Top new literary-fiction books in February 2025
Last updated:
February 28, 2025
February 2025 featuring new releases by Karen Thompson Walker, Anne Tyler, Pam Jenoff, Curtis Sittenfeld, Eric Puchner, Eowyn Ivey, Ruth Hulbert, Mindy Kaling, Danielle Prescod, Rachel Joyce, Ada Calhoun, Megan Chance and many more.
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The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker
In this mind-bending novel by the New York Times bestselling author of The Age of Miracles, a young mother and her unconventional psychiatrist encounter strange dimensions of the human mind and love as they try to understand the eerie things that are happening to Jane...sci-fi · fiction · mystery · contemporary · audiobook · literary-fiction · psychological · mental-illness · suspense · book -
![Three Days in June by Anne Tyler]()
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
A new Anne Tyler novel destined to be an instant classic: a socially awkward mother of the bride navigates the days before and after her daughter's wedding.Gail Baines is having a bad day. To start, she loses her job—or quits, depending on whom you ask. Tomorrow her daughter, Debbie, is getting married, and she hasn’t even been invited to the spa day organized by the mother of the groom...romance · fiction · contemporary · literary-fiction · family · womens-fiction · marriage · season-summer · female-mc · breakup -
![Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff]()
Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff
A Parisian department store, a mysterious necklace and a woman’s quest to unlock a decade-old mystery are at the center of this riveting novel of love and survival, from New York Times bestselling author Pam JenoffLondon, 1953. Louise is still adjusting to her postwar role as a housewife when she discovers a necklace in a box at a secondhand shop...historical-fiction · fiction · ww2 · historical · mystery · 20th-century · audiobook · literary-fiction · female-mc · romance -
![Show Don't Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld]()
Show Don't Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld
A funny, fiercely intelligent, and moving collection exploring marriage, friendship, fame, and artistic ambition—including a story that revisits the main character from Curtis Sittenfeld’s iconic novel Prep—from the New York Times bestselling author of Eligible and Romantic ComedyIn her second story collection, Sittenfeld shows why she’s as beloved for her short fiction as she is for her novels...fiction · literary-fiction · audiobook · contemporary · womens-fiction · season-spring · anthologies · friendship · family · female-mc -
![Dream State by Eric Puchner]()
Dream State by Eric Puchner
“The story of relationships built and broken, mistakes inherited and repeated, and the beauty of trying again….already one of the year’s best.”–PeopleCece is in love. She has arrived early at her future in-laws’ lake house in Salish, Montana, to finish planning her wedding to Charlie, a young doctor with a brilliant life ahead of him...north-america · usa · montana · romance · fiction · literary-fiction · audiobook · contemporary · pollution-climate-change · family -
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![Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey, Ruth Hulbert]()
Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey, Ruth Hulbert
An unforgettable reimagining of Beauty and the Beast that asks the question: can love save us from ourselves?Birdie’s keeping it together, of course she is. So she's a little hungover sometimes on her shifts, and she has to bring her daughter Emaleen to work while she waits tables at an Alaskan roadside lodge, but it's a tough town to be a single mother, and Emaleen never goes hungry... -
![The Rules of Fortune by Mindy Kaling, Danielle Prescod]()
The Rules of Fortune by Mindy Kaling, Danielle Prescod
“A gripping novel about power, money, and secrets.” —Mindy KalingA daughter’s investigation into her family history threatens to destroy their legacy in a gripping novel about power, money, and secrets by the author of Token Black Girl.On their Martha’s Vineyard estate, the Carter family prepares to celebrate...fiction · mystery · contemporary · family · literary-fiction · urban · black-mc · poc-mc · book · adult -
![The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce]()
The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce
Family is everything, even when it falls apart. After the sudden death of a renowned artist, his four adult children travel to Italy to sort out his affairs with his much-younger wife, in this moving novel from the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.World-famous artist Vic Kemp has relied on his four children ever since their mother died when they were young...europe · south-europe · italy · fiction · contemporary · family · mystery · audiobook · literary-fiction · season-summer -
![Crush by Ada Calhoun]()
Crush by Ada Calhoun
When a husband asks his reluctant wife to consider what might be missing from their marriage, what follows surprises them both—sex, heartbreak and heart rekindling, and a rediscovered sense of all that is possible She’s happy and settled and productive and content in her full life—a child, a career, an admirable marriage, deep friendships, happy parents, and a spouse she still loves... -
![Glamorous Notions by Megan Chance]()
Glamorous Notions by Megan Chance
