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Editors’ Picks: General Fiction
Our editors’ fiction favorites continue to amaze us, year after year.
Published on February 14, 2024
The Sympathizer: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)
Viet Thanh NguyenA breakthrough novel and the winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, “The Sympathizer” is an incredibly compelling tale of espionage, identity, and love.
Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close: A Novel
Jonathan Safran FoerThis stunning story of a precocious nine-year old boy, who struggles with issues of loss and family, captured the attention of a nation grappling with the aftermath of the attacks on 9/11.
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
Michael ChabonChabon’s magnum opus blends comics, Jewish lore, and American history to create a page-turning, smart, and deeply enjoyable novel that's been hailed by critics and readers as a modern classic.
Her Body and Other Parties: Stories
Carmen Maria MachadoCarmen Maria Machado essentially broke the literary scene with this collection of wonderfully weird and brilliantly crafted short stories. We often discuss genre-bending authors, but Machado bends the genres she tackles — from fantasy to horror to realism to comedy — so far that they seem to create a new shape altogether. From the secret purpose of a green ribbon tightly wound round a woman’s neck, to an artists’ retreat that sparks uncomfortable connections, to a dressmaker who discovers the dresses she sews are filled with ghosts, it’s very hard to pick a single standout from this collection.
Asymmetry: A Novel
Lisa HallidayAs you might gather from the title, this book contains more than one distinct story, but that’s just the tip of the asymmetrical iceberg. From age, gender, and class to nationality, race, and religion, this assured and allusive debut takes on some of the most significant issues of today even as its concerns remain more timeless than trendy.
A Man Called Ove: A Novel
Fredrik BackmanThis is the story of a small-town curmudgeon named Ove. He is a man of staunch principles, strict routines, and terrible anger. But, of course, beneath Ove’s rough and unfriendly exterior lies a story of true sorrow and loss. More than following one man’s obsession with being the worst, the book explores the comical and heartwarming relationship between Ove and his ill-fated new neighbors.
Sing, Unburied, Sing: A Novel
Jesmyn WardJesmyn Ward draws on Toni Morrison, William Faulkner, and Greek myths to play with the classic American road novel, weaving magical realism into the modern, rural South. Ward blurs the lines between the living and ghosts, black and white, and three generations of family. Her lyrical sentences rise together to form a penetrating story that lingers like fog on the Mississippi bayou where the novel is set.
The Hunger Games
Suzanne CollinsEquipped with only a bow and a heart of gold, Katniss Everdeen caught cultural fire, igniting the rebel in us all. A brilliant, action-packed social commentary on media manipulation that defines the dystopian YA genre.
A Wrinkle in Time
Madeleine L'EngleA strange delight that contains everything from thorough explorations of time travel to strong, vulnerable characters. One of few books that continues to completely enthrall children and adults alike.
A Bear Called Paddington
Michael BondWhen a sweet, bedraggled bear appears in Paddington Station with “Please look after this bear” pinned to his coat, the Brown family gains a new family member — and infinitely more adventures.
A Series of Unfortunate Events #1: The Bad Beginning
Lemony SnicketBegin at the beginning of this wonderfully weird, impressively imaginative, sprawling series by master wordsmith Snicket, whose spellbinding prose captivates readers of all ages.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Stephen ChboskyQuiet implications of deep distress and profound happiness litter this epistolary novel, penned by outsider Charlie, who makes inroads with various cliques to move past cliches. A modernized “The Catcher in the Rye.”
Bridge to Terabithia
Katherine PatersonThis Newbury Award–winning classic is worth revisiting for its healing powers of imagination in the face of unfathomable tragedy alone.
Alanna: The First Adventure
Tamora PierceDecades after its initial publication, this fantasy quartet continues to inspire young women. Strong-willed Alanna won't let her fears or her gender deter her from becoming a knight.
The Hate U Give
Angie ThomasThis is a stunning take on the topic of race and police brutality that has quickly climbed the ranks to take its place as one of the greatest YA novels of our time. Starr Carter will not stay silent in the face of injustice, and her message has been amplified thanks to the movie adaptation starring Amandla Stenberg.
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
Becky AlbertalliYou’ll love this book if you’re a champion of more LGBTQ+ representation in YA and if you generally enjoy quippy teenage wit. Simon’s coming out story is a great blend of lovable teenage hijinks, mystery, and cute romance.
Weetzie Bat
Francesca Lia BlockThis beautifully offbeat novel deftly entwines a magical Los Angeles (aptly called Shangri-L.A.) with all-too-real issues of adulthood in the ’80s. Its poetic prose is sure to dazzle teen and adult readers alike.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Benjamin Alire SáenzLives up to the elegance of its cover and mouthful of a title. A visceral reminder of how formative and raw our teenage years are, and the life-altering effects that happen when you meet that one person — your first love.
More Happy Than Not
Adam SilveraAdam Silvera’s debut is unforgettable, with its compelling characters, its deft depiction of class politics without relying on stereotypes and slang, and its message that hardship helps us find happiness.
