Books Like The Calamity Club: What to Read Next
So you’ve read (and loved) The Calamity Club, and now you’re wondering what to read next to fill the void left by Meg and Birdie. The truth is likely that NO book will read quite like The Calamity Club, mostly because Stockett’s storytelling is so unique. But I’ve been hard at work compiling a list of books like The Calamity Club that I think deserve a spot on your reading list. Each of the books below has something in common with The Calamity Club, so you can find the themes that work best for you and your reading preferences. I’ve read and enjoyed EVERY single one of these books, so each one has the She’s Becoming Bookish stamp of approval. Be sure to bookmark this list for future reference and share it with all your bookish friends!
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The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
similar themes: quirky cast of characters, strong female friendships, Southern wit/humor, Southern setting, found family, family secrets, loyalty
By far my favorite book on this list, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood is packed full of laugh-out-loud moments and genuinely memorable characters. It’s the story of a woman looking back on her complicated relationship with her mother by exploring the unbreakable bond between her mother and her closest friends. Southern fiction at its finest, but be aware there are some racist sentiments and racial slurs used in the storytelling.
Where the Rivers Merge
similar themes: plucky young main character, strong female friendships, Southern wit/humor, Southern setting, loyalty, naive main character, women pushing boundaries
Where the Rivers Merge is a terrific dual-timeline story centered around a boundary-breaking young South Carolina girl learning what it really means to be a friend. Atmospheric and full of nature, this one should absolutely be high on your list after The Calamity Club.
Bonus: Where the Rivers Merge audiobook is narrated by Jenna Lamia, the same voice actor who portrays Meg in The Calamity Club
The Giver of Stars
similar themes: Depression-era, strong female friendships, naive main character, found family, loyalty, women pushing boundaries
Completely transporting, The Giver of Stars is the story of a newly married English woman transplanted to Kentucky who finds friendship and purpose as a packhorse librarian. The perfect blend of found family, fierce women, and danger, this is another that should be high on your reading list if you loved The Calamity Club.
The Book Club for Troublesome Women
similar themes: unlikely friendships, feminism, women pushing boundaries, found family, loyalty, strong female friendships
Set in a 1960s Washington DC suburb, The Book Club for Troublesome Women follows a group of unlikely friends learning that everything they've been sold about womanhood might just be a lie. While it may not have the same wit and charm as The Calamity Club, this friendship story is one that will stick with you.
The Vanishing Half
similar themes: Southern sister story, passing, Southern setting
On the surface, The Vanishing Half may not seem all that similar to The Calamity Club, but this sister story very much mirrors the story of Birdie and Frances. A moving story about two Louisiana sisters who choose very different paths in life, this is one you’ll want to savor.
Hang the Moon
similar themes: enterprising women, Prohibition, Southern setting, feminism, women pushing boundaries
Full of spunk and feminine fierosity, Hang the Moon is the story of Sallie, a young Virginia woman determined to claim her place in her kingpin father's empire, and being a woman isn't going to stop her from what's rightfully hers. Fans of Charlie and Birdie will enjoy getting to know this firecracker.
Go as a River
similar themes: a mother in trouble, poverty & hardship, naive main character
Full of beautiful prose and nature references, Go as a River is the story of a young girl forced to make a difficult choice that ripples through time as her life marches forward. Charlie’s story may be slightly different, but these two characters share a fierce determination and maternal instinct that Calamity Club fans will appreciate.
The Secret Life of Bees
similar themes: plucky young main character, Southern setting, found family, strong female friendships
Fans of Meg will love Lily, a quick-witted and funny South Carolina girl who, along with her caregiver, runs away and finds refuge in the home of three eccentric sisters where she learns about life, friendship, and The Secret Life of Bees. Be aware that this book includes racist sentiments and racial slurs.
