For today’s post I chose to include 15 of the best books about messy relationships I either read, or I’m planning to at some point in the future.
Check out the following books on Kobo
There are books about many topics I like to read about. Some of these topics include friendships, anything book related such as books about books, libraries or bookstores settings, or family sagas.
One of my favorite topics to read about in books is relationships. And the messier and more complex the better! Human beings are hard to get along with, and having healthy relationships is hard work. I’ve always been passionate about how humans relate to one another and what makes some people tick. I gravitate towards those topics in fiction as well. There seems to be a pattern here, so what does that say about me? Joking aside, I do love a good novel that centers around any type of messy relationship.
The intricacies of intimacy is a very interesting topic to read about, and that refers not solely to romantic relationships. Some friendships can get pretty toxic too! These are 15 books about messy relationships you can start reading if the genre appeals to you.
The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz
This book is about how the arrival of the newest member of the Oppenheimer family changed the relationship between the siblings. It is messy yet addictive, like most family relationships are. If you’re looking for a complex family drama with unlikable characters and great writing, this might be right up your alley.
The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange
Complicated family dynamics and unconventional relationships are at the core of this book. As many of the books mentioned on this blog, the characters are well developed and complex. Lange has a fluid style of writing that flows nicely. Easy-to-read and engrossing, this is a great book to discover if you enjoy messy relationships and dysfunctional family sagas.
Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser- Akner
This book looks at the relationship between two adults who are about to get divorced. It also tackles how it affects the whole family as a unit, especially the children involved. It is a well-written novel told from different perspectives. The author manages to get the reader to feel all the emotions such a major change affects all parties involved. A great book to read if intimate messy relationships are your jam.
Monogamy by Sue Miller
This is an older book, but it is an important one to read if you’re a fan of the intricacies of a marital relationship. In this novel, Miller develops the scorned wife’s character with ease. The reader can feel all the range of emotions the mc experiences as she comes to grip with the reality her husband’s passing leaves her. Like in real life, grief comes in waves and is not unilinear or logical. A great portrayal of how deception can alter a person’s core.
Writers and Lovers by Lily King
This is a great novel that looks at a young woman’s quest for creativity and inspiration. While most of her friends accepted their path in life, Casey refuses to give in and lead a predictable life. Just because society dictates its norms she chooses to craft her own way, with a few mistakes along the way. Beautifully written, the author makes it easy for the reader to relate to Casey’s toxic choices.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
While its title would suggest otherwise, the book is not about normal people. Rooney is becoming a voice that writes messy relationships like no other author. Her three books to date revolve around messy millennial intimate relationships and friendships. So she is somewhat of an expert in the genre, if I may venture there. The way she layers the characters’ traits gives her stories a lot of depth. If you haven’t read any of her works yet, she’s a young author that shows a lot of promise.
Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey
While this is a funny book, the topic at hand is quite sad, actually. It centers around a young woman’s break-up with her new husband. While she thought they were pretty happy, she got blind sided by his leaving. Her inner monologue is very easily relatable to most of us who ever experienced a break-up. WHile it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I enjoyed this book very much.
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult
This was a favorite book of mine in 2023. The writing, as per customary Picoult style, is excellent, and the relationship dynamics are messy and complicated. I loved the authors’ no-nonsense storyline. If you love well-developed characters with lots of personality, Picoult is one of the best authors to read. She does know how to give them many layers. Some good, some not so good, but that’s what makes the reader relate to them so well. Plus the storyline is well crafted, which is always a plus.
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
While the book revolves around the close bond the flour Pavadano sisters share, their messy relationships are also the focus of this book. This novel is multi-layered and cleverly written. Napolitano is another author who is great at character development, and her ability to weave a complex, messy family saga is unparalleled. Greatly recommend it if you haven’t picked it up yet.
Check out my full review here:
The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
This is a sad book that portrays messy family relationships. April is a teenage girl whose parents all but abandoned her, and she has to find her own way in life. A lyrical, poetic, character-driven novel about a new-found family, The People We Keep is a must-read. I also featured this book on a couple of previous posts. This is the latest one that features it:
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
If you want to read a book that portrays messy relationships, this book is as good as it gets. Ng is a talented writer that knows how to get into her characters’ psyches. She weaves a good story that hooks you right from the first page.
Little Fires Everywhere revolves around messy relationships between jealous neighbors. I read this one a few years back, and it’s still on my mind at times. The tv adaptation is also one of the best ones out there, so give it a try if you haven’t already.
The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale
This is another of my favorite books of all time. I mean, it revolves around ballet and messy relationships! What more can I say? It’s my type of book.
In The Ballerinas, the author delves into the toxic friendships between four young ballerinas from their school days well into adulthood. As they get older and become adults, their relationships evolve. Although they still remain loyal to each other, there’s an aura of toxicity present as they grow up. A great insight into the competitiveness some women experience from their female relationships.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
One of the saddest yet best written books I’ve ever read, A Little Life is also about messy relationships.
If you’ve been on this platform for a while, you may have noticed how often I refer to this book. That is because it falls into many categories. It also happens to be one of my favorite books ever.
As far as messy relationships go, this book portrays some of them as downright awful. I will not go into too much detail as it may ruin the book, so you’ll have to take my word for it. Or read the book and see what I mean.
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
This is an oldie but a goodie, possibly my favorite book by the author so far. Also, it is one of my all-time favorite book-to-tv adaptations.
Big Little Lies is a great novel that centers around three women in a small community. Their relationship is intricate and complex, and their loyalties fierce. There isn’t much these women wouldn’t do for each other, or would they?
A master at character development and equally great storyteller, Moriarty’s book will get you hooked from the first page.
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
The relationship between Cleo and Frank is at the core of the novel, but there are also a couple of secondary relationships worth noting. While the marital, intimate relationship between the duo is increasingly messy as the book progresses, the relationship between Cleo and her old time friend, Quintin is becoming pretty toxic as well. On the same token, Zoe, Frank’s daughter from a previous marriage and Cleo clash regularly, mostly because they are closer in age than Cleo and Frank.
I absolutely loved Cleopatra and Frankenstein, it’s one of my favorite books of all time. If you’re looking for a book about messy relationships, it is hard to beat this one.
Concluding Words
These are the 15 books about messy relationships you can lose yourself in. They range from family relationships to friendships, as well as the intricacies of intimacy.
Are you familiar with any of these books? If you haven’t read them yet, did I entice you to pick up at least one of them? Let me know which ones seem more up your alley.
Until next time, keep reading fellow bookworms. And drop any suggestions you may have, I’m always looking for new books to add to my neverending tbr pile.