A costume designer’s past casts a long shadow over her well-constructed lies in this intriguing story about stolen identities, friendship, and betrayal from the author of A Splendid Ruin and A Dangerous Education.Hollywood, 1955. As head costume designer for Lux Pictures, Lena Taylor hears startling confessions from the biggest movie stars...north-america · usa · california · urban · romance · historical-fiction · fiction · mystery · historical · suspense -
![Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis]()
Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis
A wickedly funny and audacious debut novel following an academic who flees from heartbreak and lands in Iraq with a one-of-a-kind job offer—only to be forced to do the work of confronting herself.*SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2025*When Nadia Amin, a witty and bighearted PhD, publishes an article on deradicalization, everything changes...urban · new-york-state · fiction · contemporary · lgbtq · literary-fiction · audiobook · humor · religion · politics -
![Boy by Nicole Galland]()
Boy by Nicole Galland
From critically acclaimed author Nicole Galland, a vibrant and thought-provoking historical tale of love, political intrigue, and gender-swapping set in the theatre world of Elizabethan London.Alexander “Sander” Cooke is the most celebrated “boy player” in the Chamberlain’s Men, William Shakespeare’s theatre company...historical-fiction · historical · fiction · coming-of-age · season-winter · literary-fiction · early-modern · lgbtq · friendship · book -
![Every Tom, Dick & Harry by Elinor Lipman]()
Every Tom, Dick & Harry by Elinor Lipman
From one of the most beloved comedic writers of our time comes a charming, laugh-out-loud tale of love and criminality, a pitch-perfect romantic comedy from the author of Ms. Demeanor.Taking over her parents’ estate sale business is more than Emma Lewis bargained for. Coming from a long line of estate liquidators has its challenges but Emma was completely unprepared for the people she would meet...romance · fiction · humor · contemporary · womens-fiction · audiobook · family · comedy · female-author · literary-fiction -
![Beartooth by Callan Wink]()
Beartooth by Callan Wink
Two brothers in dire straits, living on the edge of Yellowstone, agree to a desperate act of survival.In an aging timber house hand-built into the Absaroka-Beartooth mountains, two brothers are struggling to keep up with their debts. They live off the grid on the fringe of Yellowstone, surviving after the death of their father...north-america · usa · montana · fiction · mystery · action-adventure · western · audiobook · outdoors · crime -
![The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy]()
The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy
The Last Thing He Told Me meets Fleishman Is in Trouble in this page-turning story of a couple who flee winter in the Midwest for Palm Springs, where they find their relationship at a crossroads.Kim and Grant are at a turning point...mystery · fiction · womens-fiction · contemporary · female-author · audiobook · female-mc · family · literary-fiction · breakup -
![Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass]()
Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass
“No one weaves a twisty, dark tale quite like Seraphina Nova Glass.” —Amber Garza, author of When I Was YouNothing ever happens in small towns…When Shelby Dawson survives a harrowing attack that should have left her dead, she tries to move past it—for herself, and for her family...suspense · fiction · season-winter · thriller · female-mc · paranormal · psychological · crime · literary-fiction · supernatural -
![Isola by Allegra Goodman]()
Isola by Allegra Goodman
An unforgettable epic saga of a French noblewoman deserted on an island where her survival will depend on the power of her faith and love—from the New York Times bestselling author of Sam.Heir to a chateau with its own village and lands, Marguerite is destined for a life of prosperity and gentility... -
![People of Means by Nancy Johnson]()
People of Means by Nancy Johnson
From the acclaimed author of The Kindest Lie, a propulsive novel about a mother and daughter each seeking justice and following their dreams during moments of social reckoning—1960s Nashville and 1992 Chicago—perfect for readers of Brit Bennett and Tayari Jones.Two women. Two pivotal moments. One dream for justice and equality...fiction · historical-fiction · sci-fi · female-mc · family · black-mc · literary-fiction · coming-of-age · poc-mc · book -
![Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister]()
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
It is June 21, the longest day of the year, and the life of new mother Camilla is about to change forever. After months of maternity leave, she will drop off her infant daughter at daycare for the first time and return to her job as a literary agent. Finally. But when she wakes, her husband Luke isn’t there, and in his place is a cryptic note.Then it starts...mystery · fiction · suspense · contemporary · audiobook · crime · thriller · psychological · literary-fiction · murder -
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![A Forty Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler]()
A Forty Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler
From the critically acclaimed author of Shotgun Lovesongs comes an exquisitely written, small-town story about one couple's hard-won second chance at love, forty years after their divorce.Charlie and Vivian parted ways after just four years of marriage. Too many problems, too many struggles, even though the love didn't quite die...romance · fiction · literary-fiction · contemporary · family · aging · womens-fiction · female-mc · book · adult -
![Beta Vulgaris by Margie Sarsfield]()
Beta Vulgaris by Margie Sarsfield
A young woman’s seasonal job takes a dark, surreal turn in this vivid and surprising debut.When Elise and her boyfriend, Tom, set off for Minnesota, all she knows about harvesting sugar beets (Beta vulgaris) is that her paycheck will cover a few months’ rent on their Brooklyn apartment...urban · new-york-state · horror · fiction · literary-fiction · young-adult · mental-illness · sci-fi · contemporary · spooky -
![Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray]()
Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray
The extraordinary story of Jessie Redmon Fauset whose exhilarating world of friends, rivals, and passions all combined to create the magic that was the Harlem Renaissance, written by Victoria Christopher Murray, New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Personal Librarian...romance · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · audiobook · poc-mc · racism · poc-author · drama · literary-fiction -
![Tilda Is Visible by Jane Tara]()
Tilda Is Visible by Jane Tara
A woman starts to disappear—literally—in midlife, and only then begins to discover herself in this winning novel that will speak to anyone who has ever felt invisible.When Tilda Finch is diagnosed with invisibility—a condition that strikes mostly women of a certain age wherein they simply start to disappear—she's not overly surprised. Tilda has felt invisible for years...romance · fiction · contemporary · magical-realism · womens-fiction · audiobook · literary-fiction · feminism · urban-fantasy · fantasy -
![The Other March Sisters by Ally Malinenko, Liz Parker, Linda Epstein]()
The Other March Sisters by Ally Malinenko, Liz Parker, Linda Epstein
Giving all the “Little Women” the stories they deserve at last, this imaginative historical novel and companion to the much-loved classic draws Meg, Beth, and Amy March from behind the shadow of Jo – Louisa May Alcott’s alter-ego and the “author” of Little Women – as vibrant and unforgettable characters grappling with societal strictures, queer love, motherhood, chronic illness, artistic...romance · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · retellings · audiobook · lgbtq · feminism · young-adult · wlw -
![Life Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin]()
Life Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin
Perfect for readers of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Remarkably Bright Creatures, this is a charming, witty, and profoundly moving novel about what it feels like to grow up neurodivergent.“An extraordinary debut that made me laugh, tear up, and feel hopeful.” —Angie Kim, author of Happiness Falls“Climb up here, Little Alien. Sit next to me. I will tell you about life on this planet... -
![We Would Never by Tova Mirvis]()
We Would Never by Tova Mirvis
A riveting literary page-turner that explores the extremes to which a family will go to protect their own—for fans of Miranda Cowley Heller and Laura Dave.No one is more surprised than Hailey Gelman when she comes under suspicion for the murder of her soon-to-be ex-husband Jonah...mystery · fiction · audiobook · contemporary · family · suspense · drama · literary-fiction · thriller · female-mc -
![Murder at the Orpheus Theatre by Irina Shapiro]()
Murder at the Orpheus Theatre by Irina Shapiro
She looks hardly more than a child, sleeping, her lashes long and thick as they rest against her rounded cheeks. But in the flickering gaslight, she is unnaturally still…For Inspector Sebastian Bell and nurse Gemma Tate, a night at the theater becomes a deadly spectacle when the two lead actors are found dead on the stage, murdered before a stunned audience...romance · mystery · historical-fiction · historical · audiobook · fiction · murder · cozy · slow-burn · suspense -
![Brother Brontë by Fernando A. Flores]()
Brother Brontë by Fernando A. Flores
Two women fight to save their dystopian border town—and literature—in this gonzo near-future adventure.The year is 2038, and the formerly bustling town of Three Rivers, Texas, is a surreal wasteland...fiction · sci-fi · dystopia · contemporary · audiobook · literary-fiction · poc-author · politics · season-summer · post-apocalyptic -
![Casualties of Truth by Lauren Francis-Sharma]()
Casualties of Truth by Lauren Francis-Sharma
From the author of Book of the Little Axe, nominated for the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, a riveting literary novel with the sharp edges of a thriller about the abuses of history and the costs of revenge, set between Washington, DC, and Johannesburg, South AfricaPrudence Wright seems to have it all: a loving husband, Davis; a spacious home in Washington, DC; and the past glories of a successful...fiction · historical-fiction · literary-fiction · mystery · poc-mc · contemporary · racism · abuse · female-mc · 20th-century -
![Fagin the Thief by Allison Epstein]()
Fagin the Thief by Allison Epstein
