The Best Fiction Books
Last updated: July 02, 2025
The Best Stephen King Books, recommended by Hans-Åke Lilja
Stephen King—widely dubbed “the king of horror”—has published dozens of books since Carrie, his 1974 debut. We asked Hans-Åke Lilja, who has run a website devoted to King’s output for decades, to recommend five of the best Stephen King novels, offering new readers a place to start.
The Best Norse Mythology Books, recommended by Carolyne Larrington
From The Lord of the Rings to A Game of Thrones and Marvel’s Thor, the Old Norse myths still resonate. Oxford academic Carolyne Larrington introduces her favourite Norse mythology books, and explains how the powerful old stories increasingly inspire modern retellings.
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The Surprise Visitor (Quick Reads)
by Cathy Bramley -
2
A Boy Called Saul (Quick Reads)
by Fiona Cummins -
3
A Rising Man (Quick Reads)
by Abir Mukherjee -
4
A New Year (Quick Reads)
by Leila Aboulela -
5
The Mind Manual: Mental Fitness Tools for Everyone (Quick Reads)
by Dr. Alex George -
6
Write It All Down: How to Put Your Life on the Page (Quick Reads)
by Cathy Rentzenbrink
Quick Reads, recommended by The Reading Agency
Quick Reads, recommended by The Reading Agency
Quick Reads, published every year by the Reading Agency, are short books designed to help struggling readers, particularly those who find a longer text challenging. The books are often written by bestselling authors and are designed to encourage reading for pleasure.
Novels Set In Paris
If you’re planning a trip to the City of Lights—or in the mood for a bit of armchair travel—then you might like to get yourself in the mood by picking up a novel set in Paris. From the Francophone masterpieces of Victor Hugo to more modern classics by Hemingway and Mantel, you’re sure to find a book to suit your tastes among our expert recommendations.
The Best 18th-Century Novels, recommended by Sophie Gee
There’s nothing in modern works of fiction that wasn’t already there in the great novels of the 18th century, argues Sophie Gee, a professor of English at Princeton University and co-host of the Secret Life of Books podcast. She talks us through five of her favourites, from the irrepressible Moll Flanders to the melancholic beauty of Sense and Sensibility.
The Best Novels of 2024: The Booker Prize Shortlist, recommended by Nitin Sawhney
Every year, the £50,000 Booker Prize is awarded to a work of fiction newly published in English. We spoke to the composer Nitin Sawhney, one of this year’s judges, about their search for a shortlist, and why these six books—including the winning title, Samantha Harvey’s space station novel Orbital—are the best novels of 2024.
Novels Based on Mythological Retellings, recommended by Francesca Simon
Mythological retellings bring us stories with timeless resonance, viewed through the lens of modern concerns, explains Francesca Simon. The bestselling author tells us about her five favourite retellings, and introduces her first adult novel and the rich world of folklore and legend that inspires it.
Spy Novels Based on Real Events, recommended by Charles Beaumont
James Bond novels may be a lot of fun to read, but as a depiction of life as a spy, they are pure fantasy. Novelist and ex-spy Charles Beaumont recommends five brilliant novels based on true events—and the manipulation and dishonesty that lie at the heart of espionage work.
Magical Realism Books, recommended by Five Books interviewees
If you enjoy some fantastical elements in your literature—but you aren’t quite ready for full-on swords and sorcery—then perhaps magical realism books are for you. As a genre, magical realism is often associated with South America, thanks in large part to the ‘father of magical realism’ Gabriel García Márquez and mega-bestselling books by Isabel Allende, but examples can be found from all over the world. We’ve put a list of must-read titles.
Notable Novels of Spring 2025, recommended by Cal Flyn
Our seasonal round-up of notable new releases in fiction: Five Books deputy editor Cal Flyn offers an overview of the spring 2025 novels you should have on your literary radar: new work from Nobel laureates, a buzzy new debut set in Berlin, and a conceptually thrilling Scandinavian sci-fi septology.