Contemporary Fiction
Contemporary Fiction is set in modern times and deals with current themes, social issues, and everyday experiences of ordinary people.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
This is the story of Sam and Sadie. It's not a romance, but it is about love. When Sam catches sight of Sadie at a crowded train station one morning he is catapulted straight back to childhood, and the hours they spent immersed in playing games. Their spark is instantly reignited and sets off a creative collaboration that will make them superstars. It is the 90s, and anything is possible. What comes next is a decades-long tale of friendship and rivalry, fame and art, betrayal and tragedy, perfect worlds and imperfect ones. And, above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love.
Luster
In her bold and provocative debut, Raven Leilani tells the story of Edie, a young Black woman navigating art, sex, and identity in New York City. When Edie enters into an open relationship with an older white man and becomes entangled with his family, she’s thrust into a web of power dynamics and emotional complexity. Luster is a raw and sharply observed novel about millennial disillusionment, racial tension, and precarious womanhood. Leilani’s prose is electric—darkly funny, intimate, and piercing. The novel captures the chaos of early adulthood and the search for meaning in a world of instability and inequity.
A Man Called Ove
Behind a curmudgeon's cranky exterior lies a story of heartbreaking loss and unexpected friendship. After the death of his beloved wife, Ove has nearly given up on life until his boisterous new neighbors inadvertently interrupt his plans. Through humor and poignancy, the novel explores grief, love, and the profound impact we can have on others.
The God of Small Things
Set in 1960s Kerala, India, this Booker Prize-winning novel tells the story of fraternal twins Estha and Rahel, whose lives are shaped by a family tragedy and societal taboos. Roy’s lyrical prose weaves themes of caste, colonialism, love, and memory in a nonlinear narrative. The God of Small Things is a haunting, richly textured novel about loss, forbidden love, and the enduring pull of the past.
Daisy Jones & The Six
Daisy Jones & The Six is a fictional oral history of a 1970s rock band, chronicling their meteoric rise and sudden breakup. Told through a series of interviews, the novel captures the complexities of creative collaboration, fame, and personal relationships.
A Leopard-Skin Hat
by Anne Serre
Anne Serre's "A Leopard-Skin Hat," translated by Mark Hutchinson, is a deeply moving and elegantly crafted novel that was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2025. It tells the story of an intense and complicated friendship between "the Narrator" and his childhood friend, Fanny, who battles severe psychological disorders. Written in the aftermath of the author's younger sister's suicide, the book serves as a poignant memorial to a tragically foreshortened life. Through a series of short, evocative scenes, Serre paints a portrait of Fanny's struggles and the Narrator's enduring, often anguished, attachment to her. The novel explores themes of mental illness, the unknowability of others, and the enduring nature of love and memory, even in the face of profound loss. It's a testament to the quiet power of human connection and a beautiful farewell.
Creation Lake
Rachel Kushner's Creation Lake is a provocative literary thriller that explores themes of espionage, ideology, and identity. The novel follows Sadie Smith, an American covert operative, as she infiltrates an anarchist commune in rural France. Tasked with manipulating a group of eco-activists, Sadie operates through deception and charm, navigating the complexities of communal life and personal morality. Kushner's narrative delves into the intricacies of radical politics and the blurred lines between truth and fabrication, offering a compelling examination of power and authenticity.
Disgrace
by J.M. Coetzee
J. M. Coetzee's Booker Prize-winning novel Disgrace, set in post-apartheid South Africa, takes us into the disquieting mind of twice-divorced university teacher David Lurie as he loses his job and his honour after engaging in an ill-advised affair with a susceptible student. When he retreats to his daughter's farm, a brutal attack highlights their fractured relationship. Is it only through intense suffering and shame-his own as well as that of others-that David can begin to change, to understand his country and what it means to be human? In Disgrace, this Nobel-Prize winning writer examines ideas of evil, violence, dignity and redemption in a country dominated by the power dynamics of race.
