The Best Fiction Books
Last updated: July 29, 2025
The Best Vampire Books, recommended by Grady Hendrix
There are two essential features of a vampire, says award-winning author Grady Hendrix: they look just like us, and they need us. Beyond this, they are highly adaptable, and have stood in for pandemics, economic exploitation, addiction, abuse, true crime and lust. Here, Hendrix introduces five novels that have shaped this complicated monster.
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1
Not a River: A Novel
by Selva Almada, translated by Annie McDermott -
2
Fever Dream: A Novel
by Samanta Schweblin, translated by Megan McDowell -
3
Eartheater: A Novel
by Dolores Reyes, translated by Julia Sanches -
4
The Adventures of China Iron
by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, translated by Fiona Mackintosh and Iona Macintyre -
5
Confession
by Martín Kohan, translated by Daniel Hahn
Five of the Best 21st-Century Argentinian Novels, recommended by Claudia Piñeiro
Five of the Best 21st-Century Argentinian Novels, recommended by Claudia Piñeiro
You may be familiar with the work of the great Argentinian authors Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortázar, but how about the country’s crop of contemporary writers? We asked Claudia Piñeiro, author of many bestselling and critically acclaimed books, to introduce us to five unmissable 21st-century Argentinian novels.
Forgotten 20th-Century Classic Books, recommended by Rebeka Russell
Publishing moves fast, and we tend to forget books almost as fast as they arrive. We spoke to Rebeka Russell of Manderley Press—a heritage publisher that specialises in reviving lost works—about five forgotten classic books that are ripe for rediscovery.
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1
The Tale of Genji
by Murasaki Shikibu & translated by Edward G. Seidensticker -
2
Monkey King: Journey to the West
Wu Cheng'en, translated by Julia Lovell -
3
The Plum in the Golden Vase (Volume One of five)
by Anonymous & translated by David Tod Roy -
4
The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyong
by Lady Hyegyong & translated by JaHyun Kim Haboush -
5
The Shadow Book of Ji Yun
by Ji Yun & translated by Yi Izzy Yu and John Yu Branscum
Five East Asian Classic Books Worth Reading, recommended by Tuva Kahrs
Five East Asian Classic Books Worth Reading, recommended by Tuva Kahrs
Want to read something that won’t feel out of date next year? Something from a different time and place, but with universal resonance? Five Books contributing editor Tuva Kahrs picks five classic books from China, Japan and Korea that have stood the test of time, from a blockbuster adventure novel to a murderous memoir.
The Best Novels about the History of the United States, recommended by Bernard T. Joy
An exploration of the history of the United States may require novels that are challenging to read but offer the reward of really making you think about a complex subject. Literary scholar Bernard T. Joy talks us through five novels that explore U.S. history, from colonial times to the end of the 20th century.
Harry Potter Books in Order
We’ve listed all the Harry Potter books in the order they were written below, from the first book, The Philosopher’s Stone (aka The Sorcerer’s Stone in the United States), which appeared in 1997, to the final book in the series, The Deathly Hallows, a decade later, in 2007.
Ten Classic British Novels
Since Five Books was set up in 2009, we’ve interviewed more than 2,000 experts on all manner of subjects. Here’s our roundup of the ten classic British novels that have been recommended most often, starting with Middlemarch, described by Virginia Woolf as “one of the few English novels written for grownup people”.
The Best Fiction Audiobooks of 2024, recommended by AudioFile Editors
Always looking for the perfect audiobook to listen to in the car, during exercise, or while cleaning—and never know where to start? We’ve got you. Our friends at AudioFile magazine have put together their definitive guide to the best audiobooks of 2024. Here are the recent fiction releases they recommend most strongly: six novels read by gifted narrators that will keep you captivated.
Award-Winning Fantasy Novels of 2024, recommended by Sylvia Bishop
This year’s award-winning fantasy books offer something for every taste, from melancholic fairy tales to gripping horror. Our fantasy and sci fi editor Sylvia Bishop introduces the winning titles.
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1
A Beginner’s Guide to Breaking and Entering
by Andrew Hunter Murray -
2
Good Material: A Novel
by Dolly Alderton -
3
High Vaultage
by Chris Sugden & Jen Sugden -
4
The Ministry of Time: A Novel
by Kaliane Bradley -
5
The Rachel Incident: A Novel
by Caroline O'Donoghue -
6
You Are Here: A Novel
by David Nicholls
The Funniest Books of 2024, recommended by Justin Albert
The Funniest Books of 2024, recommended by Justin Albert
Every year, judges for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize ferret out the very best in newly published comic fiction. This year, the seven-novel shortlist ranges from steampunk fantasy to romantic comedy—and they are, says judge Justin Albert, the funniest books of 2024.