Top new literary-fiction books out this week: 31 Mar - 6 Apr 2024
Last updated:
April 6, 2024
This week featuring new releases by Amor Towles, Isabel Allende, Nicholas Boulton, Cristina Henríquez, Julia Alvarez, Leif Enger, Rona Halsall, Carys Davies, Susan Fletcher, Timothy Schaffert, Crystal Hana Kim and many more.
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Table for Two: Fictions by Amor Towles
From the bestselling author of The Lincoln Highway , A Gentleman in Moscow , and Rules of Civility , a richly detailed and sharply drawn collection of stories set in New York and Los AngelesThe millions of readers of Amor Towles are in for a treat as he shares some of his shorter six stories set in New York City and a novella in Los Angeles...fiction · historical-fiction · contemporary · literary-fiction · season-spring · urban · marriage · anthologies · 20th-century · adult -
Lovers at the Museum: A Short Story by Isabel Allende, Nicholas Boulton
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Wind Knows My Name comes a mesmerizing tale of two passionate souls who share one magical night that defies all rational explanation.Love, be it wild or tender, often defies logic. In fact, at times, the only rationale behind the instant connection of two souls is plain magic...romance · fiction · fantasy · magical-realism · contemporary · mystery · literary-fiction · audiobook · magic · paranormal -
The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez
An epic novel of the construction of the Panama Canal, casting light on the unsung people who lived, loved, and labored there, by Cristina Henríquez, acclaimed author of The Book of Unknown AmericansIt is said that the canal will be the greatest feat of engineering in history. But first, it must be built...fiction · historical-fiction · literary-fiction · historical · poc-mc · latinx-mc · social-commentary · hispanic · family · book -
The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez
Literary icon Julia Alvarez returns with an inventive and emotional novel about storytelling itself that will be an instant classic. Alma Cruz, the celebrated writer at the heart of The Cemetery of Untold Stories , doesn’t want to end up like her friend, a novelist who fought so long and hard to finish a book that it threatened her sanity...fiction · magical-realism · fantasy · literary-fiction · historical-fiction · latinx-mc · hispanic · low-fantasy · poc-mc · book -
I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger
Set in a not-too-distant America, I Cheerfully Refuse is the tale of Rainy, an aspiring musician setting sail on Lake Superior in search of his departed, deeply beloved, bookselling wife. An endearing bear of an Orphean narrator, he seeks refuge in the harbors, fogs, and remote islands of the inland sea... -
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Bride and Groom by Rona Halsall
Walking down the aisle in the packed church, sunlight glints off my ivory silk gown. This should be the happiest day of my life. But as I carefully lift my veil and greet my husband-to-be, my heart is pounding with fear. Does someone out there, know what we’ve done?Ethan gently squeezes my hand as he slides the golden ring onto my finger. But I know we aren’t worthy of happiness...psychological · audiobook · fiction · female-mc · thriller · contemporary · literary-fiction · book · adult -
Clear by Carys Davies
A stunning, exquisite novel from an award-winning writer about a minister dispatched to a remote island off of Scotland to “clear” the last remaining inhabitant, who has no intention of leaving—an unforgettable tale of resilience, change, and hope...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · literary-fiction · lgbtq · audiobook · outdoors · book · adult -
The Night in Question by Susan Fletcher
A lyrical and emotionally engaging novel infused with mystery and wisdom about love, friendship, and the power of forgiveness.Florrie Butterfield—eighty-seven, one-legged, and of cheerful disposition—believes there can't be any more adventures or surprises in life to experience...mystery · fiction · contemporary · cozy · literary-fiction · audiobook · female-author · amateur-sleuth · female-mc · psychological -
The Titanic Survivors Book Club by Timothy Schaffert
A remarkable tale about the life-changing power of books, following the Titanic librarian whose survival upends the course of his life.For weeks after the sinking of the Titanic, Yorick spots his own name among the list of those lost at sea. As an apprentice librarian for the White Star Line, his job was to curate the ship’s second-class library...europe · western-central-europe · france · urban · romance · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · lgbtq · literary-fiction -
The Stone Home by Crystal Hana Kim
