Contemporary fiction titles are those which focus on the present or near past. Stories rooted in the current cultural, social, and political landscape which feature characters we can all recognise.
Contemporary Fiction Books
Cornerstone This Is Fine
Book Synopsis'I will read anything Poorna Bell writes!' Taylor Jenkins Reid'Gorgeous, affirming, an exploration of why and how we nurture' Pandora Sykes____________________________It might not be the stuff of dreams, but Padma and Wallace have spent ten years building a relationship that feels . . . fine. Until Wallace gives Padma an ultimatum about starting a family she's not sure she even wants. Padma's fifteen-year-old niece Myra is reaching her own crisis point. When she falls in with the wrong crowd and her life ends up in danger, it's the final straw for her parents. Now Padma will spend the summer with her niece - in a ramshackle, ivy-clad house on the Kent clifftops - running a DIY rehab of sorts. Will this be a pressure too far for her and Wallace? And how will she spend six weeks with a niece who, thanks to her sister, she barely knows?It's the last place they want to be. But this could just be the summer that changes everything . . . Praise for This Is Fine: 'This Is Fine is so much better than fine, it's totally genius. The writing is compelling and insightful not to mention hilarious and the story moved me to tears more than once. I LOVE THIS BOOK!' Lucy Vine'A perfect summer novel with endless entertainment and escapism. Warm, funny, charming and so brilliantly executed' Salma El-Wardany 'This witty, warm, beautifully written novel will both gladden and sadden; it'll crack open your heart and pour gold into it' Catherine Gray'A sweet, smart story about sisterhood, exploring complex themes courageously. I fell in love with Padma and Myra'' Daisy Buchanan'Light, funny and gorgeous - but also at times gritty and profound' Good HousekeepingA brilliant, highly relatable look at complex family dynamics and womanhood, This is Fine is a must-read this summer' Olivia Petter'Warm, witty, wise and brimming with heart' Zing Tsjeng'[Poorna] taps into the crevice of every human emotion and brings out pure light and joy. A must read' Poppy Jay'Funny, insightful and ranges thoughtfully over all manner of subjects that matter' Natasha Poliszczuk'A thought provoking and delicate read with a great deal of warm humour too!' Stephanie Yeboah
£9.49
Transworld Publishers Ltd True Love
Book SynopsisEmpathetic, honest, compelling. I'll read anything Paddy Crewe writes.' Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in ChemistryTrue Love had me from its gorgeous, lyrical opening to its transcendent final pages. Paddy Crewe is an exceptionally gifted writer.' Louise Kennedy, author of Trespasses--------What does it mean to love and be loved?It is the 1980s and Finn and Keely are growing up in the North East of England.Keely is a fighter. Even in the face of loss she strives to seek connection, but finds that she's not always searching in the right places.Finn is quiet, sensitive, distant. He spends much of his time alone, yet deep down he wants to discover the thrill of relating to others.When the two finally meet, everything is changed. Love with all of its attendant joys and costs is thrust upon them, and each must decide if they will bend or break under its pressure. True Love is a story of the trials of youth, the bonds of family and friendship, and of how much we are willing to risk to have ourselves be seen.
£9.49
Pushkin Press Last Acts
Book SynopsisEven though his firearms store is failing, things are looking up for David Rizzo. His son, Nick, has just recovered after a near-fatal overdose, which means one thing: Rizzo can use Nick's resurrection to create the most compelling television commercial for a gun emporium the world has ever seen. After all, this is America, Rizzo tells himself. Surely anything is possible. But the relationship between father and son is fragile, mired in mutual disappointment. And when the pair embarks on their scheme to avoid bankruptcy, a high-stakes crash of hijinks, hope and disaster ensues. Featuring a cast of unforgettable characters, this razor-sharp tragicomedy lays bare both the gun and opioid crises. Fans of Don DeLillo and Stephen Markley will be thrilled by this smart, inventive debut.
