Jamie Beck Reflects on Storytelling, Inspiration, and the Power of Literature

Literary Inspiration From a Bestselling Author

Bestselling author Jamie Beck discusses her favorite books, literary inspirations, unforgettable heroines, and her love for emotionally and intellectually compelling stories that challenge and change how readers view the world.

Jamie Beck’s ability to weave vivid, emotionally resonant stories has firmly established her at the pinnacle of contemporary fiction. With eighteen acclaimed novels under her belt, Beck is not just a prolific storyteller but also a powerhouse of literary talent. Her works, which have earned critical praise and captivated more than three million readers globally, are known for their intelligent plots, heartwarming moments, and indelible honesty. A two-time finalist for the Booksellers’ Best Award and a winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award, Beck has a penchant for delivering characters you root for, stories that touch your soul, and themes that stay with you long after the final page. Her novels, such as If You Must Know and The Memory of You, showcase her rare ability to examine life’s challenges—family, love, loss, and forgiveness—with grace and authenticity.

In this interview, Beck shares her unfiltered thoughts on books that have shaped her, characters who inspire her, and her enduring admiration for literary icons like Jodi Picoult and John Irving. From her thoughtful reflections on what moves her most in literature to her favorite lesser-known reads, Beck’s insights offer an inspiring glimpse into the mind behind the magic. Whether you are an avid fan or new to her work, this conversation serves as a testament to Beck’s mastery of her craft and her unwavering passion for storytelling. We are thrilled to spotlight her here at Novelist Post, where great fiction finds its champions.

What is your favorite book that no one has heard of?

Last year I read WHAT COMES AFTER, a debut by Joanne Tompkins, after seeing a New York Times review of the story. The premise is centered around a teenage murder-suicide, and is told from the viewpoints of the father of the murdered teen, the murdering teen himself (his chapters are all on “his last day”), and a mysterious teen girl both boys met not long before the murder/suicide occurs. As I said in part of my Goodreads review, “It’s masterful, plumbing the depths of what it means to be human, and forcing the readers to question what we believe about concepts like truth, evil, God/divine, as well as being a handbook on how to go about the business of forgiveness.” It’s not an easy read, but it’s really captivating, and it will leave you changed for having read it.

Which two writers do you admire most?

This is a terribly difficult question because I admire many authors for many different reasons. That said, if pressed, Jodi Picoult has long been an author I have admired not only for her skillful and thoroughly researched storytelling, but also because she’s unafraid to tackle life’s and society’s complex problems. Her gift for looking at multiple sides of issues is unparalleled and something I strive to do in my own work.

Another author I’ve always admired is John Irving. A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY remains an all-time favorite, but THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP and CIDER HOUSE RULES are also tremendously rich and compelling stories. He’s another author who takes on big issues but sets them in small families and communities, where a reader can chew on the complexities in a safe and familiar space.

Who is your favorite fictional heroine?

This is fairly easy because I still often think about Isabelle Rossignol from Kristin Hannah’s THE NIGHTINGALE. If you haven’t read the book, it’s set during World War II in occupied France. The story revolves around two sisters, but Isabelle is the young, impetuous one who gets involved in resisting the occupation. Her risk-taking begins with secretly distributing anti-Nazi propaganda, but her courage grows to the point where she becomes integral to a plan to help downed Allied airmen escape to the British embassy in neutral Spain. I don’t want to say more about her fate in case someone who reads this interview wants to pick up the book, which has been optioned to become a major motion picture. It’s fabulous!

What moves you most in a work of literature?

To move me, two things must occur: I need to be emotionally invested in the protagonist and his/her stakes, and I need to be intellectually challenged. That’s not to say I don’t also enjoy light romps and creepy suspense novels. But the books that live with me and change how I move through the world must open my eyes to something in a fresh way, and must grab my heart hard. Some recent examples include LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY, OUR MISSING HEARTS, THE VANISHING HALF, and WE ARE CALLED TO RISE.

What plan to read next?

My book club has selected Ann Napolitano’s HELLO, BEAUTIFUL, so that’s at the top of my TBR pile. I will probably balance that out with a psychological suspense novel and a rom-com, because I like to mix things up. I learn a lot about craft from reading widely, and some days I find myself in just the right mood for a certain kind of story.