What Are Some Books Like 'What Was That!'?

If 'Something Happened' by Joseph Heller left you craving more of that existential corporate dread mixed with dark humor, you might wanna check out 'Then We Came to the End' by Joshua Ferris. It's got the same vibe of office absurdity and the soul-crushing monotony of white-collar life, but with a more contemporary twist. Ferris nails the collective voice of a dysfunctional ad agency, and the way he balances hilarity with melancholy is downright Heller-esque. Another solid pick is 'The Pale King' by David Foster Wallace. It’s unfinished, but the fragments we got are pure gold—bureaucratic hell meets philosophical musings. Wallace’s attention to the numbing details of office work and the quiet desperation of his characters feels like a spiritual successor to Heller’s work. Bonus points if you enjoy dense, thought-provoking prose that lingers long after you’ve put the book down.

I couldn't put 'It' down—that blend of horror and coming-of-age nostalgia just hit different. If you loved the small-town dread and kids-facing-darkness vibe, try 'Summer of Night' by Dan Simmons. It's got the same eerie childhood bonds and lurking evil, but with a Midwestern twist. Then there's 'Boy's Life' by Robert McCammon—less horror, more magical realism, but it captures that bittersweet transition from innocence to understanding so well. For something more recent, 'The Chalk Man' by C.J. Tudor nails the dual-timeline mystery with a dash of supernatural unease. And if you're craving another epic horror tome, 'NOS4A2' by Joe Hill (King's son!) has that sprawling, interconnected darkness with a creative villain. Honestly, I've reread all of these at least twice—they scratch that same itch 'It' left behind.

If you loved the creeping dread and cosmic horror of 'The Thing on the Doorstep,' you've got to check out 'The Shadow Over Innsmouth.' It's another Lovecraft masterpiece, but with this oppressive, fishy atmosphere that sticks to you like damp clothes. The way the protagonist slowly uncovers the town's secrets feels like peeling back layers of moldy wallpaper—uncomfortable but impossible to stop. For something more modern, 'The Ballad of Black Tom' by Victor LaValle reimagines Lovecraftian themes through a fresh lens. It tackles the racism in the original works while delivering that same sense of existential terror. The protagonist’s journey from street-smart hustler to someone unraveling horrors beyond comprehension is utterly gripping.

If you loved the eerie, unsettling vibe of 'Something's Not Quite Right', you're probably craving more stories that leave you with that same lingering sense of unease. One book that immediately comes to mind is 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski. It’s a labyrinth of a novel, both literally and figuratively, with its unconventional formatting and layers of narrative that mess with your perception. The way it builds dread is masterful—you’ll find yourself checking over your shoulder while reading. Another great pick is 'The Southern Reach Trilogy' by Jeff VanderMeer, especially the first book, 'Annihilation'. It’s got that same blend of psychological horror and existential mystery, where the environment itself feels like a character. The prose is hauntingly beautiful, and the unanswered questions stick with you long after you finish. For something shorter but equally chilling, 'I’m Thinking of Ending Things' by Iain Reid plays with unreliable narration and a creeping sense of doom. It’s a quick read, but it’ll gnaw at your brain for days.

If you loved the quirky, layered storytelling of 'Oh, Say Can You See?', you might enjoy 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski. Both books play with structure in a way that feels almost interactive, blending mystery and metafiction. 'House of Leaves' is a labyrinth of footnotes and shifting narratives, much like the experimental vibe of West's work. Another great pick is 'S.' by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst. It’s a book within a book, filled with handwritten margin notes and inserts, creating a puzzle-like experience. If you’re into stories that demand active participation, these will keep you glued for hours. I still flip through 'S.' sometimes just to spot details I missed the first time.

If you loved 'Who’d Have Thought' for its blend of romance and emotional depth, you might enjoy 'The Hating Game' by Sally Thorne. Both books have that irresistible enemies-to-lovers tension, but what sets them apart is the way they explore vulnerability beneath the banter. 'The Hating Game' is sharper in its workplace rivalry, while 'Who’d Have Thought' leans into the fake-dating trope with a softer, more introspective touch. Another gem is 'Get a Life, Chloe Brown' by Talia Hibbert. It’s got the same warmth and humor, but with a focus on chronic illness representation and personal growth. The chemistry between Chloe and Red is electric, and the way Hibbert balances heavy themes with lightness reminds me of the tonal balance in 'Who’d Have Thought'. For something quieter, 'The Flatshare' by Beth O’Leary is perfect—its slow-burn love story built through notes left in a shared apartment feels just as intimate.

