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Modern & Literary Fiction Books

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Idol by Louise O'Neill

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'Darkly delicious' ELIZABETH DAY'Fresh, glamorous, surprising' MARIAN KEYES'Compulsive, brilliant' ABIGAIL DEAN'Utterly gripping and unsettling' LU...

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Where Blood Runs Cold by Giles Kristian

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** WINNER OF THE 2022 WILBUR SMITH ADVENTURE WRITING PRIZE **THE TIMES' THRILLER OF THE MONTH'A heart-pounding survival thriller set in the starkly...

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Starry, Starry Night by Marcia Willett

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'We'll always be together, won't we?'Childhood friends and cousins Leo and Alice had imagined their whole lives playing out on their beloved Devon ...

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The Blood Divide by A. A. Dhand

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'A fireball of an opening chapter and it just gets better and better. A A Dhand is a gifted writer, and you should run, RUN, to buy The Blood Divid...

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The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

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THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | REESE BOOK CLUB PICK | BBC BIG JUBILEE BETWEEN THE COVERS READ'It reminds me of Where the Crawdads Sing . . . it's ...

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Just Haven't Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens

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The stunning new love story from the bestselling author of This Time Next Year'Impossible to put down' CATHY BRAMLEY'A sure-fire hit!' LAURA JANE W...

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Wartime at Liberty's by Fiona Ford

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London, 1942Flo Canning's heart is beyond repair following the news that she has been dreading since the outbreak of war. As Flo throws herself int...

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The Never-Ending Summer by Emma Kennedy

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'Emma Kennedy's books are as funny, warm and life-inspiring as she is' Jenny Colgan'An excellent read. I loved all the characters' Claudia Winklema...

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19th Christmas: (Women's Murder Club 19) by James Patterson

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'Smart characters, shocking twists' Lisa Gardner'I couldn't turn the pages quick enough' Heidi Perks'Terrific, high-octane, really pacy' Jo Spain'A...

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Little Wing by Freya North

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'A terrific family drama of secrets ... and so cleverly plotted' Graham Norton 'A completely compelling story of family secrets, courage and resili...

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Little Wing by Freya North

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'A terrific family drama of secrets ... and so cleverly plotted' Graham Norton 'A completely compelling story of family secrets, courage and resili...

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Happy Families by Julie Ma

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WINNER OF THE RICHARD & JUDY SEARCH FOR A BESTSELLER 2020'Fabulously, witty and warm - what a talent!' Milly Johnson'A rare find' Richard Madel...

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As You Were by Elaine Feeney

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WINNER OF THE KATE O'BRIEN AWARD 2021SHORTLISTED FOR THE RATHBONES FOLIO PRIZE 2021SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2020AN O...

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Double Blind by Edward St Aubyn

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From the author of the internationally acclaimed Patrick Melrose books: a major new novel exploring some of the biggest ideas and most pressing que...

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Life Of Pi by Yann Martel

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One boy, one boat, one tiger . . . After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The o...

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The Tartar Steppe by Dino Buzzati

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Idealistic young officer Giovanni Drogo is full of determination to serve his country well. But when he arrives at a bleak border station in the Ta...

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That Old Country Music by Kevin Barry

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SHORTLISTED FOR THE EDGE HILL SHORT STORY PRIZE'One of the best collections you'll read this year' Sunday Times'Wild, witty stories . . . Exhilarat...

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Come Again by Robert Webb

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The debut novel - a time-travelling story of love and adventure - from the number one bestselling author of How Not To Be a Boy and star of Peep Sh...

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The Phone Box at the Edge of the World by Laura Imai Messina

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'Absolutely breathtaking' Christy Lefteri, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo. We all have something to tell those we hav...

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A Memory for Murder by Anne Holt

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To Remember the truth, she'll have to forget the lies... When former high-powered lawyer turned PI Selma Falck is shot and her oldest friend, a j...

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Lot by Bryan Washington

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* Winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize 2020 ** One of Barack Obama's "Favourite Books of the Year" ** A New York Times Critics' Top Books of 2019 *'A s...

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When the Lights Go Out by Carys Bray

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_________________________'This is a powerful and truthful story about hope and how to find it' THE TIMES'Wry, beautifully written . . . it works on...

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When the Lights Go Out by Carys Bray

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'A powerful and truthful story about hope and how to find it' The Times 'A gem of a book' Emily MaitlisEmma's husband Chris is fretting about starv...

