8 Best Books on Famous Writers to Read in 2025
Check out these top books about famous writers. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and maybe even spot your next favorite author.
Choosing the best books about famous writers is a bit like picking your favorite dessert—everybody has an opinion, and sometimes you end up with crumbs in your beard. For our list, we hunted for books that do more than just name-drop famous writers. We wanted stories with drama, wit, and at least one awkward dinner party. We also checked for good writing, real feelings, and a little bit of mischief. Whether you dream of writing or just like reading about famous writers who spill ink (and sometimes wine), these picks will keep you turning pages and maybe even looking up from your phone once in a while.
On this list:
8 The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
We picked this because it follows Hadley Richardson, the first wife of Ernest Hemingway. The drama of famous writers drinking in Paris, making bad choices, and getting their feelings hurt is truly a treat. It’s a peek at literary history without feeling like homework.
7 The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
This spooky wonder is here because it stars a secretive, world-famous writer spinning tales within tales. We got lost in the twists and the mystery and, honestly, started suspecting our own relatives of having wild secrets.
6 Misery by Stephen King
We had to include this classic because it turns what should be a dream—meeting your biggest fan as a famous writer—into a nightmare. Perfect for reading on a rainy day, just not if you have any book tours coming up.
5 The Wife by Meg Wolitzer
This makes the cut because it shines a light on the woman behind a ‘great man’ who is a famous writer. Our book club had a heated argument about ghostwriting for our cats after reading this.
4 Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher
We just love books with snark, and this one’s packed with it. The story unfolds through letters by a cranky professor and minor-famous writer. We found ourselves rooting for the guy, even if he can’t navigate email.
3 Possession by A.S. Byatt
This one makes you feel smart without making you feel dumb. It’s about two academics who get swept up in the secrets of two Victorian famous writers. We were so inspired, we even started writing fake love letters (they were not well received).
2 Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
We chose this for all the jazz, drama, and glitter. Zelda, wife to famous writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, takes center stage and proves she was way more than just a party sidekick. After reading, we ordered fancy cocktails and tried (unsuccessfully) to learn the Charleston.
1 On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
This is our top pick and here’s why: No other book combines the chaos, weirdness, and glory of being a famous writer better than this. King delivers real advice, wild life stories, and more jokes than we expected—like the time he worked at an industrial laundry. You get both writing tips and a memoir, so it feels like two books for the price of one. And unlike most writing books, this one never made us feel like we had to find our ‘inner muse’ in a candle lit room (thank goodness—we like normal lighting). On Writing is honest (sometimes painfully so), clear, and inspires us to write, or at least think about writing before getting distracted by snacks.
