Skip to content

Modern & Literary Fiction Books

  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    Together by Christmas by Karen Swan

    Only 5 left!

    Set in snowy Amsterdam, Together by Christmas is a moving read of secrets, romance and heartbreaking dilemmas by Sunday Times bestseller Karen Swan...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    Mum & Dad by Joanna Trollope

    Only 5 left!

    A Richard & Judy Book Club pick, Mum & Dad is a heartwarming family drama from number one bestseller Joanna Trollope, with all her trademar...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    Memory of Departure by Abdulrazak Gurnah

    Only 4 left!

    The debut novel by the winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in LiteratureVehement, comic and shrewd, Abdulrazak Gurnah's first novel is an unwavering con...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    Admiring Silence by Abdulrazak Gurnah

    Only 15 left!

    By the winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature'There is a wonderful sardonic eloquence to this unnamed narrator's voice' Financial Times'I don...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    What You Can See From Here by Mariana Leky

    in stock

    'Manages something only a few books achieve: it makes you happy' Munich Mercury 'A clear-eyed tonic in troubled times' Guardian On a beautiful spr...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    I Couldn't Love You More by Esther Freud

    Only 5 left!

    An unforgettable novel of mothers and daughters, wives and muses, secrets and outright lies'Freud is a modern literary rarity: a born storyteller' ...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura

    in stock

    _______________'Surreal and unsettling' - Observer Cultural Highlight'Wise, comical and exceptionally relatable' - Zeba Talkhani 'Quietly hilarious...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    Here is the Beehive by Sarah Crossan

    Only 17 left!

    SHORTLISTED FOR THE AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARDWhat would you do if you lost someone the world never knew was yours? For three years, Ana has been con...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    Monogamy by Sue Miller

    Only 4 left!

    'Penetrating, intelligent, humane, funny too ... Smart and powerfully alive' Tessa Hadley'Superb' Daily Mail'A poignant page-turner, delving deep i...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    Orlando King by Isabel Colegate

    Only 14 left!

    The masterpiece of one of the most important and overlooked British women writers of the twentieth century, with a new introduction by Melissa Harr...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

    in stock

    Lose yourself in the story of a lifetime - the unforgettable Sunday Times bestseller'Patchett leads us to a truth that feels like life rather than ...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

    in stock

    The beloved, life-affirming international bestseller which has sold over 5 million copies worldwide - now a major film starring Lily James, Matthew...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    Apeirogon by Colum McCann

    in stock

    A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERLONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE DUBLIN LITERARY AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR THE PRIX FEMINA AND THE PRIX MED...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

    in stock

    WINNER OF THE GOLDEN MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2018'Magnificent' Sunday Times'The best piece of fiction I've read in years' Independent on SundayThe final c...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    The Farm by Joanne Ramos

    Only 9 left!

    A gripping story about race, money and motherhood that asks: what would you sacrifice for a new life?'A firecracker of a novel'Madeline Miller'Inte...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski

    in stock

    LONGLISTED FOR THE POLARI PRIZE 2021A Guardian Book of the Year'The highest talent at work' Sebastian Barry'Beautiful ... A masterpiece' Attitude ...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    A Theatre for Dreamers by Polly Samson

    in stock

    THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Delicious' Nigella Lawson'Clever and beguiling' Guardian'Sublime and immersive' Jojo MoyesErica is eighteen and ready f...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    Heaven by Mieko Kawakami

    in stock

    Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2022From the bestselling author of Breasts and Eggs and international literary sensation Mieko Kawak...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    The Art of Losing by Alice Zeniter

    Only 11 left!

    Winner of the International Dublin Literary Award'Remarkable . . . a novel about people that never loses its sense of humanity.' Sunday Times'Zenit...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    Amnesty by Aravind Adiga

    Only 2 left!

    From the bestselling, Booker Prize-winning author of The White Tiger, Aravind Adiga, comes the story of an undocumented immigrant who becomes the o...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    The Numbers Game by Danielle Steel

    Only 3 left!

    Relationships come together, fall apart and are reinvented over time in this warm-hearted novel by the world's favourite storyteller, Danielle Stee...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    Child's Play by Danielle Steel

    Only 3 left!

    In Child's Play, the world's favourite storyteller, Danielle Steel movingly writes about the highs and lows of motherhood in this powerful family d...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    Lost and Found by Danielle Steel

    Only 15 left!

