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Quick answer: If you like Laura Dave, read Liane Moriarty, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Lisa Jewell and Mary Kubica. All write page-turning women's fiction with family secrets, strong emotions and surprising twists.
Laura Dave writes emotional novels such as The Last Thing He Told Me, Eight Hundred Grapes and The First Husband, mixing mystery, family and love. Her stories are quick, warm and surprising. The books below offer similar mixes of drama and suspense, with relatable women at the centre.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eight Hundred Grapes | Laura Dave | Adult | more Dave |
| The First Husband | Laura Dave | Adult | modern romance |
| Hello Sunshine | Laura Dave | Adult | fall of an influencer |
| The Husband's Secret | Liane Moriarty | Adult | secret letter |
| Big Little Lies | Liane Moriarty | Adult | suburban secrets |
| The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | Hollywood secrets |
| Something Borrowed | Emily Giffin | Adult | love triangle |
| Local Woman Missing | Mary Kubica | Adult | missing woman |
| Then She Was Gone | Lisa Jewell | Adult | missing teenager |
| The Guest List | Lucy Foley | Adult | wedding murder |
| The Silent Patient | Alex Michaelides | Adult | psychological twist |
| Where'd You Go, Bernadette | Maria Semple | Adult | quirky mother |
| The Midnight Library | Matt Haig | Adult | alternate lives |
| Small Great Things | Jodi Picoult | Adult | moral drama |
| The Dutch House | Ann Patchett | Adult | siblings and memory |
1. Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave
A woman discovers her fiance's secret just before her wedding and returns to her family's vineyard. Warm and engaging.
Best for: more Dave.
2. The First Husband by Laura Dave
A woman is left by her husband and falls into a new love. Light and funny.
Best for: modern romance.
3. Hello Sunshine by Laura Dave
A cooking show host's secrets are exposed. Fast and sharp.
Best for: fall of an influencer.
4. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
A woman finds a letter that changes her life. Funny and gripping.
Best for: secret letter.
5. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Three mothers are drawn into a death. Funny, sharp and full of twists.
Best for: suburban secrets.
6. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
An ageing film star reveals the truth about her marriages. Addictive.
Best for: Hollywood secrets.
7. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
A woman falls for her best friend's fiance. Light and easy.
Best for: love triangle.
8. Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
Two women vanish years apart. Twisty and emotional.
Best for: missing woman.
9. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
A mother whose daughter vanished meets a man who changes everything. Gripping.
Best for: missing teenager.
10. The Guest List by Lucy Foley
A wedding on an Irish island turns deadly. Dramatic and well plotted.
Best for: wedding murder.
11. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
A woman stops speaking after shooting her husband. Famous for its ending.
Best for: psychological twist.
12. Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
A teenager searches for her mother. Funny and unusual.
Best for: quirky mother.
13. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Nora explores the lives she might have lived. Gentle and hopeful.
Best for: alternate lives.
14. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
A nurse is accused after a newborn dies. Thoughtful and timely.
Best for: moral drama.
15. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Two siblings are shaped by the house they lose. Quiet and moving.
Best for: siblings and memory.
How to Choose
For more Dave start with Eight Hundred Grapes or The First Husband. For funny, sharp drama choose Liane Moriarty. For twisty suspense pick Lisa Jewell, Mary Kubica or Lucy Foley. For emotional family stories try Ann Patchett and Jodi Picoult. If you want something short and gripping, The Last Thing He Told Me is a quick read that you can finish in a weekend. Book clubs often pick Dave's books because the secrets and choices create strong discussion. If you liked the moral questions in Dave's books, Jodi Picoult and Ann Patchett offer more depth. If you liked the twists, Lisa Jewell and Lucy Foley are fast alternatives. If you liked the relationships, Liane Moriarty and Taylor Jenkins Reid are the best fits. Her books are short and quick, so they work well as a first book of a new year or a holiday read. Another helpful approach is to match the book to your mood: pick The Husband's Secret for a family shock, The Guest List for a puzzle and The Midnight Library for a gentle escape.
Related: Laura Griffin Printable Book List · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Laura Dave known for?
The Last Thing He Told Me, a bestselling mystery about a missing husband.
Where should I start?
With The Last Thing He Told Me.
Are her books standalones?
Yes.
Is there a TV adaptation?
Yes, The Last Thing He Told Me was adapted for Apple TV+.
Is she a mystery writer?
Her recent books are mystery-tinged women's fiction.
Are the books fast to read?
Yes, short chapters keep them moving.
What is Eight Hundred Grapes about?
A woman returns to her family's California vineyard after a shock.
What should I read next?
Try Big Little Lies or Then She Was Gone.
Is The Last Thing He Told Me a thriller?
It is a mystery with a strong family core, more emotional than violent.
Is there a sequel?
Check current listings for any follow-up.
Is Laura Dave a good author for book clubs?
Yes. Her stories raise questions about trust, family and what we owe the people we love.