£10.44
Boldwood Books Ltd Come Fly With Me
Book SynopsisHelen Rolfe is an absolute specialist at building cosy communities and making me want to live there. I want the characters as my friends!' Sue Moorcroft A Second ChanceFor Maya, serving as a pilot in the Whistlestop River air ambulance team is a dream come true. And now, with her divorce from her overbearing husband finally complete, flying over the fields of Dorset, and saving lives with the Skylarks, is the centre of her world. If only her ex would accept their separation as readily as she had, life would be perfectA fresh startHaving recently transferred from London to Dorset, paramedic Noah is ready for a new start. But he's brought with him a lot of baggage, not least his infant niece who he's been looking after since his sister died unexpectedly earlier that year. Noah adores Eva, but is he really cut out to look after a baby?A risk worth taking?When Noah and Maya find themselves on the same rescue team, they're immediately drawn to each other. Yet, with so many complications in their personal lives, do they have time to open their hearts to someone new?As their friendship grows, Noah and Maya are both about to discover that life is worth nothing unless you share it with the people you love. Take to the skies in this gorgeous and gripping series from bestselling author Helen Rolfe, perfect for fans of Jo Bartlett and Cathy Bramley. Readers LOVE Helen Rolfe's books!I really loved this book! I ended up devouring it all in just two sittings' Jo Bartlett'A beautiful tale exploring the bonds of family and friendship and how strong these are when tested. Loved it' Jessica RedlandAs a big fan of Helen Rolfe books, I have been eagerly awaiting Come Fly With Me and it did not disappoint! Barely a chapter in and I was hooked and knew I'd love it' ?????????? Reader ReviewI have never read anything by Helen Rolfe before but I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the first chapter, I loved the setting of the story and the details of the air ambulance call outs were really interesting and added to the story' ?????????? Reader ReviewFrom the very first moment I saw this on the authors page I knew I had to read it even without reading the outline... I love anything medical but I've never read anything with a air ambulance crew involved but I challenge you not to love The Skylarks Book One' ?????????? Reader ReviewOverall, this is a fantastic read, much deeper than a typical romance, with a really satisfying story. The fact that it's book one of a new series is an added bonus' ?????????? Reader ReviewA must read!!' ?????????? Reader ReviewHelen's descriptive writing immediately immersed me in the world of Dorset, making me feel like part of the story. I absolutely loved it. Excited to see what's next! Grab your copy without delay!' ?????????? Reader ReviewBrilliant characters, a great storyline and an absolute delight to read' ?????????? Reader ReviewWhat a terrific start to a new series! I'm already looking forward to the next instalment. Whistlestop River is a delightful setting, and I could envisage the patchwork fields and the breathtaking coastline each time the helicopter took to the skies' ?????????? Reader Review
£20.69
ACA Publishing Limited Home Village
Book SynopsisHome Mountain portrays a rural Chinese village navigating the precarious waters of the early 20th century. Centred around the Chen and Zhu clans and spanning multiple generations, the story unfolds amid the turmoil of the Chinese Civil War and Japanese occupation, spotlighting the idiosyncrasies of rural life and its struggle to hold on to customs.
£16.99
Brown Dog Books Bohemia
Book SynopsisIntriguing, moving and packed with humour, this is the story of the oddball inhabitants of Crubscome village and their struggle to get to grips with the twenty-first century. After years of being an adventure playground for local teenagers and a base for eccentric folk musicians, an abandoned quarry claims a young life and attracts public attention. The village is divided between campaigners who want the site cleaned up and Jimmy and the folk club die-hards, who don't. Jimmy's attempts to find a compromise seem to make matters worse. Who will win the battle of the hills?
£9.49
Seven Stories Press UK Sad Tiger
Book Synopsis
£13.49
HopeRoad Publishing Ltd Paro
Book SynopsisHard-hitting display of the life, lust and betrayal ofbeautiful people having a ball in Delhi.
£10.44
Crumps Barn Studio Furry Tales
Book SynopsisIn the village of Dinglefield, twenty-nine cats share their world with their humans and three dogs.But their comfortable lives are about to get much more complicated.Find a comfortable armchair and settle down with this community's most important residents
£11.69
Honford Star Semishigure
Book Synopsis
£14.39
Cipher Press Zipper Mouth
Book SynopsisIn this extraordinary novel, Laurie Weeks captures the exuberance and mortification of a lesbian junkie as she navigates the chaos and horror of everyday life. Through longing monologues to Vivian Leigh, ranting letters to Sylvia Plath and to-do lists that never get done, Zipper Mouth gives us an unforgettable protagonist caught in a spiral of addiction, unrequited love, and mental health crises, and the effortlessly hilarious and strange inner workings of her mind. A messy and raw depiction of striving to live in a world that doesn't cater to your brain chemistry, Zipper Mouth is an outstanding work of queer fiction. Come for the exalted nightclub epiphanies, stay for the devastating morning-after hangovers.