    From New York to Santa Fe, Lost and Found by Danielle Steel is a novel about first love, second chances and whether there is such a thing as happy ...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    Cleanness by Garth Greenwell

    Only 6 left!

    Written in precise, elegant prose, Garth Greenwell's Cleanness is an almost unbearably poignant book about a man whose life, like so many, has been...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    A Minute to Midnight by David Baldacci

    Only 13 left!

    A Minute to Midnight is the gripping follow up to Long Road to Mercy featuring Special Agent Atlee Pine from one of the world's most favourite thri...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    The Girl Who Reads on the Metro by Christine Feret-Fleury

    Only 4 left!

    For fans of The Little Paris Bookshop and The Elegance of the Hedgehog, The Girl Who Reads on the Metro is the French phenomenon by Christine Feret...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    The Greek Holiday by Maeve Haran

    Only 2 left!

    Funny, warm, and poignant with her trademark wit and wisdom - The Greek Holiday is Maeve Haran at her very, very best. 'Make sure of a happier ho...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    The Manor by Jessie Keane

    in stock

    The enemy is close to home in The Manor, a gripping gangland thriller from the top five bestseller Jessie Keane. Charlie Stone and Terry Barton h...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £7.99 - Original price £7.99
    Original price £7.99
    £7.99
    £7.99 - £7.99
    Current price £7.99

    The Knock by Jessie Keane

    Only 5 left!

    A young woman finds herself on the wrong side of the law in The Knock, a gripping gangland thriller from top ten bestselling author Jessie Keane. ...

    View full details
    Original price £7.99 - Original price £7.99
    Original price £7.99
    £7.99
    £7.99 - £7.99
    Current price £7.99
  • Original price £16.99 - Original price £16.99
    Original price £16.99
    £16.99
    £16.99 - £16.99
    Current price £16.99

    The Border Trilogy: Picador Classic by Cormac McCarthy

    in stock

    With an introduction by novelist Rachel KushnerIn the vanishing world of the Old West, two cowboys begin an epic adventure, and their own coming-of...

    View full details
    Original price £16.99 - Original price £16.99
    Original price £16.99
    £16.99
    £16.99 - £16.99
    Current price £16.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    The Olive Tree by Lucinda Riley

    Only 20 left!

    A summer in Cyprus reveals many secrets in The Olive Tree, the number one international bestseller from Lucinda Riley, author of the bestselling Se...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    The Secret of Cold Hill by Peter James

    Only 7 left!

    From the number one bestselling author, Peter James, comes The Secret of Cold Hill. The spine-chilling follow-up to The House on Cold Hill. Now a s...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    You Be Mother by Meg Mason

    in stock

    EVENING STANDARD'S 'BEST FICTION BOOKS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2022'WHat do you do, when you find the perfect family... ...and it's not yours?'Rare...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

    Only 12 left!

    THE TIMES '100 BEST SUMMER READS'NEW YORK TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLERLONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE 2020'Sublime' Candice Carty-Williams'An epic in m...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    The Weekend by Charlotte Wood

    Only 2 left!

    THE SUNDAY TIMES 'BEST BOOKS FOR SUMMER 2021'A Times, Guardian and Daily Mail paperback pickA Times, Observer, Independent, Daily Express and Good ...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99

    Under Occupation by Alan Furst

    Only 4 left!

    THE TIMES '100 BEST SUMMER READS''Magnificent' Sunday Times'Gripping... the twists and intrigue keep coming' Observer 'As ever, Furst vividly evoke...

    View full details
    Original price £8.99 - Original price £8.99
    Original price £8.99
    £8.99
    £8.99 - £8.99
    Current price £8.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    The Labyrinth of the Spirits by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

    in stock

    THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Magnificent: a dizzying tale of drama, intrigue and passion' MAIL ON SUNDAYAs a child, Daniel Sempere discovered among ...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £10.00 - Original price £10.00
    Original price £10.00
    £10.00
    £10.00 - £10.00
    Current price £10.00

    Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

    Only 16 left!

    'A powerfully evociative story of the resilience and triumph of the human spirit' TAYLOR JENKINS REID, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF DAISY JONES AND THE SI...

