Books like The tin can tree by Anne Tyler

In the chilling third entry of the Dollanganger saga, half‑brothers Jory and Bart navigate jealousy, a new family secret, and a mysterious old neighbor, all while the family's dark past looms.

On Beauty explores a New England family’s life as they confront love, identity, and cultural divides over three decades, weaving personal struggles with broader conversations about race and belonging.

Macon Leary, a cynical travel writer, shuns itineraries until a fuzzy-haired dog‑trainer sparks an unexpected voyage of love and self‑discovery.

A contemporary family drama in which a mother‑child relationship is complicated by a companion chimpanzee, raising questions of identity, secrecy and moral responsibility.

Penelope Keeling reflects on a bohemian childhood, wartime romance, and a priceless family portrait as her children debate its future.

Anne Tyler’s humorous novel reimagines Shakespeare’s "The Taming of the Shrew" as a contemporary family story set in the United States, exploring marriage, gender roles, and generational dynamics.

Novel

When a mysterious old man arrives in the sleepy town of Bascom, North Carolina, his tales promise to alter the lives of the Waverley women and shake the quiet rhythm of their community.

Charlie Crosby, a bereaved widower in Maine, struggles to rebuild his life after the death of his daughter Kate while navigating the collapse of his marriage and the emotional weight of his family legacy.

After a tragic loss, Darby Lane seeks healing in her Baton Rouge hometown, finding new love with Russ’s brother Ben while her aunts help mend broken family ties.

"Anne Tyler gives us a wise, haunting, and deeply moving new novel in which she explores how a middle-aged man, ripped apart by the death of his wife, is gradually restored by her frequent appearances--in their house, on the roadway, in the market. Crippled in his right arm and leg, Aaron has spent his childhood fending off a sister who wants to manage him. So when he meets Dorothy, a plain, outspoken, independent young woman, she is like a breath of fresh air. Unhesitatingly, he marries her, and they have a relatively happy, unremarkable marriage. But when a tree crashes into their house and Dorothy is killed, Aaron feels as though he has been erased forever. Only Dorothy's unexpected appearances from the dead help him to live in the moment and to find some peace. Gradually he discovers, as he works in the family's vanity-publishing business, turning out titles that presume to guide beginners through the trials of life, that maybe for this beginner there is a way of saying goodbye. A beautiful, subtle exploration of loss and recovery, pierced throughout with Anne Tyler's humor, wisdom, and always penetrating look at human foibles"--

In Anita Brookner’s *A Family Romance*, Jane Manning confronts the arrival of her glamorous aunt Dolly into her modest family circle, exposing the shifting attitudes toward identity, gender and family power.

Willa Drake, from tumultuous beginnings to a looming future, flees to Baltimore to help a stranger’s family, discovering community rituals, eccentric neighbors, and unexpected solace as she navigates life’s turning points.

When a long‑married couple drive to a friend’s funeral in Baltimore, they confront the hopes and hurts that have shaped their 28‑year relationship.

A compelling family drama set in 1965 Baltimore, following seventeen‑year‑old Ian Bedloe as he grapples with guilt after a reckless confrontation with his brother that leads to tragedy and a lifelong quest for redemption.

When 40‑year‑old Delia Grinstead disappears while on a family vacation, her husband and children are left to confront a life suddenly empty. Tyler examines the quiet rupture of identity, relationships, and the longing for a fresh start.

Ben Joe Hawkes, a law student from a North Carolinian family, returns home to confront memories, family tensions, and unexpected feelings after a sister’s divorce.

Two families waiting for their Korean‑adopted babies meet at the airport, and their lives become intertwined at an annual welcome party. As the families navigate friendship, grief and cultural tension, a widowed Donaldson courts Maryam, an Iranian‑American whose values are challenged.

Before and After follows a New England family whose peaceful life is shattered when the son is suspected of murdering a teenage girl, forcing each member to confront hidden motives, secret anger, and community judgment.

Emma Harte Lowther Ainsley rises from a Yorkshire maid to one of the world’s most powerful businesswomen, her relentless ambition forging a vast empire amid love, loss, and the harsh realities of poverty.

Shortlisted for the 1993 Booker Prize.