£10.44
Legend Press Ltd The Wives of Halcyon
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£9.49
Barbican Press The Devils Horsewhip
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£10.44
The Conrad Press Im Still Here
Book SynopsisA novel set in the afterlife
£10.44
Hansson Publishing Back to her future
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£11.12
Atopon Books A Book
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£12.34
Unbound Seven Days in Tokyo
Book Synopsis''Tantalising'' Leo Vardiashvili, author of Hard by a Great Forest ''Profound'' Iqbal Hussain, author of Northern Boy Two strangers meet in Manhattan and spend a perfect night together. In Tokyo, they have seven days to see if that one night might mean something more. Landon's living alone in Tokyo as a British expat', Louie's visiting while he anxiously waits for approval on his US visa. Against the backdrop of a misty Tokyo Spring, their precious time together is spent wandering into side streets and coffee shops, sharing unmade beds and plates of food. But as the days tick by, Louie's expectations start to overtake reality and he falls too deeply for a life that's not yet his. Breathtakingly tender, Seven Days in Tokyo is an astonishing debut about the intricacies of desire and a search for belonging. It is a lyrical, immersive portrait of how some things, however beautiful and profound, are destined to be as short-lived as the cherry blossoms. A study of misplaced desire and a poetic love letter to the city itself' Jemma Kennedy, playwright ''Alvior''s protagonist and love interest are as complexly built as a Sally Rooney couple'' Zahra Barri, author of Daughters of the Nile
£9.49
DC Comics DCeased DC Compact Comics Edition
Book Synopsis
£8.54
Footnote Press Ltd Determination
Book Synopsis'A compassionate, beautifully told portrait' Guy Gunaratne 'Absorbing, witty, eloquent fiction, as well as a trenchant political critique' Tom Benn'A hymn to empathy, alive with care and love' Rebecca WatsonJamila Shah is twenty-nine and exhausted. An immigration solicitor tasked with running the precious family law firm, Jamila is prone to being woken in the middle of the night by frantic phone calls from clients on the cusp of deportation. Working under the shadow of the government's 'hostile environment', she constantly prays and hopes that their 'determinations' will result in her clients being allowed to stay. With no time for friends, family or even herself (never mind a needy partner), Jamila's life feels hectic and out of control. Then a breakdown of sorts forces her to seek change - to pursue her own happiness while navigating the endless expectations that the world seems to have of her, and still committing herself to a career devoted to helping others. In this assured and character-driven debut, we meet the staff of Shah & Co Solicitors, who themselves arrived in the UK not too long ago, and their clients, more recent arrivals - all trying to achieve some semblance of normality.
£9.49
Atlantic Books Choice
Book SynopsisNeel Mukherjee won the Writers Guild of Great Britain Award for best fiction in 2010 for his debut novel A Life Apart. His second novel, The Lives of Others, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the Costa Novel Award, and won the Encore Award. His most recent novel, A State of Freedom, was a New York Times '100 Notable Books of the Year' and heralded as 'Stunning ... a marvel of a book, shocking and beautiful, and it proves that Mukherjee is one of the most original and talented authors working today' (NPR).
£9.49
Atlantic Books Bonjour Sophie
Book SynopsisA gorgeous novel of family secrets and self-discovery from the bestselling author of Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman and Two Women in Rome.
£9.49
Quercus Publishing The Inside Man
Book SynopsisThe second Newcastle-set police thriller with a twist. DCI Jack Parker fights to hide his Early Onset Dementia while he continues to do the job he loves - investigating crimes and bringing villains to justice. Still haunted by the death of a colleague in a hit and run for which he blames himself, he pursues the case with a determination bordering on recklessness when he encourages her replacement, DS Emma Steel, to get close to a local gangster who knows more than he''s letting on, thereby endangering Emma and causing dissent among his team. Jack is called in to investigate the disappearance of a young woman, Maria, and her son who appear to have vanished off the face of the earth. His boss tells him to focus on her ex-husband, but though the evidence points in his direction, Jack has his doubts. The woman has form with toxic men and the husband is just the latest in a long line. As Jack''s plans to hide his condition become more challenging, he begins to wonder if Maria is really the innocent victim she''s been portrayed as - until a body turns up. As he starts to discover the truth in both these investigations, Jack comes to understand that nothing in this world is as black and white as it seems.