    View full details
    Original price £10.00 - Original price £10.00
    Original price £10.00
    £10.00
    £10.00 - £10.00
    Current price £10.00
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh

    Only 18 left!

    Bundook. Gun. A common word, but one which turns Deen Datta's world upside down. A dealer of rare books, Deen is used to a quiet life spent indoo...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    Listening Still by Anne Griffin

    Only 14 left!

    From the bestselling author of When All is Said comes a delicious new novel about a young woman who can hear the dead - a talent which is both a gi...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    When All is Said by Anne Griffin

    Only 16 left!

    Five toasts. Five people. One lifetime. THE NUMBER ONE IRISH BESTSELLERWINNER OF THE SUNDAY INDEPENDENT NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR T...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    Saltwater by Jessica Andrews

    Only 15 left!

    WINNER OF THE PORTICO PRIZE 'A distinctive new voice for fans of 'Fleabag' or Sally Rooney' Independent'Raw, intimate and authentic' The Sunday Tim...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    Pretending by Holly Bourne

    Only 2 left!

    WHY BE YOURSELF WHEN YOU CAN BE PERFECT?**As featured on The High Low podcast**'MAGNIFICENT. Brutally honest and righteously angry but still HUGELY...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    Tales Out of School by Gervase Phinn

    Only 2 left!

    '[Gervase Phinn is] a worthy successor to James Herriot, and every bit as endearing.' - bestselling author Alan Titchmarsh'A shining light in our d...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    The Sealwoman's Gift by Sally Magnusson

    in stock

    'REMARKABLE' Sarah Perry | 'EXTRAORDINARILY IMMERSIVE' Guardian | 'EPIC' Zoe Ball Book Club | 'A REALLY, REALLY GOOD READ' BBC R2 Book Club' | 'LYR...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

    Only 17 left!

    If you came across an absolutely remarkable thing at 3 a.m. in New York City, would you walk away . . . or do the one thing that would change your ...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    It Was Always You: a page-turning and uplifting love story you will never forget by Emma Cooper

    Only 4 left!

    Would you choose a different life if you had the chance?Two people. One chance to turn back the clock. 'Absolutely magical! So romantic and heart...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99
  • Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

    Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

    Only 10 left!

    'So much fun to read' 'I couldn't put it down!' 'I can't describe how much I loved this book' Single mum and struggli...

    View full details
    Original price £9.99 - Original price £9.99
    Original price £9.99
    £9.99
    £9.99 - £9.99
    Current price £9.99

Creative, formula-bending, genre-defying, character-focused, and most importantly, a literary exploration of the human condition—contemporary & modern literary fiction is arguably the most experimental genre within literature.

The landscape of literary fiction is constantly being revolutionised by literary fiction authors; that are known to constantly push the boundaries of genre fiction and blur the lines of distinction between literary fiction and other genres of literature.

Given the creative ambiguity of contemporary literary fiction; the genre witnesses a dazzling lineup of highly acclaimed debuts and fresh progressive voices each year. From trailblazing memoirs to the cultural history of humanity—no other genre captures the exactness of our collective life experience more creatively than literary fiction.

The list of bestselling literary fiction is an exciting mix of very distinct literary techniques and contrasting voices. Precisely why, we at Books2Door bring you and a carefully curated collection of the best literary fiction books of all time whilst also helping you gain an acute understanding of what qualifies as modern & literary fiction.

Formula-bending, genre-defying, and experimental

Modern and Contemporary Literary Fiction or experimental fiction is possibly the literature’s most rebellious genre. It doesn’t follow any literary formulas, nor does it adhere to any rules. In that, literary fiction authors are free to build an unpredictable narrative. Anything can transpire; exciting or unnerving. In literary fiction, any established literary theme can be turned on its head. For instance, literary fiction authors have challenged the good-triumphs-over-evil theme; so common otherwise in genre fiction books.

George Orwell’s social satire Nineteen Eighty-Four is one example. A book best categorised as dystopian literature; (remember the recently trending hashtag #makeorwellfictionagain ?) Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four not only challenged the good vs evil theme but also blurred the lines of distinction between genre fiction and classic literary fiction.

Employees creative storytelling

Considering literary fiction doesn’t adhere to any rules of genre or sub-genre; every literary fiction author is free to be creative and create his own rules. This makes the storyline an adventure, that can take its readers by surprise.

