Rich families, a secret obsession, bathtub licking, grave f*cking, and more…
Okay, so you’re OBSESSED with Saltburn…who isn’t right now?! If you’re still reeling from the mind-bending rollercoaster that was Saltburn and are craving more content just like Saltburn, with dark academia vibes, twisted family dynamics, and moody atmospheric vibes, then you’re in for a treat. Who can forget the masterful and powerful performances of Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi. Honestly…is there a moment where we’re NOT thinking about Saltburn???
This blog post brings you a curated list of books that have similar vibes to Saltburn and transport you to worlds where secrets lurk in the shadows and every family gathering feels like a powder keg ready to explode.
Get ready for a journey through the realms of gripping mysteries, tangled relationships, and that unmistakable atmospheric tension that makes Saltburn unforgettable. From psychological thrillers that will keep you guessing to novels with rich, immersive settings that’ll make you feel like you’re right there in the heart of the story, we’ve got it all.
Whether you’re a seasoned dark academia enthusiast or a newcomer looking to dip your toes into the genre, this list has something for everyone. So, buckle up, grab your favorite reading blanket, and get ready to dive into a literary adventure that’ll have you hooked from the first page. Let’s unravel the mysteries and explore the intricacies of family dynamics with these page-turners that capture the essence of Saltburn.
You’re bound to find your new favorite obsession in this list!
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Brideshead Revisisted by Evelyn Waugh
Starting off strong with Brideshead Revisited, which is mentioned directly in Saltburn!
Evelyn Waugh’s masterful work delves into the origins of desire and the barriers to love, offering a captivating exploration of the dazzling and enticing realm of English aristocracy during the twilight of the empire.
The narrative revolves around Charles Ryder’s intricate involvement with the Flytes, an esteemed Catholic family. In this novel, Waugh skillfully portrays the decline of the privileged world he once experienced in his youth, while vividly recollecting the sensual pleasures that wartime constraints denied him. Brideshead Revisited goes beyond Waugh’s earlier satirical ventures, presenting a story that is simultaneously romantic, sensual, comedic, and poignant. In transcending his early explorations, Waugh emerges as an elegiac and lyrical novelist, showcasing a profound sensitivity and clarity in his storytelling.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The OG of dark academia!
Donna Tartt’s “The Secret History” unveils the dark allure of academia as it follows a group of eccentric, elite students studying classics at an exclusive Vermont college. Narrated by Richard Papen, an outsider drawn into their enigmatic world, the novel delves into the intoxicating blend of intellectualism and decadence that leads the group to commit a murder. As the consequences of their actions unfold, Tartt explores themes of guilt, obsession, and the blurred boundaries between morality and aesthetics. A riveting psychological thriller, “The Secret History” offers a mesmerizing journey into the twisted minds of its compelling characters.
If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio
Upon his release from prison, Oliver Marks confronts Detective Colborne, the man responsible for his incarceration, eager to unveil the long-withheld truth after a decade of silence. The narrative unfolds ten years prior, within the intense confines of Dellecher Classical Conservatory, where seven aspiring Shakespearean actors navigate a world of ambition and cutthroat competition.
Amidst their roles both on and offstage, camaraderie devolves into bitter rivalry, culminating in a shocking act of real violence on opening night. Now, the former friends must grapple with a genuine tragedy, facing the challenge of convincing the police, each other, and themselves of their innocence.
Bunny by Mona Awad
Samantha Heather Mackey stands as an outsider in the exclusive MFA program at Warren University, distancing herself from a clique of pretentiously affluent girls known as the Bunnies. A scholarship student with a penchant for her dark imagination, Samantha is initially repelled by their saccharine unity. However, her world transforms when she receives an invitation to the Bunnies’ mysterious “Smut Salon.”
As she delves into their unsettling realm and participates in eerie off-campus rituals, reality blurs, and her connections with her friend Ava and the Bunnies collide with deadly consequences. In “Bunny,” a mesmerizing exploration of loneliness, friendship, and the potent realms of imagination unfolds, crafted by a fearless chronicler of the female experience.
Boy Parts by Eliza Clark
Banished from the art scene and on hiatus from her mundane bar job, Irina fixates on capturing explicit photos of average men scouted from Newcastle’s streets. Noticed for her talent, she’s invited to showcase at a London gallery, offering a chance to break free from her rut of drugs and extreme cinema.
However, this opportunity sparks a self-destructive spiral, entwined with her intense bond with a best friend and a shy supermarket acquaintance who captivates her. Irina grapples with her path, navigating relationships and confronting personal demons in a tumultuous journey triggered by the prospect of artistic redemption.
Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton
They go through both bottles of champagne right there on the High Line, with nothing but the stars over them… They drink and Lavinia tells Louise about all the places they will go together, when they finish their stories, when they are both great writers-to Paris and to Rome and to Trieste…
Lavinia will never go. She is going to die soon.
