HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: It's "what we're writing week," and it's got me thinking about writing styles. I know what I think I write--but what do others think?
Somewhere in the deep recesses of my childhood memories, I have an image of my mother quoting
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| Portrait of Burns by Alexander Nasmyth, 1787, Scottish National Portrait Gallery |
to see oursels as ithers see us!"
which translates to
In libraries and book stores and on Amazon and everywhere else, we readers are greeted with the titration and analysis of our reading choices and the resulting suggestions for if we like X, we will like Y.
And they pretty much work!
(Pretty much.)
So let’s play "also bought" today!
If I do my own, I would say:
If you like Hank Phillippi Ryan, you will also like--Lisa Jewell and Laura Dave
If you like Hallie Ephron, you will also like--Ruth Ware
If you like Rhys Bowen, you will also like--Richard Osman
If you like Deborah Crombie, you will also--Ann Cleeves
If you like Julia Spencer-Fleming, you will also like--Sarah Stewart Taylor and Ana Reyes
If you like Lucy Burdette, you will also like--Joanne Fluke and Alexia Gordon
If you like Jenn McKinlay, you will also like--Emily Henry
Am I right? Or do you disagree?
Now: You do it.
Tell us, darling Reds and readers, who do you think all of our also-boughts are? (And, commenting authors, yours?) I would love to know--and I bet it will be pretty revealing!
Copy and paste:
If you like Hank Phillippi Ryan, you will also like
If you like Hallie Ephron, you will also like
If you like Rhys Bowen, you will also like
If you like Deborah Crombie, you will also
If you like Julia Spencer-Fleming, you will also like
If you like Lucy Burdette, you will also like
If you like Jenn McKinlay, you will also like
And authors, put yourself in! If you like (insert your name here)— you will also like:
Cannot wait to read these!
"Oh, would that some power give us,
the gift to see ourselves as others see us!"
And now, because my mother was always right, (just ask her), that ability to see ourselves as others see us becomes a mainstay of book selling!
(Pretty much.)
If you like Hallie Ephron, you will also like--Ruth Ware
If you like Rhys Bowen, you will also like--Richard Osman
If you like Deborah Crombie, you will also--Ann Cleeves
If you like Julia Spencer-Fleming, you will also like--Sarah Stewart Taylor and Ana Reyes
If you like Lucy Burdette, you will also like--Joanne Fluke and Alexia Gordon
If you like Jenn McKinlay, you will also like--Emily Henry
Am I right? Or do you disagree?
Now: You do it.
Tell us, darling Reds and readers, who do you think all of our also-boughts are? (And, commenting authors, yours?) I would love to know--and I bet it will be pretty revealing!
Copy and paste:
If you like Hank Phillippi Ryan, you will also like
If you like Hallie Ephron, you will also like
If you like Rhys Bowen, you will also like
If you like Deborah Crombie, you will also
If you like Julia Spencer-Fleming, you will also like
If you like Lucy Burdette, you will also like
If you like Jenn McKinlay, you will also like
And authors, put yourself in! If you like (insert your name here)— you will also like:
Phew! This was tough, Hank . . . . Here's my list:
ReplyDeleteIf you like Hank Phillippi Ryan, you will also like Kathy Reichs
If you like Hallie Ephron, you will also like Lisa Unger
If you like Rhys Bowen, you will also like Elizabeth Peters
If you like Deborah Crombie, you will also like Ann Cleeves
If you like Julia Spencer-Fleming, you will also like Margaret Maron
If you like Lucy Burdette, you will also like Leslie Meier
If you like Jenn McKinlay, you will also like Kate Carlisle
LOVE this! And so revealing! Xxxx
DeleteAARGH, this is hard.
ReplyDeletef you like Hank Phillippi Ryan, you will also like Allison Brennan
If you like Hallie Ephron, you will also like Carol Goodman
If you like Rhys Bowen, you will also like Susan Elia MacNeal
If you like Deborah Crombie, you will also like Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (DCI Slider)
If you like Julia Spencer-Fleming, you will also like Bryan Gruley
If you like Lucy Burdette, you will also like Eva Gates or Maddie Day
If you like Jenn McKinlay, you will also like Ellie Alexander
P.S. I am off on my solo Asia adventure starting tonight, so I will be sporadic in my comments for the next 2 weeks. Singapore is 12 hours ahead of EDT.
Have an awesome adventure, Grace!
DeleteHave a great trip, Grace!
DeleteGrace, have a great time and fabulous meals !
DeleteAww, thanks, Grace! Yes, have a splendid, delicious, and safe time.
