10 Margaret Atwood Books Every New Reader Needs to Pick Up

Margaret Atwood is one of those authors whose name comes up constantly whenever people talk about great modern literature. Even readers who have never picked up one of her novels have probably heard of The Handmaid’s Tale. But Atwood’s career stretches far beyond one famous book. She has written dystopian fiction, historical fiction, literary novels, speculative fiction, and even darkly funny stories about relationships and survival.

What makes Atwood such an interesting writer is that her books often feel unsettlingly realistic. Even when she writes about strange futures or collapsing societies, there is always something recognizable underneath it all. Her stories are filled with complicated people trying to survive systems that seem bigger than them. Sometimes those systems are political, sometimes social, and sometimes completely personal.

For new readers, getting into Margaret Atwood can feel intimidating because she has written so many books over the decades. Some are easier to start with than others. That is why this list focuses on the Margaret Atwood books that are perfect entry points for readers who want to understand why she is considered one of the greatest living authors.

If you have been wanting to read Margaret Atwood but didn’t know where to begin, these are the books you should start with.

Margaret Atwood Books Every New Reader Needs to Pick Up

• The Handmaid’s Tale
• Alias Grace
• Oryx and Crake
• Cat’s Eye
• The Blind Assassin
• The Testaments
• Surfacing
• The Robber Bride
• Hag-Seed
• The Edible Woman

The Handmaid’s Tale

It is impossible to talk about Margaret Atwood without starting with The Handmaid’s Tale. Even decades after it was published, the novel still feels disturbingly relevant.

Set in the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian society that has overthrown the United States government, the story follows Offred, a woman forced into reproductive servitude because fertility has become rare. Women are stripped of their rights, identities, and freedom while society hides behind religion and control.

What makes the novel so powerful is how believable it feels. Atwood famously said that she did not include anything in the book that had not happened somewhere in history before. That realism is exactly what makes the story so haunting.

Despite its heavy themes, The Handmaid’s Tale is also incredibly readable. The chapters are short, the prose is sharp, and the tension keeps building until the very end. It is easily one of the best dystopian novels ever written and the perfect introduction to Atwood’s work.

Alias Grace

If you prefer historical fiction over dystopian fiction, Alias Grace is the Margaret Atwood book you should read first.

Inspired by a real 19th-century murder case in Canada, the novel follows Grace Marks, a servant who was convicted of helping murder her employer and his housekeeper. Years later, a doctor interviews Grace in hopes of discovering whether she is truly guilty or simply a victim of circumstance.

What makes this novel so fascinating is how unreliable everything feels. Grace is an incredibly compelling narrator, but you are never completely sure whether she is telling the truth. Atwood slowly peels back layers of memory, trauma, class inequality, and gender expectations.

The atmosphere in this book is incredible. It feels cold, tense, and deeply psychological. Readers who enjoy mystery novels mixed with literary fiction will probably love this one.

Oryx and Crake

Margaret Atwood has written many dystopian novels, but Oryx and Crake might be her strangest and most ambitious.

The story takes place after a global catastrophe has wiped out most of humanity. The protagonist, Snowman, appears to be one of the last surviving humans while strange genetically engineered creatures roam the world.

As the novel moves back and forth between the past and present, readers slowly learn how scientific greed, corporate power, and environmental destruction led to the collapse of civilization.

What makes this novel stand out is how ahead of its time it feels. The book explores genetic engineering, climate collapse, corporate obsession, and the dangers of unchecked technology in ways that feel even more relevant today.

It is darker and more science fiction heavy than some of Atwood’s other novels, but it is also one of her most rewarding books.

Cat’s Eye

Not every Margaret Atwood novel is dystopian. Cat’s Eye proves she can write just as powerfully about ordinary life.

The novel follows Elaine Risley, a painter returning to Toronto for an art exhibition. As she revisits her childhood memories, she reflects on the toxic friendships and emotional cruelty she experienced as a young girl.

What makes Cat’s Eye unforgettable is how honest it feels about childhood relationships. Many books focus on bullying between boys, but Atwood explores the quieter and more psychological cruelty that can exist within female friendships.

The emotional depth in this novel is incredible. It captures memory, shame, loneliness, and identity in a way that feels painfully real.

Readers who enjoy character-driven literary fiction should absolutely pick this one up.

The Blind Assassin

The Blind Assassin is one of Margaret Atwood’s most celebrated novels, and once you read it, it becomes obvious why.

The story follows Iris Chase, an elderly woman reflecting on her complicated life and family history after the death of her sister Laura. But this novel is layered in an unusual way. Inside Iris’s story is a novel supposedly written by Laura, and inside that novel is another science-fiction story being told by two lovers.