£17.00
Pushkin Press Untold Lessons
Book Synopsis'Vivid, beguiling and needle-sharp. An unmissable literary thriller' Lucy Rose'Rich and evocative, slippery and strange. I was hooked from the very first page' Chloë AshbyWhat happens when the missing don't want to be found?One morning, a teacher vanishes into the woods. As whispers fill her classroom, she melts into a shadowy wilderness, where the air hums with ancient birdsong and a blanket of moss covers her tracks. Back in town, the mystery deepens. Who is Silvia really? An inscrutable misfit without a husband, devoted to her students until tragedy strikes. When a young boy stumbles upon her hiding place, it seems the search may be over. But is Silvia ready to return?Praise for Untold Lessons:'Satisfying and deeply felt' Irish Times'Mysterious and elegant' Veronica Raimo'A strong debut by an emerging novelist and a loving work of restitution' TLS'Moving and thought-provoking' Glamour Magazine'One of Italy's most exciting new feminist authors' Service95'Beautiful. . . a rare study of communal grief' Telegraph'A book full of upended expectations' Guardian
£10.44
Bedford Square Publishers Dead as Gold
Book Synopsis
£15.29
Scribe Publications People with No Charisma
Book SynopsisFrom the International Booker Prizeshortlisted author of What I'd Rather Not Think About comes a darkly humorous novel about multigenerational family dynamics and individuality in Dutch suburbia. An unnamed narrator grows up overshadowed by her unconventional mother, an exJehovah's Witness and former television star with an inferiority complex. Her father is the head of a psychiatric institution, whose only form of parenting is to offer his daughter the same life advice he dispenses to his patients. Reserved and somewhat aloof, he chooses not to intervene when his wife obsesses about charisma, calorie counting, and turning their daughter into a child prodigy. Their daughter strives to meet her mother's expectations and bond with her father while secretly worrying she lacks the drive or charisma to do anything significant with her life. When her mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she begins to address their generational trauma, forge a new relationship with her father, and discover life on her terms. In twelve chapters each reflecting a different phase of life Posthuma expertly dissects a fraught family history, exposing the absurdity that often lies at the heart of life's most poignant and challenging moments.
£9.49
Charco Press Cautery
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£10.79
Moth Books Blurred
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£9.49
McNally Jackson Books Vegas
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£13.29
Cranthorpe Millner Publishers Mercy
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£11.69
Cornerstone To Kill A Mockingbird
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£9.49
Atlantic Books Phantom Limb
Book Synopsis''Mesmerising... the work of a writer possessed of a rare power and vision'' Daily TelegraphOne evening, Gillis - a young Scottish minister who technically doesn''t believe in god - falls into a hole left by a recently dug up elm tree and discovers an ancient disembodied hand in the soil. He''s about to rebury it when the hand... beckons to him. He spirits it back to his manse and gives it pen and paper, whereupon it begins to doodle scratchy and anarchic visions. Somewhere, in the hand''s deep history, there lies a story of the Scottish reformation, of art and violence, and of its owner long since dead. But for Gillis, there lies only opportunity: to reinvent himself as a prophet, proclaim the hand a miracle and use it for reasons both sacred and profane... to impress his ex-girlfriend, and to lead himself and his country out of inertia and into a dynamic, glorious future.
£9.49
Troubador Publishing Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Vintage Publishing Pan
Book SynopsisMichael Clune is the critically acclaimed author of the memoirs Gamelife and White Out, chosen by the New Yorker as one of the best books of 2013. Clune's work has appeared in Harper's, the New Yorker, Granta and elsewhere, while he has been recognised by fellowships and awards from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, the Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities, and others. He is currently the Samuel B. and Virginia C. Knight Professor of the Humanities at Case Western Reserve University and lives in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
£15.29
Selkies House Limited Blue Moon
Book SynopsisThe new novel from Mesa Selimovic award-winning writer Damir Karakas, author of CELEBRATION. Translated from the Croatian by Ellen Elias-Bursac. A story that must be told, no matter the price-Miljenko Jergovic. Karakas has acquired cult status among many readers-Jagna Pogacnik, Jutarnji list
£13.50
Random House Discontent
Book SynopsisBeatriz Serrano (Author) Beatriz Serrano is a writer and a journalist who has written for publications such as BuzzFeed, Vanity Fair, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, S Moda, and Vogue. She works for El País and, along with writer Guillermo Alonso, co-directs the prizewinning podcast Arsénico Caviar. Discontent is her first novel. She currently lives in Madrid.
£13.49
Bookouture The Dust Bowl Orphans: A completely heartbreaking
Book Synopsis
£9.99
Cranthorpe Millner Publishers Tartinis Rest
Book SynopsisConsisting of a sequence stories told by two very different brothers, this novel explores the boundaries between fact and fiction, truth and counterfeit, vision, reality, the imagination, fantasy and lies.
