If you liked
Books like The Cider House Rules
by John Irving
The Cider House Rules is John Irving's big-hearted novel about an orphanage, an obstetrician who quietly performs abortions, and the boy he raises to be a good man. It is warm, moral, and unafraid of hard subjects. If you want more sweeping, humane novels about conscience and family, read on.
The shortlist
What to read next
A Prayer for Owen Meanyby John Irving
“A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving 1989 review. Johnny Wheelwright narrates his friendship with Owen Meany, a tiny child convinced he is God's instrument, across decades. Irving's canonical work.”
The Dutch Houseby Ann Patchett
“The Dutch House by Ann Patchett 2019 review. A brother and sister exiled from their childhood home park on the curb across the street for fifty years. Pulitzer Prize finalist.”
Crossroadsby Jonathan Franzen
“Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen 2021 review. The Hildebrandt family across the first months of 1971 in suburban Chicago. Franzen's structural return to form and first book of the Key trilogy.”
Cutting for Stoneby Abraham Verghese
“Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese 2009 review. Twin brothers are born in 1954 Addis Ababa to a secret affair between a nun and a surgeon. Verghese's first major novel and one of the canonical contemporary American literary novels of medicine.”
Bel Cantoby Ann Patchett
“Bel Canto by Ann Patchett 2001 review. South American guerrillas take an opera singer and her audience hostage in a vice-presidential mansion. Orange Prize and PEN/Faulkner winner.”
The Heart's Invisible Furiesby John Boyne
“The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne 2017 review. Cyril Avery's life across seven decades - adopted out of 1945 Catholic Cork, navigating the closeted gay Ireland of the 1960s through the 2010s. Boyne's literary commercial masterwork.”
FAQ
Common questions about The Cider House Rules read-alikes
- I want more John Irving.
- A Prayer for Owen Meany is the essential companion, his novel of faith, fate, and an unforgettable small boy who believes he is God's instrument. Same moral weight and warmth as The Cider House Rules.
- I want a serious novel about conscience and family.
- Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen centers a pastor's family and takes moral questions seriously, and The Dutch House by Ann Patchett follows siblings and the making of a life. Both share Irving's blend of heart and gravity.
- I want the sweeping, warm-hearted saga.
- Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese (twin brothers, medicine, and betrayal) and Bel Canto by Ann Patchett both deliver immersive, big-hearted storytelling. Either is a satisfying next read.
- I want a whole life across the decades.
- The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne follows one Irish life across seventy years with humor and heartbreak. A strong pick if the long, generous arc of Irving is what you love.
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