The classics are a classic for a reason. These iconic pieces of literature stand the test of time. With memorable characters and enduring influence, they can pull in readers of any era. And while we may not be navigating the trials of the Great Depression like in To Kill a Mockingbird or experiencing the extravagance of the Roaring Twenties like in The Great Gatsby, the universal themes in these novels still apply to our lives today.

If there’s classic you’ve read again and again, try a fresh take with one of these read-alikes. Or if you’ve always meant to read that one book but never got around to it (guilty), try one of these modern reads that might evoke many of the same feelings.

And while a classic never get old, these stories from contemporary authors just might be one of your new favorites. Download the Libby app to start reading or listening.

If you liked To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee...

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
🎧 Audiobook

Written by a young lawyer dedicated to defending the poor or wrongly condemned, Just Mercy mirrors the courtroom drama and moral quest in Harper Lee’s classic. It provides a modern look at the justice system’s flaws and the fight for human rights.

If you liked The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald...

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
🎧 Audiobook

Kwan’s New York Times bestseller offers a modern take on the glitz and glamour of the wealthy elite. It parallels the extravagance and superficiality of high society in The Great Gatsby, combined with a love story complicated by society’s expectations.

If you liked Little Women by Louisa May Alcott...

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
🎧 Audiobook

This series follows the lives of the Penderwick sisters as they grow up. Like Little Women, the story is centered around familial love, the unique bond among sisters, and the adventures and challenges of growing up. The Penderwicks’ close-knit family echo the warmth and charm of the March family.

If you liked Frankenstein by Mary Shelley...

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
🎧 Audiobook

This dystopian novel explores what it means to be human, the consequences of scientific advancement, and the search for identity and purpose. Like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, it raises ethical questions about creation and the responsibility of creators towards their creations.

If you liked Beloved by Toni Morrison...

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
🎧 Audiobook

Gyasi’s award-winning novel traces the parallel paths of two half-sisters and their descendants over several generations, from the Gold Coast to the plantations of the American South and beyond. Just as in Morrison’s classic, Homegoing sheds light on slavery’s troubled legacy and its enduring impact, as well as the struggle for healing.

If you liked Brave New World by Aldous Huxley...

The Circle by Dave Eggers
🎧 Audiobook

This bestselling dystopian novel delves into a near-future world and tackles surveillance, privacy, and the frightening intrusions of technology in our lives. Like Brave New World, it examines the dangers of a society where technology is used to control and manipulate people.

If you liked Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte...

The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey
🎧 Audiobook

This modern retelling of Jane Eyre is set in 1960s Scotland. Like Jane, Gemma Hardy is an orphan who faces many hardships but remains determined to shape her own destiny. This “innovatively interpreted modern twist” (Boston Globe) includes themes of the Gothic original with a modern-day touch.

If you liked War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy...

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
🎧 Audiobook

This novel, set in war-torn Chechnya, follows the lives of several characters over five dramatic days. Like War and Peace, it explores the impact of war and the transcendent power of love in wartime.

If you liked Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen...

Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
🎧 Audiobook

This modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice is set in contemporary Cincinnati and follows the Bennet family, with a plot mirroring Austen's classic. Sittenfeld tackles gender, class, courtship, and family, but adds updated twists and modern issues.

*Title availability may vary by library & region.

Check out your library for more books, both modern and classic. Your local librarian is one of the best resources for more read-alikes—just ask!