Bonus: The Secret Life of Bees audiobook is narrated by Jenna Lamia, the same voice actor who portrays Meg in The Calamity Club
This Tender Land
similar themes: orphaned children, Depression era, poverty & hardship
This Tender Land is the type of adventure story that could easily have starred strong-willed Meg, but instead, it follows four young orphans forced on the run after an act of violence leaves them with no safe harbor. Incredibly tender and poignant, this one is especially perfect for fans of Christian fiction.
Tough Luck
similar themes: plucky young main character, quirky cast of characters, found family
Full of laugh-out-loud quips, Tough Luck is an adventure about a fierce young girl determined to find her father in the Colorado Territory. She and her younger brother escape an orphanage and join a wagon train headed West, where they find help from an eccentric cast of characters along the way. If Meg was your favorite character in The Calamity Club, this is a must read.
The Second Life of Mireille West
similar themes: naive main character, Southern setting, second chances, found family, tender romance
Fans of Frances will enjoy The Second Life of Mireille West, the story of a privileged California woman forced to relocate to a leper colony in South Louisiana, where she must learn to forgive, forget, and let herself be loved.
DollBaby
similar themes: naive main character, Southern setting, family secrets, wealth vs poverty
Though it has some of the same issues as The Help, particularly a Black point of view written by a white author, Dollbaby has a young main character who will resonate with fans of Meg. Set in 1960s New Orleans, it tells the story of a young outsider learning to navigate the complicated social and familial landscape of her eccentric grandmother’s home. Be aware that this book includes racist sentiments and racial slurs.
The Last Carolina Girl
similar themes: Southern setting, eugenics, orphaned child, family secrets
The Last Carolina Girl is a heartbreaking story of a young orphaned girl left in the care of a distant relative, only to find herself caught up in a fight for autonomy over her own body. Imagine if Charlie was a fourteen year-old girl...
We Begin at the End
similar themes: plucky young girl main character, found family
Told with vivid prose, We Begin at the End is the story of a headstrong young girl determined to protect her younger brother from the harsh realities of life after the death of their mother. Part mystery/suspense and part coming-of-age, this book is perfect for anyone on the hunt for another unforgettable young character.
Blind Tiger
similar themes: enterprising women, Prohibition, Southern setting, tender romance
Action-packed and full of mystery, Blind Tiger is the story of a young woman who turns to bootlegging to make ends meet. But when a local woman turns up dead after a handsome drifter comes to town, her life is turned upside down. A hidden gem that Southern fiction fans will love.
October in the Earth
similar themes: Depression-era, poverty & hardship, strong female friendships, second chances, feminism
Anyone looking to dive deeper into Depression-era stories will appreciate the emotional adventure of October in the Earth. A head-strong preacher’s wife runs away to ride the rails, where she discovers the power of friendship and the true meaning of freedom.
The Four Winds
similar themes: Depression-era, mother/daughter relationships, found family, poverty & hardship
By far the most emotional read on this list, The Four Winds is required Depression-era reading. Full of heartbreaking moments, it’s the story of a young mother who leaves the Dust Bowl-stricken Texas behind, only to find poverty and hardship waiting for her in the Hoovervilles of Central California.
The Briar Club
similar themes: found family, quirky cast of characters, unlikely friendships, boarding house setting, enterprising women
The Briar Club is Kate Quinn’s most unsung book, in my opinion, and it’s perfect for fans of The Calamity Club. Set in 1950s Washington, D.C., it’s the story of a sentient boarding house, a murder, and a cast of eccentric women who become unlikely allies.
Before Dorothy
similar themes: sister story, Depression-era, found family, strong female friendships
Before Dorothy is the Wizard of Oz origin story you didn’t know you needed, and anyone searching for a heartwarming, heartfelt story to fill the void left by The Calamity Club will appreciate this tender tale of Auntie Em and her days on the Kansas prairie.
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Hi, I'm Carlie
I’m a historical fiction fanatic passionate about sharing newly released books, book club picks, and the types of stories that linger long after the last lines. If that sounds like the type of books you love to read, then you’re in the right place!
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