Jonas Hassen Khemiri Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Collections

Publication Order of Plays

Jonas Hassen Khemiri

Jonas Hassen Khemiri is a Swedish writer who makes novels, plays, and essays. People around the world know his work because it has been put into more than 25 languages. A reader in any country can pick up one of his books and find something to enjoy.

He is very good at making characters who feel true to life. Each main character gets a unique way of talking and acting, which sets them apart from typical heroes. That unpredictability makes his stories fun to read. A person never knows what a Khemiri character will do from one page to the next.

Khemiri writes with a direct and playful style that avoids fancy or heavy language. His tone stays upbeat and friendly, even when dealing with serious topics like family struggles or identity. He likes to give each character a unique way of speaking, which keeps the reader guessing and the story lively. That mix of clarity, surprise, and warmth is what makes his work feel fresh and accessible.

He also knows how to build stories that are easy to follow and interesting. The plots move along without fancy or overly dramatic words. Everything feels direct and positive, so reading his work is friendly instead of heavy. That light but smart quality is why many people like spending time with his books.

Khemiri keeps his own voice instead of chasing what is popular. He does not change his style just to reach more people. Even though his books have been translated many times, the original feel of his writing stays the same. That honesty is what pulls readers in.

He is still writing today and has not stopped trying new things. More plays, essays, and novels will likely come from him in the future. That means his best work might not exist yet.

Early and Personal Life

Jonas Hassen Khemiri came into the world on 27 December 1978 in Sweden. As a child, he was probably around books and storytelling, but no single moment is written down as his first push toward writing. Later on, he studied literature at Stockholm University and also took classes in international economics at the Stockholm School of Economics.

He drew inspiration from his school years and from the people near him. His younger brother is actor Hamadi Khemiri, and on his father’s side, he is cousin to award winning artist Slim Khezri. Having creative family members around may have helped guide him toward becoming a writer.

In 2021, Khemiri transferred to New York City with his family for a Cullman Fellowship at The New York Public Library. That same year, he started teaching in the Creative Writing program at NYU. In 2023, he served at Bennington College, continuing to grow as both a writer and a teacher.

Writing Career

Jonas Hassen Khemiri began his writing career with a first novel called “Ett öga rött” (One eye red) in 2003. That first book sold over 200,000 titles in Sweden, became the best selling novel within every category in 2004, and was made into a movie. His second book, “Montecore: The Silence of the Tiger,” won the Sveriges Radio Award for Best Swedish Novel of 2007, was a finalist for the August Prize, and was also translated into more than 20 languages.

In 2009, he released “Invasion!” which is a collection of essay, short stories, and plays. His third novel, “I Call My Brothers,” came out in 2012. His fourth novel, “Everything I Don’t Remember,” won the August Prize for best fiction in 2015 and has since been translated into over 25 languages. “The Family Clause” received the Prix Médicis in 2018 and was a finalist for the National Book Award, and “The Sisters” came out in 2023. He continues to write today.

The Sisters

Jonas Hassen Khemiri is the author of the novel ‘The Sisters.’ Farrar, Straus and Giroux published the book on June 17, 2025. The novel is a work of contemporary literary fiction.

Ina, Evelyn, and Anastasia are the three Mikkola sisters. Their mother sells carpets in Tunisia, and their father is a Swedish man who left the family when the girls were small. Ina meets the man she will marry at a New Year’s rave, but a betrayal happens there. Evelyn becomes an actor, and Anastasia moves to Tunisia and falls in love with another woman.

A man named Jonas has a Swedish mother and a Tunisian father. His path crosses with the sisters over thirty years, starting with a chance meeting in Tunis and later near a fighter jet crash in Stockholm. Evelyn goes missing in New York, and Jonas finds her. He then helps lift a curse from the Mikkola family, and a stunning secret makes them rethink everything about their own identities.

Readers who pick up this book will find three sisters with very different personalities. The story moves across countries and years without losing its energy. Following Jonas as he tracks a disappearance and breaks a family curse keeps the pages turning. It is an enjoyable read for anyone who likes character driven novels.

Montecore

Jonas Hassen Khemiri is the author of the novel ‘Montecore: The Silence of the Tiger.’ Norstedts first published the book in 2006. Alfred A. Knopf also published an edition of the same work.

A famous photographer named Abbas is the estranged father of a young novelist called Jonas Hassen Khemiri. Abbas celebrates his fiftieth birthday on a New York rooftop, surrounded by famous people, even though he started life as a poor orphan in Tunisia. Jonas has just put out his first novel when an email arrives from Kadir, an old friend of Abbas. Kadir paints a picture of Abbas as a boy who would not speak and had night terrors, who later became a Swedish immigrant and political exile. That version does not match how Jonas sees his father, but the letters the two men exchange slowly blend both portraits into a single tender and imaginative image.

Anyone who enjoys family stories will find this book rewarding. The email exchange between Jonas and Kadir keeps the narrative lively and surprising. Watching two very different portraits of Abbas come together feels clever and heartfelt. It is a good choice for anyone who likes tender and imaginative fiction.