Fiction / Literary Best Sellers

Vigil is about a man returning--after thirty years--to sit with a female relative on her deathbed. Kemp, the protagonist, is an extremely self-centred and shallow person who uses acid wit and seemingly callous indifference to cover up the profound discomfort he experiences upon finding himself part of a death watch. Kemp's problem is: she's not dying fast enough. Through Kemp's own errors and inattentiveness, the visit that he thinks will take a day or two stretches into a year, and he finds himself caring for his long-forgotten aunt Grace against his will. Gallows humour and Kemp's diatribes on humanity and mortality fuel this delightfully dark narrative, but it is Grace's economical contributions to the dialogue (she's a woman of few words) that give this play its weight and profundity. A play of mistaken identity, twisted circumstance and surprising turns, it is deliciously absurd, incredibly funny and poignantly tender. This is one Vigil worth keeping.

A Katie Couric Book Club Pick / One of President Obama's '26 Summer Reading List Picks / A Good Housekeeping Book Club Pick / A GoodReads Most Anticipated Book of Summer “Ann Patchett’s new novel is a rare phenomenon in contemporary fiction: a novel both majestic and intimate, original and masterful in its structure, crystalline in its prose, revelatory in its insights, utterly devastating yet ultimately uplifting in its emotional impact. . . . I think it is her best novel yet.” —The Boston Globe The acclaimed, prize-winning #1 New York Times bestselling writer returns with a moving, luminous novel that reminds us of the sweetness and impermanence of life and the power of connection to defy time. When Daphne Fuller and her husband Jonathan visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they notice an older, white-haired gentleman following them. The man turns out to be Eddie Triplett, her former stepfather, who had been married to her mother for a little more than year when Daphne was nine. Now fifty-three, Daphne hasn’t seen Eddie for many years, not since the fateful event that changed the direction of both their lives. Meeting again, time falls away; while their relationship was brief, it had a profound impact on them both, and now that they are reunited, they have no intention of ever being separated again. Whistler is a story about two adults looking back over the choices they made, and the choices that were made for them. It’s a story about bravery, memory, the often small yet consequential moments that define our lives, and the endless stream of loss that in time comes for us all. Beautiful in its simplicity, it is ultimately about how love endures, and how the feeling of being known by one other person, even for a short period of time, can change everything.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Brynne Weaver comes the second book in the devilishly steamy Seasons of Carnage trilogy where dark romantic comedy meets thrilling suspense—and where love is ripe for ruin. It’s time to reap what you sow. Cape Carnage is blooming with secrets, and they’re ready to harvest. But every time Nolan Rhodes digs one up, another grows in its place. Harper isn’t who he thought she was. Arthur might be more sinister than he first thought. And Sheriff Yates? The man is everywhere he turns. When true crime fanatics descend on the town looking for answers about the death of their leader, Nolan finds himself at the center of a search and rescue operation for missing people he knows are already dead. Cape Carnage teeters on the brink of chaos. And the harder Nolan tries to keep it together, the closer Harper comes to unraveling. Harper Starling has risked everything to bury her trauma in Cape Carnage. But now that Nolan has unearthed her past, her whole life seems ready to break apart. And who can she trust? The enigmatic man she’s falling in love with? He came to kill her. The serial killer mentor she’s vowed to protect? He’s become an unpredictable menace. The woman in the mirror? She might be the most dangerous of all. Loyalties are tested. Bonds are bent to a breaking point. And love? That might be the deadliest trap of all. Harvest Season is a dark romance with mature themes. Please check content warnings at the beginning of the book. Tropes Small-town romance / Fish out of water / Grumpy/Grumpy / Forced proximity / He falls first / Touch her/him and die / Villain x Villain / Brat/brat tamer

Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2024 From the author of The Trees, shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and Erasure, adapted into the Oscar-winning film American Fiction. 'Truly extraordinary books are rare, and this is one of them' - Roddy Doyle, Booker Prize-winning author of Paddy Clarke, Ha Ha Ha Enthralling and ferociously funny, James by Percival Everett is a profound meditation on identity, belonging and the sacrifices we make to protect the ones we love. It is also a bold reimagining of Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, as the enslaved Jim emerges to reclaim his voice and defy the conventions that have consigned him to the margins. The Mississippi River, 1861. When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a new owner in New Orleans and separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson's Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father who recently returned to town. Thus begins a dangerous and transcendent journey by raft along the Mississippi River, towards the elusive promise of the free states and beyond. As James and Huck navigate the treacherous waters, each bend in the river holds the promise of both salvation and demise. With rumours of a brewing war, James must face the burden he carries: the family he is desperate to protect and the constant lie he must live. And together, the unlikely pair embark on the most dangerous, and life-changing, odyssey of them all . . . 'A captivating response to Mark Twain's classic that is both a bold exploration of a dark chapter in history and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit' - the 2024 Booker Prize judges 'James has the potential to become a classic . . . thrilling, bold and profound' - The Sunday Times 'This is the work of an American master at the peak of his powers' - Financial Times 'Funny and horrifying, brilliant and riveting . . . Who should read this book? Every single person in the country' - Ann Patchett, bestselling author of Tom Lake

