Books Like Where the Crawdads Sing
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens spent months on the bestseller list for good reason. The adaptation was fantastic as well. There are so many aspects of this book that I absolutely love. Part murder mystery/ thriller and part historical fiction, I wanted to make a list of my favorite books like Where the Crawdads Sing.
I was lucky enough to read Where the Crawdads Sing before it was released in August 2018. I immediately fell in love with the book and told everyone to read this story about the Marsh Girl.
A month later, the book skyrocketed to success when Reese chose it for her book club in September of 2018. Now, four years and 12 million books later, Where the Crawdads Sing has hit the big screen and continues to be a New York Times Bestselling book.
If you saw the movie and loved it, or if you read the book and loved it, this list of books like Where the Crawdads Sing is perfect for your book hangover. Which book will you read next?
The Best Books Like Where the Crawdads Sing
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
Best Small Town Book like Where the Crawdads Sing
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah- Jump to Section
Best Book About Finding Yourself like Where the Crawdads Sing
The Lost Girls of Craven County by Emily Matchar- Jump to Section
Best Coming of Age Book like Where the Crawdads Sing
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances by Ruth Emmie Lang- Jump to Section
Best Mystery Like Where the Crawdads Sing
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker- Jump to Section
Best Nonfiction Book like Where the Crawdads Sing
Educated by Tara Westover- Jump to Section
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Books Set in a Small Town Like Where the Crawdads Sing
If you loved the small town aspect of Where the Crawdads Sing, these are perfect picks for your next read
Plot
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. It has elements of survivalists, anarchy, and mistrust for the world, but is tempered with young love, community, and hope.
Trigger Warnings
Domestic abuse, Alcoholism
Why Kirsten loves it
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.
Why Jackie loves it
Another Kristin Hannah story, another NYT best seller – and for good reason! I liked this coming-of-age story set in the Alaskan wilderness. The setting is truly its own character, bringing an element of desperation to that story that wouldn’t exist in another locale.
Find this book in: Books set in the 1970s / Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Isolation Books / Winter Books / Best Books of 2018 / Books Like Where the Crawdads Sing / Books Set in the 80s
Beartown
Author: Fredrik Backman
Year: 2016
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: Beartown #1
Age Range: 16+
Plot
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 General Manager’s daughter.
As the town takes sides and loyalties are tested, a gripping narrative of the complexities within a community emerges. This character-driven story is the first in a three-book series.
Trigger Warnings
Rape
Why Kirsten loves it
This was my first exposure to Fredrik Backman. I was instantly enthralled by his writing abilities. He took a coming-of-age story and wove in life lessons while simultaneously creating characters I will never forget.
Why Jackie loves it
Frederik Backman is a master storyteller. 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.
Find this book in: Coming-of-age Books for Adults/ Winter Books / Books like Where the Crawdads Sing / Books like A Man Called Ove / Books About Sports / Best Winter Books
Books About Finding Yourself Like Crawdads
Kya has to find herself and trust in herself to find her way in the world. If you loved that aspect of the book, these are the perfect choices for your next read.
The Lost Girls of Craven County
Author: Emily Matchar
Year: 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
The story begins in New Bern, North Carolina, in 1939. The world is just emerging from the Great Depression, and it is on the eve of a second World War. Millie is 25 years old and considered an old maid by her mother, who is trying to arrange a match for her. When Millie finds a hurt, mute woman behind pickle barrels at her family’s pickle factory, she brings her home to try and help her.
The woman is clearly starving, but where she comes from and who she is, remains a mystery. Slowly, the details of both these women come to light.
Trigger Warnings
Abuse
Why Jackie loves it
Matchar does a wonderful job of bringing this story to life with some twists and turns. But she also creates the feeling of tension that Jewish communities all over the world were feeling in 1939. Without making it the main element of the story, there is an undercurrent of urgency as the world gets closer to war.
Find this book in: Books Like Where the Crawdads Sing
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Author: Gail Honeyman
Year: 2017
Genre: Fiction
More info: June 2107 Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick
Age Range: 14+
Plot
I wasn’t sure how I felt about this contemporary fiction book initially. Initially, Eleanor’s behavior and responses to people and situations upset me. I had the outside perspective of a reader to understand how Eleanor is misinterpreting situations. She is not supposed to be likable initially which is why I persevered and ended up loving the book and Eleanor.
