“The family is like the forest: if you are outside it is dense; if you are inside you see that each tree has its own position.”
If Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing left you moved, inspired and keen for more stories with the same emotional depth and historical insight, you’re far from alone. Homegoing deftly intertwines the lives of two half-sisters and their descendants across generations, shedding light on the lasting impacts of slavery, colonialism and generational trauma. Its unique structure and powerful storytelling have made it a modern classic, one which plenty of readers are eager to explore other books like Homegoing. Which is why, whether you’re drawn to multigenerational novels, stories about African and African-American heritage or historical fiction that explore themes of racism and resilience, we here at What We Reading have the best follow-up novels for you! From interconnected stories about family legacies to tales that uncover hidden family histories, these reads are all sure to captivate and challenge you just as much as Gyasi’s iconic work does!
Things Fall Apart (The African Trilogy #1) – Chinua Achebe
First up on our list of books like Homegoing is Chinua Achebe’s classic novel, Things Fall Apart. Profoundly African, the story follows Okonkwo, a respected leader and warrior in the village of Umuofia, whose life begins to unravel due to his steadfast adherence to tradition and the arrival of European missionaries. As the new colonial government undermines the Igbo way of life, the novel poignantly depicts the clash between cultural preservation and forced assimilation.
Achebe’s book is sure to resonate with any fans of Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing thanks to its exploration of African heritage and the far-reaching effects of colonialism. Similar to Homegoing, it offers a nuanced perspective on how cultural identity and generational trauma are shaped by historical context.
The Twelve Tribes Of Hattie – Ayana Mathis
Ayana Mathis’ The Twelve Tribes of Hattie is a poignant multigenerational novel that follows Hattie Shepherd, a strong-willed woman who flees the Jim Crow South for Philadelphia in search of a better life. The story begins in 1925 with the devastating loss that forms Hattie’s unrelenting determination to protect her family no matter the cost.
Through a series of interconnected chapters, the novel charts the lives of Hattie’s children and grandchildren, each grappling with their own struggles and the legacy of their matriarch’s resilience and sacrifice. Like Homegoing, Mathis’ story examines the impact of history and the strength of family bonds, using its multigenerational structure to explore themes of trauma, survival and identity.
Americanah – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Ifemelu is a young Nigerian woman who moves to the United States to study at university, leaving behind her first love, Obinze. In America, Ifemelu grapples with her identity as a Black woman in a new culture, establishing a popular blog where she shares incisive observations about race. Meanwhile, Obinze takes a different path as he navigates undocumented status in London.
Years later, the two reunite in Nigeria and reflect on the ways they’ve changed and what they’ve lost in the process. Similar to Homegoing, Americanah is one of the most powerful books. It explores cultural heritage and the effects of systemic racism, offering an emotionally resonant perspective on the African and African diasporic experience.
Washington Black – Esi Edugyan
Esi Edugyan’s Washington Black is an adventurous and emotionally resonant novel similar to Homegoing about an enslaved young boy’s journey to freedom and self-discovery. The story opens on a sugar plantation in Barbados where eleven-year-old Washington ‘Wash’ Black is selected as a personal assistant to Christopher ‘Titch’ Wilde, an eccentric inventor and abolitionist.
When a shocking event forces them to flee, Wash sets out on a globe-trotting adventure – from the Arctic tundra to London and beyond – while grappling with the scars of his past and searching for where he belongs in the world. Along the way, Wash’s knack for scientific illustration blossoms, demonstrating the complexity of his identity and aspirations.
Pachinko – Min Jin Lee
Pachinko is a sweeping multigenerational saga about a Korean family’s struggle for survival and identity in twentieth-century Japan. The novel begins with Sunja, a young woman in 1930s Korea who becomes pregnant by a wealthy, married man. Rejecting him, she marries a kind but sickly pastor and moves to Japan, facing immense discrimination and hardship as a Korean immigrant.
Over four generations, Sunja’s descendants grapple with questions of loyalty, ambition, and belonging while navigating the challenges of poverty, war, and systemic racism. Min Jin Lee intricately weaves personal and family histories with larger historical events, offering an intimate look at how heritage, oppression, and resilience shape generations in a way any fans of Yaa Gyasi are sure to love.
Check Out The Best Books Like Pachinko
The Shadow King – Maaza Mengiste
Set in Ethiopia in the 1930s, Maaza Mengiste’s The Shadow King is a gripping historical novel that follows the lives of the women who fought alongside the men to defend the nation from the Italian invasion during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. The central figure in the story is Hirut, a young orphan who becomes a soldier in the Ethiopian army. As Italy prepares to invade, Hirut and others like her take up arms, defying traditional gender roles and confronting the harsh realities of war.
Similar to Homegoing, The Shadow King explores the complexity of African heritage and the enduring effects of the colonial age. Both novels intertwine personal struggles with broader historical forces, offering a powerful narrative about the resilience of individuals and communities in the face of oppression.
Roots: The Saga Of An American Family – Alex Haley
Alex Haley’s Roots is an epic historical novel that traces the lineage of an African man, Kunta Kinte, who is captured and sold into slavery in America. The story chronicles multiple generations, following Kunta’s descendants as they endure the horrors of slavery, fight for their freedom and ultimately forge new lives in an evolving United States.
Through the lives of Kunta, his children and their descendants, Roots is another one of the best books like Homegoing for examining the long-lasting effects of slavery on African and African-American identities across generations.
A Brief History Of Seven Killings – Marlon James
Set against the backdrop of 1970s Jamaica, A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James explores political turmoil, violence and the rise of reggae music. The story orbits around the infamous attempted assassination of reggae icon Bob Marley, seen through the lens of multiple different narrators.
From gangsters and journalists to political figures and victims, each character’s perspective offers a fresh glimpse into the events leading up to and following the assassination attempt. A Brief History of Seven Killings delves into the impact of corruption, race and power struggles, whilst capturing the vibrancy and pain of Jamaican life during a time of immense social upheaval. Like Homegoing, James’ work is a multivocal narrative that highlights the enduring effects of violence, oppression and resilience.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
