"A Visit from the Goon Squad" is an interconnected collection of stories about a group of characters whose lives intersect in the music industry. The narrative spans several decades, tracing the characters' journey from their youth to middle age. It explores themes of time, change, and the impact of technology on human relationships and the music industry. The novel is known for its experimental structure, including a chapter written as a PowerPoint presentation.

This novel follows the poignant journey of two teenagers, both cancer patients, who meet in a support group and fall in love. Their shared experiences and unique outlook on life and death bring them closer together, and they embark on a trip to Amsterdam to meet a reclusive author they both admire. Through their journey, they explore the harsh realities of living with a terminal illness while also experiencing the beautiful and tragic aspects of first love.

The book follows the life of a young boy who survives a terrorist bombing at an art museum, which kills his mother. In the confusion following the explosion, he steals a priceless Dutch painting, The Goldfinch, which becomes his secret treasure and eventually draws him into the criminal underworld. The narrative explores themes of loss, survival, and the power of art to shape human destiny.

The novel is a deeply moving portrayal of four friends in New York City, spanning over several decades. It primarily focuses on Jude, a man with a mysterious and traumatic past, who struggles with physical disability and emotional trauma. The story explores themes of friendship, love, trauma, suffering, and the human will to endure in spite of life's hardships. It is an epic tale of heartbreak and despair but also of resilience and enduring love.

"Normal People" is a novel that explores the complex relationship between two high school students from different social classes in a small town in Ireland. Despite their contrasting backgrounds, they form a strong bond that continues into their university years at Trinity College. The narrative follows their journey, filled with misunderstandings, miscommunications, and emotional intimacy, as they navigate their way through love, friendship, mental health issues, and the struggles of growing up.

The novel is a reimagining of the ancient Greek epic of the Trojan War, told from the perspective of Patroclus, an exiled young prince who becomes the beloved companion of Achilles, the greatest warrior of his age. Their deep bond and affection for one another transform into a powerful love that defies the expectations of their society and the will of the gods. As they grow into men, their fates become increasingly intertwined with the legendary conflict at Troy, where honor, sacrifice, and destiny culminate in a poignant and tragic conclusion. The story explores themes of heroism, glory, and the humanizing effects of love against the backdrop of war and the capricious whims of immortals.

Set during the turmoil of World War II, the novel follows the intersecting lives of a blind French girl and a German boy. The girl, living in occupied France, seeks solace in the world of books and the imagination, while the boy, a member of Hitler Youth, is a radio operator for the German forces. Their paths cross in the walled city of Saint-Malo, with the narrative exploring themes of survival, morality, and the human spirit.

"The Art of Fielding" is a tale centered around a college baseball star who seems destined for the big leagues but abruptly loses his ability to throw accurately. The story explores the aftermath of his downfall, the impact on his relationships with his teammates, roommates, and a college president, and the struggle of self-discovery and acceptance. It's a tale of friendship, ambition, and the pressures of expectation, all set against the backdrop of America's beloved pastime.

The book revolves around the Richardson family and the mysterious mother-daughter duo who move into their rental home in Shaker Heights, Ohio. The lives of the seemingly perfect suburban Richardson family become intertwined with the lives of Mia Warren, an enigmatic artist, and her daughter Pearl. As the children of both families form relationships, secrets are uncovered, leading to a dramatic climax. The novel explores themes of motherhood, identity, and the moral complexities of following rules versus following one's instincts.

"The Great Believers" by Rebecca Makkai is a powerful novel that tells the story of two interconnected groups of people: a group of gay men in 1980s Chicago during the height of the AIDS epidemic, and a woman in 2015 who is searching for her estranged daughter in Paris. The novel explores themes of love, loss, friendship, and the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis. Makkai's writing is both heartbreaking and hopeful, and she skillfully weaves together the two timelines to create a poignant and unforgettable story.

"Fates and Furies" is a novel split into two parts, providing two perspectives on a single marriage. The first half of the book, "Fates," is told from the point of view of the husband, Lotto, a charismatic but failed actor turned successful playwright, who views his marriage as happy and his wife as supportive. The second half, "Furies," is told from the perspective of his wife, Mathilde, revealing her hidden past and the sacrifices and manipulations she has performed to maintain their life together. The novel explores themes of love, secrets, and the different narratives created within a relationship.

The novel follows the story of a teenage girl who witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer. Living in a poor neighborhood but attending a predominantly white, wealthy private school, she must navigate the dichotomy of these two very different worlds while grappling with the trauma of her friend's death. As she becomes more involved in activism and advocacy, she must confront the reality of racism, police brutality, and societal injustice.

This novel follows the intertwined lives of three college graduates in the 1980s. The story focuses on the romantic entanglements of Madeleine Hanna, an English major who is writing her senior thesis on Jane Austen and George Eliot, and her relationships with two men: Leonard Bankhead, a charismatic but troubled biology student, and Mitchell Grammaticus, a religious studies student who is in love with Madeleine. The narrative explores the complexities of love, mental illness, faith, and the relevance of the traditional marriage plot in a modern world.

