“What are some other books like yours?”

One of the questions that comes up a lot, after readers have devoured my short backlist of books, is:

“What are some other books like yours?”

That’s a difficult question to answer. The truth is, there are no books like mine. Just as there are no books like Ted Dekker’s or Francine Rivers’ books. Each author has their own style (but don’t ask me what mine is–I have no idea.) No two are exactly the same. So when people ask for other books like mine, I’m not sure exactly what they’re looking for. What aspect of my stories are they hoping to find elsewhere?

• Found family
• First person point of view
• Humor interwoven with the suspense
• Thrilling plot twists
• Suspense that has them saying “just one more chapter” at two a.m.
• Obvious but natural faith conversations
• Memorable, quirky, and lovable main characters
• Side characters with realistic depth and presence
• Accurate depictions of abuse trauma and healing
• Raw and gritty situations
• Chilling/psychologically interesting villains
• Little to no romance

I don’t know any other books that have all of those elements, so the best way to answer that question is to break it down into some of those categories.

FOUND FAMILY

Holly’s makeshift family is made up of friends and surrogate family. Marx becomes a father figure, Sam becomes a brother, her former foster sister becomes a sister. From what I hear, one series that does that well is: The O’Malley Series by Dee Henderson.

Another book that I’ve heard does this well is: The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox

FIRST PERSON POV

First person point of view isn’t for everyone. Truthfully, many of my readers did not care for first person style until they discovered my Holly Novels. There’s a delicate nature to writing in first person, but if done well, it can be thoroughly enjoyable. You can walk in the main character’s shoes and still fall in love with the people around them. There are two first person series I’ve enjoyed, though one comes with an admission.

Carrie Stuart Parks’ Gwen Marcey series is wonderful, but I had to skip the first book. I could not get through it, but I liked the main character enough to try book two. And that’s where I was hooked. So if you try book one and get stuck, skip it. You can always go back to it later.

***Also contains some humor, suspense, quirky main character, little romance

The other series you’ve undoubtedly heard of before: “If I run” by Terri Blackstock. Absolutely phenomenal.

***Also contains a lovable main character (though not quirky) and suspense

HUMOR INTERWOVEN WITH SUSPENSE

There didn’t used to be many authors who mixed humor and suspense, though it is becoming more common now. I find that humor and suspense are beautiful compliments. The suspense can be more intense because there is humor to help balance it out. But the humor needs to be natural and situational–never forced. One author who does humor and suspense quite well is Natalie Walters. She has several series, but this one has more humor than my favorite series by her:

***Also contains side character with realistic depth, romance. Natalie’s books have quite a bit of romance.

THRILLING PLOT TWISTS

If you’ve read through all my books, you’ve no doubt been surprised by a few endings. I do love a good plot twist. One author who is absolutely fantastic at plot twists is Jessica Patch, and I have to recommend my favorite series by her. Now, I have to admit that I read this series out of order. I struggled to get into book one, so I read book two and then went back to book one. But I’ll link book one for the rest of you 🙂

***Some humor, suspense, natural discussions of faith, side characters with realistic depth, raw and gritty situations, chilling villains, light on romance

“ONE MORE CHAPTER” SUSPENSE

For me, no one outshines Lynette Eason in the “one more chapter” suspense books. Her books are so filled with death-defying situations and non-stop action that I have to keep reading. She has so many books out there that I’m not sure where to direct you. One of my favorite series is her Blue Justice Series. This series does have a large family (not found, but biological) and it can be a bit confusing initially, but ride it out.

MEMORABLE, QUIRKY, LOVABLE MAIN CHARACTERS

Here are a few authors who are great at developing deep, lovable, memorable characters:

NATALIE WALTERS
SARA DAVISON
JESSICA PATCH
T.I. LOWE

ACCURATE DEPICTIONS OF ABUSE TRAUMA AND HEALING

This is an important subject for me. As someone who worked with traumatized kids, I’m very picky about how abuse and healing is presented in fiction, whether the victim is a child or an adult. It’s often inaccurately portrayed, and the healing is rushed and unrealistic. She met a man and her trauma evaporates. Sure, she was trafficked, but this man turned it all around for her in a week. *bangs head against wall.* No, no, no…and absolutely no. Some authors and/or books that have represented trauma and healing well are:

CHILLING / PSYCHOLOGICALLY INTERESTING VILLAINS

I love a complex villain. The ones that are psychologically interesting rather than just . . . bad for the sake of being bad. I want to see why they tick.

Check out these books

LITTLE TO NO ROMANCE

Most books have some degree of romance. It really is a spectrum. Some authors who don’t put as much romance into their books are:

TOM THREADGILL
NANCY MEHL
CARRIE STUART PARKS
JESSICA PATCH
LISA PHILLIPS
STEVEN JAMES
TED DEKKER

I hope this in some way helps in your search for your next read. And if you can think of other books that fit these categories, please leave them in the comments for others who come looking!