A thrilling reimagining of the world of Dickens, as seen through the eyes of the infamous Jacob Fagin, London’s most gifted pickpocket, liar, and rogue.Long before Oliver Twist stumbled onto the scene, Jacob Fagin was scratching out a life for himself in the dark alleys of nineteenth-century London...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · literary-fiction · retellings · audiobook · crime · industrial-era · victorian · heist -
![When We Grow Up by Angelica Baker]()
When We Grow Up by Angelica Baker
For fans of Fleishman is in Trouble and Such a Fun Age, an electrifying novel about six longtime friends whose tropical vacation is interrupted by an unexpected crisis, forcing them to ask how strong their bonds really areClare is supposed to be the grown-up one. Married to the love of her life, with a major deal for her first novel, she has everything she thought she wanted...north-america · usa · hawaii · fiction · audiobook · contemporary · friendship · literary-fiction · season-summer · family -
![Sinful Storms by Becca Steele]()
Sinful Storms by Becca Steele
Tristan Smith-Chamberlain. King of the gods of Hatherley Hall. Captain of the lacrosse team. The golden boy, loved by everyone…except me.Once he was my best friend. My shelter from the storm. Now he’s everything I despise.That’s what I tell myself, anyway.Our time at Hatherley Hall is coming to an end, and all I need to do is to stay out of his way.Too bad it’s not that simple...romance · enemies-to-lovers · dark · sports · new-adult · audiobook · friends-to-lovers · boarding-school · found-family · contemporary -
![Elegy, Southwest by Madeleine Watts]()
Elegy, Southwest by Madeleine Watts
A timely and urgent novel following a young married couple on a road trip through the American southwest as they grapple with the breakdown of their relationship in the shadow of environmental collapse, for fans of Rachel Cusk and Sigrid Nunez.In November 2018, Eloise and Lewis rent a car in Las Vegas and take off on a two-week road trip across the American southwest...romance · fiction · literary-fiction · contemporary · mental-illness · grief · journey · sad · futuristic · action-adventure -
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![Mutual Interest by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith]()
Mutual Interest by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith
A classic in the making: a mesmerizing novel about marriage and ambition, sexuality and secrecy, and the true costs of building an empire.At the turn of the 20th century, Vivian Lesperance is determined to flee her origins in Utica, New York, and avoid repeating her parents' dull, limited life...new-york-state · romance · historical-fiction · fiction · lgbtq · historical · wlw · audiobook · lesbian-mc · literary-fiction -
![THE PASSION by Karen Deen]()
THE PASSION by Karen Deen
Everything changed that night, the moment Flynn Taylor walked into the bar.My senses were awakened by his alluring scent,a hint of sweetness mixed with a strong sense of manly yum!I can’t explain it, my whole body responded like nothing I’d felt before.But I wanted him, and he was the perfect opponent for my game of seduction.He’s the biggest playboy in London, and I’m part of the aristocracy... -
![Idle Grounds by Krystelle Bamford]()
Idle Grounds by Krystelle Bamford
On a New England morning in the late 1980s, a group of young cousins wander deep into the woods on their family’s property, drawn in by uncanny visions and the disappearance of one of their own—but the farther they go, the stranger their surroundings become.Lingering at the edge of a family party, a troop of cousins loses track of the youngest child among them...horror · fiction · historical-fiction · literary-fiction · mystery · family · contemporary · audiobook · season-summer · suspense -
![The Last American Heiresses by Stephen Greco]()
The Last American Heiresses by Stephen Greco
A dazzling novel that draws readers into the ultra-glamorous lives of legendary heiresses Doris Duke and Barbara Hutton, the public rivalry that defined them, and the secret bond that sustained them both, from the author of the acclaimed Such Good Friends. The press dubs them “the Gold Dust twins... -
![The Edge of Water by Olufunke Grace Bankole]()
The Edge of Water by Olufunke Grace Bankole
Set between Nigeria and New Orleans, The Edge of Water tells the story of a young woman who dreams of life in America, as the collision of traditional prophecy and individual longing tests the bonds of a family during a devastating storm. In Ibadan, Nigeria, a mother receives a divination that foretells danger for her daughter in America...north-america · usa · louisiana · urban · nigeria · fiction · historical-fiction · contemporary · audiobook · literary-fiction -
![Mientras dormías, cantabas by Pino Luna]()
Mientras dormías, cantabas by Pino Luna
Mientras dormías, cantabas , narra los acontecimientos que ocurren durante una celebración familiar de Año Nuevo en un barrio de la periferia de Santiago. Marta, la protagonista del relato, se ve enfrentada al pasado y está obligada a sobrellevar una noche que parece no acabar... -
![Hero's Heart by Janie Crouch]()
Hero's Heart by Janie Crouch
He was out of the game.He should've stayed that way.When a former FBI colleague asks Callum Webb to rescue the kidnapped daughter of an American bigwig in eastern Europe, Callum’s just got one word for him...No.Okay, actually two words: hell, no.Callum is out of the international law enforcement game and has been for a long time...romance · military · suspense · contemporary · action-adventure · age-gap · small-town · crime · fiction · drama