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Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones

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*THE BESTSELLING RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK*A breathtaking tale of family secrets, from the international bestselling author of An American...

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Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin

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A visionary novel about our interconnected world, about the collision of horror and humanity, from the Man Booker-shortlisted master of the spine-t...

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The Wild Laughter by Caoilinn Hughes

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'A grand feat of comic ingenuity, mischievous and insightful, and full of resonance for the way we live now... So original and vibrant.' Encore Aw...

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Manchester Happened by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

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SHORTLISTED FOR THE HEARST BIG BOOK AWARDS 2019THE STUNNING SHORT-STORY COLLECTION FROM PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR JENNIFER NANSUBUGA MAKUMBIIf there's o...

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An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

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WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION, 2019LONGLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL FICTION, 2019SHORTLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DUBLIN LI...

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Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa

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'I'm in story heaven with this book.' Cecelia Ahern, author of P.S. I Love YouA charming tale of friendship, love and loneliness in contemporary J...

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Lost For Words by Stephanie Butland

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Compelling, irresistible, feel-good read. Perfect for fans of The Keeper of Lost Things and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. 'Quirky, clever ...

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The Meadow Girls by Sheila Everett

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Previously published as The Watercress GirlsA warm-hearted and nostalgic family saga from the bestselling author of THE WINTER BABY and THE NURSEMA...

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The Housekeeper and the Professor (Vintage Classics Japanese Series) by Yoko Ogawa

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This is one of those books written in such lucid, unpretentious language that reading it is like looking into a deep pool of clear water...Dive...

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The Bear and The Nightingale: (Winternight Trilogy) by Katherine Arden

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_____________________________Beware the evil in the woods... In a village at the edge of the wilderness of northern Russia, where the winds blow ...

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The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey

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Escape to the ocean with the entrancing, unforgettable winner of the Costa Book of the Year - as read on BBC Radio 4. On a quiet day, near the Ca...

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The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage

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**NOW THE WINNER OF THE 2022 BEST DIRECTOR OSCAR AND TWO 2022 BAFTA AWARDS**Discover Thomas Savage's dark poetic tale of a small town in early 20th...

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Sugar by Bernice McFadden

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**A RICHARD AND JUDY AUTUMN BOOK CLUB PICK AND THE MOST POWERFUL BOOK YOU'LL READ THIS YEAR** 'Poignant and bittersweet, this novel is a joy' Richa...

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The Inseparables by Simone de Beauvoir

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The lost novel from the author of The Second SexWhen Andree joins her school, Sylvie is immediately fascinated. Andree is small for her age, but wa...

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In Praise of Shadows: Vintage Design Edition by Junichiro Tanizaki

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A fully illustrated, beautifully produced edition of Junichiro Tanizaki's wise and evocative essay on Japanese culture. 'We find beauty not in t...

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The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (Vintage Classics Japanese Series) by Haruki Murakami

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Enter the surreal and enchanting world of Haruki Murakami. Toru Okada's cat has disappeared. His wife is growing more distant every day...

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The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

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** THE SUNDAY TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER ****A BBC BETWEEN COVERS BIG JUBILEE READ**Go back to where it all began with the dystopian novel behind the a...

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Desire: Vintage Minis by Haruki Murakami

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You've just passed someone on the street who could be the love of your life, the person you're destined for - what do you do? In Murakami's world, ...

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The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

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** THE SUNDAY TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER **Discover the dystopian novel that started a phenomenon before you read the Booker Prize-winning sequel The T...

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The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

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The circus arrives without warning. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Against the grey sky the towering tents are striped black and wh...

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To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

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'Shoot all the Bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a Mockingbird.' Atticus Finch gives this advice to his child...

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The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage

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**NOW THE WINNER OF THE 2022 BEST DIRECTOR OSCAR AND TWO 2022 BAFTA AWARDS**Discover Thomas Savage's dark poetic tale of a small town in early 20th...

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The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim

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WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY BRENDA BOWENMrs Wilkins and Mrs Arbuthnot, cowed and neglected by their husbands, make a daring plan: they will have a holi...

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To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

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'ONE OF THE GREATEST AMERICAN NOVELS EVER WRITTEN''Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbi...

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Outlander: (Outlander 1) by Diana Gabaldon

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'Scotland's answer to Game of Thrones' HERALDTHE FIRST NOVEL IN THE BESTSELLING OUTLANDER SERIES, as seen on Amazon PrimeNow available to preorder:...