“It is a privilege to read Crystal Hana Kim’s fiction, which both edifies and enlightens.” —Min Jin LeeA hauntingly poetic family drama and coming-of-age story that reveals a dark corner of South Korean history through the eyes of a small community living in a reformatory center—a stunning work of great emotional power from the critically acclaimed author of If You Leave Me...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · coming-of-age · literary-fiction · abuse · poc-author · feminism · family · religion -
Choice by Neel Mukherjee
“How ought one to live?” This is the question that obsesses London-based publisher Ayush, driving him to question every act of consumption. He embarks on a radical experiment in his own life and the lives of those connected to his practical, economist husband; their twins; and even the authors he edits and publishes. One of those authors, a mysterious M. N... -
Relative Strangers by A.H. Kim
A twenty-first-century family drama featuring two sisters, their ex-hippie mother, multiple messy love affairs, and one explosive secret that could ruin everythingAmelia Bae-Wood’s life is falling apart. Unemployed, newly single, and completely broke—for reasons she hasn’t told anyone yet—she hitchhikes across California to deal with the fallout of her mother’s eviction from the family estate...romance · fiction · retellings · contemporary · womens-fiction · literary-fiction · female-mc · family · book · adult -
The Wartime Vet by Ellie Curzon
England, 1941. Dedicated local vet Laura cares for the farm animals of the little village of Bramble Heath. But falling bombs aren’t the only danger as the war hits close to home…Despite everyone telling her it’s not a suitable career for a woman, Laura has worked hard to become a successful livestock vet...historical-fiction · ww2 · fiction · literary-fiction · female-mc · 20th-century · romance · epic · family · historical -
American Daughters by Piper Huguley
In the vein of America’s First Daughter , Piper Huguley’s historical novel delves into the remarkable friendship of Portia Washington and Alice Roosevelt, the daughters of educator Booker T. Washington and President Teddy Roosevelt... -
The Letters of Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson
The definitive edition of Emily Dickinson’s correspondence, expanded and revised for the first time in over sixty years.Emily Dickinson was a letter writer before she was a poet. And it was through letters that she shared prose reflections―alternately humorous, provocative, affectionate, and philosophical―with her extensive community... -
Seven Rabbits by Timothy King
In the town of Tall Oak, high school football reigns supreme. Led by star Quarterback Justin Jackson, the players walk the halls of their school like gods, but a sinister side lies behind their "Golden Boy" facade. Despite their best efforts, their atrocities will come to life.Every year, the star players take a retreat to an isolated cabin in the woods for a week of debauchery...horror · revenge · slasher · serial-killers · small-town · fiction · vigilante · justice · literary-fiction · crime -
Neighborhood Watch by Sarah S. Reida, Sarah Redia
A killer terrorizes the morally bankrupt residents of an upscale neighborhood, leading them to turn to—and on—one another to survive.The neighborhood of Oleander Court is the poster child for suburban bliss. The residents compare lawns beautified by hired help. They monitor home values. They toss perfect furniture because they wanted tapioca, not beige...mystery · fiction · suspense · audiobook · humor · contemporary · crime · horror · literary-fiction · amateur-sleuth -
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Habitations by Sheila Sundar
A young academic moves from India to the United States, where she navigates first love, a green card marriage, single motherhood, and more in this “delightful novel, written with immediacy, warmth, and wry humor” (Ha Jin, National Book Award-winning author of Waiting).Vega Gopalan is adrift...fiction · literary-fiction · contemporary · poc-author · humor · audiobook · parenthood · family · book · adult -
Dayspring by Anthony Oliveira
A singular, stunning debut that transcends and transfigures genre—at once a bold retelling of biblical tales and an unforgettable contemporary coming-of-age story, connected in collapsing time across millennia.There are few love stories in the holy books. Love is what ruins. Love is what costs. Love is a flaming sword at our backs, a garden left to ruin and to wild...fiction · lgbtq · historical-fiction · literary-fiction · historical · retellings · religion · spirituality · book · adult -
1666 by Lora Chilton
The survival story of the Patawomeck Tribe of Virginia has been remembered within the tribe for generations, but the massacre of Patawomeck men and the enslavement of women and children by land hungry colonists in 1666 has been mostly unknown outside of the tribe until now...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · indigenous-mc · colonization · poc-mc · slavery · early-modern · literary-fiction · drama -
