This novel tells the story of two friends, Elena and Lila, growing up in a poor neighborhood in Naples, Italy in the 1950s. Their intense, complicated friendship is marked by competition, mutual respect, and deep affection. As they navigate the challenges of adolescence, including family drama, academic struggles, and romantic entanglements, their bond is tested and transformed. The narrative explores themes of female friendship, social class, education, and the struggle for personal autonomy in a patriarchal society.

"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.

The novel follows a young Nigerian woman who emigrates to the United States for a university education. While there, she experiences racism and begins blogging about her experiences as an African woman in America. Meanwhile, her high school sweetheart faces his own struggles in England and Nigeria. The story is a powerful exploration of race, immigration, and the complex nature of identity, love, and belonging.

This novel follows the journey of Cora, a young slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia, who escapes and embarks on a journey towards freedom via the Underground Railroad. The book presents a literal version of the historical Underground Railroad, portraying it as a physical network of tunnels and tracks beneath the Southern soil. As Cora travels from state to state, she encounters different worlds and harsh realities, each one illuminating the various forms of oppression Black people faced in America. The narrative is a brutal exploration of America's history of slavery and racism, and a testament to the unyielding spirit of those who fought against it.

This satirical novel follows the story of an African-American man living in a small, agrarian town on the outskirts of Los Angeles. After his father's death, he attempts to reinstate slavery and segregation in his town as a means of creating a sense of identity for himself and his community. The novel explores themes of racial identity and equality in America, challenging societal norms and expectations through its provocative narrative.

"Outline" is a novel that follows the story of a woman who travels to Athens to teach a writing seminar and engages in a series of conversations with various people she encounters. These include fellow authors, students, and locals, each of whom share intimate details of their lives, allowing the protagonist to reflect on her own experiences and emotions. The book explores themes of identity, storytelling, and the complexities of human relationships.

The Overstory is a sweeping, impassioned work of activism and resistance that is also a stunning evocation of the natural world. The novel tells the intertwined tales of nine different people who are drawn into the last standing few acres of virgin forest in North America. From a young artist who inherits a hundred years of photographic portraits, all of the same doomed American chestnut, to a hard-partying undergraduate in the late 1980s electrocuted by a streetlight, each character's story adds another layer of depth to the narrative. Their lives slowly merge with each other and the fate of the trees, showing the interconnectedness of life, human and otherwise.

The novel is a sweeping historical saga that follows four generations of a Korean family from the early 20th century to the 1980s, beginning in Japanese-occupied Korea and moving to Japan. It explores the family's struggles and triumphs against the backdrop of cultural and social discrimination. The game of Pachinko, a popular Japanese arcade game, serves as a metaphor for the randomness and challenges of life that the characters face, particularly in the context of their immigrant status and the enduring quest for identity, acceptance, and success in a foreign land. Through the family's experiences, the narrative delves into themes of love, sacrifice, ambition, and loyalty, painting a vivid portrait of an often invisible segment of Japanese society.

Set in a poor rural community in Mississippi, this novel follows the story of a pregnant teenage girl named Esch and her three brothers as they navigate their lives in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina. Their mother is dead and their father is a neglectful alcoholic, leaving the siblings to fend for themselves. The book explores themes of poverty, racism, and survival, showcasing the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

"Station Eleven" is a post-apocalyptic novel that revolves around the lives of several characters before and after a devastating flu pandemic wipes out most of the world's population. The narrative jumps back and forth in time, exploring the interconnectedness of the characters' lives through their shared memories and experiences. The story also follows a traveling Shakespearean theatre company as they navigate the dangers of a collapsed civilization, emphasizing the importance of art and human connection in times of crisis.

"A Brief History of Seven Killings" is a multi-voiced novel that explores the attempted assassination of a world-famous reggae singer and its aftermath. The narrative spans decades, starting from the turbulent 1970s in Jamaica through the crack wars in 1980s New York to the changing world of the 1990s. The story is told from the perspectives of various characters, including gangsters, journalists, and CIA agents, providing a complex and gritty insight into the violent underbelly of Jamaican politics and the far-reaching influence of the drug trade.

The novel explores the journey of a 13-year-old boy, his drug-addicted mother, and his baby sister as they travel through Mississippi to pick up their white father from the state penitentiary. The story is steeped in the harsh realities of poverty, racism, and struggle, and is further complicated by the presence of a ghost from the family's past. It's a haunting tale about the legacy of trauma and the power of family ties.

This novel follows the lives of four Londoners - Leah, Natalie, Felix, and Nathan - as they navigate adulthood in the diverse, vibrant, and sometimes volatile neighborhood where they grew up. The narrative explores themes of identity, class, friendship, and the complex nature of urban life, intertwining the characters' stories in a way that reflects the interconnectedness and fragmentation of city living.

