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Fiction A to Z November 2025
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| The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran DesaiWhile her relatives in India worry about her, Vermont college student Sonia fights loneliness by dating a famous artist, though his affection is costly. Meanwhile, ambitious Manhattan journalist Sunny hasn't told his widowed mother in India that he has a white girlfriend. Then Sonia and Sunny meet in this sweeping saga, a “masterpiece” (Kirkus Reviews) that examines identity, art, love, and belonging. For fans of: Real Americans by Rachel Khong; Dry Spells by Archana Maniar. |
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| Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron RindoIn a small Wisconsin town, an unwed Amish woman dies giving birth to a son without naming his father. Raised by family members, the kind-hearted boy grows over eight feet tall and finds success in athletics, which takes him into the wider world. Narrated by his grandmother, a veterinarian, a bar owner, and a football coach, this moving story has “unforgettable characters…[and] is a must-read” (Kirkus Reviews). For fans of: fantastical, lyrical coming-of-age novels. |
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| The Phoebe Variations by Jane HamiltonThis character-driven coming-of-age novel finds an elderly Phoebe flashing back to the pivotal summer of 1976. Wrapping up high school and preparing for college, she is pushed by her adoptive mother to meet her birth mother. Unexpected revelations from that visit lead Phoebe to run away, moving into a friend's house where she thinks she won't be noticed among his 13 siblings. For fans of: leisurely paced stories exploring family relationships, teenage friendship, and self-discovery. |
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| A Guardian and a Thief by Megha MajumdarIn a near-future Kolkata, India, climate change causes flooding and famine. Ma, her elderly father, and her young daughter have precious visas to join Ma’s scientist husband in Michigan. But a desperate resident of the shelter where Ma works follows her, convinced she’s skimming resources, and steals the documents. For seven days, Ma looks for the thief in this moving story that’s a National Book Award finalist. Try these next: Susanna Kwan’s Awake in the Floating City; Rumaan Alam’s Leave the World Behind. |
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| Boy from the North Country by Sam SussmanWhen his mother calls to tell him she has cancer, Evan Klausner returns to New York's Hudson Valley. His mom shares stories of her life, including her time in 1970s Manhattan and a relationship with Bob Dylan, and as her condition worsens, Evan questions who his father is and embraces his dying mother. This buzzy autobiographical debut novel offers a stirring examination of a poignant mother-son relationship. Try this next: Palaver by Bryan Washington. |
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The Santorini Writing Retreat
by Eva Glyn
Bestselling author Jessica Rose needs to escape from a terrible secret that’s robbed her of her creativity. Could leading a retreat on a gorgeous Greek island be just what she needs? Coming home to Santorini was never in Zina’s plans, but now she’s determined to make her new business a success. And then there’s Karmela, who just wants to write her book and make her mother proud. In the heat of their Greek island paradise, these new friends find the courage to shape their own stories, and write endings they can all be proud of…
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The Heir Apparent
by Rebecca Armitage
It's New Year's Day in Tasmania and the life Lexi Villiers has carefully built is working out nicely: she's in the second year of her medical residency, she lives on a beautiful farm with her two best friends Finn and Jack--and she's about to finally become more-than-friendly with Jack--when a helicopter abruptly lands. Out steps her grandmother's right-hand-man, with the tragic news that her father and older brother have been killed in a skiing accident. Lexi's grandmother happens to be the Queen of England, and in addition to the shock and grief, Lexi must now accept the reality that she is suddenly next in line for the throne--a role she has publicly disavowed--
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| Vianne by Joanne HarrisSet six years prior to the events in the bestselling Chocolat, this charming prequel finds a pregnant Vianne, who has recently scattered her mother's ashes in New York, working in a bistro in in Marseille, France, and discovering the magic of chocolate. But she has secrets and choices to make in this sweet blend of literary fiction and magical realism. Try this next: Erin Palmisano's The Secrets of the Little Greek Taverna. |
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| The Book of Guilt by Catherine ChidgeyIn the alternate world rendered here, World War II ended in 1943 with a peace treaty. Now it's 1979, and 13-year-old triplet boys are the only children left in a regimented English orphanage. Nearby, a 13-year-old girl grows up with parents but isn't allowed outside. Narrated by one of the boys, the girl, and a governmental official, this is a slow-burn, thought-provoking story that book clubs will appreciate. For another dystopian literary tale focused on children, try Ali Smith's Gliff. |
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The Infamous Gilberts
by Angela Tomaski
Thornwalk, a once-stately English manor, is on the brink of transformation. Its keys are being handed over to a luxury hotelier who will undertake a complete renovation—but in doing so, what will they erase? Through the keen eyes of an enigmatic neighbor, the reader is taken on a guided tour into rooms filled with secrets and memories, each revealing the story of the five Gilbert siblings.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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