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Modern & Literary Fiction Books

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    Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

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    A RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB 2017 PICK A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERThe best books make you see differently. This is one of ...

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    A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

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    The million-copy bestselling phenomenon, Fredrik Backman's heartwarming debut is a funny, moving, uplifting tale of love and community that will le...

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    Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

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    Rules Of Civility by Amor Towles is the unforgettable debut by the million-copy bestselling author of A Gentleman in Moscow and The Lincoln Highway...

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    The Paris Connection by Lorraine Brown

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    Fresh, charming and wonderfully escapist' BETH O'LEARY, author of The Flatshare'A wonderfully engaging tale of love and self-discovery' MIKE GAYLE,...

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    Black Widows by Cate Quinn

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    Blake Nelson had three perfect wives. Until one of them killed him. 'An exquisite murder mystery' CHRISTINA DALCHER'Atmospheric and addictive' THE ...

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    The Surprising Days of Isla Pembroke by Tamsin Keily

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    Skilfully laced with good humour and hope' - HEAT on Daisy Cooper's Rules for Living Some days you remember forever. But what if you could live the...

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    The Summer That Changed Us by Cathy Bramley

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    The new feel good read about three women searching for friendship in a sparkling seaside town, from your favourite storyteller Cathy Bramley'An emo...

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    My Kind of Happy by Cathy Bramley

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    It started with a wishlist... Now can she make it happen?'A story bursting at the seams with sunshine' Milly Johnson'Filled with warmth and laughte...

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    The Handover by David M. Barnett

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    An utterly charming and heart-warming love story and the perfect tonic for difficult times. Daisy is the night security guard at the Manchester Mus...

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    Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

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    THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERBOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE...

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    Other Women by Cathy Kelly

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    Don't miss the stunning new novel from Cathy Kelly about sisterhood, love & friendship - The Wedding Party is available to pre-order now!'A bur...

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    The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

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    THE SCORCHING HOT RICHARD & JUDY LOVE AFFAIR THAT WILL LEAVE YOU OBSESSED!'IF YOU ONLY READ ONE BOOK THIS YEAR, MAKE IT THIS' 5***** reader rev...

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    Watermelon by Marian Keyes

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    Discover the riotously funny, tender and touching debut from the No. 1 bestselling author of Grown Ups'A modern fairy tale, full of Keyes's self-de...

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    Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

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    The funny, touching and unpredictable No. 1 New York Times bestseller, now a major Netflix TV series'A brilliant and comforting read' MATT HAIG'Fun...

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    Because of You by Dawn French

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    The moving and life-affirming bestseller, perfect for anyone who loves unforgettable storiesLONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION AND A RICH...

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    Still Me by Jojo Moyes

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    THE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER from the author of THE LAST LETTER FROM YOUR LOVER, now a major motion picture'Immensely readable and enjoyable' ...

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    Grown Ups by Marian Keyes

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    Hilarious and painfully relatable, Grown Ups is the perfect escape into someone else's wonderfully messy family . . . 'Magnificently messy lives, b...

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    After You by Jojo Moyes

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    THE SEQUEL TO THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING PHENOMENON ME BEFORE YOU The beautiful love story that will make you both laugh and cry, from the autho...

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    The Impulse Purchase by Veronica Henry

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    An exquisite story bursting at the seams with summer, hope and love' MILLY JOHNSON'Warm, escapist and utterly uplifting, this is Veronica Henry at ...

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    Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis

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    The sweetest, most romantic, most heartwarming book!' MARIAN KEYES'An absolute dream of a book, I couldn't love it more' LINDSEY KELK'I read Eight ...

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    The Farmhouse of Second Chances by Helen Rolfe

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    A heartwarming story about family, forgiveness and the importance of kindness' FIONA HARPER on The Kindness Club on Mapleberry Lane'Comforting and ...

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    The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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    The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: A Captivating Journey through Love, Secrets, and Glamour Immerse yourself in the mesmerising world of Hollywood'...

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    Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith

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    Fantastic' The Sunday Times 'Marvellous... Hugely impressive' Guardian'Beautiful, brilliant, powerful' Madeline Miller, bestselling author of Circe...

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    The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai

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    Winner of the Blogger's Book Prize, 2021 Shortlisted for the People's Book Prize, 2021Winner of Best Literary Fiction and Best Multicultural Fictio...

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    The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

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    THE PERFECT CURL-UP READ FOR CAT LOVERS'Bewitching... as self-possessed and comforting as - well, a cat' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH'A book about kindness and...