"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.

Set in the 1970s, the novel follows a young woman known only as Reno, who moves to New York with dreams of becoming an artist. She becomes involved with an older, established artist who is a member of the city's avant-garde scene. The story also delves into the world of Italian motorcycle racing and radical politics, exploring themes of art, feminism, love, and betrayal. The narrative shifts between Reno's experiences in New York and Italy, and the history of a radical movement in Italy.

This novel is a multi-generational saga that explores the lives of the Berglund family. It delves into their personal struggles and relationships, and how they navigate through the complexities of life in contemporary America. The narrative explores themes of freedom in various forms, including personal freedom, societal freedom, and the freedom of choice. The book also examines the impact of these choices on the family’s dynamics, their relationships, and their identities.

A teenage boy navigates the complexities of life after his mother is brutally attacked on their reservation in North Dakota. As the legal system fails to bring justice due to jurisdictional issues, the boy takes matters into his own hands. The novel explores themes of tribal law, justice, and the transition into adulthood, all set against the backdrop of Native American culture and history.

"Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver is a modern reimagining of Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield." The story follows the life of a young boy named Damon Fields, nicknamed Demon Copperhead due to his fiery red hair. Set in the rural Appalachian mountains, the novel explores Demon’s challenging upbringing, marked by poverty, addiction, and systemic neglect. Through his journey, Demon navigates foster care, the hardships of adolescence, and the struggle to find his own identity and place in the world. Kingsolver's narrative shines a light on the resilience and spirit of those often overlooked by society, offering a heartfelt and poignant tale of survival and hope.

"The Buddha in the Attic" is a historical novel that tells the story of Japanese picture brides migrating to America in the early 20th century. It follows their journey from their traditional homes in Japan to their new lives in California, their struggles with language barriers, cultural differences, and harsh working conditions. The book also explores their experiences during World War II when they and their American-born children were taken to internment camps. The narrative is presented in a collective first-person voice, providing a chorus of the women's viewpoints.

"Exit West" is a novel that follows the journey of two young lovers, Nadia and Saeed, who are forced to leave their war-torn city through mysterious doors that transport them to different locations around the globe. The couple navigate their relationship while grappling with displacement, loss, and the challenges of adjusting to new cultures. The novel explores themes of migration, identity, love, and the concept of home.

The novel follows the life of Count Alexander Rostov, an aristocrat who is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin, by a Bolshevik tribunal during the early years of Soviet Russia. Despite the vast historical changes occurring outside the hotel's walls, the Count lives a life of intellectual exploration, emotional discovery, and surprising personal growth within the confines of the luxurious establishment. Over the decades, his reduced circumstances provide a lens through which to observe the tumultuous events of mid-20th century Russia, as he befriends staff and guests, raises a spirited young girl who comes into his care, and adapts to his new reality with grace and wit.

Set during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, this novel follows an unnamed 18-year-old protagonist who is pursued by a powerful, older man known only as the Milkman. Despite her attempts to avoid him and maintain a low profile in her community, rumors spread about their supposed affair, leading to increased scrutiny and isolation. The book explores the protagonist's struggle to maintain her individuality amidst political and social turmoil, while also dealing with the pervasive threat of violence and the power of gossip in a close-knit community.

"There There" by Tommy Orange is a powerful and poignant novel that follows the lives of twelve Native American characters living in Oakland, California. As their stories intertwine and converge, the novel explores themes of identity, community, and the effects of historical trauma on Native American people. Through vivid and lyrical prose, Orange gives voice to a group of individuals who have long been marginalized and overlooked in American society, creating a compelling and unforgettable portrait of contemporary Native American life.

Set in a small Irish town during the 1980s, the story follows Bill Furlong, a coal and timber merchant, as he navigates the harsh winter season leading up to Christmas. Amidst his routine deliveries, Bill discovers unsettling truths about the local convent and the mistreatment of young women there. Confronted with a moral dilemma, he must decide whether to take a stand against the injustices he uncovers, risking his own livelihood and the well-being of his family, or to remain silent and complicit in the face of the town's pervasive indifference.

The novel explores the life of Jed Martin, a successful yet emotionally detached artist, as he navigates the complexities of the modern art world and his own personal relationships. Through a series of encounters with various characters, including a fictionalized version of the author himself, the story delves into themes of artistic creation, the commodification of art, and the search for meaning in a technologically advanced but spiritually barren society. The narrative intertwines elements of satire, existential reflection, and a touch of mystery, ultimately painting a poignant portrait of contemporary existence.