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Creative, formula-bending, genre-defying, character-focused, and most importantly, a literary exploration of the human condition—contemporary & modern literary fiction is arguably the most experimental genre within literature.

The landscape of literary fiction is constantly being revolutionised by literary fiction authors; that are known to constantly push the boundaries of genre fiction and blur the lines of distinction between literary fiction and other genres of literature.

Given the creative ambiguity of contemporary literary fiction; the genre witnesses a dazzling lineup of highly acclaimed debuts and fresh progressive voices each year. From trailblazing memoirs to the cultural history of humanity—no other genre captures the exactness of our collective life experience more creatively than literary fiction.

The list of bestselling literary fiction is an exciting mix of very distinct literary techniques and contrasting voices. Precisely why, we at Books2Door bring you and a carefully curated collection of the best literary fiction books of all time whilst also helping you gain an acute understanding of what qualifies as modern & literary fiction.

Formula-bending, genre-defying, and experimental

Modern and Contemporary Literary Fiction or experimental fiction is possibly the literature’s most rebellious genre. It doesn’t follow any literary formulas, nor does it adhere to any rules. In that, literary fiction authors are free to build an unpredictable narrative. Anything can transpire; exciting or unnerving. In literary fiction, any established literary theme can be turned on its head. For instance, literary fiction authors have challenged the good-triumphs-over-evil theme; so common otherwise in genre fiction books.

George Orwell’s social satire Nineteen Eighty-Four is one example. A book best categorised as dystopian literature; (remember the recently trending hashtag #makeorwellfictionagain ?) Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four not only challenged the good vs evil theme but also blurred the lines of distinction between genre fiction and classic literary fiction.

Employees creative storytelling

Considering literary fiction doesn’t adhere to any rules of genre or sub-genre; every literary fiction author is free to be creative and create his own rules. This makes the storyline an adventure, that can take its readers by surprise.

Devoid of any rules, the literary fiction writer is free to break convention and employ his creativity. This practice has birthed some extraordinary literary works. For example, Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife where Niffenegger’s uses dual narrators from the first person point of view, in the present tense.

Thought-provoking and introspective

Like we said earlier, no other genre captures the exactness of the human condition and our collective life experience more creatively than literary fiction. Whilst most genres are designed to entertain the readers, literary fiction is meant to do more than that. Literary fiction seeks to make sense of the world. It is meant to be thought-provoking, and introspective and is meant to push the reader to think critically of the human condition.

Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, for instance, explores the mind of a depressed, anxious, and neurotic young woman. Whilst the book has a coming-of-age plot line; it is the inner dialogue of this character that truly makes it a memorable book. This strong character study is what makes literary fiction a character-focused and introspective genre.

Explores the human condition

Stories in literary fiction do not shy away from dealing with difficult subjects and the realities of the human condition with artistic honesty. Literary fiction, therefore, is not always designed to help the reader escape. It can make the reader uncomfortable and push them to think about issues.

Literary fiction however is not non-fiction; so it doesn’t just report the truth. Instead, it relies on creative techniques and artsy symbolism to convey a deeper meaning. Literary fiction relies on metaphors and creative storytelling to convey meaningful messages. As a result, the takeaway from these stories is more than just the story, the takeaway is the experience, the message, and at times the characters.

Literary fiction is character-driven

Whilst genre fiction is focused on the story, plotlines, and on being an engaging read; literary fiction is more stressed on the characters or on conveying a meaningful message or idea. At times, it is focused on both. The characters in literary fiction can have layers, the depth of a character's actions and psyche are explored to forward the plot. Literary fiction doesn’t just show a character’s story, it shows how their actions and circumstances change the character.

Literary fiction can be as absurd and ambiguous as life itself

Literary fiction is experimental in nature much like absurd art, which means it doesn’t have to have a happy ending or an ending at all. Art movements like absurdism, dadaism and surrealism, are all, artsy cousins of experimental prose.

Literary fiction gives writers the liberty to let a story end abruptly or for the entire plot to be absurd. Stories in this genre don’t necessarily have to resolve but they have to have meaning. The meaning however is left to the reader’s interpretation.

Literary fiction is good for the reader

Because literary fiction pushes boundaries, employs a unique perspective, searches for meaning, and is designed for intellectual and emotional stimulus--it is much like the art you see hanging in galleries and the movies that bring meaningful conversations alive. Just like artsy movies and art itself, the creative genius of literary fiction is largely open to criticism. Some of the best contemporary literary fiction books have won critical acclaim and awards but missed out on winning the masses.

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