Deletefantastic Grace, can't wait to hear about it!
DeleteThanks everyone. I learned earlier this week that Taiwan & Singapore ranked #1 &2, respectively as the happiest countries in Asia ( World Happiness Report). I am curious to find out how/why they rank so high. I am looking forward to both the unique food & cultural experiences. Oh & Taiwan is also 12 hours ahead of Ontario/EDT.
DeleteLooking forward to hearing about your trip! Bon Voyage!
DeleteOh, you are so fabulous! Have fun, and we cannot wait to hear about it!
DeleteBe safe and have a wonderful trip, Grace . . . .
DeleteI just wanted to add my words of farewell also. Have a wonderful trip!!! Stay safe! We can't wait to hear all about your adventures.
DeleteHave a great time, Grace!
DeleteReally hard for me to pick authors too! Have a great trip, Grace!
DeleteGrace, I admire your adventurous spirit! I don’t know if I could travel alone to another continent! My nephew has a friend who started traveling alone during summer vacations when she was in high school and college.
DeleteEnjoy Singapore! My cousin’s younger son and his family live there. Their kids were born there. Whenever my cousin and his wife return from visiting them, they post dozens of pictures of their activities and adventures with the kids. I would love to visit there.
DebRo
Thanks DEB RO. I spent 10 days in Singapore on my own last April-May and loved it. Going to do a few things that I missed or newly opened last year, including a 1/2:day Singaporean cooking class.
DeleteHave a great trip, Grace! I know you'll try lots of delicious food.
DeleteHank, this is a great exercise. Forgive me for just being a spectator today. It's difficult for me to compare most of the Jungle Reds to other writers. I don't feel that I have a broad enough range of other writers to choose from at this point.
ReplyDeleteJudy, I’m exactly like you on this.
DeleteI hate to say it, but "me too" - That annoys me when people reply this way. Anyway, I am currently using this list as a look up the author and see if I have read any of those books. Some, so far, I have read, but others are turning up that are new to me! Wahoo - another day of rabbit-holing and not planting geraniums!
DeleteJudy, I am there too. Just going to read through the comments.
DeleteOh, so interesting! Yes, this evolved into being even more fascinating than I thought… Because a bit more difficult! Shows you how much easier it would be if we were computers… :-). But I find it incredibly helpful!
DeleteAfter a rough sleep night, I'm late to work (and have a LOT to write to day), so I'll pop in later for a break and add mine.
ReplyDeletePoor thing! See you soon…
DeleteHmmm this is a very interesting question. Looking forward to hearing more comparisons.
ReplyDeleteI'd be curious to read which writers our JRW compare themselves to.
You know, when I thought of this, I thought it would just be an easy fun little thing. But when I tried to do it, it was a little bit of a challenge! But of course no one has to do all of them :-). I love seeing them I have to say, though.
DeleteYou know I think a lot of you are placing Lucy in the light cozy category unfairly. Her books are marketed in that genre, but are actually complex mysteries with an element of police procedural and a bit of cozy. I do not think the authors listed are like her books at all. Her books are very well written and researched. I was surprised reading her books how good they are and the writing is excellent. The book covers of her books mislead, I did not expect the complexity, nor the excellent writing.
DeleteThis is why this is such a fun exercise, thank you! How would you compare them?
DeleteI can't tell you how grateful I am for that comment, anonymous!!
DeleteHa! that was the subject of a panel. I was on at left Coast Crime. We're not quite sure what a cozy is although people are quick to say what it isn't. But I think a lot of us see ourselves more as traditional mystery writers than outright, cozy, which we like and have fun with, but which don't quite represent our work.
DeleteThat is a great blog topic for someday soon! xx
DeleteIf you like Hank Phillippi Ryan, you will also like all the Lisas —Scottoline, Unger, Jewell, Gardner
ReplyDeleteIf you like Hallie Ephron, you will also like Paige Shelton
If you like Rhys Bowen, you will also like Julia Kelly’s Evelyn Redfern series
If you like Deborah Crombie, you will also like DC Morgan series by Clare Mackintosh
If you like Julia Spencer-Fleming, you will also like Iona Wishaw
If you like Lucy Burdette, you will also like Nancy Coco
If you like Jenn McKinlay, you will Elle Cosimano
Recently discovered Iona Whishaw - and you're right!
DeleteOh, these are brilliant choices! Thank you thank you thank you! What a lot of thought went into this!
DeleteJust thought of two for Debs or Julia – Joy Ellis (Nicki Gallena) and Marion Todd – she reads her own audiobooks and is good.
DeleteOh, I don’t know those authors! Thank you!
DeleteNancy Coco - I think she is also Nell Hampton who wrote the Kensington Palace chef mysteries?
DeleteDiana, I need to look into those. I chose Nancy Coco thinking the fudge and the Mackinac Island setting were comparable to the food in Lucy’s books and the Key West setting.
DeleteBrenda, what does Elle Cosimano remind me of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum? I think Nell Hampton only wrote two books in the Kensington Palace chef mystery series.
DeleteNo brainpower available for this exercise, but I am taking notes of others' suggestions! Have a fun day!
ReplyDeleteHa! I know the feeling! I am having fun reading these, too!
DeleteI’m making a note of the authors I haven’t heard of. And some of the authors are people I’ve heard of, but I just haven’t gotten around to yet. I’ll push them higher up on my TBR list!
DeleteDebRo
This was SO hard! And I'm still not completely happy with my selections, but it is time to move on.
ReplyDeleteIf you like Hank Phillippi Ryan, you will also like Lucy Foley or Riley Sager.
If you like Hallie Ephron, you will also like Jamie Day.
If you like Rhys Bowen, you will also like Jacqueline Winspear.
If you like Deborah Crombie, you will also Ann Cleeves.
If you like Julia Spencer-Fleming, you will also like Sarah Stewart Taylor.
If you like Lucy Burdette, you will also like Maddie Day
If you like Jenn McKinlay, you will also like Paige Shelton. (Which of the latter's books depend upon which of the former's books you like.)
Thank you, Susan!
DeleteMarvelous and thoughtful choices! Love this!
DeleteNever heard of Jamie Day! Going to google her or his books online....
DeleteJacqueline Winspear is another one I thought of for Rhys!
DeleteHank, I think you are almost right, although in all those examples you presented, none of them work for me. Odd, isn't it and I can't even come up with better choices. So, I'm thinking of other books I like to see if I can predict another choice and I can't do that either. Okay, moving on, I'll just stick to what I know I like. But when someone here raves about a book I know I will read it and probably like it too!
ReplyDeleteYes, that is one reason why I think this is so interesting. It should be very easy, and it’s not like the books have to be exactly the same, of course, it’s just a question of oh, I like that type of novel.
DeleteI have no brain power for this exercise today, but reading the other comments are fascinating! Some of the matches are "Oh, of course!" and others are "Really? So interesting."
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree! That’s what I hoped would happen. Tell us more!
DeleteSo fascinating to see the comments. Some are similar to my comments.
DeleteDashing in and out:
ReplyDeleteIf you like Hank Phillippi Ryan, you will also like "all the Lisas" - brilliant, Brenda!
If you like Hallie Ephron, you will also like Edwin Hill and Lori Rader-Day.
If you like Rhys Bowen, you will also like J Winspear and Alyssa Maxwell.
If you like Deborah Crombie, you will also like Catriona McPherson and Ann Cleeves.
If you like Julia Spencer-Fleming, you will also like Louise Penny and Sarah Stewart Taylor.
If you like Lucy Burdette, you will also like Leslie Budewitz and Barbara Ross (and maybe Maddie Day...)
If you like Jenn McKinlay, you will also like Elle Cosimano.
Fabulous, Edith, and perfect! And so funny, when people ask me in events what authors I aspire to be, and who my books are similar to I actually say: “ all the Lisa’s! Scottoline, Jewell, Unger, Gardner!”
DeleteWait! I want to add Annette Dashofy to the Julia Spencer-Fleming list.
DeleteEdith, thank you for reminding us of Annette and I agree that if you like JSF, then you will like Annette.
DeleteGreat list.
DeleteYes, exactly, Annette!
DeleteNone of the 5 Cdn libraries that I have cards with carry Annette's books. Can you read them from your library sources, Grace? Have a good time - envious, I am.
DeleteAw, Edith, Diana, and Hank, you're all so sweet! Thank you. And Margo, I'm so sorry to hear that. Darn.
DeleteEdith, I like several of your comparisons very much, but I might move some of the authors around from one Jungle Red to another.
DeleteHank, this exercise is making me think!
This are all great, and I'm taking notes so I can suggest "if you likes" to readers and librarians!
ReplyDeleteOh, come on Julia :-) you have to play :-) !
DeleteOh, and one addition for me: if you like JS-F, you will also like Paula Munier.
DeleteAgree about Paula!
