Next Read Club

Books Like Where the Crawdads Sing

Looking for books like Where the Crawdads Sing? A girl raised alone in the marshes of North Carolina becomes the prime suspect in a town murder years later.

What tends to stick with readers is its emotional, mysterious and atmospheric feel. Equal parts courtroom mystery and love letter to the natural world. Below are 7 books that carry that feeling in different ways, matched on shared mood, themes and reading experience. Where the Crawdads Sing is a medium, fast-paced read (reading level: beginner-friendly), so we've noted where each pick is quicker, slower or heavier.

Cover of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

The book you loved

Where the Crawdads Sing

Delia Owens

7 books you might enjoy

  1. Cover of Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

    1.

    Big Little Lies

    Liane Moriarty

    Like Where the Crawdads Sing, Big Little Lies is emotional. Both carry the #book-club tag.

    Medium · Fast pace · Beginner-friendly

    Explore this book →Books like Big Little Lies
  2. Cover of The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

    2.

    The Kite Runner

    Khaled Hosseini

    Like Where the Crawdads Sing, The Kite Runner is emotional. Both carry the #book-club tag. It's a more demanding read than Where the Crawdads Sing.

    Medium · Fast pace · Easy to follow

    Explore this book →Books like The Kite Runner
  3. Cover of Circe by Madeline Miller

    3.

    Circe

    Madeline Miller

    Circe approaches similar ground to Where the Crawdads Sing from another direction. Turns a footnote in mythology into the most compelling character in it. It's a more demanding read than Where the Crawdads Sing.

    Medium · Easy pace · Easy to follow

    Explore this book →Books like Circe
  4. Cover of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

    4.

    The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

    Taylor Jenkins Reid

    If it was the emotional and mysterious side of Where the Crawdads Sing you loved, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo delivers it too. Both carry the #book-club tag. The pace is faster than Where the Crawdads Sing's.

    Medium · Can't put it down pace · Beginner-friendly

    Explore this book →Books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
  5. Cover of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

    5.

    The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

    Mark Haddon

    The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time shares Where the Crawdads Sing's emotional appeal. Both carry the #book-club tag. It's the quicker read of the two.

    Short · Fast pace · Beginner-friendly

    Explore this book →Books like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
  6. Cover of The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

    6.

    The Shadow of the Wind

    Carlos Ruiz Zafon

    If it was the mysterious side of Where the Crawdads Sing you loved, The Shadow of the Wind delivers it too. Both carry the #atmospheric tag. Expect a bigger commitment than Where the Crawdads Sing.

    Long · Fast pace · Easy to follow

    Explore this book →Books like The Shadow of the Wind
  7. Cover of Normal People by Sally Rooney

    7.

    Normal People

    Sally Rooney

    If it was the emotional side of Where the Crawdads Sing you loved, Normal People delivers it too. Both carry the #book-club tag.

    Medium · Fast pace · Beginner-friendly

    Explore this book →Books like Normal People

How to choose

  • Short on time? The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a quick read.
  • Ready for something heavier? The Kite Runner is the most demanding pick.

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