If reading Just Kids was a seminal moment in your career as a reader, and one whose pages left you longing for more – more poetic prose, more electric creative companionship, more of that raw, luminous portrait of an artist’s becoming—you’re not alone.
Patti Smith’s best-selling and award-winning memoir isn’t just a book; it’s become something of a rite of passage for young creatives. But where do you go after closing that final, aching page? Whether you’re searching for another deep dive into a defining cultural scene, a fever dream of nostalgia, or a portrait of love entwined with artistry, these books will scratch the same itch. From Didion to Flea, here’s what to read next if you're looking for books like Just Kids...
1. Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith
Yes, it's easy to reach for the obvious choice, but if you're simply craving more of Smith's beautiful prose, you’d do well to pick up one of her other books. Having read a few, my personal favourite is 2015's Year of the Monkey. It doesn't follow the same narrative structure as Just Kids – then again, most of her books don’t – but it’s one of the most lyrical and effortlessly absorbing. IMHO, it’s also among her most accessible.
2. Didion & Babitz by Lilli Anolik
If you're after an insider’s look at a vibrant creative scene from the 70s, Lili Anolik’s new book, Didion & Babitz, offers a fascinating glimpse into the Franklin Avenue literary world—and the lives of two of its most compelling figures, Eve Babitz and Joan Didion. Anolik’s writing, while occasionally leaning into the gossipy, is sharp, witty, and utterly engaging – making it the perfect entry point into the artistic circles that shaped 60s and 70s Los Angeles. She’s interviewed just about everyone from the era who’s still around to tell the tale, so expect some refreshingly candid insights.
3. Acid for the Children by Flea
Another memoir from a musical prodigy, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea’s autobiography is a sun-drenched reflection on his childhood, spent drifting between New York and Los Angeles. Like Just Kids, it’s filled with youthful name-dropping and a caravanserai of colourful characters – but what sets it apart is Flea’s wonderfully boyish, free-spirited prose, capturing the restless energy of his early years with a nostalgic, almost dreamlike warmth.
4. The White Album by Joan Didion
Didion is an icon for a reason, and The White Album is one of her finest works. Her life intersected with many of the most defining moments and figures of the 60s and 70s – from the Manson murders to the Kennedys – and here, she does what she does best: becoming the ultimate observer, distilling chaos into razor-sharp, unflinching prose.
5. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins-Reid
If it was the music in Just Kids that captivated you, then Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestselling Daisy Jones & The Six is an effortless next step fictional, yes, but just as immersive. A fast, absorbing read, it channels the raw energy of 70s rock ‘n’ roll, perfect for anyone who loves Almost Famous or has Fleetwood Mac on repeat.
6. Insomniac City by Bill Hayes
When people tell me what they loved about Just Kids, it’s often the dynamics of its central relationship – one between Patti Smith and her creative counterpart, Robert Mapplethorpe. If it’s a love story steeped in art and devotion that you’re after, Insomniac City by Bill Hayes is a must-read. Detailing his deeply moving, unconventional relationship with famed British neurologist, naturalist, and writer Oliver Sacks, Hayes explores life, love, grief, and the beauty of the unexpected with stunning poignancy.
