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Fiction A to Z November 2025 |
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| The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih AlameddineMoving back and forth in time while covering COVID-19, Lebanon’s civil war (1975-1990), and more, this funny, moving examination of family and fortitude centers on Raja, a gay philosophy teacher and writer who lives with his elderly mother in Beirut. A National Book Award finalist, this accomplished novel will please fans of Ocean Vuong’s The Emperor of Gladness. |
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| We Love You, Bunny by Mona AwadSamantha Mackey returns to the New England campus where she first met the Bunnies, the wealthy, strangely symbiotic fellow MFA students she based her bestselling first novel on. But unhappy with how Sam has portrayed them, the women kidnap Sam to tell their own stories, covering events before, during, and after those depicted in the witty, creepy, and satirical 2019 book Bunny. Try this next: Lacey N. Dunham's The Belles. |
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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 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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| 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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| 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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| 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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| To the Moon and Back by Eliana RamageAfter her mom leaves her abusive father, Steph Harper and her younger sister grow up in Oklahoma’s Cherokee Nation, where Steph dreams of space. She eventually goes to college, finds a girlfriend, and is chosen for astronaut training. But her goals strain her ties with her family in this stirring debut by a Cherokee author that’s perfect for book clubs. For fans of: Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere. |
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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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| 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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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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