As we enter 2024, the literary world is full of exciting titles in both fiction and nonfiction that have captured the imagination and conversations of readers everywhere. From gripping thrillers and profound explorations of identity to insightful reflections on society and culture, this year’s most talked-about titles Books offer something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a gripping story to lose yourself in or a thought-provoking read that will challenge your perspective, these standout titles are leading the way in bookstores, online discussions, and book clubs alike. Dive into the literary gems of 2024 that everyone’s talking about.

fiction

1. Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s sprawling but deftly crafted second novel is a fictionalized retelling of a real-life kidnapping. When the patriarch of the Fletcher family is abducted from his suburban New York driveway in the 1980s, the repercussions of his disappearance ripple through the lives of his three children, affecting them well into adulthood.

2. All Fours by Miranda July

The protagonist of July’s bold, revealing graphic novel sets out on a cross-country road trip, only to stop 30 minutes from home, then embarks on an elaborate motel room renovation and begins an unusual but passionate affair with a younger man who works at a car rental agency.

3. The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman

Lev Grossman, best known for his Magicians series, shines with this reinterpretation of the King Arthur legend. The novel, about a knight who leads a ragtag group to rebuild Excalibur after the king’s death, earns its place among the best Arthurian stories.

4. Good material from Dolly Alderton

Alderton’s novel is about a 35-year-old woman struggling with a breakup. It offers the best of what a romantic comedy has to offer: sharp dialogue, authentic relationship dynamics, humorous encounters and misunderstandings – while avoiding clichéd gender roles and the typical marriage narrative.

5. James by Percival Everett

In this new interpretation of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Jim, the slave who accompanies Huck on the Mississippi, takes on the role of narrator, retelling the classic story in his own voice and revealing unexpected details that show him as a more resourceful, cunning and powerful character than previously portrayed.

6. The Hunter by Tana French

For fans of Tana French, each new release is a significant event. This novel, a sequel to The Searcher, is again about retired Chicago cop Cal Hooper, an outsider in the Irish West Country village of Ardnakelty. Once again he finds himself embroiled in the visible and hidden crimes that plague the seemingly idyllic village.

7. Martyrs! by Kaveh Akbar

In his remarkable debut novel, Akbar tells the story of a young Iranian-American aspiring poet and recovering drug addict who mourns the deaths of his parents while fantasizing about his own. Although the novel is steeped in themes of death, it brims with life through its beautifully crafted sentences, vivid characters, and unexpected twists.

8. Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

Tommy Orange’s follow-up to There There is both a prequel and a sequel, following the young survivor of a 19th-century Native American massacre and chronicling not only his fate but that of his descendants. The second half of the novel shifts to 21st-century Oakland and explores the family’s journey after a tragic shooting.

9. Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino

Set in 1970s Philadelphia, this poignant novel is about an alien girl who is sent to Earth before she is born. By communicating with her own kind via fax, she helps assess the Earth’s habitability. The story follows the struggles of the girl and her single mother as they find ways to survive in a world that is both funny and sad.

10. Portrait photo of Rita Bullwinkel

An unexpected tragedy in a public swimming pool, a relentless pursuit of victory and an irrepressible urge to master their craft shape eight young female boxers in Reno, Nevada. In her powerful debut film, Rita Bullwinkel captures their raw emotions, willingness to sacrifice and the indomitable willpower required to be the best.

Non-fiction

1. Cue the Sun! by Emily Nussbaum

Emily Nussbaum’s passionate and carefully crafted examination of reality TV traces its evolution from “Queen for a Day” to “The Real World” to “Survivor” to “The Apprentice.” With sharp prose and a keen eye for detail, the book reveals how these shows fused high and low art into a compelling pop culture phenomenon that we love to hate, love not to love, and just can’t stop watching.

2. When the clock broke by John Ganz

John Ganz re-examines 1990s America, challenging the conventional narrative of peace and prosperity with a darker account of populists, nativists, and demagogues who operated on the fringes of U.S. politics. This disturbing chronicle shows how these figures shattered the post-Cold War consensus and paved the way for the anti-democratic forces that trouble the country today.

3. Everyone Who’s Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis by Jonathan Blitzer

Jonathan Blitzer offers a compelling and urgent analysis of Latin American politics and immigration, drawing a direct link between U.S. foreign policy in Central America and the current refugee crisis. This powerful narrative illuminates the long-term impact of American intervention in the region.

4. Knife: Meditations after an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie

In this candid and gripping autobiography, Salman Rushdie recounts the harrowing experience of surviving an assassination attempt during an event to protect writers in 2022. His attacker was relentless and armed with a knife. Although he lost an eye, Rushdie reflects on his recovery, crediting it to the dedicated care of doctors and the unwavering support of his wife.

5. The Wide Sea: Imperial Ambitions, First Contact, and the Fateful Last Voyage of Captain James Cook by Hampton Sides

Hampton Sides offers a new perspective on British explorer James Cook’s third Pacific voyage. As Cook’s scientific pursuits gave way to something more sinister, Sides looks at the expedition’s tragic consequences in the broader context of colonial history. This book fits neatly into the genre of newly examined adventure stories, similar to works such as David Grann’s The Wager and Candice Millard’s River of the Gods.

6. Fi: A Memoir by Alexandra Fuller

In her fifth memoir, Alexandra Fuller poignantly recounts the sudden death of her 21-year-old son. While this elegant and brutally honest narrative is deeply sad, it also leaves readers with a lasting impression of the vibrant and beloved young man she lost.

7. The Rebel Clinic: The Revolutionary Life of Frantz Fanon by Adam Shatz

Adam Shatz’s compelling biography of Frantz Fanon explores the often overlooked side of the black psychiatrist, writer and revolutionary. Illuminating Fanon’s role as a compassionate doctor who secretly ran a clinic for Algerian rebels, Shatz offers a nuanced portrait that goes beyond his commonly known image as an ardent partisan.