Best Fiction 2019Like this list

25 items

• The Testaments

  Atwood, Margaret, 1939-

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  Atwood returns to the world of The Handmaid's Tale, where women are forced into reproductive and sexual slavery. In The Testaments, three women tell their stories and the author builds a novel that's as gripping and thought-provoking as…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Big Sky

  Atkinson, Kate,

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  Atkinson revives her PI Jackson Brodie series in this slow-burn mystery that follows several seemingly unconnected people in a Yorkshire town. Sly humor, nuanced characters, and a plot that's dark but not hopeless shine in this complex…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Hollow Kingdom

  a Novel

  Buxton, Kira Jane,

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  A foul-mouthed talking crow, a zombie apocalypse, and a Pacific Northwest setting: what more could a reader want? Buxton's fresh and unforgettable voice gives this offbeat animal story a surprising amount of heart.

• Things You Save in a Fire

  Center, Katherine,

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  In this witty and heartwarming story about love and forgiveness, a firefighter navigating a complicated relationship with her mother and a frustrating, sexist new fire station falls for a co-worker, leading to even more complexity in her…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Exhalation

  Chiang, Ted,

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  In this collection of brilliant, thought-provoking, and moving stories, Pacific Northwest author Ted Chiang uses hard science to explore complex questions about humanity, technology, fate, and more.

• The Water Dancer

  a Novel

  Coates, Ta-Nehisi,

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  This transcendent tale of a boy born into bondage exposes the brutality of slavery but also shimmers with hope. When his mother is sold away, Hiram is gifted with a mysterious power which ultimately emboldens him to escape.

• Recursion

  a Novel

  Crouch, Blake,

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  When technology originally created to help those with dementia to record their memories causes a madness-inducing syndrome, a scientist and detective team up to save humanity. A thought-provoking but fast-paced thriller.

• This Is How You Lose the Time War

  El-Mohtar, Amal,

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  A lush, lovely, and romantic sci-fi novella featuring agents on opposing sides of the never-ending war for the fate of the universe. Red and Blue leave taunting letters for each other at sites throughout time; their relationship evolves…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Evvie Drake Starts Over

  a Novel

  Holmes, Linda (Radio talk show host),

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  A young widow with a secret and a professional baseball player who can't pitch anymore take solace in each other in this charming, funny, and moving novel. Authentic characters, great dialogue, and warm relationships—romantic and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Ayesha at Last

  Jalaluddin, Uzma,

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  A modern spin on Pride and Prejudice featuring an unlikely romance between two Muslim main characters, Ayesha and Khalid, who must reckon with their culture, family, religion, love, and passion when they find themselves attracted to each…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Black Leopard, Red Wolf

  James, Marlon, 1970-

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  This epic, sensuous, layered, and inventive fantasy follows a mercenary named Tracker on his search for a missing boy. James combines African mythologies, pop culture, and fantasy tropes to create something wholly original.

• The Institute

  King, Stephen, 1947-

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  In the middle of the night, Luke is taken from his bed and wakes up at the Institute, surrounded by other kids, each with a special talent. No kid has ever escaped the Institute— can Luke be the first? Classic King: creepy and compelling.

• The Other Americans

  Lalami, Laila, 1968-

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  Moroccan immigrant Driss dies in a hit-and-run that his daughter suspects was no accident. Told through multiple narrators, this blend of mystery, love story, and family saga paints a nuanced and complex portrait of contemporary America.

• Lost Children Archive

  a Novel

  Luiselli, Valeria, 1983-

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  Luiselli's heady, heartwrenching novel follows a family on a road trip to the U.S.-Mexico border and examines the plight of undocumented children traveling alone. It's a knotty and intense read that asks readers to consider complex…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Deep River

  a Novel

  Marlantes, Karl,

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  In this sweeping family epic, King County author Marlantes explores the experiences of Finnish immigrants, the labor industry, labor activism and more in Washington State. A detailed, lyrical portrait of three unforgettable siblings.

• Red, White & Royal Blue

  McQuiston, Casey,

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  Following an international incident involving a wedding cake, the son of the President of the United States and Prince Henry of England are forced to fake a friendship, which slowly evolves into something more. A joyful, sexy, witty debut.

• The Dutch House

  a Novel

  Patchett, Ann,

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  Echoing dark fairy tales of the past (even down to the presence of an evil stepmother), Patchett's latest character-driven novel, narrated by young Danny, revolves around him and his sister, Maeve, and their obsession with their iconic…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Daisy Jones & the Six

  a Novel

  Reid, Taylor Jenkins,

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  Presented as an oral history, this is a rollicking account of a band's meteoric rise and fall in the 1970s. Band members recount their stories with descriptions so vivid that readers can almost hear the music. Compelling, immersive, and so…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Normal People

  a Novel

  Rooney, Sally,

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  Marianne and Connel begin a secret relationship during high school; this Irish novel follows them into their early 20s as they split and reunite. Rooney's deft writing and insightful characterization make for a compulsively readable story.

• The Island of Sea Women

  See, Lisa,

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  Two girls live through Japanese colonialism, wars, and the innovations of the 1980s, but their friendship may not survive their difference in social status. A coming-of-age saga set on a Korean island which is home to an all-female diving…Read moreRead more of this annotation