Hello Beautiful
Inspired by Little Women, this tender family saga follows William Waters, a lonely college basketball player, and the four closely bonded Padavano sisters. As William is pulled into their vibrant, chaotic world, buried traumas threaten to upend everything. Spanning decades, Hello Beautiful explores love, loss, mental illness, and the ties that both bind and break us. Ann Napolitano crafts a deeply emotional story about forgiveness and self-discovery, illuminating how family—whether biological or chosen—shapes our sense of self and belonging. It’s a heartfelt portrait of resilience and the enduring need for connection.
Yellowface
by R. F. Kuang
After her friend dies in a freak accident, struggling writer June Hayward steals her unpublished manuscript—and her identity. As June rides a wave of fame under false pretenses, guilt, appropriation, and race explode in this razor-sharp satire of the publishing industry. Yellowface is a provocative, page-turning novel that skewers cultural gatekeeping, tokenism, and ambition, blending suspense with biting social commentary.
Young Mungo
Douglas Stuart's heartbreaking second novel depicts the precarious life and burgeoning love of a young gay boy in working-class Glasgow amidst sectarian violence and social hardship. With raw and tender prose, it explores themes of masculinity, vulnerability, and the search for intimacy in a harsh and unforgiving environment, echoing the emotional intensity of his debut.
Small Boat
Vincent Delecroix's "Small Boat" is a powerful and unsettling novel, longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2025. It's a fictionalized account inspired by a real-life tragedy in November 2021 when a dinghy carrying migrants capsized in the Channel, resulting in 27 deaths. The novel is narrated by a French coastguard operator who received calls from the sinking boat. Accused of negligence, she staunchly refuses to shoulder sole blame, arguing that responsibility extends far beyond her actions to wider societal indifference, systemic failures, and the crises driving migration. Delecroix masterfully explores themes of individual complicity, collective apathy, and the complex ethical dilemmas of modern society, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about their own role as "spectators" to such tragedies.
Birnam Wood
This gripping eco-thriller pits a guerrilla gardening collective against a billionaire tech mogul with sinister motives in rural New Zealand. As the idealistic Birnam Wood group trespasses to plant crops, they clash with corporate greed and political intrigue. Tensions escalate into a high-stakes battle between environmental activism and capitalist exploitation. Eleanor Catton, Booker Prize-winning author of The Luminaries, returns with a taut, intelligent novel exploring surveillance, ideology, and moral compromise in the age of climate crisis. Birnam Wood is both a literary page-turner and a sharp critique of modern power structures.
Less Than Zero
In Bret Easton Ellis's novel 'Less Than Zero,' we are plunged into the glittering yet dark world of 1980s Los Angeles, where excess, apathy, and moral decay reign supreme. The story follows Clay, a college student returning home for the holidays, as he navigates a hedonistic landscape of drugs, parties, and shallow relationships. Through Clay's eyes, we witness the emptiness and disillusionment that define the lives of the wealthy and privileged youth. Ellis's stark, unflinching prose lays bare the superficiality and alienation of this society, making 'Less Than Zero' a chilling exploration of the emptiness at the heart of materialism.
Funny Story
by Emily Henry
In Funny Story, Emily Henry crafts a heartfelt romantic comedy centered on Daphne, who is unexpectedly dumped by her fiancé for his childhood friend. Stranded in a small town, Daphne reluctantly moves in with her ex-fiancé’s ex, Miles. Together, they navigate their shared heartbreak, concocting a plan to deceive their exes with staged social media posts. As their fake relationship unfolds, genuine feelings emerge, leading to a journey of self-discovery and unexpected love. Henry's narrative blends humor and emotional depth, exploring vulnerability and the complexities of modern relationships.
Good Material
In Good Material, Dolly Alderton presents a contemporary exploration of male heartbreak through the eyes of Andy, a struggling comedian in his thirties. After a sudden breakup with his long-term girlfriend, Jen, Andy navigates the tumultuous aftermath, confronting themes of love, self-worth, and the healing power of humor. The novel challenges traditional gender roles and delves into the complexities of modern relationships, offering a fresh perspective on emotional vulnerability and personal growth. Alderton's narrative combines wit and emotional depth, capturing the nuances of heartbreak and resilience.