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    Grey Bees by Andrey Kurkov

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    Ukraine's most famous novelist dramatises the conflict raging in his country through the adventures of a mild-mannered beekeeper. From the author o...

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    Tin Man by Sarah Winman

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    SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2017 COSTA NOVEL AWARDFrom the internationally bestselling author of WHEN GOD WAS A RABBIT comes a heartbreaking celebration of...

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    Things We Never Say by Sheila O'Flanagan

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    Sheila O'Flanagan's unputdownable bestseller THINGS WE NEVER SAY is a must-read for fans of Marian Keyes and Veronica Henry. Abbey Anderson is stun...

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    This Must Be the Place by Maggie O'Farrell

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    A top-ten bestseller 2016, shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award, THIS MUST BE THE PLACE by Maggie O'Farrell crosses time zones and continents to r...

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    Whispers by Rosie Goodwin

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    Sometimes the past really does come back to haunt you... The old manor house has stood empty for years, left to rot since the last master of the Fe...

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    Stardust by Neil Gaiman

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    A FAIRY TALE FOR EVERYONE. 'Beyond all the borders that divide us, there is a place of infinite possibilities and pure magic. I think of Neil Gaima...

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    American Gods by Neil Gaiman

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    AN ACCLAIMED, EMMY-NOMINATED TV SERIES ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEOWINNER OF THE HUGO, LOCUS AND BRAM STOKER AWARDS'To give him his full title: Neil Gaima...

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    The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell

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    From the bestselling, critically acclaimed author of HAMNET and I AM, I AM, I AM, comes an intense, breathtakingly accomplished story of a woman's ...

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    The Distance Between Us by Maggie O'Farrell

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    Gripping, insightful and deft, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US by Maggie O'Farrell is a haunting story of the way our families shape our lives, from the aw...

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    Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

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    Some scars never heal . . . An addictive thriller from the author of the mega bestseller GONE GIRL. When two girls are abducted and killed in Misso...

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    Before We Say Goodbye by Louise Candlish

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    Sometimes second chances are the most dangerous of all. FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF OUR HOUSE'A master of her craft' Rosamund Lupto...

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    The Chocolate Lovers' Diet by Carole Matthews

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    THE BESTSELLING SERIES FROM THE MULTI-MILLION-COPY-SELLING AUTHOR CAROLE MATTHEWSSurvival tips for times of stress:1. Take deep breaths2. Count to ...

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    The Chocolate Lovers' Club by Carole Matthews

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    THE BESTSELLING SERIES FROM THE MULTI-MILLION-COPY-SELLING AUTHOR CAROLE MATTHEWSFor Lucy Lombard, there's nothing that chocolate can't cure. From ...

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    The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom

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    THE INSPIRATIONAL CLASSIC FROM THE MASTER STORYTELLER WHOSE BOOKS HAVE TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF OVER 40 MILLION READERS'Mitch Albom sees the magical i...

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    Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood

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    As Cabaret returns to the West End, revisit the KitKat Club in the book that introduced Sally Bowles to the world. Set in the 1930s, Goodbye to Ber...

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    Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

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    Two magicians shall appear in England. The first shall fear me; the second shall long to behold me The year is 1806. England is beleaguered by the ...

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    Paradise by Abdulrazak Gurnah

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    **By the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature 2021**A BBC RADIO 4 Book at Bedtime SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 1994'A poetic and vividly con...

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    The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

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    A global phenomenon, The Alchemist has been read and loved by over 62 million readers, topping bestseller lists in 74 countries worldwide. Now this...

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    Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

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    Discover the love story that captured 21 million hearts . . . from the author of The Last Letter from Your Lover, now a major motion pictureThe No....

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    The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

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    WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION 2017WINNER OF THE ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARD 2017LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2017NATIONAL BOOK AWARD W...

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    The Girl With No Soul by Morgan Owen

    Only 4 left!

    How can you find your soul mate, when you don't have a soul? Iris lives in a world ruled by The Order. Inspectors police the population by keeping ...

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    You Can Trust Me by Gina Blaxill

    Only 9 left!

    A Good Girl's Guide to Murder meets I May Destroy You, this dark YA thriller will have your heart in your mouth from the very first page! "Gina Bla...

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    The Power by Naomi Alderman

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    WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTIONONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S BEST BOOKS OF 2017'Electrifying' Margaret Atwood'A big, page-turning, thought-provokin...

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    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

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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