Captivating Books Like Where the Crawdads Sing for 2024

Where the Crawdads Sing Deluxe Edition by Dehlia Owens

September 2018 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

I will admit when I saw the description of this book, I was not sold.  A trusted individual, who has never steered me wrong in the past, gave me an advanced copy so, I took the leap.  And wow, am I glad I did.  I read this book and then recommended it to everyone I knew.  This book has that spark, that special something that makes it extra.  It is no surprise that we chose this as our favorite of 2018.

Where the Crawdads Sing is set in North Carolina between 1952-1969. The book begins when a body is found in the marsh and is identified as Chase Andrews. The story moves between the past and the present to tell the story of Kya Clark.

When Kya was six years old, her mother left her with her older siblings and her abusive, neglectful father. Kya must learn to fend for herself and earns the nickname Marsh Girl. This book is part historical fiction, part murder mystery, and completely captivating.

We have an entire post dedicated to this book and how to host a book club around it!

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Another Kristin Hannah story, another NYT best seller – and for good reason! I liked this coming-of-age story set. in the Alaskan wilderness.

This isolation book is so haunting.  I could not get it out of my head.  Kristin Hannah is an amazing writer with wonderful characters.  Her stories feel realistic almost to a fault.  They are heartbreaking and heartwarming and utterly unforgettable.  I did not think that I would like a book about Alaska but, I could not put it down.

Ernt Allbright has come home from the Vietnam War traumatized and as his mental state deteriorates, his wife, Cora, and daughter, Leni, must learn to navigate the Alaskan wilderness on their own. If you love family drama books set in the 70s, this one is not to be missed.

Beartown by Frederik Backman

This is a heavy story that also has a lot of heart. It’s about a small-town hockey team and the fallout when the star player is accused of raping the GM’s daughter.

Frederik Backman is a master story weaver.  He doesn’t just tell a story but, he submerges his reader deep in the lives of his characters.  This town will follow me for a long time. It’s my favorite of all the Fredrik Backman books and is the first in a three-book series.

If you are looking for coming-of-age books set in high school that will completely blow your mind, this is the one.

Waiting for the Night Song by Julie Carrick Dalton

Waiting for the Night Song is one of those books that has elements of mystery and suspense in a literary fiction filled with longing and nostalgia. Cadie has spent her life studying forestry and has discovered a beetle that is causing fires. ⁣
⁣Cadie’s two worlds collide when she is suddenly called back home by Daniela, childhood friend. Cadie and Daniela must face the secrets that haunt their past. ⁣This is a book about the power of friendship, nature and doing what is right. It’s perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

I wasn’t sure how I felt about this book initially.  Eleanor bugged me in a way that I could not identify.  She is not supposed to be likable initially which is why I persevered and I ended up liking the book. 

As we get to know Eleanor and understand her profound loneliness,  it made me think about what initial judgments I make in other areas. Both Eleanor and Kya experience profound loneliness and are able to find a way to be themselves despite the obstacles standing in their way. This book about finding yourself needed to be included in our list of books like Where the Crawdads Sing.

For more books like these, check out our list of Charming Books Like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

I loved Matt Haig’s Last Book (How to Stop Time) and I was so excited to read this book.  I loved it even more- it is definitely one of my favorite books of the year.   This is a library that has books filled with the infinite possibilities of the lives not lived.  Have you ever wondered about a choice, or a path not taken?

When Nora finds herself in the library she is forced to face the choices that she made in her life- relationships, education, profession… She is forced to look at who she is and who she wants to be in this magical book and I loved every minute of it. 

Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Bee is so excited that she has won a trip to Antarctica for her perfect grades. As she is preparing to go, her mother, Bernadette, disappears.

This is a hilarious satire that is about finding yourself, coming to terms with who you are, and the power of the bond between a mother and daughter.

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance: A Novel by Ruth Emmie Lang

This book is a magical love story that is reminiscent of Charlotte’s Web for grown-ups.  I could not put it down.

Weylyn Grey was orphaned and raised by wolves and this is not the only way that he is not like other people. He has a connection to animals and nature that manifests when he least expects it. Unlike any book that I have read, this book with a touch of magical realism makes it all the more special.

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood 

This highly controversial book and thought-provoking book was awarded Book of the Month Club Book of the Year 2016 and Second Place in Goodreads Best Fiction of 2016.  

This is an unlikely love story between the daughter of a drug dealer and one of her father’s thugs.  I found it to be a disturbing, extremely well-written, and thought-provoking book.

People either love or hate this book because of the difficult subject matter. Either way, you are sure to feel something when you are done reading it. This is one of the books that will make you think, long after you have finished reading the last page.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Victoria  Jones has studied the language of flowers and uses it to communicate.  After growing up in the foster care system, she is hesitant to let anyone get close to her.  When she meets a mysterious stranger, she has to decide if she can let someone in and let go of her past.

Kirsten and I both absolutely loved this contemporary fiction book and read it before we even knew each other.  The Victorian language of flowers is fascinating.  This book incorporates this language into a story that will leave you wanting more.

We named this the best book of 2011 in our best of the decade post.

Reputation by Sarah Vaughan

Sarah Vaughan, of Anatomy of a Scandal fame, is a killer when it comes to legal thrillers with a one-two punch. This particular story revolves around Emma, a British MP on trial for murder charges.

The victim? A tabloid reporter with a scoop on an inflammatory story revolving around the MP’s daughter. But it’s so much more complicated than that and secrets unravel at every turn.

The question of did she/ didn’t she runs throughout this book. We know that she had a motive but did she commit the crime? The thrilling aspect of this book reminded me of Crawdads and needed to be included on this list of books like Where the Crawdads Sing

The Change by Kirsten Miller

May 2022 Good Morning America Book Club Pick

Kirsten Miller delivers a killer magical realism novel about a trio of women who receive powers after going through menopause. The point of their powers is to bring to justice men who rape and kill women.

I was thoroughly entertained by this beach town mystery that pit the women against billionaire men around them. As usual, GMA delivers with its latest pick. Other than the fantasy element of this book, it definitely needed to be included on this list of books like Where the Crawdads Sing.

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover

This book had me thinking about it for DAYS. I mean truly, DAYS. If you liked Hillbilly Elegy, this is a great book for you.

Tara’s journey was inspiring, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking all in one. A great insight into more extremist religions and survivalists.

Tara overcame the obstacles in her past to create the life she wanted for herself. This reminded me of Crawdads in more ways than I could count and is a must-read from this list of books like Where the Crawdads Sing.

The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeanette Walls

This is an amazing recount of Jeanette Walls’s upbringing and childhood.  She is a successful journalist and writer living in New York City. 

Her parents also live in New York; however, they choose to be homeless. Jeanette Wells’s upbringing was unconventional and her parents did not offer her a structured childhood. This is a fantastic pick from books about mothers and as non-fiction books go, this one reads like fiction. This pick from thought-provoking books is so readable that I would even recommend it to young teens.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

I read this book and really enjoyed it. I loved the movie even more (and that rarely happens). At the age of 26, Cheryl Strayed made a decision that would change her life forever. She decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. She was alone and completely inexperienced when she headed out on this journey.

There is something about the author’s need to retreat to nature that made me think it belonged on this list of books like Where the Crawdads Sing.