£10.44
Atlantic Books Watching Over Her
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£13.49
Union Square & Co. Sense and Sensibility
Book Synopsis
£16.20
Atlantic Books Hum
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Duckworth Books Six Tails at Midnight
Book SynopsisHettie Bagshot and Tilly Jenkins find themselves snowed in on Christmas night when they are visited by five Christmas spirits who threaten to ruin the festivities
£9.49
Luath Press Ltd Donald and his seven cows
£8.54
Boldwood Books Ltd The Summer of Lies: The BRAND NEW novel from NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER Louise Douglas for 2024
Book SynopsisThe BRAND NEW novel from Number 1 bestseller Louise Douglas.As wild fires creep a devastating path towards the idyllic town of Morranez, a vulnerable girl goes missing. But was she taken - or was she escaping...The summer is the hottest yet in the Brittany coastal town of Morranez, but when a new case lands on the desk of the Toussaints detective agency, there can be no time to relax. As wild fires bear down on the town, the alert goes out for a missing girl.Nineteen-year-old Briony Moorcroft has seemingly been taken from her sleepy Welsh village and brought to France. Her parents are baffled and scared – Briony needs her life-saving medicine or this case will become even more sinister, and with the police dragging their heels, the Moorcrofts are relying on Mila Shephard and Carter Jackson’s sleuthing skills.Meanwhile there are mysteries troubling Mila’s life too. Two years after the accident that swept her sister Sophie and brother-in-law Charlie away and left their daughter Ani in Mila’s care, new evidence resurfaces that makes Mila doubt everything.Can Carter and Mila find Briony before it’s too late? And is the truth about Sophie and Charlie finally about to be revealed…Number One bestselling author Louise Douglas is back with a brooding, twisty tale of secrets and lies, love and loyalty.Praise for Louise Douglas:'I loved The Lost Notebook so much! From the opening lines, I was drawn in to a gripping story, beautifully written and so cleverly orchestrated. I rooted for the main character, I held my breath at the denouement and as for the climax of the book - just wow. Highly recommended.' Judy Leigh'Louise Douglas achieves the impossible and gets better with every book.' Milly Johnson'A brilliantly written, gripping, clever, compelling story, that I struggled to put down. The vivid descriptions, the evocative plot and the intrigue that Louise created, which had me constantly asking questions, made it a highly enjoyable, absolute treasure of a read.' Kim Nash on The Scarlet Dress'Another stunning read from the exceptionally talented Louise Douglas! I love the way in which Louise creates such an atmospheric mystery, building the intrigue and suspense brick by brick. Her writing is always beautiful and multi-layered, her characters warm and relatable and the intriguing nature of the mystery makes this unputdownable.’ Nicola Cornick on The Scarlet Dress'A tender, heart-breaking, page-turning read' Rachel Hore on The House by the Sea'The perfect combination of page-turning thriller and deeply emotional family story. Superb’ Nicola Cornick on The House by the Sea
£20.69
The Lilliput Press Ltd Injury Time
£15.19
Cinder House Water Shall Refuse Them
Book SynopsisThe heatwave of 1976. Following the accidental drowning of her sister, sixteen-year-old Nif and her family move to a small village on the Welsh borders to escape their grief. But rural seclusion doesn’t bring any relief. As her family unravels, Nif begins to put together her own form of witchcraft – collecting talismans from the sun-starved land. That is, until she meets Mally, a teen boy who takes a keen interest in her, and has his own secret rites to divulge. Reminiscent of the suspense of Shirley Jackson and soaked in the folk horror of the British landscape, Water Shall Refuse Them is an atmospheric coming-of-age novel and a thrilling debut.Trade Review“A coming of age story where the threat of violence shimmers like a heat haze.” - Andrew Michael Hurley, The Loney ;“Something strong, vivid and disquieting grows tall from Folk Horror soil in this novel.” - Aliya Whiteley, The Arrival of Missives
£9.49
Peninsula Press Ltd Thrilled to Death
Book SynopsisFrom the author of Weird Fucks, a new selection of stories about sex, death, memory, and anxiety
£11.69
Cinder House The Definitions
£10.44
Scribe Publications Art on Fire
Book SynopsisA darkly comic and compelling satire of the art world from the author of The Disaster Tourist. An Yiji's career had been stalling for some time when a representative of the illustrious Robert Foundation offers her a spot on their all-expenses-paid artist residency in California. The residency has launched many famous artists' careers, so she knows she can't waste this opportunity. Still, she feels reluctant to accept, and with good reason: the foundation's patron is a small dog named Robert, known for both his talent as a photographer, but also his arrogance. Moreover, the offer comes with a condition: on the last day of the residency, one of An's paintings must be incinerated, and Robert gets to select which one. When An reaches California, she finds the state ablaze with wildfires, but at the Foundation all is calm. She navigates awkward dinners with Robert, tries to find inspiration while being bombarded with sponsors who all want their business to be the subject of her art, and despairs at the prospect of her work being set on fire. Was coming to California a huge mistake?
£9.49