The Bee Sting
by Paul Murray
As climate catastrophe looms, the Barnes family unravels. Dickie retreats to building a doomsday bunker, Imelda clings to social status, and their children—Cass and PJ—grapple with guilt, love, and survival in an unraveling Ireland. Spanning perspectives and timelines, The Bee Sting is a sweeping, darkly comic novel about family secrets, economic collapse, and existential dread. Paul Murray’s masterful storytelling blends tragedy and absurdity, exploring how people face (or flee from) inevitable change. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, it’s a richly layered, emotionally resonant story that captures both the intimacy of personal loss and the scope of global anxiety.
Great Big Beautiful Life
by Emily Henry
In Great Big Beautiful Life, Emily Henry tells the story of Alice Scott, a writer tasked with penning the biography of the elusive heiress Margaret Ives. As Alice delves into Margaret's past, she uncovers secrets that challenge her perceptions and force her to confront her own life choices. The novel explores themes of identity, legacy, and the complexities of human relationships. Henry's engaging prose and well-drawn characters create a compelling narrative about self-discovery and the stories we tell ourselves.
The Overstory
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, The Overstory is a sweeping, ambitious novel about the interconnectedness of humans and the natural world. Richard Powers weaves together the stories of nine characters whose lives are all deeply affected by trees—biologically, emotionally, or spiritually. As their narratives converge, the novel evolves into a powerful environmental fable about resistance, interdependence, and ecological awareness. Lushly written and expansive in scope, The Overstory challenges readers to reconsider humanity’s place within nature. It is a novel of ideas, rooted in science and awe, that celebrates the silent, enduring presence of the living world around us.
The Dutch House
by Ann Patchett
In Ann Patchett's 'The Dutch House,' readers are drawn into a compelling narrative that explores themes of family, loss, resilience, and the enduring bonds that tie us to our past. At the heart of the story is the Conroy family and the intricacies of their relationships, centered around the opulent Dutch House that becomes both a sanctuary and a source of conflict. Patchett's evocative prose brings to life the characters' joys and struggles, painting a vivid picture of their world. Through meticulously crafted storytelling, the novel delves into the complexities of forgiveness and redemption. A poignant and thought-provoking tale that lingers in the mind long after the final page.
Nightcrawling
Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley is a powerful debut novel that follows Kiara, a Black teenager navigating poverty and systemic injustice in Oakland, California. After a tragic family crisis and with no reliable support, Kiara turns to sex work to survive, eventually becoming entangled in a police scandal involving abuse and corruption. Mottley, who wrote the novel at just 17, brings poetic intensity and raw vulnerability to Kiara’s voice. The novel explores themes of exploitation, resilience, and the desperate search for dignity in a world that routinely devalues Black lives. Nightcrawling is unflinching, heartbreaking, and deeply human.
Homeland Elegies
by Ayad Akhtar
In 'Homeland Elegies' by Ayad Akhtar, readers are taken on a profound journey through the complexities of identity, belonging, and the American Dream. The novel blurs the lines between fact and fiction as it follows the life of a Pakistani-American man navigating issues of race, politics, and cultural divides. Through a mix of personal anecdotes and social commentary, the author delves into the tensions of being a Muslim in America post-9/11, offering a raw and thought-provoking exploration of societal issues. Akhtar's lyrical prose and deep introspection make 'Homeland Elegies' a poignant and timely reflection on the modern American experience.
Tom Lake
by Ann Patchett
Set against the backdrop of a Michigan cherry orchard during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tom Lake follows Lara as she recounts her youthful romance with a now-famous actor to her three grown daughters. As they harvest fruit, the story weaves past and present, exploring the choices we make, the roads not taken, and the meaning of a life well-lived. Ann Patchett’s luminous novel is a meditation on motherhood, storytelling, and the quiet beauty of ordinary life. Richly atmospheric and emotionally resonant, Tom Lake invites readers to consider how love, memory, and time shape us.
Shalimar the Clown
Salman Rushdie’s Shalimar the Clown is a political and personal tragedy that spans continents and generations. The novel begins with the assassination of a former U.S. ambassador in Los Angeles, then unravels the story of Shalimar, a Kashmiri performer whose love turns into violent vengeance. As it traces the rise of extremism and loss of cultural harmony in Kashmir, the book explores themes of betrayal, identity, terrorism, and the global consequences of personal choices. Blending lyrical prose with geopolitical insight, it’s a haunting meditation on love and war.