It sounds complicated, but Atwood handles it brilliantly.

The novel slowly reveals family secrets, betrayals, class tensions, and emotional scars. It is the kind of book where everything comes together beautifully by the end.

This is probably not the easiest Margaret Atwood novel for beginners, but it is one of her best. Readers who love layered storytelling and literary mysteries will find a lot to admire here.

The Testaments

After decades of readers asking for a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood finally released The Testaments.

Set years after the events of the original novel, the story follows three different women connected to Gilead. One of them is Aunt Lydia, one of the most fascinating and terrifying characters from the original book.

Unlike The Handmaid’s Tale, which feels intimate and claustrophobic, The Testaments is more plot-driven and suspenseful. It explores resistance, corruption, and survival from multiple perspectives.

While it works best if you have already read The Handmaid’s Tale, it is still worth mentioning because it expands the world in interesting ways and gives readers answers they waited decades for.

Surfacing

Surfacing is one of Margaret Atwood’s earlier novels, but many longtime fans consider it one of her most important works.

The story follows an unnamed woman returning to rural Quebec to search for her missing father. As she spends more time isolated in nature, the novel becomes increasingly psychological and surreal.

This book explores identity, memory, environmental destruction, and emotional repression. It is quieter than some of Atwood’s more famous novels, but it contains many themes that would later appear throughout her career.

The atmosphere is what makes this novel memorable. It feels eerie and dreamlike while still remaining emotionally grounded.

Readers who enjoy introspective literary fiction will appreciate this one.

The Robber Bride

One thing Margaret Atwood does exceptionally well is writing morally complicated characters. The Robber Bride might contain one of her most unforgettable creations.

The novel follows three women whose lives have all been disrupted by the manipulative and mysterious Zenia. Even after supposedly dying, Zenia suddenly reappears and forces the women to confront old wounds and betrayals.

This book is funny, sharp, dramatic, and surprisingly entertaining. Atwood explores friendship, jealousy, revenge, and power dynamics with her usual psychological insight.

What makes the novel stand out is Zenia herself. She is one of those characters who completely takes over every scene she appears in.

If you want a Margaret Atwood novel that feels more character-focused and darkly humorous, this is a great choice.

Hag-Seed

Margaret Atwood even managed to put her own spin on Shakespeare.

Hag-Seed is a modern retelling of The Tempest that follows Felix, a theater director who begins teaching Shakespeare in a prison after his career falls apart.

The novel explores revenge, grief, creativity, and redemption while also being surprisingly funny.

What makes this book accessible for new readers is how playful it feels compared to some of Atwood’s darker novels. Even readers who are not familiar with Shakespeare can enjoy the story.

It is one of Atwood’s most entertaining books and a reminder that she can balance literary depth with humor.

The Edible Woman

Published in 1969, The Edible Woman was Margaret Atwood’s first novel, and it still feels surprisingly modern.

The story follows Marian, a young woman who slowly becomes unable to eat as she struggles with societal expectations surrounding marriage, femininity, and identity.

The premise sounds strange, but the novel works as both satire and psychological exploration. Atwood examines consumer culture, relationships, and the pressure placed on women in ways that still resonate today.

What is interesting about this novel is seeing the beginning of themes that would later define Atwood’s career. You can already see her sharp observations about power and gender dynamics.

For readers interested in seeing where it all started, this is an excellent place to begin.

Why Margaret Atwood’s Books Still Matter

A lot of classic authors eventually start feeling distant from modern readers, but Margaret Atwood’s novels continue to feel relevant.

Part of that comes from the themes she explores. Her books deal with power, inequality, environmental collapse, loneliness, control, and survival. These are not issues that disappear over time. If anything, many of them feel even more urgent today.

But another reason her books endure is because of how readable they are. Atwood writes literary fiction without making it feel inaccessible. Her prose is intelligent but clear, and her stories are often filled with suspense and psychological tension.

Even readers who normally avoid literary fiction often find themselves pulled into her novels.

If you are completely new to Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale is probably the best starting point. After that, it depends on what genres you enjoy most. Readers who love historical fiction should try Alias Grace, while science fiction fans should pick up Oryx and Crake. Readers who prefer emotional literary fiction may connect more with Cat’s Eye or The Blind Assassin.

No matter where you start, Margaret Atwood is the kind of writer who stays with you long after you finish the last page. Her books are unsettling, intelligent, emotional, and unforgettable.

And once you read one, you will probably want to read them all.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook