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If Saltburn left you reeling—equal parts shocked, thrilled, and maybe a little obsessed—you’re not alone. Emerald Fennell’s psychological thriller is a wicked cocktail of dark academia vibes, biting social satire, and moments so jaw-dropping they’ve practically taken over TikTok. It’s a story about an outsider stepping into a glittering world of wealth and privilege, only to get tangled in obsession, seduction, and moral decay.
That’s exactly what these books deliver. Whether you’re craving a psychological thriller about social climbers, a Gothic drama dripping with secrets, or a campus novel where charm hides moral rot, this list of books like Saltburn will pull you deep into worlds you might not want to leave—until it’s far too late.
Related: Popular Dark Academia Books | Books Like The Secret History | Psychological Thriller Books
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
If Oliver Quick’s quiet charm and manipulative streak hooked you in Saltburn, Tom Ripley will have you equally transfixed. Sent to Italy to bring the wealthy and carefree Dickie Greenleaf back home, Tom is quickly seduced by Dickie’s glamorous lifestyle—and even more dangerously, by the idea of becoming him. Patricia Highsmith’s classic is a sun-soaked psychological thriller filled with envy, deception, and the intoxicating pull of someone else’s life.
These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever
This one is pure obsession, just like Oliver and Felix’s tangled relationship. Set in the 1970s, it follows two college students whose intense bond blurs the line between love and destruction. As their lives intertwine, ambition turns toxic and devotion becomes dangerous. If you’re looking for that slow-burn spiral into emotional ruin, These Violent Delightsdelivers in spades.
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
For more of Saltburn’s intoxicating wealth-meets-outsider dynamic, Brideshead Revisited is a must. Narrated by Charles Ryder, it’s the story of his fascination with the aristocratic Sebastian Flyte and the glamorous—but complicated—Flyte family estate. It’s a lush, nostalgic portrait of privilege, longing, and the bittersweet cost of being drawn into someone else’s rarefied world.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
If you loved Saltburn’s dark academia undercurrent, Tartt’s cult classic should be at the very top of your list. It follows a tight-knit group of elite classics students at a small New England college whose intellectual pursuits lead them down a path of murder and betrayal. With its mix of privilege, moral ambiguity, and hypnotic prose, it’s the perfect companion read.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
If Oliver’s arrival at Saltburn felt like stepping into another world, Rebecca offers that same disorienting glamour—with a sinister twist. A young woman marries the enigmatic Maxim de Winter and moves into his sprawling estate, Manderley, only to find herself haunted by the shadow of his late wife. It’s a Gothic tale of wealth, secrets, and the creeping realization that beauty can hide rot beneath the surface.
The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst
For a more contemporary take on class and desire, Hollinghurst’s Booker Prize–winning novel follows Nick Guest, a middle-class Oxford graduate who moves in with the wealthy family of a college friend. Set against the backdrop of 1980s London, it’s a sharp, sensual exploration of social climbing, identity, and the intoxicating pull of high society—themes that feel right at home in the world of Saltburn.
Bunny by Mona Awad
If you couldn’t get enough of Saltburn’s mix of privilege and unhinged characters, Bunny cranks the weirdness up to eleven. Samantha, a scholarship student at an elite MFA program, gets drawn into the orbit of a clique of eccentric, almost cult-like girls who call each other “Bunny.” What starts as quirky quickly spirals into surreal and sinister territory—a darkly funny take on belonging, power, and the cost of fitting in.
The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis
Obsessive fixations? Check. Privileged prep school setting? Check. Serial killer on the loose? Ellis’s thrilling page-turner follows Bret, a 17-year-old in 1980s Los Angeles, whose fascination with new student Robert Mallory becomes entwined with a string of brutal murders. Like Saltburn, it’s a slow-burn unraveling of desire, paranoia, and blurred boundaries between truth and invention.
The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis
Ellis’s earlier campus novel offers a satirical, hedonistic look at three affluent college students caught in a messy love triangle. The narrative jumps between perspectives, making you question every character’s truth—much like Saltburn’s slippery sense of morality. It’s sexy, cynical, and dripping with dark humor.
The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley
One of the inspirations for Saltburn, this classic novel captures the sense of being an outsider in a rarefied world. During the summer of 1900, young Leo spends the holidays at his wealthy school friend’s estate, only to be pulled into carrying secret messages between two lovers. What begins as innocent fun leaves a mark that changes him forever—a quiet, devastating meditation on innocence, class, and betrayal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saltburn and Similar Books
Is Saltburn based on a book?
No — Saltburn is an original screenplay written and directed by Emerald Fennell. While it’s not adapted from a novel, it draws inspiration from classic literature and themes often found in dark academia, Gothic fiction, and psychological thrillers. Some critics have compared its tone to The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Go-Between, and Brideshead Revisited.
What makes a book similar to Saltburn?
Books like Saltburn often share a few key elements:
– An outsider drawn into a glittering world of wealth and privilege
– Complex, morally ambiguous characters
– Themes of obsession, desire, and betrayal
– Elite academic or high-society settings
– A dark, often satirical look at class divides
What should I read first if I loved Saltburn?
If you want the closest thematic match, start with The Talented Mr. Ripley for its intoxicating mix of charm, deception, and moral decay. If you’re more drawn to the academic side, go for The Secret History. And if you want Gothic glamour with a sinister twist, Rebecca is a classic for a reason.