Louise has nothing. Lavinia has everything. After a chance encounter, the two spiral into an intimate, intense, and possibly toxic friendship. A Talented Mr. Ripley for the digital age, this seductive story takes a classic tale of obsession and makes it irresistibly new.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
E. Lockhart’s “We Were Liars” unravels a compelling mystery within the Sinclair family’s privileged world. Cadence, the protagonist, struggles with amnesia after a mysterious accident on her family’s private island. The narrative weaves a tale of love, loss, and fractured relationships among the Sinclair cousins, known as the Liars. As Cadence seeks to piece together the events leading to the tragedy, shocking secrets and betrayals come to light, reshaping her understanding of reality. The novel delivers a poignant exploration of memory, privilege, and the consequences of unchecked ambition, leaving readers stunned by its unexpected twists and emotional depth.
Luster by Raven Leilani
In her tumultuous twenties, Edie navigates a lackluster life in Bushwick, juggling an uninspiring admin job and questionable romantic choices. Amidst the complexities of contemporary sexual norms and racial politics, she meets Eric, a digital archivist in an open marriage with peculiar rules. Unemployed, Edie becomes an unexpected ally to Eric’s wife and an inadvertent role model to their adopted daughter, young Akila.
Raven Leilani’s “Luster” is an irresistibly unruly, sexually charged, and humor-infused exploration of Edie’s life—a striking portrait of a woman grappling with hunger, anger, and the challenges of self-belief during a tumultuous era.
These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever
In early 1970s Pittsburgh, grieving Paul seeks solace at university after his father’s death. Feeling isolated and misunderstood by his family, Paul finds a kindred spirit in the charismatic Julian, who becomes his intellectual ally against the stifling conventions of the world. Paul is determined to prove himself worthy of Julian’s friendship, relishing the invigorating life they create together.
However, Julian’s charm conceals a volatile and cruel nature, and Paul fears he can never meet Julian’s expectations. As their friendship intensifies into consuming intimacy, they journey towards irrevocable violence. “These Violent Delights” unfolds with propulsive intensity, exploring the depths of human desire and the darkness it can unleash.
Love & Virtue by Diana Reid
Whenever I say I was at university with Eve, people ask me what she was like, sceptical perhaps that she could have always been as whole and self-assured as she now appears. To which I say something like: ‘People are infinitely complex.’ But I say it in such a way—so pregnant with misanthropy—that it’s obvious I hate her.
Michaela and Eve, disparate in assurance and popularity, forge a friendship during their first year at a residential college. A blurry, alcohol-fueled encounter during O-week forces them to confront consent and power dynamics, challenging the foundations of their relationship. United initially by wit and criticism of their college’s moral shortcomings, the women grapple with the fragility of friendship and their capacity for betrayal.
Told with a contemporary, sharp voice, the narrative explores consent, class disparities, institutional privilege, and feminism, provoking enduring philosophical questions.
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh
In a medieval fiefdom plagued by natural disasters, Marek, a motherless shepherd boy, becomes an unexpected focal point in a power struggle that challenges faith to its core. Little Marek, abused and delusional, believes his mother died giving birth to him. His solace lies in the bond with the blind village midwife, Ina, whose ability to receive sacred knowledge from the natural world divides the community.
As the desperate villagers grapple with a cruel lord and governor during a year of drought and famine, Marek’s encounter with the lord’s family unleashes new and occult forces, thinning the veil between blindness and sight, life and death, and the natural and spirit worlds.
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh
In Ottessa Moshfegh’s “Eileen,” the titular character, a reclusive and discontented young woman working at a juvenile correctional facility in the 1960s, reveals her dark and twisted inner world. Eileen fixates on escape, nursing morbid fantasies while contending with her dysfunctional family. The arrival of a glamorous new coworker, Rebecca, sparks an unpredictable turn of events. As Eileen becomes entangled in a plot involving crime and self-discovery, the narrative explores themes of desire, identity, and the corrosive impact of a troubled past.
Moshfegh’s provocative storytelling captures Eileen’s complex psyche, delivering a chilling and psychologically rich exploration of a troubled soul.
The Go-Between by L. P. Hartley
This classic 1953 novel is listed specifically by the director, Emerald Fennell, as one of the primary inspirations for the typical upperclass English family featured in Saltburn.
In L.P. Hartley’s “The Go-Between,” the novel unfolds through the reflective lens of Leo Colston, a man recalling his poignant experiences as a young boy in the early 20th century. Sent to spend the summer at a grand estate, Leo becomes the unwitting messenger, or “go-between,” in a clandestine affair between his friend’s sister, Marian, and a tenant farmer, Ted Burgess. As the intermediary, Leo becomes entangled in a web of secrets, deceit, and forbidden desires, forever altering his innocence.
The narrative brilliantly captures the social constraints and class divisions of Edwardian England, intertwining them with Leo’s coming-of-age journey. “The Go-Between” is a masterful exploration of memory, the consequences of suppressed passion, and the irrevocable impact of one summer on a young boy’s life. The novel delicately navigates themes of betrayal, nostalgia, and the lingering shadows of the past.
The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis
Bret Easton Ellis’s “The Rules of Attraction” immerses readers in the decadent and disillusioned world of Camden College, where privileged students navigate a hedonistic landscape of love, drugs, and ennui. The narrative unfolds through interconnected monologues of three main characters—Lauren, Paul, and Sean—revealing their intertwining relationships, unrequited desires, and self-destructive tendencies.
Ellis crafts a vivid tableau of excess and nihilism, capturing the disaffected mindset of the 1980s college scene. As the characters grapple with their identities and elusive connections, the novel delves into themes of alienation, moral ambiguity, and the consequences of a society obsessed with surface appearances. “The Rules of Attraction” is a gritty, provocative exploration of a generation’s search for meaning amidst the chaotic backdrop of a seemingly glamorous but ultimately hollow existence.
Jawbone by Monica Ojeda
Fernanda and Annelise, nearly inseparable like sisters, find themselves entangled in a disturbing web of secrets. In a deserted cabin, Fernanda is inexplicably bound by one of her teachers, estranged from Annelise. The duo, along with friends from Delta Bilingual Academy, are led by Annelise into increasingly perilous rituals worshipping a self-invented, rhinestoned drag-queen god.
A shared secret rooted in a dare blurs the line between violence and love. Simultaneously, literature teacher Miss Clara, obsessed with emulating her deceased mother, grapples with a deteriorating sanity, inching closer to a complete break with reality.
“Jawbone” intricately weaves pop culture references and horror elements from Melville, Lovecraft, and “creepypastas,” offering a chilling exploration of adolescence’s inherent terror and the delicate balance between desire and fear.
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
In Patricia Highsmith’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” the beguiling and morally complex Tom Ripley is thrust into a world of deception and murder. Tasked with persuading the wealthy Dickie Greenleaf to return home, Ripley becomes enamored with his lifestyle. The boundaries between admiration and obsession blur as Ripley orchestrates a cunning plan to assume Dickie’s identity.
The novel unfolds against the glamorous backdrop of 1950s Italy, exploring themes of identity, desire, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Highsmith crafts a psychological thriller that delves into the darker recesses of the human psyche, challenging readers to confront the moral ambiguity within the enigmatic Ripley. The suspenseful narrative, marked by its intricate character study, propels the reader through a mesmerizing exploration of duplicity and the intricate dance between truth and falsehood.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier’s “Rebecca” immerses readers in a haunting tale of love, obsession, and the spectral presence of the deceased Rebecca de Winter. The novel follows the unnamed protagonist, a young bride, as she navigates her life at Manderley, the grand estate owned by her wealthy and enigmatic husband, Maxim de Winter. Haunted by the memory of Maxim’s first wife, Rebecca, the new Mrs. de Winter grapples with a sinister housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, who is fiercely loyal to the deceased Rebecca. As dark secrets surface, the atmosphere becomes charged with tension and suspense.
Du Maurier weaves a Gothic masterpiece, exploring themes of identity, jealousy, and the indelible imprint of the past on the present. “Rebecca” stands as a timeless classic, captivating readers with its psychological depth and atmospheric storytelling.
Three Rooms by Jo Hamya
“A woman must have money and a room of her own.” So said Virginia Woolf in her classic A Room of One’s Own. In her debut novel, “Three Rooms,” Jo Hamya reinterprets Virginia Woolf’s timeless assertion, contending that, in the 21st century, financial stability demands not just money but a personal apartment, a luxury often unattainable for many.
Spanning a year, the narrative traces a young woman’s journey through various living situations—from a rented room in Oxford, where she works as a research assistant, to a stranger’s sofa as a struggling copyediting temp, and finally back to her childhood home, forced to return jobless. Set against the backdrop of political shifts and societal upheavals, the protagonist grapples with the challenge of living a meaningful life on her own terms, questioning if she will ever attain the elusive goal of having a place to call her own.
Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
In this bold debut novel, our incisive narrator, a popular English professor, navigates the tumultuous fallout when accusations surface against her husband, also a professor, for inappropriate relationships with former students. Their previously comfortable arrangement for extramarital pursuits is disrupted by the scandal. As the couple grapples with the allegations, our narrator finds herself irresistibly drawn to Vladimir, a celebrated young novelist recently arrived on campus.
Set in a small liberal arts college, Julia May Jonas’ debut, “Vladimir,” explores the charged territory where morality collides with human impulses. Propulsive, darkly humorous, and exceptionally confident, the novel delves into the complexities of our current moment, unraveling the nuanced interplay between power and desire in a personal and political minefield.
When We Lost Our Heads by Heather O’Neill
“Every decent friendship comes with a drop of hatred. But that hatred is like honey in the tea. It makes it addictive.”
Marie Antoine, the captivating daughter of 19th-century Montreal’s wealthiest man, craves a best friend, finding a kindred spirit in the cunning Sadie Arnett. United by passion, they oscillate between attraction and repulsion, indulging in thrilling yet risky games. Separated by adults, their lives take divergent paths, marked by alternating innocence and depravity. When a pivotal event reunites them, the repercussions unravel the city.
“When We Lost Our Heads” journeys from a stifling finishing school to a vibrant brothel, immersing readers in the brutality of factories and the opulence of Montreal’s elite. This dazzling narrative delves into gender, sex, desire, and class, vividly portraying the formidable power of the human heart when it refuses to let go.
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