I’ve always been drawn to character-driven novels. While I enjoy a twisty plot, I’m far more interested in people and their inner lives, which is why I love literary fiction. Literary fiction is a little hard to define since it’s a book category rather than a specific genre, but these stories focus on characters and deeper themes rather than fast-paced plots with shocking turns. You’ve probably read literary fiction before in school with classic books like The Great Gatsby or To Kill a Mockingbird.
For a while, literary fiction flew under the radar for many readers. However, that feels like it’s changing. My social media feed has been full of BookTok girlies discovering modern literary fiction and sharing the books that challenged them, made them laugh, and completely wrecked them in the best way.
Whether this is a true book renaissance or just my algorithm doing its thing, it felt like the perfect time to share my favorite contemporary lit fic reads for those of you curious about dipping your toe into the world of lit-fic but aren’t sure where to start. Here are my top lit-fic book recommendations to help you dive into this book category.
Reading Cleopatra and Frankenstein feels like slipping into a beautifully shot HBO series set in New York City. The novel follows the whirlwind romance between Cleo, a 24-year-old British artist trying to find her footing, and Frank, a successful advertising executive 20 years her senior. What starts as an impulsive love story quickly unfolds into an exploration of marriage, mental health, and the ripple effects our relationships have on the people around us.
If you’re a fan of horror, check out Tender Is the Flesh. Set in a world where animal meat is deadly, and humans are farmed instead, the novel follows Marcos, who works at a processing plant and survives by emotionally distancing himself from the brutality of his job. When he’s given a living “specimen,” that detachment begins to crack. As a horror fan myself, this book left me deeply unsettled and unable to eat meat for a few weeks after reading it.
Big Swiss is weird in the best possible way. The novel follows Greta, a socially awkward woman who transcribes therapy sessions and becomes fixated on a married client she’s never met who she nicknames “Big Swiss.” When the two cross paths in real life, their relationship spirals quickly. The book leans into its absurdity without taking itself too seriously, which makes it oddly charming and hard to put down.
The Vanishing Half follows twin sisters who grow up together and end up living completely different lives. One stays connected to her Black community, while the other passes as white and builds a life shaped by secrecy. The story moves across generations and explores how our past shows up in the choices we make, even when we think we’ve left it behind.
Margot’s Got Money Troubles was hands down my favorite read last year. It’s fun while still tackling real-life stressors without ever feeling heavy. The story follows Margot, a young single mom scrambling to stay afloat. She unexpectedly finds success online as an OnlyFans creator with help from her estranged, ex-wrestler father. Read it before the Apple TV+ adaptation comes out.
Normal People is a love-it-or-hate-it kind of book, and I very much fall in the love camp. Sally Rooney’s writing is sharp and stripped back, which makes the emotional tension hit even harder. The story follows Connell and Marianne as they circle each other from high school into college, constantly miscommunicating, pulling apart, and finding their way back together. It’s an aching coming-of-age love story that captures how confusing intimacy can be when you’re still figuring out who you are.
My Dark Vanessa is my favorite read of 2026 so far, though it’s definitely not a light one. The novel follows Vanessa as she looks back on a sexual relationship she had as a teenager with her much older teacher and begins to question the story she’s told herself about it for years. Told across past and present timelines, the book captures how deeply confusing and self-erasing this kind of abuse can be, especially when it’s wrapped in affection and attention.
Writers & Lovers follows Casey, a struggling writer in her early thirties who’s trying to keep her creative life afloat while everything else feels uncertain. The story centers on that uncomfortable in-between stage where nothing is quite figured out yet. I recommend reading it before Lily King’s latest release, Heart the Lover, which is just as spectacular.
The Correspondent follows a woman who has spent her life writing letters to make sense of the world and her place in it. When someone connected to a long-buried, painful chapter reaches out, she’s forced to face the hurt she’s been circling for years and decide whether she’s ready to forgive. I usually reach for a physical book, but the audio version of this one is especially beautiful, with a full cast that makes the letters feel alive.
If you love unhinged female narrators, My Husband is your book. It follows a woman with the picture-perfect life who is completely consumed by her devotion to her husband and quietly spiraling over whether he loves her back the same way. Watching her monitor, test, and try to control the relationship is equal parts neurotic and playful, and I flew through it.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow follows two childhood friends who reconnect in college and build a wildly successful video game together. As their creative partnership grows, so do the tensions and emotional distance between them. Spanning decades, the novel explores ambition, creativity, and the complicated ways people love each other when romance isn’t the center of the story.
Michelle King, Contributing Wellness Writer
Michelle King is a midwest-based writer, content strategist, and yoga instructor. She received her BA in English from the University of Missouri and works as the Content Marketing Manager at Booyah Advertising.
