If there’s one thing we all know, it’s that a good book can take you away from your troubles and into another world.  So why not curl up with a great novel this fall?  We’ve compiled a list of some of the best books with themes of family and friendship.  So whether you’re looking for something uplifting or heart-wrenching, we’ve got you covered.  So sit back, relax, and get ready to dive into some amazing stories!

The Fortunes of Jaded Women by Carolyn Huynh

A debut novel that follows a family of estranged Vietnamese women—cursed to never know love or happiness—as they reunite when a psychic makes a startling prediction.

The House Party by Rita Cameron

When a house party goes terribly wrong, a suburban town fractures along lines of privilege, exposing disturbing truths about the community—perfect for fans of Little Fires Everywhere and Ask Again, Yes.

All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien

For fans of Everything I Never Told You and The Mothers, a deeply moving and unflinching debut following a young Vietnamese-Australian woman who returns home to her family in the wake of her brother’s shocking murder, determined to discover what happened—a dramatic exploration of the intricate bonds and obligations of friendship, family, and community.

Lessons by Ian McEwan

From the best-selling author of Atonement and Saturday comes the epic and intimate story of one man’s life across generations and historical upheavals: from the Suez Crisis to the Cuban Missile Crisis, the fall of the Berlin Wall to the current pandemic, Roland Baines sometimes rides with the tide of history, but more often struggles against it. 

The Old Place by Bobby Finger

A bighearted and moving debut about a wry retired schoolteacher whose decade-old secret threatens to come to light and send shockwaves through her small Texas town.

When We Were Friends by Holly Bourne

Three Women meets One Day in this darkly funny story about two friends who reunite after a decade of estrangement, only to remember the forces that pushed them apart in the first place.

Best of Friends by Kamila Shamsie

From the acclaimed author of Home Fire, the moving and surprising story of a lifelong friendship and the forces that bring it to the breaking point.

When We Were Sisters by Fatimah Asghar

An orphan grapples with gender, siblinghood, family, and coming-of-age as a Muslim in America in this lyrical debut novel from the acclaimed author of If They Come For Us

Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli

A stunning and witty debut novel about a young woman’s emotional journey through unimaginable loss, pulled along by her tight-knit Nigerian family, and the love and laughter she shared with her husband.

To Fill a Yellow House by Sussie Anie

A moving debut novel set in London, telling the story of an unlikely friendship between a young first-generation immigrant and the white middle-aged owner of a local charity shop.

What do you think about the family and friendship books on this list?

Have you read any books from this list?  Are any of them on your TBR?  Have any caught your attention?  Let’s talk about it in the comments.