DeleteRhys Bowen - J. Winspear
ReplyDeleteLucy Burdette - Barbara Ross, Maddie Day and I'd like to add Valerie Burns (her character Samantha Washington started a new career as a mystery bookstore owner in N.Harbor, Michigan)
I will have to check out Elle Cosimano who others have said is similar to Jenn McKinlay.
You will LOVE Elle Cosimano, no matter who else you love!
DeleteThis is really hard!
ReplyDeleteIf you like Hank Phillippi Ryan, you will also like Louise Penny and Ann Cleeves
If you like Hallie Ephron, you will also like Lori Rader-Day and Lucy Foley
If you like Rhys Bowen, you will also like Jacqueline Winspear and P.G. Wodehouse
If you like Deborah Crombie, you will also like Caroline Graham and Elizabeth George
If you like Julia Spencer-Fleming, you will also like Katherine Hall Page and Susan Dunlap
If you like Lucy Burdette, you will also like Dianne Mott Davidson and Ellie Alexander
If you like Jenn McKinlay, you will also like Kate Carlisle and Ellery Adams and Courtney Walsh
That was me! There are so many names!
DeleteThis is GREAT! x Brilliant, Diana!
DeleteHank, thank you! It was tough because all of the JRW have original voices. Your stories reminded me of some of the excerpts of other books that I used to read in the Cosmopolitan magazines when they used to include excerpts of new novels in their magazines with illustrations of characters. That was a long time ago!
DeleteOh, that's so wise! And what a fun memory--thank you! And original voices is such a kindthing to say. Thank you!
DeleteOh, this is so much fun. but I am paralyzed. What if I do an "also buy" that offends one of the Reds?
ReplyDeleteThat would be mortifying. Cause you never know who thinks who writes like whom - whom writes like who? Ack! See? PARALYZED.
Is it "...who writes like whom or who?" I'm guessing it's ...who writes like who?
DeleteAnyone?
ooohhh HA! Trying to think who I would be offended by...hmmm...
DeleteI’m glad I’m not the only person who finds this too challenging! It’s fun, but I keep thinking I would be doing too many authors a disservice by accidentally leaving them out.
ReplyDeleteI do think that if you love Deborah Crombie you would also love Louise Penny.
If I think of any more, I’ll post them later.
DebRo
The Crombie/Penny connection is a definite! It's not that the books are the same, it's that the sensibilities are the same.
DeleteI am happy to see Edith compare Julia’s series to Louise Penny’s books. I am always saying to my Louise Penny fan friends, “If you like Louise, try the Claire Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne books by Julia Spencer-Fleming”.
ReplyDeleteI don’t have matches for everyone else at this moment, but I would move Iona Whishaw from Julia to Rhys. And I find it interesting/amusing that Jenn’s series are compared to her writing group besties Kate Carlisle and Paige Shelton (for the latter’s Country Cooking School or Scottish Bookshop series, NOT her Alaska Wild series). — Pat S
Yes, it's impossible to do a perfect match, and no one would want that. But it's just...oh, if you like this kind of book, you'll like this one, too.
DeleteYes, if you like this kind of book, you will like this book.
DeleteAck! Not playing this game. It's too hard!
ReplyDeleteHA! xx
DeleteWow, this really showed me what type of mystery I read most! Some I struggled and some I could think of so many.
ReplyDeleteIf you like Hank Phillippi Ryan, you will also like Claire MacKintosh
If you like Hallie Ephron, you will also like Lucy Foley
If you like Rhys Bowen, you will also like Sophia Bennett
If you like Deborah Crombie, you will also like Elly Griffths
If you like Julia Spencer-Fleming, you will also like Ann Granger
If you like Lucy Burdette, you will also like Krista Davis
If you like Jenn McKinlay, you will also like Ellen Byron (& the late, great Charlotte MacLeod, but she's harder to find now)
These are TERRIFIC!!!
DeleteAgreed that if you like Deborah crombie, then you would like Elly Griffith
DeleteThere’s way too many names here that I don’t know, couldn’t really do the match game. But I was struck that everyone is suggesting female authors as “you should also read” - is that on purpose or does it say something about writing styles?
ReplyDeleteOh, that is FASCINATING! And what an astute and intriguing observation. What does everyone think about that?
DeleteANd of course you don't have to do ALL of us! Just pick whoever comes to mind!
ReplyDeleteThese were so spot on and so interesting! And only apply to my mystery novels. If you like my stand alones you will also like Kate Quinn, Kate Morton etc
ReplyDeleteRhys, I thought of Kate Morton when I saw your standalones. Sometimes your standalones remind me of Alexander McCall Smith standalones.
Delete