Devoid of any rules, the literary fiction writer is free to break convention and employ his creativity. This practice has birthed some extraordinary literary works. For example, Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife where Niffenegger’s uses dual narrators from the first person point of view, in the present tense.

Thought-provoking and introspective

Like we said earlier, no other genre captures the exactness of the human condition and our collective life experience more creatively than literary fiction. Whilst most genres are designed to entertain the readers, literary fiction is meant to do more than that. Literary fiction seeks to make sense of the world. It is meant to be thought-provoking, and introspective and is meant to push the reader to think critically of the human condition.

Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, for instance, explores the mind of a depressed, anxious, and neurotic young woman. Whilst the book has a coming-of-age plot line; it is the inner dialogue of this character that truly makes it a memorable book. This strong character study is what makes literary fiction a character-focused and introspective genre.

Explores the human condition

Stories in literary fiction do not shy away from dealing with difficult subjects and the realities of the human condition with artistic honesty. Literary fiction, therefore, is not always designed to help the reader escape. It can make the reader uncomfortable and push them to think about issues.

Literary fiction however is not non-fiction; so it doesn’t just report the truth. Instead, it relies on creative techniques and artsy symbolism to convey a deeper meaning. Literary fiction relies on metaphors and creative storytelling to convey meaningful messages. As a result, the takeaway from these stories is more than just the story, the takeaway is the experience, the message, and at times the characters.

Literary fiction is character-driven

Whilst genre fiction is focused on the story, plotlines, and on being an engaging read; literary fiction is more stressed on the characters or on conveying a meaningful message or idea. At times, it is focused on both. The characters in literary fiction can have layers, the depth of a character's actions and psyche are explored to forward the plot. Literary fiction doesn’t just show a character’s story, it shows how their actions and circumstances change the character.

Literary fiction can be as absurd and ambiguous as life itself

Literary fiction is experimental in nature much like absurd art, which means it doesn’t have to have a happy ending or an ending at all. Art movements like absurdism, dadaism and surrealism, are all, artsy cousins of experimental prose.

Literary fiction gives writers the liberty to let a story end abruptly or for the entire plot to be absurd. Stories in this genre don’t necessarily have to resolve but they have to have meaning. The meaning however is left to the reader’s interpretation.

Literary fiction is good for the reader

Because literary fiction pushes boundaries, employs a unique perspective, searches for meaning, and is designed for intellectual and emotional stimulus--it is much like the art you see hanging in galleries and the movies that bring meaningful conversations alive. Just like artsy movies and art itself, the creative genius of literary fiction is largely open to criticism. Some of the best contemporary literary fiction books have won critical acclaim and awards but missed out on winning the masses.

As seen in

Get your order now

Ordering from Books2Door couldn't be simpler

Order

We make it easy to find your favourite books

Delivery

We pack your order safely and send it straight to your door

Benefits

With book points, wishlist, refer a friend and more, you'll want to shop again

Support

Any problems? Contact our support team

Big box sets at tiny prices

Big box sets at tiny prices

Welcome to Books2Door, the one-stop shop for all your children's book needs! We specialise in selling cheap children’s box sets and series at bargain prices.

At Books2Door, we believe that reading is a fundamental skill that every child should have to help improve their vocabulary, grammar, and critical thinking skills.

We understand that buying kids books can be expensive. That's why we offer a wide range of box sets and series at affordable prices, making it easier for parents, teachers, and libraries to access quality books for children.

Our team is made up of book lovers who are dedicated to sourcing and providing the best books for kids. We work closely with publishers and authors to ensure that we offer the best books on the market for your child.

Don't just take our word for it...

Check out our amazing reviews on TrustpilotGoogle Customer ReviewsReviews.io and more!

FAQs

Are your books brand new? How are they such good value?

All our books are brand new and delivered to us straight from the publisher. Our special sales editions are bought in bulk at a great discount - which we pass on to you!

Are the books different from what I've seen in the high street?

Special sales editions are made with more affordable materials, allowing the publisher to keep the cost price down, and we can sell it for less than the standard editions

What if I have a problem with my order?

Our support team is available during regular business hours to support you with any questions you may have. Call or 0116 210 4294 or email us.

Fantastic Savings

Up to 80% off RRP

Unlimited Delivery

From £9.95 a year with PLUS+

1 Million Customers

Bargain prices since 2004

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Service

0116 210 4294 or email us