If you're looking for books that capture the same quirky, introspective vibe as 'Which Way Is That Thing I Don't Like,' you might want to check out 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' by Mark Haddon. It’s got that unique blend of offbeat humor and deep emotional resonance, told through the perspective of a protagonist who sees the world in a way that’s both baffling and brilliant. The narrative style is unconventional, much like the title you mentioned, and it’s one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Another great pick is 'Convenience Store Woman' by Sayaka Murata. It’s a short but powerful read about a woman who finds solace in the rigid routines of her job at a convenience store, even as society pressures her to conform to more 'normal' expectations. The tone is dry and absurd, yet oddly touching—kind of like stumbling through life’s weirdness with a shrug and a smile. If you enjoyed the existential tangents and playful defiance in 'Which Way Is That Thing I Don't Like,' this one’s a must-read. For something a bit more surreal, 'The Library at Mount Char' by Scott Hawkins might hit the spot. It’s dark, weird, and full of twists that’ll make your head spin, but it’s also deeply human in its exploration of power, trauma, and the search for meaning. The characters are flawed in ways that feel uncomfortably real, and the world-building is just bonkers enough to keep you hooked. It’s not an exact match, but it shares that same willingness to dive headfirst into the bizarre. Lastly, 'Piranesi' by Susanna Clarke is a masterpiece of atmospheric storytelling. It’s about a man who lives in a seemingly endless house filled with statues and tides, and his journey to uncover the truth about his existence. The prose is lyrical and haunting, and the sense of mystery is addictive. If you’re into books that make you question reality while wrapping you in a cozy blanket of strangeness, this is it. I finished it in one sitting and immediately wanted to start over.

If you loved the eerie, atmospheric mystery of 'What Fell from the Sky,' you might enjoy 'Annihilation' by Jeff VanderMeer. Both books have that uncanny blend of scientific curiosity and existential dread, where the unknown feels both fascinating and terrifying. The way VanderMeer builds tension through sparse, haunting prose reminds me of the slow unraveling in 'What Fell from the Sky.' Plus, the Southern Reach Trilogy has that same sense of place as a character—like the setting itself is hiding secrets. Another great pick would be 'The Ocean at the End of the Lane' by Neil Gaiman. It’s softer in tone but shares that wistful, almost dreamlike quality where childhood wonder collides with something darker lurking beneath. Gaiman’s knack for blending mundane details with surreal elements makes it feel like you’re standing at the edge of a fairy tale gone slightly wrong, much like the quiet unease in 'What Fell from the Sky.' For something more grounded but equally gripping, 'The Leftovers' by Tom Perrotta explores collective grief and the bizarre aftermath of an inexplicable event—less sci-fi, more human, but just as thought-provoking.

If you loved the eerie, 'what’s lurking beneath the surface' vibe of 'You Weren’t Supposed To See That,' you’d probably get hooked on 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski. It’s this labyrinth of a book—literally—with layers of unreliable narrators and a house that defies physics. The way it messes with formatting (text spiraling, footnotes leading nowhere) makes you feel as unsettled as the characters. Another pick is 'I’m Thinking of Ending Things' by Iain Reid. It’s short but packs a psychological punch, leaving you questioning reality just like 'You Weren’t Supposed To See That.' The unreliable narrator and creeping dread are masterclass. For something lighter but still unsettling, 'The Silent Patient' by Alex Michaelides plays with memory and perception in a way that’ll have you flipping back pages to spot clues you missed.

Ever stumbled upon a book that makes you grin just by its title? 'Whose Nose Is This?' is one of those playful, interactive gems that turns learning into a game. It’s part of a whole genre of animal-focused guessing books, like 'Who Has This Tail?' or 'What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?'—both by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. These books tease kids’ curiosity with close-up shots of animal features before revealing the whole creature. I love how they blend science with suspense, making every page flip feel like a mini-revelation. They’re perfect for tiny detectives who love shouting out guesses! What’s cool is how these books sneak in facts without feeling like textbooks. The illustrations are bold and textured, almost like you could reach out and touch the scales or fur. If you’re into this style, don’t miss 'Never Touch a Monster'—a sensory board book with silly rhymes and tactile elements. For older kids, 'Animalium' zooms out with gorgeous museum-style displays of biodiversity. Really, anything that turns animals into a guessing game or hands-on adventure hits the same sweet spot of fun and learning.