Eleanor has difficulty with social skills and is used to being alone until one day, she saves an elderly man who has fallen with the help of Raymond from her work. The three develop a friendship that helps Eleanor heal.
Trigger Warnings
Loneliness
Why Jackie likes it
As we get to know Eleanor and understand her profound loneliness, it made me think about what initial judgments I make in other areas. Eleanor is able to find herself and understand herself in this wonderful, feel-good book.
Why Kirsten loves it
If you love a character-driven novel, this is the book for you. Eleanor changes so much from the beginning of the story to the end, I loved taking the journey with her.
Find this book in: Books Like A Man Called Ove/ Books About Scotland / British Books / Books With Neurodivergent Characters / Best Books Like Lessons in Chemistry / Ultimate List of Feel-Good Books / Amnesia Books
Find books like this in: Books Like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Plot
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 about finding yourself, coming to terms with who you are, and the power of the bond between a mother and daughter.
Why Jackie loves it
This is a delightful book and it is clear why it was made into a movie. I love the mother-daughter relationship in this book. As Bee gathers emails and other documents as well, the reader gathers further insight into the family dynamic.
Find this book in: Books About Mothers and Motherhood / Epistolary Novels
Coming of Age Books Like Where the Crawdads Sing
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance: A Novel
Author: Ruth Emmie Lang
Year: 2017
Genre: Magical Realism
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This book is a magical love story that is reminiscent of The Jungle Book, 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.
Why Jackie loves it
This is a book unlike any book that I have read. It has a touch of magical realism that makes it all the more special. The characters and the plot are so well-written, I loved every minute of this book.
Find this book in: Adult Retellings of Disney Classics /Adult Versions of Favorite Childhood Books / Best Books of 2017
All the Ugly and Wonderful Things
Author: Bryn Greenwood
Year: 2016
Genre: Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This is an unlikely love story between Wavy, the daughter of a drug dealer, and Kellen, one of her father’s thugs. Wavy is trying to raise Donal, her younger brother, by looking out for him when her parent’s don’t. She relies on Kellen to get her through the hardships of her mid-west life.
Trigger Warnings
Child Abuse, Drug Use
Why Jackie loves it
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. 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.
Find this book in: Thought-Provoking Books / Books Like Where the Crawdads Sing
The Language of Flowers
Author: Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Year: 2011
Genre: Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 14+
Plot
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.
Why Jackie loves it
Kirsten and I both absolutely loved this contemporary fiction book, which we read before we knew each other. There is something so magical about the Victorian language of flowers.
Why Kirsten loves it
The Victorian language of flowers is fascinating. This book incorporates this language into a story that will leave you wanting more.
Find this book in: Ultimate List of 67 Feel-Good Books / Ultimate List of Contemporary Fiction Novels / Books with Flowers in the Title / Fiction Books About Gardening and Gardens
Mystery Books Like Where the Crawdads Sing
All the Colors of the Dark
Author: Chris Whitaker
Year: 2024
Genre: Literary Fiction/ Mystery
More info: July 2024 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
The book begins in 1975 when Patch, a local boy, saves the daughter of a wealthy family from abduction. He is taken by the serial killer and presumed dead by everyone except his best friend, Saint. She spends almost a year following the clues to find him.
Patch spends the rest of his life searching for Grace, the girl who kept him company while he was a captive unsure if she is real or a figment of his imagination to keep him sane while alone in the dark. And Saint dedicated her life to finding people. Nobody’s life will ever be the same.
This book is much more than a mystery. It is the story of a life and all those that are connected to that life. What happens to those who survive and can we ever move on from tragedy?
Trigger Warnings
Abduction, Murder, Abuse
Why Jackie loves it
This book is a long one and there were some parts in the middle that I felt were a little too long. However, I absolutely loved this book. Whitaker weaves a story like nobody else. The characters are complex, flawed, and relatable on many levels. The writing is beautiful and the story comes together seamlessly.
Find this book in: The July 2024 Celebrity Book Club Spoilers / Best New Fiction Books of 2024 / The Best Books of 2024 / Best Read With Jenna Books / Read with Jenna Book Club List 2024
The God of the Woods
Author: Liz Moore
Year: 2024
Genre: Literary Historical Mystery
More info: New York Times Bestseller
New York Times Notable Book of 2024
People Magazine’s #1 Book of the Year
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Early one morning in August 1975, a camp counselor discovers that Barbara Van Laar, the daughter of the camper owners, has gone missing. Fourteen years earlier, her brother also went missing, and he was never found.