** Pre-order Sally Rooney''s new novel Intermezzo now ** THE SUNDAY TIMES AND GLOBAL NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER WINNER OF NOVEL OF THE YEAR AT THE AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARDS OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD ACROSS ALL FABER EDITIONS ''A tour de force.'' Anne Enright, Guardian ''Rooney''s best novel yet.'' Brandon Taylor, New York Times ''Get ready to have your heart broken all over again.'' Red ''The book moved me to tears more than once.'' The Times Alice, a novelist, meets Felix, who works in a warehouse, and asks him if he''d like to travel to Rome with her. In Dublin, her best friend Eileen is getting over a break-up and slips back into flirting with Simon, a man she has known since childhood. Alice, Felix, Eileen and Simon are still young - but life is catching up with them. They desire each other, they delude each other, they worry about sex and friendship and the times they live in. Will they find a way to believe in a beautiful world? Sally Rooney''s book Beautiful World, Where Are You was a #1 Sunday Times bestseller w/c 11-09-2021

A #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE & THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION An exquisite story of mothers and daughters from the Pulitzer prize-winning author of Olive Kitteridge Lucy is recovering from an operation in a New York hospital when she wakes to find her estranged mother sitting by her bed. They have not seen one another in years. As they talk Lucy finds herself recalling her troubled rural childhood and how it was she eventually arrived in the big city, got married and had children. But this unexpected visit leaves her doubting the life she's made: wondering what is lost and what has yet to be found. The story continues in Oh William!, available to read now! ***** 'A terrific writer' Zadie Smith 'A superbly gifted storyteller and a craftswoman in a league of her own' Hilary Mantel 'So good it gave me goosebumps. One of the best writers in America' Sunday Times Elizabeth Strout's new novel Tell Me Everything is out now!

"Ragtime" by E. L. Doctorow is a historical novel set in the early 20th century, capturing the vibrant and tumultuous atmosphere of the United States. The novel weaves together the stories of diverse characters, including historical figures, against the backdrop of societal changes. Doctorow's narrative style combines historical events with imaginative storytelling, creating a rich and compelling tapestry.

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • Frank and April Wheeler are a bright, beautiful, talented couple in the 1950s whose perfect suburban life is about to crumble in this "moving and absorbing story” (The Atlantic Monthly) from one of the most acclaimed writers of the twentieth century. "The Great Gatsby of my time...one of the best books by a member of my generation." —Kurt Vonnegut, acclaimed author of Slaughterhouse-Five Perhaps Frank and April Wheeler married too young and started a family too early. Maybe Frank's job is dull. And April never saw herself as a housewife. Yet they have always lived on the assumption that greatness is only just around the corner. But now that certainty is about to unravel. With heartbreaking compassion and remorseless clarity, Richard Yates shows how Frank and April mortgage their spiritual birthright, betraying not only each other, but their best selves. In his introduction to this edition, novelist Richard Ford pays homage to the lasting influence and enduring power of Revolutionary Road.

The book consists of two interconnected stories, "Franny" and "Zooey," exploring the spiritual and existential struggles of the Glass family, capturing J.D. Salinger's signature themes of alienation and the search for authenticity.

Lolita is the story of a middle-aged man's obsessive love for a twelve-year-old girl. Humbert Humbert is a middle-aged, well-educated European who comes to America to teach. He falls in love with Lolita, his landlady's adolescent daughter, and becomes sexually involved with her

"Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters" by J. D. Salinger is a collection of two novellas. The title novella follows the character Seymour Glass's wedding day, exploring themes of family, relationships, and societal expectations. Salinger's writing style and exploration of complex characters contribute to the novellas' enduring significance in American literature.

Set during World War II, Norman Mailer's novel "The Naked and the Dead" follows the experiences of soldiers in the Pacific. The novel explores the impact of war on individuals and the dynamics within the military.

Bigger Thomas has grown up in Chicago’s slums, reckless, angry and adrift. A respectable job with the affluent Dalton family provides hope but sets him on course for a catastrophic collision between his world and theirs. Hunted by citizen and police alike, and baited by prejudiced officials, Bigger finds himself the cause célèbre in an ever-narrowing endgame. First published in 1940, Native Son shocked readers with its candid depiction of violence and confrontation of racial stereotypes. It went on to make Richard Wright the first bestselling black writer in America. ‘In addition to being a masterpiece, a Great American Novel'' Guardian ''The most important and celebrated novel of Negro life to have appeared in America'' James Baldwin WITH AN AFTERWORD BY GARY YOUNGE

Of Time and the River is the second novel in Thomas Wolfe's autobiographical series. The novel chronicles Wolfe's life from his early days as a struggling writer in New York City to his years as a student at Harvard University.

A dissection of social upheaval, Bright Skin is Julia Peterkin's most sophisticated book, dealing with urban migration, miscegenation, illegitimacy, and racism from the low country of South Carolina to the streets of Harlem. The story of Cricket and Blue - a woman who leaves and a man left behind - is at the heart of the African American experience. As technology replaced manual labor on the plantation, thousands of descendants of slaves made their way north to jobs in the cities, where black separatism flourished. Peterkin writes of these changing times with keen perception and descriptive brilliance in Bright Skin - a story of getting ahead by getting away, rejecting the past and embracing a new future.

Novel depicting the life and struggles of a modern hero.

Satirical romance novel with themes of desire and societal norms.