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Fiction A to Z February 2026 |
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| Departure(s) by Julian BarnesStarring a 70-something Booker Prize winner with a fatal illness, Departure(s) is the planned final novel by author Julian Barnes, who shares a name and many similarities with his main character. Exploring art, life, death, and memory, this short but powerful tale is candid and witty.
Read-alikes: Paul Auster's Baumgartner; Joshua Ferris' A Calling for Charlie Barnes. |
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The List of Suspicious Things
by Jennie Godfrey
Twelve-year-old Miv's life hasn't been amazing since her mom got sick, but since the murders began, her dad is talking about moving their family away from the town Miv has lived in her whole life. Leaving Yorkshire isn't an option. But if she could solve the case of the disappearing women, perhaps they could stay after all?
For fans of: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon.
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Evelyn in Transit
by David Guterson
Evelyn Bednarz has always been a misfit. She's easily bored, unsuited to life at school, asks odd questions about faith and time, and sees through conventions others take for granted. A crystalline short novel about defying expectations, hitting the road, and seeking the right way to live.
For fans of: Hippie by Paolo Coelho.
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The Rest of Our Lives
by Ben Markovits
When Tom Layward's wife had an affair twelve years ago, he resolved to leave her as soon as his youngest child left the nest. Now, while driving his college-bound daughter to Pittsburgh, he remembers his promise to himself. So, rather than returning to his wife in Westchester, Tom keeps driving west, moving towards a future he hasn't even envisioned yet while he considers his past and the choices he's made that have brought him to this particular present.
For fans of Becoming Ted by Matt Cain.
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| How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigleyGrowing up in 1980s Wyoming, sisters Georgie and Aggie face racism as the only Brown kids around. Then, when their uncle and his family leave India and move in with them, the abuse starts. The girls blame the abuse on various things as they plot to kill their uncle in this inventive, short debut novel featuring magazine-style quizzes.
Try these next: Essie Chambers' Swift River; Tiffany McDaniel's Betty. |
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| This Is Where the Serpent Lives by Daniyal MueenuddinSpanning decades, this moving, lyrical look at life and social class in modern-day Pakistan follows memorable characters, from orphaned Bayazid, who rises to the position of chauffeur to Hisham, who's the heir to a large estate, to Hisham himself, who attended college in the United States, as well as others connected to these two.
Read-alike: The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. |
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Antique
by Seth Panitch
An uplifting, magical story about a once-celebrated antique appraiser who gets caught in the thrall of a strange, powerful necklace--one that has the power to transform her life, and the fortunes of those around her. Antique takes readers on an exhilarating journey of art and love, one that will leave them believing in the magic that lies within us all--should we dare to use it.
For fans of The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King.
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| The Award by Matthew PearlAspiring author David Trent and his girlfriend rent the upper floor in a house belonging to well-known writer Silas Hale. But while David dreams of mentorship, he gets the cold shoulder. That is, until he wins an award and Silas invites him to a party, which leads to murder and more in this witty send-up of the writing life.
Read-alikes: Daniel Aleman's I Might Be in Trouble; R.F. Kuang's Yellowface. |
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Vigil
by George Saunders
Jill 'Doll' Blaine finds herself hurtling toward earth--towards yet another soul she must usher into the afterlife--and lands headfirst in the circular drive of his ornate mansion. Her charges, as a rule, have been greatly comforted in their final moments. But the powerful K.J. Boone will not be consoled; he has nothing to regret. He lived a big, bold, epic life, and the world is better for it. Isn't it?
Read-alike: The Apology by Jimin Han.
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| The Pelican Child: Stories by Joy WilliamsIn her latest collection, author Joy Williams includes 12 lyrical, witty, and surreal tales. Razor-sharp new stories of visionary childhood misfits and struggling adult dreamers.
For another acclaimed story collection, try: Margaret Atwood's Old Babes in the Wood. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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