Don Quixote
Miguel de Cervantes SaavedraPart ribald farce, part philosophical commentary, Cervantes’ classic tale of knight errantry reveals new intricacies and evokes deeper laughs with each reading.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Betty SmithThis classic coming-of-age story introduces the now-famous arboreal metaphor for socioeconomic diversity, generational differences, and personal development.
Native Son
Richard WrightJames Baldwin said every black American has a “private Bigger Thomas,” the iconic character of Richard Wright’s landmark book, “living in his skull.” Decades later, Wright’s novel about race and poverty in America is as powerful and timely as ever.
The Age of Innocence
Edith WhartonThis Pulitzer Prize-winning classic speaks to desire and duty like no novel before or since, with an ending that’ll stay with you forever.
A Farewell to Arms: The Hemingway Library Edition
Ernest HemingwayThis semi-autobiographical account of an improbable love during WWI showcases Hemingway at his finest. The haunting descriptions of destruction, despair, and hope evoke every emotion.
This Side of Paradise
F. Scott FitzgeraldFItzgerald glamorizes a young couple’s tragic downfall with beautiful, lyrical prose in his debut novel, a cautionary tale as extraordinary as “Gatsby.”
A Tale of Two Cities
Charles DickensKnown for its classic beginning, it’s actually the ending of this sweeping serial novel of love and political unrest that will stay with you forever.
All the Light We Cannot See: A Novel
Anthony DoerrAnthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel is sensational — the rare book that takes a well-worn subject and adds an unforgettable spin. It follows the twin narratives of Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, and Werner, a German orphan recruited to the military, at the height of WWII. The story is haunting, the imagery of war-torn France beautiful, and the characters so rich in depth that devouring every page feels inevitable.
The Name of the Rose
Umberto EcoA medieval monk-turned-sleuth must employ classical philosophy and theology to decode ancient manuscripts to solve a series of murders in Umberto Eco’s mesmerizing debut.
The Sisters Brothers
Patrick deWittThis book is as wonderfully weird, subtly funny, and smartly written as its title. A quirky, stylized genre-bending Western filled with dark humor and a bit of gore, it channels old-timey pulp and Cormac McCarthy alike. In the gold-crazed Wild West of 1851, two infamous hitmen brothers, Charlie and Eli Sisters, travel from Oregon City to San Francisco and California’s famed gold fields on a murder-for-hire gig. The more thoughtful brother, Eli, wants to be a better person, and his deadpan narration is both strangely funny and moving. It’ll have you rooting for the hitman.
The Other Boleyn Girl
Philippa GregoryHistory buffs rejoice: Gregory’s rich portrait of a previously forgotten aristocrat offers an intimate look at life in Tudor times.
Train Dreams: A Novella
Denis Johnson“Train Dreams” doesn’t shy away from the ugliness in America’s history in the West, and the story will break your heart, but it’s also gorgeous and dreamy and haunting in all the best possible ways. Denis Johnson is a legend for a reason, and his lean novella packs a punch. One that will leave you lit up long after you finish it.
The Red Tent - 20th Anniversary Edition: A Novel
Anita DiamantDinah, who makes a brief and brutal appearance in the book of Genesis, has her story fascinatingly fleshed out in Anita this reimagining. Diamant’s take on Dinah has endured and given more visibility into the lives of women during biblical times.
Wolf Hall: A Novel
Hilary MantelHilary Mantel’s biggest hit (among a series of historical fiction greats) reexamines the creation of the Church of England by focusing the story on Henry VIII’s right-hand man, Thomas Cromwell. Very little has actually been historically documented about Cromwell’s upbringing, leaving room for Mantel to create yet another captivating and compelling character in the ever-engaging saga of Henry VIII’s life.
The Island of Sea Women: A Novel
Lisa SeeA story of female friendship that spans from the late 1930s to 2008 and tells a fictionalized account of a little-known history. Young-sook and Mi-ja, two female divers from the Korean island Jeju, have their relationship and much more torn apart by multiple wars, and they struggle to heal through the decades. Meticulously researched.
News of the World: A Novel
Paulette JilesThis road story takes place in the wake of the American Civil War, following a recently released captive young girl as Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd attempts to take her back to her aunt and uncle. Over the traversal of the Texas terrain, a sweet and enduring bond forms between the two.
I, Claudius
Robert GravesExperience Imperial Rome through the eyes of its fourth emperor, through his odds-defying ascension to power and beyond. A quintessential, genre-defining work from the great Robert Graves.
Mr. Mercedes: A Novel
Stephen KingIs it any surprise that the master of horror’s first crime novel is a killer? With its noirish cat-and-mouse plot and terrifying sociopath of a killer, this Edgar Award-winner is a new classic in the crime genre.
And Then There Were None
Agatha ChristieArguably the best mystery story ever written. Ten people — all strangers — are lured to a mansion on a private island. Each person has a criminal history. They share their secrets, and one by one, they die.
The Constant Gardener: A Novel
John le CarréIt begins with a murder: Le Carré beautifully captures devastating loss and the intense hunt for answers in his novel-turned-Academy-Award-winning film.
