18 Books You Must Read If You Love "Succession"

    “On a dumb level, I’d like my reading list to be off the hook.” —Kendall, probably

    Martha Stortz
    by Martha Stortz

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    Between bad decisions, competition, and secrets, there’s no story better than a fucked up family, and there is no family on TV more fucked up than Succession’s Roy family. Kendall is in competition with Shiv, who hates Roman, who wants to sleep with Geri, who resents Logan, who hates everyone. The family drama genre makes great television and even better books. Here are 18 books you must read if you love Succession. 

    1. The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney

    Ecco Press

    Like Succession, The Nest follows the Plumbs, a wealthy family of adult siblings who have way too much privilege and far too little self-awareness. Their lives revolve around “the nest,” a family trust fund that has been put at risk by older brother Leo (the Plumb version of Kendall) and his bad behavior (including a DUI  — sound familiar?). The Plumb family isn’t as cruel as the Roys, but the family drama is very real.  

    Get it from Bookshop. 

    2. I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb

    Harper

    IKTMIT is one of Wally Lamb’s best (IYKYK), and though the Birdsey family isn’t rich, the familial dynamics are very much the same. Protagonist Dominic struggles with the power his family holds over him despite trying desperately to leave his past behind him, and like the relationship between Kendall, Shiv, and Roman,  Lamb perfectly captures the mixed feelings of loving and resenting someone you are inevitably linked to forever. 

    Get it from Bookshop.

    3. Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen

    Farrar, Straus and Giroux

    The male Jodi Picoult is known for his family sagas, and this one is no exception. The novel focuses on the Hildebrandt family in the 1970s, and kids Clem, Becky, Perry, and Judson echo the interesting Roy family roles of Son Who Feels Like Failure, Try Hard Daughter, Drug and Sex Son, and Comic Relief Kid. 

    Get it from Bookshop.

    4. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

    Penguin Books

    This terrific novel evokes many of the same themes as Succession — the weight of parental expectations, the worry of familial disappointment, and what it means to fail. If seeing Shiv get gaslit and manipulated by Logan breaks your heart, this book is for you. 

    Get it from Bookshop.

    5. The Best Kind of People by Zoe Whittall

    Ballantine Books

    The Best Kind of People follows a family living in a wealthy suburb of Connecticut. The father, George, is a beloved schoolteacher who is accused of sexual misconduct, much to the disbelief of his loving family. The journey as the family negotiates their feelings and beliefs is a slow burn so captivating and twisting, it will have you going from telling people that “Dad’s plan is better” to appearing on national television just to call him out in just a few hundred pages. 

    Get it from Bookshop.

    6. How to Murder Your Life by Cat Marnell

    Simon & Schuster

    Cat Marnell’s debut book is a memoir, but Marnell’s life is so captivating that it reads like a novel. She describes her life growing up with wealthy parents and endless access to drugs and details her career working at some of the top magazines. If Cat and the Roys existed in the same universe, you know she would be partying regularly with Roman.

    Get it from Bookshop.

    7. Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

    Bantam

    If you want more from Cousin Greg’s perspective, this is your read. Summer Sisters follows Victoria, the best friend of wealthy and beautiful Caitlin. Victoria gets invited to vacation with Caitlin’s family every year, and straddles the line between living as a rich brat during the summers while going back to her regular life during the year. 

    Get it from Bookshop.

    8. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

    Crown Publishing Group

    You may have seen Sharp Objects as a miniseries starring Amy Adams, but the book is definitely worth a read. It’s about a journalist who goes back to her hometown to cover a string of murders, only to get trapped in her family’s web of wealth, secrets, and lies. Matriarch Adora is the female version of Logan Roy if he got into debutantes instead of dividends, and lead character Camille mirrors some of the trauma and desire for love we see in the Roy kids. 

    Get it from Bookshop.

    9. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

    William Morrow & Company

    This classic novel has all the John Irving hallmarks: prep school, New Hampshire, and weird sex scenes. It also has tons of parallels with Succession: old money, conflict between the old and new generations, and a main character with a God complex. With an ending that is more hopeful than tragic, this is a great read for those of us who love the wealth of the Roys but not the common cruelty. 

    Get it from Bookshop.

    10. American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

    Random House

    American Wife follows Alice, a woman who starts dating a man from a powerful Republican family, only to find herself as the First Lady years later. It’s loosely based on Laura Bush’s life story, but the dynamics between Alice and Charlie could be a window to Willa’s mind and her decision to get (and stay) with Connor Roy. 

    Get it from Bookshop.

    11. The Guest List by Lucy Foley

    William Morrow & Company

    The Guest List is basically what would have happened at Shiv’s wedding had Kendall’s actions not been swept under the (likely six-figure) rug. It features a destination wedding on a fancy, private island where one guest suspiciously ends up dead. This one is a thrilling page-turner you won’t be able to put down.

    Get it from Bookshop.

    12. The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer

    Riverhead

    Like the Roy children, the characters in The Interestings are NYC rich kids who consider themselves talented, brilliant, incredible, show-stopping, and the rest of the Lady Gaga quote. As they start to grow up, a traumatic incident is perpetrated by a member of the group, and each member must decide which side to choose. The themes of loyalty, NYC wealth, and characters with far too much self-esteem give this novel great Succession vibes. 

    Get it from Bookshop.

    13. Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

    St. Martin's

    If you’ve been longing for more of the Roy family from the perspective of Lady Caroline, mother of Kendall, Shiv, and Roman, look no further. This unnerving novel details the life of Suzette and her young daughter, Hanna. Hanna appears to be sweet and loving to her father, Alex, but is manipulative and displays traits of psychopathy when behind closed doors with Suzette. Hanna’s cruelty is so extreme and unflinching that she could have been the creator of Boar on the Floor. 

    Get it from Bookshop.

    14. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

    Little, Brown

    If the quips and wit of the Roys is the main reason you tune in every Sunday, Sedaris’s collection of essays on his family life is right up your alley. In this book, his stories about his dysfunctional family evoke laughter ("Us and Them"),  laughter with a side of sadness ("Let It Snow"), and just plain sadness (when the book ends).

    Get it from Bookshop.

    15. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

    Ballantine Books

    The Riva family is the emotionally healthy version of the Roys; when they realize their famous father is toxic early in life, they distance themselves rather than seek out his love. However, this rich and famous family of adult siblings still have their own secrets and conflicts, and like Kendall, choose to destroy what they cannot control.

    Get it from Bookshop.

    16. Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perrotta

    Scribner Book Company

    This novel tells the story of a hardworking woman, Eve, and her college-age son Brandon who seems to squander all his opportunities. Brandon definitely has the hallmarks of a Roy, but the best part of this book is the May-December romance that takes the Geri/Roman tension to a whole new level.

    Get it from Bookshop.

    17. The Vacationers by Emma Straub

    Riverhead

    If Succession’s yacht scenes have made their way on to your vision board, add The Vacationers to your library holds. In this book, a family travels to Mallorca with a group of their friends and family, only to deal with secrets like infidelity (à la Shiv), wanting kids (à la Tom), and desire (everyone).

    Get it from Bookshop.

    18. Atonement by Ian McEwan

    Anchor

    In this story, Briony, a young girl from a wealthy family in 1935 England, falsely accuses the housekeeper’s son of sexual assault, resulting in his arrest and the estrangement of her sister. The novel revolves around her lifelong regret and sadness, a perfect exploration for anyone who really felt for Kendall post-Ketamine car crash despite his bad actions.

    Get it from Bookshop.