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Quick answer: If you loved Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, try A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, The Lost Queen by Signe Pike and Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman.
Outlander is a romance, a historical epic and a time-travel adventure in one, and its Starz series has made it more popular than ever. The books below share its time travel, Scottish and British history, sweeping love stories and strong heroines. Many are long and some include sexual content and violence.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love Outlander
Outlander sweeps readers away with Claire Randall, a World War II nurse who falls through standing stones into 1743 Scotland. Diana Gabaldon blends historical detail about the Jacobites, time-travel adventure and one of the most famous romances in fiction, between Claire and Jamie Fraser. The books are long and immersive, and readers love living in them for months. If you loved the history, the romance or the Highlands, these picks fit.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about Outlander: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dragonfly in Amber | Diana Gabaldon | Historical fiction | Continuing the series |
| A Discovery of Witches | Deborah Harkness | Fantasy romance | History and romance |
| The Time Traveler’s Wife | Audrey Niffenegger | Romance | Time-travel love |
| Kindred | Octavia E. Butler | Science fiction | Time travel and history |
| The Pillars of the Earth | Ken Follett | Historical fiction | Epic historical sagas |
| The Lost Queen | Signe Pike | Historical fiction | Ancient Scotland |
| Here Be Dragons | Sharon Kay Penman | Historical fiction | Medieval romance |
| The Winter Sea | Susanna Kearsley | Historical romance | Jacobite history |
| Lord of Scoundrels | Loretta Chase | Historical romance | Romance lovers |
| Shogun | James Clavell | Historical fiction | Outsiders in new worlds |
| The Thorn Birds | Colleen McCullough | Family saga | Sweeping love stories |
| Kidnapped | Robert Louis Stevenson | Classic novel | Jacobite adventure |
| Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel | Historical fiction | Political history |
| The Kiss Quotient | Helen Hoang | Romance | Steamy contemporary romance |
| Lady of the Forest | Jennifer Roberson | Historical fiction | Legend and romance |
1. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
Claire and Jamie try to stop the Jacobite rising in Paris and Scotland.
2. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
A witch historian falls for a vampire geneticist and travels back to Elizabethan England in the sequel.
3. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
A man with a genetic disorder travels through time, meeting his wife at different ages.
4. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
A Black woman in 1976 is pulled back to an antebellum Maryland plantation. It’s powerful and harrowing.
5. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
The building of a cathedral in 12th-century England.
6. The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
A warrior queen in sixth-century Scotland, sister of the legendary Merlin.
7. Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman
Llywelyn the Great of Wales and King John’s daughter Joanna fall in love.
8. The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
A novelist in Scotland discovers memories of a 1708 Jacobite plot.
9. Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
A bookish woman tames a notorious marquess. It’s witty and romantic.
10. Shogun by James Clavell
An English pilot is stranded in feudal Japan.
11. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
Three generations of an Australian family, centered on a forbidden love.
12. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
A boy is kidnapped and escapes across the Highlands with a Jacobite.
13. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Thomas Cromwell’s rise in the court of Henry VIII.
14. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
An economist with autism hires an escort to teach her about relationships.
15. Lady of the Forest by Jennifer Roberson
A retelling of Robin Hood and Marian’s love story.
How to Pick Your Next Read After Outlander
- Keep going. Dragonfly in Amber and Voyager are fan favorites.
- Want time travel? The Time Traveler’s Wife and Kindred.
- Want Scotland? The Winter Sea and The Lost Queen.
- Want epic history? The Pillars of the Earth.
- Want romance? Lord of Scoundrels.
- Watch the show. The Starz series follows the books closely.
A Quick Guide to the Outlander Series
The main series runs Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood and Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone. Each book is long, often 800 pages or more, so many readers alternate them with shorter novels like the picks above. The Lord John books are a spin-off series about a character introduced in Voyager, and they’re shorter and more mystery-focused.
Related: best books on Scottish history and best romance books for book clubs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I read after Outlander?
Try A Discovery of Witches, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Kindred or The Winter Sea.
Is there a book like Outlander about Scotland?
The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley and The Lost Queen by Signe Pike are set in Scottish history.
How many Outlander books are there?
There are nine main novels so far, with a tenth planned, plus novellas.