6 Beautiful Books About Family & Friendship from the 2021 Fall Reading Guide

If there’s one thing I crave in my fall reading, it’s stories that tug at my heart. I love books that explore the complicated, beautiful, sometimes messy bonds of family and friendship—the relationships that shape who we are, lift us up, break us down, and ultimately remind us we’re not alone. That’s why I’m so excited to share the family and friendship books from the 2021 Fall Reading Guide—six unforgettable novels that made me laugh, cry, and reflect on love in all its forms. This list is packed with gems you’ll want to curl up with this season.

Top 6 Beautiful Books About Family & Friendship

Out of Love by Hazel Hayes

In Out of Love, we meet an unnamed thirty-something woman who has just been left by her long-term boyfriend—the man she moved from Dublin to London to be with. Told in reverse chronological order, the novel unravels their love story backward, exploring how they fell apart and all the moments that made them fall in love in the first place.

I chose this because it’s raw, tender, and beautifully written, capturing the ache of heartbreak and the bittersweet clarity that comes with looking back. For readers who loved One Day or Normal People, this novel made me feel nostalgic, teary, and quietly hopeful about the resilience we find in ourselves after loss.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

Fight Night by Miriam Toews

Told through the voice of a spirited young girl, Fight Night is a long, heartfelt letter to her absent father, chronicling the wild, chaotic, and love-filled lives of three generations of women—her pregnant mother and her larger-than-life grandmother. Through illness, struggle, and laughter, this novel is about survival, care, and the fierce bond of family.

I included this book because it’s funny, heartbreaking, and full of big messy love. For fans of Room or The Brothers Sisters, this story made me laugh through tears and appreciate the small moments of strength we pass down across generations. It’s a celebration of women who fight, fall, and keep going.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

The Book of Mother by Violaine Huisman, translated by Leslie Camhi

In The Book of Mother, we follow the story of a glamorous yet deeply troubled mother, her two daughters, and their resilient grandmother. Told with unflinching honesty, the novel explores the ripple effects of the mother’s mental illness and how love and pain intertwine in complicated family dynamics.

I picked this novel because it’s intimate, emotionally layered, and courageous in its portrayal of a family living under the weight of a mother’s instability. For readers who appreciated The Glass Castle or Educated, this book made me feel gutted and moved all at once—it’s a beautiful, brutal look at the ties that bind.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

The Days of Afrekete by Asali Solomon

This sharp, reflective novel centers on Liselle and Selena, two Black women who were once lovers in college and reconnect in middle age as they both grapple with questions of race, queerness, marriage, and identity. Their reunion sparks a reckoning with the roads not taken and the selves they’ve left behind.

I chose this because it’s incisive, lyrical, and full of emotional honesty. For fans of Passing or Such a Fun Age, this book made me sit with questions about love, regret, and the quiet bravery it takes to face our past and present selves. It’s a small book with a big, beating heart.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout

In Oh William!, Lucy Barton looks back on her complex, tender, sometimes painful relationship with her ex-husband William. Even after their divorce and remarriages, they remain deeply entangled, and as secrets from William’s past come to light, Lucy reflects on the mysteries and quiet intimacies that shape long-term connections.

I included this because it’s wise, understated, and emotionally rich—a masterclass in observing the small, everyday moments that reveal the depth of love and disappointment. For readers of Olive Kitteridge or Gilead, this novel made me feel contemplative and grateful for the people who know us best, even when they frustrate us most.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart

Set at a country house during the early days of the pandemic, Our Country Friends brings together a cast of old friends, new lovers, and random guests to weather lockdown together. Over six months, relationships deepen, fracture, and transform, forcing everyone to face long-held secrets and shifting loyalties.

I picked this because it’s witty, sharp, and surprisingly tender—a social comedy that also cuts to the core of what friendship means when the world falls apart. For readers who loved The Big Chill or The Interestings, this novel made me laugh, wince, and reflect on how we hold (and fail) each other when it matters most.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

Which Family or Friendship Novel Will You Reach for This Fall?

Do any of these books from the 2021 Fall Reading Guide speak to you? Are you in the mood for a messy family saga, a tender friendship tale, or an honest look at love and loss? Let’s chat in the comments—I love hearing what you’re reading!

And if you haven’t yet, download your copy of the 2021 Fall Reading Guide for even more cozy, thought-provoking reads to carry you through the season.