Get your order now
Ordering from Books2Door couldn't be simpler
Collect rewards every
time you shop.
They save, you earn
– it's a win-win.
Maria, a trans woman in her thirties, is going nowhere. She spends her aimless days working in a New York bookstore, trying to remain true to a pun...
View full details'A glimpse of the foetid underbelly of the internet' - The Times'Taut as a thriller, sharp as a slug of ice-cold vodka' - Irish TimesTo be a conten...
View full detailsThe Sunday Times Thriller of the Month'Stunning . . . one of the most compelling reads of the year' - Daily ExpressExpertly researched and visionar...
View full detailsThe Sunday Times bestselling, twenty-eighth and final novel in the thrilling, wickedly funny Inspector Montalbano Mysteries series by Andrea Camill...
View full detailsThe twenty-eighth and final novel in the thrilling, wickedly funny Inspector Montalbano Mysteries series by bestselling author Andrea Camilleri. ...
View full detailsMercy is the gripping follow up to Long Road to Mercy, A Minute to Midnight and Daylight featuring Special Agent Atlee Pine from one of the world's...
View full details'Deliciously chilly' - Guardian'Humming with suppressed hysteria and madness' - The Times'Wonderfully evocative' - Heat Hare House is not its real ...
View full details'Deliciously chilly' Guardian'Humming with suppressed hysteria and madness' The Times'Wonderfully evocative' Heat Hare House is not its real name, ...
View full details'An apocalyptic novel for our times' - Guardian'Horrifyingly resonant' - ObserverSuperbowl Sunday, 2022. A couple wait in their Manhattan apartment...
View full detailsThe Cook of the Halcyon is the penultimate novel in the Inspector Montalbano mystery series from the master of Sicilian crime, Andrea Camilleri. ...
View full detailsThe Cook of the Halcyon is the twenty-seventh Inspector Montalbano mystery from the master of Sicilian crime, Andrea Camilleri. Moments later the...
View full details'Sunshine in book form' - Daily Mail'A joyfully escapist celebration of friendship and freedom' - Mail on Sunday'Delightful, heartwarming . . . An ...
View full detailsWild Fire is the eighth and final book in Ann Cleeves' bestselling Shetland series - a major BBC One crime drama, starring Douglas Henshall. On a...
View full detailsDead Water is the fifth book in Ann Cleeves' bestselling Shetland series - a major BBC One crime drama, starring Douglas Henshall as Detective Jimm...
View full detailsThe Sunday Times Bestseller 2021. As recommended by the BBC Radio 2 Book Club'The novel I've enjoyed most this year' - Hilary Mantel'A mystery, a l...
View full detailsFrom the New York Times number one bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone, Kristin Hannah, comes Wild, a remarkable story about ...
View full detailsFirst a legendary radio series, then a bestselling book, then a blockbuster movie, the immensely successful Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Dou...
View full detailsA cult classic of Italian literature, published in English for the first time, with an afterword by Andre Aciman, author of Call Me By Your Name. ...
View full detailsA Richard & Judy Summer Book Club Pick. For fans of Liane Moriarty, People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd is a deliciously dark, page-turning thril...
View full detailsIn The Sicilian Method, Andrea Camilleri's twenty-sixth novel in the Inspector Montalbano mystery series, Montalbano finds his answers to a murder ...
View full detailsIn The Sicilian Method, Andrea Camilleri's twenty-sixth novel in the Inspector Montalbano mystery series, Montalbano finds his answers to a murder ...
View full detailsThe Promise is a unforgettable story about finding love, hope and joy in even the darkest moments, by the Sunday Times bestseller Lucy Diamond, aut...
View full detailsSet in urban Manchester, Running Scared is a nerve-shredding thriller by bestselling author Mandasue Heller. When Alexis 'Lexi' James falls out w...
View full detailsA moving, compelling and uplifting story of following your dreams against the odds, from the world's favourite storyteller, Danielle Steel. Iris ...
View full detailsA dedicated CIA agent becomes an unexpected ally to a woman haunted by the kidnapping of her family, in Suspects, a thrilling novel from internatio...
View full detailsYou only discover what you can survive when you're put to the test . . . The Challenge is the latest thrilling novel from No.1 New York Times bests...
View full detailsThe Butler is an extraordinary tale of family, difficult decisions and destiny, from the world's favourite storyteller, Danielle Steel. Joachim v...