The Jinn Daughter by Rania Hanna
A stunning debut novel and an impressive feat of storytelling that pulls together mythology, magic, and ancient legend in the gripping story of a mother's struggle to save her only daughter.Nadine is a storytelling jinn tasked with one telling the stories of the dead. She rises every morning to gather pomegranate seeds--the souls of the dead--that have fallen during the night...fantasy · fiction · myths · young-adult · magical-realism · magic · revenge · fae · spirituality · psychological -
Village Weavers by Myriam J. A. Chancy
From award-winning author Myriam J. A. Chancy comes an extraordinary and enduring story of two families―forever joined by country, and by long-held secrets―and two girls with a bond that refuses to be broken. In 1940s’ Port-au-Prince, Gertie and Sisi become fast childhood friends, despite being on opposite ends of the social and economic ladder...historical-fiction · fiction · literary-fiction · lgbtq · historical · friendship · poc-mc · coming-of-age · family · book -
The North Line by Matt Riordan
In Matt Riordan’s debut novel, a college student in need of quick money finds work on an Alaskan fishing boat in the unforgiving Bering Sea.Even at the ragged edge of civilization, some lines should not be crossed.Everyone believes Adam to be something he’s not. Sometimes that’s because he’s told them a story. Sometimes he’s told himself one...mystery · fiction · suspense · contemporary · literary-fiction · thriller · psychological · action-adventure · nautical · book -
A Good Happy Girl by Marissa Higgins
A poignant, surprising, and immersive read about a young professional woman pursuing an emotionally intense relationship with a married lesbian couple. Helen, a jittery attorney with a self-destructive streak, is secretly reeling from a disturbing crime of neglect that her parents recently committed...romance · fiction · contemporary · wlw · lgbtq · literary-fiction · lesbian-mc · season-spring · polyamory · horror -
Sonata in Wax by Edward Hamlin
THE MYSTERY OF A LOST MASTERPIECE UNFOLDS IN PAST AND PRESENTAs the Great War rages, a French pianist sits down to play a breathtakingly original sonata—a piece so strange and inspired that it could change the course of classical music. The moment is captured on wax cylinders, the recording medium of the day... -
Somewhere in Minnesota: Short Stories by Jayna Locke
With springtime in the air, a toddler chases a ball onto a melting ice-covered lake far beyond his parents' reach.As the chill of Autumn comes to Minnesota, Max opens the door to find a grizzled drifter on the doorstep. Then Max realizes he knows the man.When Julie returns to her mother's home on the shores of Lake Superior, she sees an odd shape tossed by the waves onto the beach... -
Lublin by Manya Wilkinson
Elya is the lad with the vision, and Elya has the map. Ziv and Kiva aren’t so sure. The water may run out before they find the Village of Lakes. The food may run out before the flaky crescent pastries of Prune Town. They may never reach the Village of Girls (how disappointing); they may well stumble into Russian Town, rumoured to be a dangerous place for Jews (it is)...fiction · historical-fiction · 21st-century · 20th-century · humor · literary-fiction · historical · book · adult -
Daredevil: A Novel by Lori Simone Hultin
Macy Reardon is a 38 year-old housewife who seemingly has everything she has always a handsome and successful husband, two beautiful children - a boy and a girl, and a lovely home in a wealthy suburb of Los Angeles that she is continually updating and decorating... -
Last Days in Plaka: A Novel by Henriette Lazaridis
An immersive and multifaceted novel— The Talented Mr. Ripley by way of Elena Ferrante—that explores the lies at the heart of an old woman’s identity and the desperation of a young woman’s struggle to belong...fiction · contemporary · literary-fiction · historical-fiction · drama · female-mc · psychological · book · adult -
There once was a melody in The Bronx : A Tale of Immigrant dreams by Rocco Trombetta
PrologueMy story is like in any other neighborhood of which you may have grown up and the realities of living there were remarkably similar. Whether you were from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, Manhattan’s Little Italy on Mulberry Street, or the Belmont district of Arthur’s Little Italy, where the setting of my tale takes place, I am sure you had your own stories to tell... -
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Mad Season by Gregory Armstrong
After losing her parents in a devastating accident, Elles Garity fled her hometown, leaving everything and everyone else behind. Now, all grown up and settled into her reinvented life, that same childish, impulsive decision has come back to haunt her. Returning home after all this time, under the guise of tying up loose ends, won’t be so simple...