Loved Ann Patchett’s ‘Whistler’? Here Are 5 More Books You’ll Devour
Five heartwarming stories that explore memory, secrets and family
Key Takeaways
- Ann Patchett, 62, is also the author of 'The Dutch House,' a Pulitzer finalist.
- 'My Name Is Lucy Barton’ by Elizabeth Strout is book 1 of her bestselling ‘Amgash’ series.
- 'The Most Fun We Ever Had' by Claire Lombardo was a Reese's Book Club pick.
If you’re anything like us, then you probably devoured Ann Patchett’s newest novel Whistler. In the book, 53-year-old Daphne Fuller spots a familiar face in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s Eddie Triplett—her former stepfather. They haven’t laid eyes on each other in more than four decades, but as they begin to reconnect, Daphne and Eddie find themselves bonding in ways they never thought possible. It’s heart-wrenching, it’s honest and it’s real—and it’s one of those books that makes you wish it hadn’t ended. Fortunately, there are many books out there from other authors that delver that same raw and honest emotion. To discover our top five favorite novels like Ann Patchett’s Whistler, keep scrolling.
Books like ‘Whistler’ by Ann Patchett
From other Ann Patchett books to bestselling family sagas, here are the best books to read if you liked Whistler.
‘The Dutch House’ by Ann Patchett
Set in a grand estate outside Philadelphia in the 1950s, the novel follows siblings Danny and Maeve Conroy, whose privileged childhood is shattered when their mother mysteriously abandons them. Raised by their distant father and their cold, calculating stepmother Andrea, the siblings cling to each other as their only source of love and stability. When their father dies unexpectedly, Andrea wastes no time banishing them from the only home they’ve ever known—the magnificent Dutch House that has defined their family for generations. As time continues, long-buried family secrets begin to emerge and everything they thought they knew about their parents, their home and themselves changes. (The audiobook version of this novel, narrated by Tom Hanks, gets rave reviews from readers.)
What readers are saying: “I have loved all of Ann Patchett’s books and I must say that this one is my favorite. I was hooked at the first sentence and remained hooked until the end. This is one of those rare books that you want to rush to finish, but at the same time you do not want it to end.”
‘Saints for All Occasions’ by J. Courtney Sullivan
This novel follows sisters Nora, 21, and Theresa, 17 after they board a ship to Boston from Ireland with nothing but hope and each other. Responsible Nora tries to keep rambunctious Theresa grounded, but her younger sister is intoxicated by city life’s glittering possibilities. When Theresa finds herself in an impossible situation, Nora’s well-intentioned attempt to fix it backfires catastrophically. Decades later, Nora is the matriarch of a sprawling Catholic family while Theresa has retreated behind convent walls as a cloistered nun. When tragedy strikes, the sisters are forced to confront the secrets and heartbreak that tore them apart.
What readers are saying: “The book is sad and hopeful. It tells the story of real people who make good and bad choices. The writing is smooth and brings the reader next to each character. I was sad it ended. I wanted to read the rest of the story. But that’s life. And that’s why I loved this book.”
‘Little Fires Everywhere’ by Celeste Ng
In this bestselling novel, which was adapted into a TV show starring Reese Witherspoon, Realtor Elena Richardson, wife and mother of three, believes in playing by the rules. In fact, she thrives on order. But when Mia Warren—an artist and single mother who is Elena’s opposite in every way—moves into a house listed by Elena, things change. Now Elena must question if her way of life is really the best one.
What readers are saying: “Little Fires Everywhere is a novel that far surpasses any other that I have ever read. I don’t know how Celeste Ng did it. It is a brilliantly written novel with intricate, rich and wholly vivid characters whose lives are so fully intertwined you can’t help but read in bewildered awe of how Celeste Ng created these characters. My nerve endings were fully engaged on high alert from the first sentence.”
‘My Name Is Lucy Barton’ by Elizabeth Strout
This novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Strout follows Lucy Barton while she’s recovering from what should have been a simple operation. During that time, her mother unexpectedly shows up and regales her with gossip about people from their hometown in Illinois. But as secrets about other people begin to emerge, Lucy wonders if it’s finally time to tell her mother a few of her own secrets. What follows is a journey of love, self-discovery and acceptance. (This is book 1 in the Amgash series, so there’s plenty more Lucy Barton to look forward to once you finish.)
What readers are saying: “This book is filled with love, but also with feelings of melancholy, sadness, fear, terror, loneliness, abandonment. The characters, feelings, relationships and sentiments are described in such a real, human manner, that the book is very affecting. I highly recommend this book to anyone.”
‘The Most Fun We Ever Had’ by Claire Lombardo
This Reese’s Book Club pick follows four sisters struggling with life’s ups and downs. There’s Wendy, a young widow who soothes herself with alcohol, Violet, a former litigator turned stay-at-home mom whose anxiety is getting worse by the day, Liza, a professor who winds up pregnant by a man she’s not sure she loves and Grace, the youngest daughter, who’s holding on to a secret that could ruin everything. Then Jonah Bendt—the 15-year-old one of the sisters gave up for adoption years ago— shows up and chaos ensues. Now the sisters must confront the secrets that they’ve hidden from each other for so long, before it’s too late.
What readers are saying: “I don’t even know how you write a book this bold and beautiful. The complexity that is the Sorenson family is at once romantic and heartbreaking and tender and sometimes so cliche in a way that is simply human nature.”
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