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10 Books Like YELLOWSTONE for a Literary Cowboy Journey

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Addison Rizer

Contributor

Addison Rizer is a writer and reader of anything that can be described as weird, sad, or scary. She has an MA in Professional Writing and a BA in English. She writes for Book Riot and Publishers Weekly and is always looking for more ways to gush about the books she loves. Find her published work or contact her on her website or at addisonrizer at gmaildotcom.

It seems like everyone is talking about Yellowstone these days. And for good reason! The violent Western drama follows the Dutton family as they manage the largest ranch in Montana and fend off anyone and anything that tries to get in their way. USA Today calls it the “biggest series on TV” as its fifth season wraps up. With its spin-offs, 1883 and 1923, there’s more than enough to jump into for the long haul. Full of soap-opera-esque family drama, bloody violence, and gorgeous landscapes, there’s something for everyone. If you’re looking for more books like Yellowstone, we’re here to help.

Some point out the narrow point of view the show takes with diversity, focusing — as often happens in Westerns — on the problems of white male cowboys. While the show does portray some Indigenous, queer, and Black stories, the focus is the Duttons and their desperation to keep their land the way it is despite issues with looming developers and the nearby Native reservation. It’s fairly well known the Western genre tends to have a one-track mind when it comes to whose stories it tells.

So, here are 10 great books like Yellowstone, with some alternate perspectives to the typical Western included, too!

no country for old men cormac mccarthy book cover

No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy

After serving as a sniper for the Army, Llewelyn Moss is out in the desert shooting when he finds a left-behind pick-up truck with dead men all around. Inside is a briefcase full of money that he can’t resist taking. Now, the men who did this are on his tail, wanting the money back that they so willingly killed for already. For fans of the violence and blood in the Yellowstone series, this one’s for you!

Cover of a Sharp Solitude by Christine Carbo

A Sharp Solitude by Christine Carbo

More wilderness than Western, this follows the investigation into the murder of a journalist in remote Montana by the Canadian border. When FBI agent Ali Page sees that the finger is being pointed at her ex-boyfriend and daughter’s father, who last saw the journalist alive, she starts to poke around to clear his name. Set against a brutal landscape and with interpersonal drama at risk of getting out, Yellowstone fans will still enjoy the tale despite the not-so-Western aspects.

Book cover of How Much of These Hills Is Gold

How Much of These Hills is Gold by C Pam Zhang

After the death of their mother, Lucy and Sam have only their father, who spends his days hunting for gold in the West. That is, until he dies, turning them into orphans in a mining town. Now, the siblings need to find the perfect place to bury their father while navigating an unforgiving landscape during the Gold Rush. The familial themes and the harsh world are perfect for Yellowstone fans.

In the Distance by Hernan Diaz book cover

In the Distance by Hernan Diaz

On the way to the United States from Sweden, Hakan and his brother have a long journey ahead. When they get separated while headed for New York, Hakan jumps on a ship, hoping to reunite with him there. But when his ship ends up in California, he starts the long slog of traveling across the United States to find him. If the landscape of Yellowstone is your thing, this book has some of the most beautiful descriptions of the West as Hakan travels through it.

Cover of Wounded by Percival Everett

Wounded by Percival Everett

John Hunt is a Black horse trainer running his ranch in remote Wyoming in the aftermath of his wife’s death. When a young gay man is murdered, and nearby animals start to turn up dead, violence creeps closer to his life. Taking a young man from Chicago under his wing, John shows him the ways of farm life. With community tension rising and a blizzard on the way, John’s life is about to get a lot less stable.

Cover of The Solace of Open Spaces by Gretel Ehrlich

The Solace of Open Spaces by Gretel Ehrlich

After Gretel Ehrlich journeys to Wyoming for work, grieving the death of her partner, she finds herself staying in the wilderness for longer than intended. This nonfiction collection of personal essays sheds light on the reality of the American West in the 1970s and the people who lived and loved there.

Cover of Outlawed by Anna North

Outlawed by Anna North

After Ada marries her husband as a teenager, a clock starts ticking down. She must have a child within a year or risk being hanged. As time passed with no child, Ada decided to run away, joining an outlaw group called the Hole in the Wall Gang. To get a safe and comfortable life, they must put their lives on the line to make it happen.

Inland by Téa Obreht Book Cover

Inland by Téa Obreht

Left on his own to survive as a child, Lurie takes up employment with The Coachman, a grave robber and outlaw, where he finds a semblance of family. That is, until his involvement gets him wanted and on the run. Years later, Nora is responsible for maintaining her family farm while her husband goes off in search of water. When her sons go off too, she’s worried about their return and just how thirsty she’s getting. The storylines weave together in unexpected ways as both haunted people seek solace in their memories.

Cover of Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

For three decades, Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call were Texas Rangers fighting whoever crossed their path. As the turmoil of the time calmed, they formed a stable in Lonesome Dove, where they planned one last hurrah before they settled down, driving cattle from Texas to Montana. The relationships are at the forefront of this touching Western.

Cover of Yellow Back Radio Broke-Down by Ishmael Reed

Yellow Back Radio Broke-Down by Ishmael Reed

In the Western town of Yellow Back Radio, Loop Garoou, a Black cowboy, is out for revenge. Drag Gibson is the white and wealthy owner of basically the whole town, and he does what he pleases, including killing anyone and everyone he can. Loop decides to use his voodoo powers to get back at the violent man. More of a satire of the Western, this one’s beautiful and surreal — perfect for someone interested in a different take on the genre.


For more cowboy Western vibe books, check out 28 of the best Western books or these 8 alternate history Westerns!

Have another TV show you’re just dying for a similar book to but can’t seem to find one anywhere? Check out Book Riot’s Tailored Book Recommendation (TBR) service, where professional Bibliologists are experts in finding the perfect book for you. After filling out a survey on your tastes, your Bibliologist will come up with three recommendations just for you. With options to just get the recommendations or to get hard copies of the books sent right to your door, there’s something for everyone. Next time you become obsessed with a show and need a literary version, check out TBR!

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