Literary Fiction

The Strange Business of Free Will

John Merlan thinks he is nearing the end of things: his career is sputtering out (no thanks to his employer), his heart will not keep a steady rhythm, and most of his oldest friends are gone, save one. What remains is the question of what to do with the freedom…

BookTribSeptember 8, 2026

Fiction Recommended

Behind the Palm Beach Glamour, One Family Faces a Reckoning

In Palm Beach, a family can look flawless from the outside and still be coming apart behind the hedges. The trick is knowing how to smile through it, where to sit, what to wear and which rumors to pretend not to hear. Lucinda Barrows has spent decades perfecting that art.…

BookTribJune 2, 2026

Listicles Popular

5 Literary Novels That Are Also Alluring Mysteries

As a writer of mysteries and thrillers, I devour dozens of suspense novels every year, and I absolutely love the rush they deliver. But sometimes, I crave something slower, more contemplative—that’s why I’m also a devoted reader of contemporary literary fiction. With these books, I’m willing to trade a jaw-dropping…

Kate WhiteFebruary 27, 2026

Fiction Listicles Miscellany

Over the Wealthy Elite in Fiction? These Books Are Your Antidote

Lately, it seems like every new novel comes with a penthouse view, a private jet and a trust fund meltdown. While glossy wealth drama may be having a moment, it doesn’t always reflect the world most of us actually inhabit. We’re far more interested in stories that capture real lives,…

Cameron KimballJanuary 21, 2026

Author Spotlight

Michael West on Heritage, Identity and Finding Your Way Home in “Lost in the Holler”

In his debut novel Lost in the Holler, Michael West explores what happens when ambition pulls a man far from his roots. Set between the high-pressure world of New York business and the quiet, insular valley of Gizzard’s Holler in Appalachia, the novel follows RJ Burnette as he returns home…

BookTribFebruary 18, 2026

Fiction Listicles Listicles - Featured

An Unconventional Ride: 8 Daring Novels of Train Travel

You love to travel. No, wait, I’m not overgeneralizing! Hear me out, because I have an argument all prepared. You might have instantly thought, “yes, she read my mind!” Maybe you’re a bold backpacker who is willing to risk the discomfort of hostels in order to get that authentic experience.…

Judy MorenoJanuary 31, 2022

Book Club Network Fiction Save the World

“The Ministry of Time” is GMA’s May Book Club Pick, Soon Headed for TV Adaptation

The Ministry of Time (Avid Reader Press) has been named one of the most-anticipated debuts this spring. It garnered numerous glowing reviews from major publications, sold adaptation rights to A24 and BBC pre-publication, and has been named Good Morning America’s May book club pick. Bestselling romance author, Emily Henry, calls…

Megan BeauregardMay 17, 2024

Fiction Miscellany

AuthorBuzz Giveaway: Lovers Caught at the Crossroads of History

Sorry, this promotion has ended. Read on for another great recommendation from AuthorBuzz! The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy (St. Martin’s Press) Dear Reader, I’ve always been fascinated by the lives of artists, so when I came across the kitsch, white porcelain of Allach I was determined to find out…

AuthorBuzzNovember 6, 2023

Fiction Podcasts

Books & Looks Podcast: Madeline Martin on Wartime Resilience, Motherhood and the Power of Books

Books & Looks: Real Books for Real Readers was started as a literary podcast to supplement Blaine Desantis’ website, ViewsOnBooks.com, and expand into audio and video interviews with authors. With Books & Looks, Blaine’s goal is to focus on real books that real people will read. At least half of the books he…

Blaine DesantisOctober 16, 2024

Fiction Podcasts

Books & Looks Podcast: Warsaw’s Secret Pages: Madeline Martin on “The Keeper of Hidden Books”

Books & Looks: Real Books for Real Readers was started as a podcast to supplement Blaine Desantis’ website, ViewsOnBooks.com, and expand into audio and video interviews with authors. With Books & Looks, Blaine’s goal is to focus on real books that real people will read. At least half of the books he reviews…

Blaine DesantisJanuary 24, 2024

Book Club Network Fiction Fiction - Featured

From a Barroom in England to the Streets of Italy, Sarah Winman’s “Still Life” Is Life Well-Lived

If you had the opportunity to read Tin Man, a beautiful story of love, loss and art by Sarah Winman and loved it like I did, then you cannot miss Still Life, her latest novel! Still Life is a lovely meandering through lives well-lived where the eclectic characters choose their…

Jennifer BlankfeinJanuary 14, 2022

Fiction

Food Is the Nourishment of the Soul in Multi-Generational Historical Novel

“Sometimes food is simple nourishment for the body. Sometimes it is nourishment for the soul. Sometimes it is an apology”. A Bakery in Paris (William Morrow) brings a fresh take to a historical fiction novel, and Aimie K. Runyan can bring together mystery, comfort and two strong female characters to…

Lydia LefevreAugust 29, 2023

Fiction Listicles

5 Contemplative Novels From Authors Inspired By Their Time in the Military

You’ve heard the common phrase before, “Write what you know.” And who better to write about the harsh and weighty realities of war, the rigidity and routines of the military, the unique skillset needed to be part of it all, and the lasting effect of what they've witnessed — than…

BookTribFebruary 16, 2024

Fiction Fiction - Featured

The Appetite of France’s King Alters the Life of a Young Maid and Her Daughter

Veronique’s life is not easy. It’s Paris, 1755. Her father is dead, her mother is desperately poor, and the family’s four children sometimes go hungry. But one day that all changes. An elderly stranger wearing a purple frock coat approaches Veronique’s mother and says there is a place for the…

Nancy BilyeauFebruary 22, 2022

Fiction

Little Deaths and Big Deaths: A Gothic Mystery Through a Modern Lens

“The way I see it, in any good life you need to die several times to really lead a life worth living. There are little deaths and there are big deaths. My tale has both – and the real tragedy would be if this story were to die with me.…

Neil NyrenApril 26, 2024