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore: A Novel
Robin SloanThe difference between Mr. Penumbra’s bookstore and a Barnes & Noble is, well, everything. Clay Jannon works the night shift, and soon realizes that, as with most things, he shouldn’t judge the contents of the bookstore by its cover. Follow Clay as he tries to unlock the mysteries of the 24-hour bookstore and the strange cast of characters who pay him a visit every night.
I Am Pilgrim: A Thriller
Terry HayesScreenwriter Terry Hayes’ debut novel is a blockbuster thriller that will have you reading for hours on end, perhaps with a bucket of popcorn in hand. A pedal-to-the-metal cat-and-mouse chase around the world.
The Godfather: 50th Anniversary Edition
Mario PuzoIf you’ve only seen the movie version of “The Godfather,” it’s time to correct that. It was selected as one of America’s favorite novels for PBS’s “The Great American Read,” and it’s responsible for defining a whole subgenre of crime novels involving the Mafia.
"A" is for Alibi: A Kinsey Millhone Mystery
Sue GraftonThe “alphabet series,” written by Sue Grafton, is one of the most recognizable long-running mystery stories of all time. It follows the exploits of private eye Kinsey Millhone as she brings down perpetrators of California crimes. Grafton made it all the way to Y (“Y is for Yesterday”) before she passed away from cancer.
The Kind Worth Killing: A Novel
Peter SwansonShocking secrets lurk behind every page turn in Peter Swanson’s unputdownable thriller. It’s “Strangers on a Train” meets “Gone Girl” (but with even more sociopaths and a far higher body count).
The Complete Sherlock Holmes
Arthur Conan DoyleNo detective is more famous than Sherlock Holmes. There are a million and one adaptations and original properties reimagining the iconic character (the number is only a mild exaggeration), but nothing can beat the original written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Luckiest Girl Alive: A Novel
Jessica KnollThe fashionista’s “Gone Girl,” with just as much satirical observation about modern femininity but with a lot more pop culture flare. A twisty debut that keeps the “girl” phenomenon in mystery novels going strong.
Outlander
Diana GabaldonIt’s hard to categorize this genre-bending time-traveling historical romantic adventure, but one description is undeniable: it’s a total page-turner. You may have heard tell of the steamy sex — and while yes, there is sex and it is steamy — it’s hardly the whole story. The love Jamie and Claire share is truly epic, worthy of the centuries and continents the story spans to tell of it.
The Inn at Ocean's Edge
Colleen CobleWhat do you do when no one believes that you witnessed a murder? In Colleen Coble’s characteristic romantic thriller, Claire and Luke must work together to solve the puzzle, even as they grow more attached to one another.
Three Fates
Nora RobertsYou get three love stories in one in this RITA Award winner from beloved author Nora Roberts. When a treasured family heirloom is stolen, three siblings are determined to get it back. Together they set out on an adventure that takes them around the world, with each one finding love along the way. Suspense, romance, and travel — this gem’s got it all.
Beautiful Disaster: A Novel
Jamie McGuire“Beautiful Disaster” is one of the most prominent books to usher in the age of New Adult Romance. It takes a well-worn formula — good girl and bad guy are hopelessly attracted to each other — and ratchets up the intensity to almost impossible levels for an addicting read.
Heartsong: A Novel
Debbie MacomberA heartwarming story of love, tragedy, and healing that will give you all the feels, whether you’re reading Debbie Macomber’s classic for the first time or the 100th. Caught off guard by a patient with a secret, can a hospital volunteer find love against the odds?
The Ugly Duchess
Eloisa JamesShakespearean influence abounds in this Regency-period romance. As the duckling-turned-swan heroine wins her prince’s heart, she’ll win yours, too.
Beautiful Bastard
Christina LaurenThe book that rocketed the duo behind the pen name Christina Lauren to romance superstardom started out, like “Fifty Shades of Grey,” as “Twilight” fanfiction. It’s funny, passionate, and of course, oozing in sex appeal.
Eighty Days Yellow
Vina JacksonThis crisply written contemporary romance — the first in a bestselling series — brings together a fiery violinist with a desirous professor. A “Fifty Shades” for the artistically inclined.
The Dispossessed: A Novel
Ursula K. Le GuinBeloved by generations of readers, the great Ursula K. Le Guin’s groundbreaking novel transcends genre limitations. Her work established science fiction as a legitimate literary setting for profound stories.
The Man in the High Castle
Philip K. DickIf you’ve never read Philip K. Dick, start here. A daring alternative history and a powerful novel of ideas told with hallucinatory clarity, this is PKD at his strangest — and his best.
Watchers
Dean KoontzA hiker meets a super smart dog named Einstein on a walk in the woods. Sounds like a warm and fuzzy story, right? Not when suspense master Dean Koontz gets his terrifyingly skilled hands on it. Something is hunting Einstein, and the hiker must help the dog escape. Can they outrun the horror and the shadowy federal agents hot on their heels? A thrilling tale of genetic engineering (and a lovable dog), this classic is Koontz at his finest.
The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret AtwoodAtwood’s dystopian classic isn’t just an argument for women’s rights, but more generally a brilliant commentary on the effects of dehumanization, of putting law above love, and of the dangers of picking sides and uncritically sticking with them in the first place.