It Takes Two To Make a Thing Go Right: 15 Great Books with Two Authors
There are a tremendous number of books with two authors. Some are written under a single pen name, like Charles Todd and Christina Lauren. Some are a powerhouse team, like Kill the Farmboy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne and the soon-to-be released What If It’s Us by besties Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera. And some are even written by actual couples, like the forthcoming memoir The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman.
Whatever the situation, they are all to be commended. It’s hard to write a book, and doing it with another person takes coordination and teamwork. Here are 15 examples of great books with two authors. Chris Traeger voice: There are literally thousands and thousands more. This is just the teeniest tip of the iceberg. Tell us your favorites in the comments!
Tiny Pretty Things
by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton
The first in an intense young adult duology about the cutthroat world of dance in a drama-filled ballet school in New York City.
The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub
A thriller about a young boy who goes on a search for an epic Talisman to save his dying mother. I read this at a young age, and remember it being the first time I realized a book could have more than one author.
Roomies by Christina Lauren
The “Christina Lauren” behind this Broadway romance is actually BFFs Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. Interestingly, in my research, I discovered there is another book called Roomies authored by two people: Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando have one too.
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Beautiful CreaturesThis is the first in a gothic fantasy series for young adults. It later became a movie starring Jeremy Irons and future Han Solo Alden Ehrenreich.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Get out the tissues: Writing this WW2 novel was a lifelong dream of librarian Shaffer’s, but she was too ill by the time of its completion and asked her niece Barrow to finish the editing and rewriting.
The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Dr. Howard Cutler
Even someone as enlightened as the Dali Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, needs a helping hand now and then. This is about how he stays happy in the face of the world’s suffering.
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Good OmensOne of contemporary literature’s most popular collaborations, the subtitle of which (witch?) is The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch. Soon to be a television show starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen.
S. by J. J. Abrams and Doug Dorst
A book-within-a-book, about two people working out their lives in the margins of the novel Ship of Theseus. And yes, it’s that J.J. Abrams.
Another Faust by Daniel Nayeri and Dina Nayeri
The Nayeri siblings kicked off their Another series with this delicious debut about gifted children at the Marlowe School. The newly-arrived students compete against each other—and the Devil.
de Kooning: An American Master by Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan
de Kooning: An American MasterSometimes collaborations can even garner a Pulitzer prize. For instance, this biography of the famous American abstract expressionist painter did just that in 2005.
Some Sing, Some Cry by Ntozake Shange and Ifa Bayeza
These two sisters, award winners in their own right, collaborated on this beautiful family saga about the Mayfields in America.
The Royal We by Heathers Cocks and Jessica Morgan
The creators of the celebrity fashion blog Go Fug Yourself wrote this royal romance novel, inspired by Prince William and Kate Middleton.
BURN FOR BURN by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
BURN FOR BURNBefore she was helping Lara Jean find all the boys she loved before, Han was collaborating with Vivian on this trilogy about three girls who band together to get revenge on the people who have wronged them.
The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling
The classic steampunk novel about Charles Babbage and his Analytical Machine in the nineteenth century.
All the President’s Men by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein
One of the most famous collaborations of all time, it’s the story of how Woodward and Bernstein uncovered the Watergate scandal, with a little help from someone named Deep Throat.
What are your favorite books with two authors?