As the story flashes between the investigation into Barbara’s disappearance and the events leading up to Bear’s, detectives, family members, campers, and staff members’ lives are unfolded in a way that makes the mystery one of many threads woven into a masterful tale.
Liz Moore captured my attention from the very beginning and kept me engaged throughout as each secret and discovery unfolded into further mysteries.
Trigger Warnings
Child Death, Domestic Abuse
Why Kirsten loves it
I’ve not read many literary mysteries, but I can say that I like this subgenre of literary fiction. The mystery of what happened to Barbara and Bear was a fascinating central point, but I was so invested in each character’s story that I sometimes forgot what crime was being solved. I can see this not being for everyone, though — there are lots of characters and subplots buried within. It’s no cozy mystery, but that’s exactly why I think it’s one of my favorites of the year.
Why Jackie loves it
I will admit that it took me a little longer than usual to get into this book. As Kirsten mentioned, there are a lot of characters and subplots so it took longer to get into the heart of the story. You need to persist with the slower beginning of the book. Once you are 75 pages in, you won’t be able to put it down. The plot development is so well done as the stories from the past and present come together.
Find this book in: Books about Camp / The Best Books of 2024 / Historical Thrillers / Books to Get Out of a Reading Slump / Popular Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Books Set in the 70s
Nonfiction Books Like Where the Crawdads Sing
Plot
This coming-of-age book had me thinking about it for DAYS. I mean truly, DAYS. This story shows the impact a lack of education can have on generations. Tara tells her life story about growing up with her survivalist family, having little contact with the outside world.
Tara’s journey was inspiring, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking all in one. This nonfiction book about cults had great insight into more extremist religions and survivalists.
Trigger Warnings
Child abuse
Why Kirsten loves it
I don’t usually read memoirs but I heard great things about this book. I loved it so much- it made my list of favorites for the year. It is an amazing story that reads like a novel rather than nonfiction.
Find this book in: Books about Cults / Books about Poverty / Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Best Books of 2018 / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / Best Nonfiction Books
Plot
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.
Trigger Warnings
Alcoholism, Child abuse
Why Jackie loves it
This is a fascinating memoir that reads like fiction. It gives a unique perspective to mental illness from a close family member. Wells is able to do this without blame and with love and respect respect for both her parents.
Find this book in: Thought-provoking Books / Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Books about Poverty / Books like Where the Crawdads Sing / Best Nonfiction Books / Novels About Trauma
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
Author: Cheryl Strayed
Year: 2012
Genre: Memoir
More info: National Bestseller, Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is a perfect choice for nonfiction books for beginners. When Cheryl Strayed was 22, she lost her mother and slowly, her marriage as well. She impulsively chose to hike the Pacific Crest Trail alone- more than 1000 miles of sometimes treacherous wilderness.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a definite feel-good nonfiction book that will take you on the trail with Cheryl as she hits rock bottom and slowly builds herself back up again with strength and humor.
Find this book in: Books Like Where the Crawdads Sing / Nonfiction Travel Books
Expert Tip
Where are the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens spent more than 30 consecutive weeks at the number one spot on the New York Times bestseller list and sold more than 22 million copies. It was also adapted to the screen in 2022. This is one of the rare instances in which I loved the adaptation as well as the book. If you love the book and are looking for more books like it, here are some of my recommendations.
- Think about what you loved about the book. I decided my list of books like Where the Crawdads Sing by sub-genre. I have mysteries, coming-of-age books, and even non-fiction books.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some good books like Where the Crawdads Sing?
I recently read a new book published in 2026 called The Lost Girls of Craven County. It had many aspects that reminded me of ” Where the Crawdads Sing”, including strong, female characters. If you have not had a chance to check out this book, I highly recommend it.
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Epilogue
Which of these are your favorite books like Where the Crawdads Sing?
Funny, the first two books I would come to mention would be “Under the magnolias” by T. I. Lowe and “We begin at the end” by Chris Whitaker and none of them are on the list? If you haven’t read them yet, you definitely should 🙂
I haven’t read either! I will add them to the list!