While BookTok has been a point of contention among avid readers over the past couple of years, there is no doubt that it has inspired many people to get into—or get back into—reading. There is absolutely nothing wrong with modern, trending books. However, much of their appeal comes from their tropes, intricate plots, and characterizations, which often originate from Classic Literature.
Classic novels can get a bad rap for being intimidating or boring, but all it takes is finding the right book. So, without further ado, here is my list of classic novel recommendations based on your favorite BookTok book:
1. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
For fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass
Fans of passionate enemies-to-lovers, class issues, social conflict, and a brooding male protagonist will love Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights.
While Wuthering Heights isn’t necessarily a fantasy novel, the Gothic supernatural elements should be enough to satisfy any fantasy lover, especially when coupled with the politics of gender roles and class conflict. Swap out the faerie realm for the Yorkshire Moors, and you’ve essentially got the same book—and bonus points for an unmatched level of yearning.
Buy on Amazon or Bookshop
2. Maurice by E.M. Forster
For fans of The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Maurice utilizes the same friends-to-lovers, forbidden romance, and coming-of-age tropes that pull at the heartstrings of Song of Achilles fans.
Following the friendship-turned-romance between two boys at boarding school in 20th-century England, the recommended book is a journey of self-discovery. The protagonist navigates the tumultuous social and political change occurring in pre-war British society while reconciling with his sexuality.
While The Song of Achilles ends more tragically than Maurice, the unrequited love and struggle between personal and societal expectations mirror each other. Forster and Miller’s lyrical styles are perfect for readers who want to be swept away into a beautifully described world.
3. Persuasion by Jane Austen
For lovers of People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Fans of PWMOV, as well as slow-burns, second-chance romances, friends-to-lovers, and miscommunication tropes, will love Persuasion by Jane Austen.
Austen’s protagonist Anne Elliot is the perfect counterpart to the witty, bubbly, and confident Poppy from PWMOV. After being persuaded to reject a love interest due to class differences, she gets a second chance when he returns eight years later. While apart, the couple keeps in touch through letters. The narrative thus jumps between their current and past love affair, structured similarly to Henry’s modern novel. This classic novel recommendation is the ideal fix for hopeless romantics who enjoy prolonged pining and heartwarming happy endings.
4. Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
For fans of The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Much Ado About Nothing: the original enemies-to-lovers. Beatrice and Benedick, rivals whose families think they are hopelessly single, trick them into falling in love with one another. After fake courting to embarrass one another, they realize their feelings are more genuine than they thought.
The witty banter and ridiculous scenarios in Much Ado rival any modern enemies-to-lovers. Moreover, the subplots offer interesting and often chaotic juxtaposition to the main storyline. The play is short and sweet with a happy ending.
5. The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim
For fans of Happy Place by Emily Henry
If you loved the idyllic escape, relationship dramas, and interwoven storylines brought to you by Happy Place, then you should read The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim.
In this 1920s novel, four London women reside in a rented-out Italian castle for the month of April. After independently finding an advertisement in the newspaper calling “Those who Appreciate Wisteria and Sunshine.” Similar to Henry’s labrynthine narratives and timelines, An Enchanted April follows the love, friendship, and self-discovery of each woman during their stay in the villa.
This classic novel recommendation is charming and witty, featuring beautiful descriptions and characters that you will instantly fall in love with. It is, indeed, perfect for anyone who appreciates Wisteria and Sunshine.
7. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
For fans of The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Are you a fan of dark academia? Intrigued by the world of privilege, love, lust, secrecy, and corruption in The Secret History? Then you just might love Brideshead Revisited.
Richard Papen was drawn to the allure of his wealthy classmates’ frivolities during his time at a liberal arts university. Similarly, Charles Ryder’s infatuation with the Flyte family throughout his Oxford days pulls him into the world of privilege and corruption.
While Brideshead Revisited differs from TSH in specific plot points, the academic and nostalgic aesthetic is extremely evocative of Donna Tartt’s world. It’s a light-academia version of Tartt’s thriller, if you will.
7. Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
For fans of In Memoriam by Alice Winn
Giovanni’s Room touches readers with gorgeous prose and thematic explorations of love, loss, identity, and relationships. This short novel is a heartbreakingly complex love story that will resonate if you enjoyed sobbing over In Memoriam.
Giovanni’s Room is set in 1950s Paris and follows the relationship of David, an American expatriate, and Giovanni, an Italian bartender. The plot follows their friendship-turned-affair, as well as the feelings and frustrations that David experiences during his sexual awakening. Like Gaunt of In Memoriam, David struggles to reconcile with his sexuality and how it departs from the societal expectations of the era for a man of his social class and upbringing.
8. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston
For fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
For readers who enjoy lyrical prose, plot twists, interesting literary structures, and a badass female protagonist, Their Eyes Were Watching God is a surefire hit!
Like Evelyn Hugo, TEWWG uses a frame narrative structure and is thus told in a reflective and nostalgic tone. The plot twists build slowly and keep the audience engaged. Where Evelyn Hugo follows the life of a fictional Hollywood star through her seven marriages, TEWWG chronicles the life of Janie Crawford through her three marriages.
Both center around a female protagonist and employ marriage to probe themes of love, self-discovery, and freedom as women. In TEWWG, Janie Crawford navigates the complexities of race, gender, and identity in a segregated, post-war America. This banned book subverts gender roles and racial divides, and it is widely deemed to be one of the most important books in American literary history.
Branch out as a Reader
While there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying more contemporary writing, it’s always nice to varying genres and styles. Aside from their artistic merit, Classic works are foundational in literary development and exercise great cultural influence, so they are worth exploring! I hope that one or more of the recommended will appeal to you and become your gateway into classic literature. Happy reading!
