1
by Madeline Miller
4.52021384 pages
Why you'll love it:
This literary fiction shares a achingly beautiful tragedy tone that will resonate with Tough Luck: A Novel fans.
10 Best Books Like Tough Luck: A Novel
If you loved Tough Luck: A Novel by Sandra Dallas, here are the most similar books our readers recommend.
Quick Answer
The best books like Tough Luck: A Novel are:
- 1The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller4.5
- 2The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly4.4
- 3The Jackal's Mistress by Chris Bohjalian4.5
- 4A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park4.7
- 5My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende4.3
- 6The Rose Code by Kate Quinn0
- 7The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah4.5
- 8The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris4.1
- 9The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles4.2
- 10The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett4.4
When their father disappears while gold mining in Colorado Territory, determined Haidie Richards and her younger brother escape from an orphanage and embark on a dangerous westward journey to find him. Disguised as a boy and accompanied by a colorful cast of fellow travelers including card sharks and fierce spinster sisters, Haidie must quickly learn to survive the perils of the frontier. But when she finally tracks down her father, she discovers the truth is far different from what she expected—and will need all her newfound allies for an elaborate revenge scheme.
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Detailed Recommendations
2
by Martha Hall Kelly
4.42025336 pages
Why you'll love it:
This literary fiction shares a gentle and contemplative tone that will resonate with Tough Luck: A Novel fans.
3
by Chris Bohjalian
4.52025336 pages
Why you'll love it:
This literary fiction shares a somber and contemplative tone that will resonate with Tough Luck: A Novel fans.
4
by Linda Sue Park
4.72010128 pages
Why you'll love it:
This literary fiction shares a heartbreaking but inspiring tone that will resonate with Tough Luck: A Novel fans.
5
by Isabel Allende
4.32025304 pages
Why you'll love it:
This literary fiction shares a sweeping and adventurous tone that will resonate with Tough Luck: A Novel fans.
6
by Kate Quinn
0
Why you'll love it:
This literary fiction shares a heartbreaking yet triumphant tone that will resonate with Tough Luck: A Novel fans.
7
by Kristin Hannah
4.52018450 pages
Why you'll love it:
This literary fiction shares a devastating yet resilient tone that will resonate with Tough Luck: A Novel fans.
8
by Kristina McMorris
4.12025416 pages
Why you'll love it:
This literary fiction shares a harrowing but determined tone that will resonate with Tough Luck: A Novel fans.
9
by Amor Towles
4.22021576 pages
Why you'll love it:
This literary fiction shares a contemplative and bittersweet tone that will resonate with Tough Luck: A Novel fans.
10
by Brit Bennett
4.4202112 pages
Why you'll love it:
This literary fiction shares a melancholy and contemplative tone that will resonate with Tough Luck: A Novel fans.
Quick Comparison: Books Like Tough Luck: A Novel
| Book | Author | Rating | Year | Pages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller | 4.5 | 2021 | 384 | Closest match |
| The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club | Martha Hall Kelly | 4.4 | 2025 | 336 | Similar vibes |
| The Jackal's Mistress | Chris Bohjalian | 4.5 | 2025 | 336 | Similar vibes |
| A Long Walk to Water | Linda Sue Park | 4.7 | 2010 | 128 | Similar vibes |
| My Name Is Emilia del Valle | Isabel Allende | 4.3 | 2025 | 304 | Similar vibes |
| The Rose Code | Kate Quinn | 0 | — | — | Similar vibes |
| The Great Alone | Kristin Hannah | 4.5 | 2018 | 450 | Similar vibes |
| The Girls of Good Fortune | Kristina McMorris | 4.1 | 2025 | 416 | Similar vibes |
| The Lincoln Highway | Amor Towles | 4.2 | 2021 | 576 | Similar vibes |
| The Vanishing Half | Brit Bennett | 4.4 | 2021 | 12 | Similar vibes |
Authors Who Write Like Sandra Dallas
If you enjoy Sandra Dallas's writing style, explore these similar authors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What books are most similar to Tough Luck: A Novel?
The most similar books to Tough Luck: A Novel are The Song of Achilles, The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club, The Jackal's Mistress.
What should I read after Tough Luck: A Novel?
After finishing Tough Luck: A Novel, readers most commonly pick up The Song of Achilles next.
Who writes books like Sandra Dallas?
Authors similar to Sandra Dallas include Taylor Jenkins Reid, Madeline Miller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Colson Whitehead, Brit Bennett.
What genre is Tough Luck: A Novel?
Tough Luck: A Novel is a Literary Fiction novel by Sandra Dallas, published in 2025.
How long is Tough Luck: A Novel?
Tough Luck: A Novel is 288 pages long.
About Tough Luck: A Novel
In this homage to True Grit, a young woman makes a perilous journey west in 1863 in search of her gold-mining father.After their mother dies, Haidie Richards and her younger brother, Boots, are put to work in an orphanage. Their father left four years earlier to find a gold mine in Colorado Territory, and since then he’s sent only three letters. Still, Haidie is certain that he is alive, has struck gold, and will soon send for them.But patience is not one of Haidie’s virtues, and soon she and her brother make a break for it. Boots and Haidie, disguised as a boy, embark on a dangerous journey deep into Western territory. Along the way, Haidie learns fast not only how to handle mules, oxen, and greedy men, but also that you are better off in a community. Hers includes a card shark, independent “spinster” sisters, and a very fierce dog. Once she arrives in Colorado and finds out the truth about her father, Haidie will need all her new friends for a get-even plot worthy of The Sting.Filled with vivid period detail, colorful characters, and the irreverent voice of our scrappy heroine, Tough Luck celebrates both the tenacity of youth and the persistence of the heart in the great American West.