8 Books Like Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (Readalikes)

So you read this sister story by Yaa Gyasi, and now you’re on the hunt for books like Homegoing? Welcome!

Recommending readalikes can be a tricky process, but as I said in the first post in this series, I enjoy the process of finding similar threads running through even books that appear different on the surface. Today’s pick is Yaa Gyasi’s sweeping debut novel about two sisters separated by events during the African slave trade and the ripple effects throughout their families spanning over several decades.

I’ve also shared readalikes for fans Gyasi’s sophomore release Transcendent Kingdom in the past, so you can check that out if you enjoyed that book. Here’s my readalike criterion: Each book I recommend must have at least three strong similarities with the beloved title. For each recommended book, I’ll also highlight major differences to keep in mind, just in case they might put you off. If you loved this book, here are more books like Homegoing.

Ready? Let’s go.

Books Like Homegoing

Pachinko

Similarities:

Sweeping family saga spanning several decades
Rich historical fiction about Japan and Korea
Strong immigration theme

Differences:

Set in Asia, not Africa
Not centered on two sisters, but one woman’s family

Diamond Head

Similarities:

Heavy family drama and dysfunction
Story spans several decades
Love, secrets intertwined with Chinese and Hawaiian history

Differences:

Set in China and Hawaii, not Africa

Kintu

Similarities:

Generational family saga
Set in Uganda, Africa
Rich historical details

The Most Fun We Ever Had

Similarities:

A family story spanning several decades
Focuses on sister-sister relationships, but also on their parents’ relationship
Full of family drama and revelations

Differences:

Not set in Africa or related to immigration

These Ghosts are Family

Similarities:

Family story spanning decades
Immigration and slaver are major themes
Love, infidelity, and family drama

Differences:

Set in Jamaica and the US, not Africa

Commonwealth

Similarities:

Immersive family saga
Follows parents and siblings over several decades
Sibling drama and family secrets

Differences:

Not set in Africa
No real focus on immigration, race, or slavery

The Vanishing Half

Similarities:

Two sisters take separate life paths
Generational family saga
Race and prejudice are major themes

Differences:

Not set in Africa

Half of a Yellow Sun

Similarities:

Set in Nigeria, Africa
Follows the relationship of two sisters over a decade
Strong connections to history, immigration, and war

Differences:

No real slave trade connections

Your turn! Which books like Homegoing would you recommend and why? I’d love to hear from you. Also, I would love your help with this series. Which middle-grade, chapter books, or picture books, or even YA books would you love readalikes for? Let me know!

Hello! I'm Afoma.

8 Books Like… Homegoing