In this coming-of-age novel, two Mexican-American teenagers, Aristotle and Dante, form an unlikely friendship during the summer of 1987. As they navigate their way through adolescence, they uncover the complexities of their identities, family dynamics, and the world around them. Through their shared experiences, they discover the power of love, self-acceptance, and the profound mysteries that the universe holds.

The book unfolds in a society that believes it has eradicated all monsters, but when a creature named Pet emerges from a painting, a young girl named Jam learns that monsters still exist. Pet has come to hunt a monster hiding in plain sight, and Jam must confront the reality that not all dangers are as visible as they seem. As Jam navigates this revelation with Pet's guidance, she embarks on a quest to protect her best friend and uncover the truth in a world that prefers to deny the existence of such horrors. The story challenges the concepts of good and evil and the complacency that can arise in a community that believes it has overcome its darkest elements.

"The Crossover" is a heartfelt and poetic novel that follows the journey of a talented young basketball player named Josh Bell. Set in a world of sports and sibling rivalry, Josh faces challenges both on and off the court as he navigates the complexities of family, friendship, and first love. Through Alexander's lyrical writing style, readers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster that explores themes of identity, loss, and the power of perseverance.

The novel centers around Lara Jean Song Covey, a high school junior who has written secret love letters to all of her past crushes, never intending to send them. However, her life turns upside down when the letters are mysteriously mailed out, causing her to confront her feelings and the repercussions of her past affections. In a desperate attempt to save face and avoid confrontation with one of her crushes, she enters into a fake relationship with another, which leads to a journey of self-discovery and the realization that sometimes love can be found in the most unexpected places.

In this gripping and thought-provoking novel, a young African American teenager named Will faces a life-altering decision after his older brother is shot and killed. Set in an elevator, the story unfolds over the course of sixty seconds as Will descends to the ground floor, contemplating whether to seek revenge on his brother's murderer. Along the way, he encounters a series of individuals who challenge his perspective on violence, justice, and the cycle of retribution. With powerful prose and a raw emotional intensity, the book explores themes of grief, systemic racism, and the complexities of personal choices.

"The Poet X" is a coming-of-age novel that follows the journey of a young girl named Xiomara, who uses poetry as an outlet to navigate her complex life. Set in Harlem, Xiomara grapples with her strict Dominican parents, her evolving understanding of her own identity, and her burgeoning relationship with a boy named Aman. Through her powerful and honest poetry, Xiomara finds her voice, confronts societal expectations, and discovers the strength to define herself on her own terms.

"Out of My Mind" is a captivating and heart-wrenching story that follows the life of Melody, a brilliant and determined girl with cerebral palsy. Trapped in a body that does not cooperate with her brilliant mind, Melody struggles to communicate and is often overlooked by those around her. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she gains access to a communication device that allows her to finally express herself. Through perseverance and the support of her family and friends, Melody embarks on a journey to prove that she is more than her disability and has the ability to achieve greatness.

The book follows the journey of a devoted dog who is reincarnated into several lives, each time with a different purpose. Through his various lives, he experiences life as a stray puppy, a golden retriever, a German shepherd, and a Labrador, among others. Each life teaches him something new and brings him closer to understanding his true purpose, which is to bring joy and comfort to the humans he loves. The book explores themes of love, loyalty, and the deep bond between humans and their pets.

"Ten Thousand Saints" by Eleanor Henderson is a coming-of-age story set in the 1980s in New York City's East Village. The novel follows the lives of three teenagers, Teddy, Jude, and Eliza, as they navigate their way through the punk rock scene, drug addiction, and the AIDS epidemic. When Teddy dies of a drug overdose, Jude sets out on a journey to find his biological father, a former hippie who now lives in Vermont and runs a health food store. Along the way, Jude discovers a new sense of identity and purpose as he becomes involved in the straight-edge movement and begins to understand the true meaning of family and friendship.

The book is a candid and often humorous tale of an awkward high school senior whose mother forces him to befriend a classmate recently diagnosed with leukemia. As he and his co-filmmaker friend Earl embark on the project of making a film for the sick girl, the protagonist confronts the complexities of friendship, mortality, and the struggle to make a meaningful connection. Through the process, he grapples with his own insecurities and learns about the impact of genuine human relationships in the face of tragedy.

This children's novel centers around Ivan, a captive gorilla who lives in a shopping mall, spending his days on display for the public and his nights conversing with his animal friends, including an elderly elephant named Stella and a stray dog named Bob. Ivan's routine existence is upended with the arrival of Ruby, a young elephant taken from the wild, prompting him to see his environment through new eyes. Inspired by Ruby's plight and Stella's passing wish, Ivan taps into his long-dormant creativity and empathy to hatch a plan to give Ruby a better life, leading to a poignant journey of friendship, art, and the quest for a place to call home.

The book centers around a plus-sized teenager who, despite societal expectations, has always been confident in her own skin. Her self-assuredness is challenged when she develops a crush on a private school boy and her former beauty queen mother's pageant season rolls around. In an act of defiance and to prove a point about being comfortable in one's own body, she decides to enter the local beauty pageant, sparking a small revolution in her Texas town. Along the way, she confronts her own insecurities, makes new friends who challenge the status quo, and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.