Sally Rooney’s new book: If you can’t wait for her latest novel, read these titles instead

Centred around the lives of two teenagers, Marianne and Connell, from the same small Irish town, Rooney depicts their on-off relationship as they navigate school and university. The pair are at opposite ends of the social spectrum, yet have more things in common with one another than anyone else around them. Landing a spot in our guide to the best books written by women, our reviewer praised the author, noting that "Rooney is still only 29 but she’s a wonderful writer who deserves every single plaudit she’s received." 

Based in Hong Kong, this sharp, witty and ultimately moving debut novel from Irish author, Naoise Dolan, explores a love triangle. Newly arrived 22-year-old English teacher Ava finds herself caught between the financial security of a non-committal banker and an alluring lawyer. Dolan brings a fresh insight into modern love that will inevitably make this a hit among those who love Normal People.

This book featured on Barack Obama’s 2018 summer reading list, and for good reason, too. A masterpiece in storytelling, An American Marriage dissects what happens to a relationship when unforeseen circumstances sabotage it. Beautifully told with authentic characterisation, it explores the hearts and minds of three people who are separated by forces beyond their control.

Jones's probing of issues around race and justice is subtle yet moving and is done with such emotional intelligence. Much like Sally Rooney’s protagonists, expect these unforgetablle characters to stay with you long after you’ve finished it.

This book is told from the perspective of six teenagers who are bound together at summer camp, forming an all-consuming bond through competition, companionship and shared goals. The story unfolds as characters navigate their lives, from teenagehood to middle age, all taking differrent paths as they grow older. It's not without moral rigour, touching on selfishness and envy, as it becomes clear that not everyone can sustain the high of that summer.

Sally Rooney's debut novel, Conversations with Friends, delves into the dynamic between four people: two school friends Frances and Bobby, and a married couple Melissa and Nick. The two couples become messily entangled in this mordantly funny book. Rooney's first book landed her a spot as a formidable voice for the millennial generation.

Inspired by John Legend's Ordinary People, which portrays the bittersweet stage of romance after the honeymoon period, Diana Evans' exuberant third novel is all about relationship malaise. It's a persuasive account of life once the butterflies have stopped fluttering and children have arrived. An immersive look into friendship, parenthood, sex, and grief – as well as the fragility of love. It is told with such detail, you’re left wanting more.

A story told from the perspective of three inseparable friends who live together on the edge of a common in east London. Their shared world is ablaze with romance and rivalry, and the promise of everything to come. After 10 years pass, they are not where they had hoped to be in life. With each character hungry for what the other has, this novel shows how lives divert and intertwine as we get older. An easy read that doesn’t shy away from subject matters that give equal measures of reality and grit.