View full detailsThe Butler is an extraordinary tale of family, difficult decisions and destiny, from the world's favourite storyteller, Danielle Steel. Joachim v...
View full detailsComplications is a riveting story of scandal and tragedy set against the backdrop of an exclusive Paris hotel from the world's favourite storytelle...
View full detailsNine Lives is a thought-provoking story of lost love and new beginnings, by the number one bestseller Danielle Steel. After a carefree childhood,...
View full detailsThe Affair is a compelling story of mothers and sisters who are there for you when things fall apart, by Danielle Steel, whose countless number one...
View full detailsAkin is a tender tale of love, loss and family, from Emma Donoghue, the international bestselling author of Room. 'If Room forced home truths on ...
View full detailsNew York Times bestselling author Robin Cook takes on the ripped-from-the-headlines topic of using DNA tracking to catch a killer in Genesis, an un...
View full detailsThe Times top ten bestsellerScots Book of the Year 2021Winner of the Somerset Maugham Award & Betty Trask Award 2021'Trainspotting for a new ge...
View full details'An immersive, intoxicating summer read with the long-lasting feel of a classic' - Molly Aitken, author of The Island Child'A potent blend of art, ...
View full details'Wickedly clever prose and a sense of humour that seems to loom up like a character in itself' - M John Harrison, GuardianIn her brilliantly invent...
View full details'The plot is ingenious, and the writing as clever and tantalising as ever' Daily MailFrom Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, the authors of the to...
View full details'Brilliant . . . A deeply unsettling, excellent read' - Daisy Johnson, author of Everything Under 'A potent contemporary fable . . . riveting' - Gu...
View full detailsSet amongst the snow-covered mountains of the Austrian Alps, Midnight in the Snow is the story of a forbidden attraction that will reveal long-buri...
View full detailsBy the winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature'There is a wonderful sardonic eloquence to this unnamed narrator's voice' Financial Times'I don...
View full details'Manages something only a few books achieve: it makes you happy' Munich Mercury 'A clear-eyed tonic in troubled times' Guardian On a beautiful spr...
View full detailsAn unforgettable novel of mothers and daughters, wives and muses, secrets and outright lies'Freud is a modern literary rarity: a born storyteller' ...
View full details_______________'Surreal and unsettling' - Observer Cultural Highlight'Wise, comical and exceptionally relatable' - Zeba Talkhani 'Quietly hilarious...
View full detailsSHORTLISTED FOR THE AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARDWhat would you do if you lost someone the world never knew was yours? For three years, Ana has been con...
View full details'A thrilling, defiant novel' FATIMA BHUTTO'A masterpiece' MARC LAMONT HILL'Wonderful ... Shines a ray of hope into some very dark places' MICHAEL P...
View full detailsThe masterpiece of one of the most important and overlooked British women writers of the twentieth century, with a new introduction by Melissa Harr...
View full detailsLose yourself in the story of a lifetime - the unforgettable Sunday Times bestseller'Patchett leads us to a truth that feels like life rather than ...
View full detailsThe beloved, life-affirming international bestseller which has sold over 5 million copies worldwide - now a major film starring Lily James, Matthew...
View full detailsCreative, 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.
Ordering from Books2Door couldn't be simpler
Welcome to Books2Door, the one-stop shop for all your children's book needs! We specialise in selling cheap children’s box sets and series at bargain prices.
At Books2Door, we believe that reading is a fundamental skill that every child should have to help improve their vocabulary, grammar, and critical thinking skills.
We understand that buying kids books can be expensive. That's why we offer a wide range of box sets and series at affordable prices, making it easier for parents, teachers, and libraries to access quality books for children.
Our team is made up of book lovers who are dedicated to sourcing and providing the best books for kids. We work closely with publishers and authors to ensure that we offer the best books on the market for your child.
Check out our amazing reviews on Trustpilot, Google Customer Reviews, Reviews.io and more!
Are your books brand new? How are they such good value?
All our books are brand new and delivered to us straight from the publisher. Our special sales editions are bought in bulk at a great discount - which we pass on to you!
Are the books different from what I've seen in the high street?
Special sales editions are made with more affordable materials, allowing the publisher to keep the cost price down, and we can sell it for less than the standard editions
What if I have a problem with my order?
Our support team is available during regular business hours to support you with any questions you may have. Call or 0116 210 4294 or email us.
Up to 80% off RRP
Bargain prices since 2004
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.