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by Naoise Dolan
Exciting Times drops you into the life of Ava, a young Irish woman teaching English in Hong Kong, navigating a messy love triangle between Julian, a wealthy banker, and Edith, a sharp, compelling lawyer. This isn't your typical romance; it's a deeply observant and often bitingly funny look at modern relationships, class dynamics, and the quiet anxieties of being in your twenties. Naoise Dolan's prose is incredibly precise, full of dry wit and astute observations that make you pause and nod in recognition. The emotional landscape is a tightrope walk between detachment and longing, making for a uniquely introspective read. If you appreciate a novel that dissects the unspoken rules of connection with a cynical eye and a surprising undercurrent of tenderness, this one's for you. It’s a book for those who love to think about what people aren't saying as much as what they are.
If you found yourself captivated by Ava's sharp, introspective voice and the intricate power dynamics in Exciting Times, you'll find kindred spirits in our curated list. We looked for books that share Dolan's talent for dissecting modern relationships with a cynical wit, often featuring young women navigating complex love triangles or unconventional romantic arrangements. Whether it's the hyper-analytical approach to class and connection, or the observational humor in the face of emotional precarity, these novels offer similar textures and thought-provoking insights into the messiness of contemporary life.
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by Sally Rooney
Like Dolan, Rooney explores the complexities of modern relationships and power dynamics through a detached, hyper-analytical lens. Both novels feature young, intellectual women navigating love triangles and social class in a way that feels both intimate and cynical.
This novel shares the sharp, observational prose and dry humor found in Exciting Times, focusing on a young woman in a complicated romantic arrangement. It tackles themes of race, class, and the precarity of modern life with a similarly unflinching and witty perspective.
by Elif Batuman
Fans of Ava's linguistic preoccupations and deadpan narration will appreciate Selin's intellectual journey through university. Both books capture the awkwardness of early adulthood and the way language both facilitates and hinders human connection.
by Sally Rooney
This book mirrors the epistolary-style intellectual debates and the focus on the ethics of wealth and privilege found in Exciting Times. It offers a deeply contemplative look at friendship and romance against the backdrop of a collapsing world.
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by Megan Nolan
While darker in tone, this novel shares the Irish setting and the raw, honest exploration of obsessive romantic dynamics. It delves into the internal life of a woman who is hyper-aware of her own self-destructive tendencies, much like Ava.
by Coco Mellors
This novel captures the same sense of urban loneliness and the messy intersections of wealth, art, and romance. It features a cast of flawed, witty characters navigating the highs and lows of relationships in a major metropolitan setting.
by Sylvia Plath
A classic touchstone for the 'disaffected young woman' trope, Plath's prose has the same sharp, crystalline quality as Dolan's. It explores the feeling of being an observer in one's own life and the pressures of societal expectations.
If you enjoyed Ava's cynical outlook and the clinical way she views her surroundings, Moshfegh's narrator offers an even more extreme version of that detachment. It is a biting satire of modern wellness and alienation.
This novel shares a similar focus on the female body, autonomy, and the systems that govern women's choices. The writing is sparse and rhythmic, creating a tense atmosphere that fans of Dolan's precise prose will appreciate.
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