8 Modern Reads That Feel Like Shakespeare (But with Smartphones)
Looking for books like Shakespeare? Dive into 7 contemporary tales—epic retellings, witty comedies, remixes, and more—that channel the Bard’s timeless themes.
8 Contemporary Books Like Shakespeare
If you’ve ever swooned over Romeo and Juliet or laughed at Beatrice and Benedick’s banter, you know William Shakespeare’s power to capture the human heart. Over the years, I’ve devoured modern novels that channel his wit, drama, and poetry—stories where sonnets meet smartphones, and tragic flaws play out in our world. Here’s my personal roundup of books like Shakespeare, organized by theme, with why each one stole my Bard-loving heart.
Literary Retellings
The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake
Julia Drake transforms Twelfth Night into a haunting saga of grief and redemption. Violet and her brother Sam set out to find a sunken ship that claimed their family, only to discover that their own fractured bond needs rescuing more. I picked this for its lyrical prose and how the siblings’ journey mirrors Viola and Sebastian’s themes of mistaken identity and devoted love. If you love layered, character‐driven stories that made you feel both ache and hope, this one will stay with you long after the last page.
You can get a copy of The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake on Amazon or Bookshop.
Romance
Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese
Jamie and Bea, who couldn’t be more different, team up to deceive their matchmaking friends in this charming retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Their plan? Pretend to be madly in love, only to break hearts and end the meddling once and for all. But as their fake romance becomes more convincing, they start questioning if there’s more to their connection than revenge. Will Cupid’s arrow prove to be right after all?
You can get a copy of Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese on Amazon or Bookshop.
Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma
In the hilarious follow-up to the breakout rom-com Dating Dr. Dil, Nisha Sharma adds shakkar and mirch to Shakespeare’s iconic comedy Much Ado About Nothing for one sweet and spicy love story.
You can get a copy of Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma on Amazon or Bookshop.
Ben and Beatriz by Katalina Gamarra
A Latinx, queer retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing in which a queer, biracial young woman must untangle her complicated relationship with the scion of a wealthy, white dynasty, in what becomes a complex and nuanced rumination on race, colorism, class, sexuality, and privilege.
You can get a copy of Ben and Beatriz by Katalina Gamarra on Amazon or Bookshop.
Mystery Mash-Ups
Shakespeare for Squirrels by Christopher Moore
Shakespeare meets Dashiell Hammett in this wildly entertaining murder mystery from New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore—an uproarious, hardboiled take on the Bard’s most performed play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, featuring Pocket, the hero of Fool and The Serpent of Venice, along with his sidekick, Drool, and pet monkey, Jeff.
You can get a copy of Shakespeare for Squirrels by Christopher Moore on Amazon or Bookshop.
Want To Save This Post?
Enter your email below & I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get themed lists and posts from me every week!
Fantasy
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
Seventeen-year-old Roscille arrives in Scotland to marry Macbeth and finds herself trapped in a castle of dark prophecy and imprisoned witches foretelling her husband’s rise. Rumored to be cursed—her gaze said to drive men mad—she must rely on her cunning to survive political intrigue and reclaim her power. Fans of atmospheric historical fantasy and complex heroines (think Uprooted meets Macbeth) will be captivated by Reid’s sympathetic, supernatural twist on a legendary villainess.
You can get a copy of Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid on Amazon.
Historical
Queen Hereafter by Isabelle Schuler
A suspenseful, sweeping historical epic for readers of Natalie Haynes and Madeline Miller, which boldly reimagines the origin story of the woman who inspired one of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters, Lady Macbeth.
You can get a copy of Queen Hereafter by Isabelle Schuler on Amazon or Bookshop.
What do you think about these books like Shakespeare?
Have you read any of the books on this list? Are any of them on your TBR? What books would you add to this list? Let’s talk all about books like and inspired by Shakespeare in the comments below.
