8 Contemporary Fiction Books You Need To Read In 2025

In an age where the world feels more complex and interconnected than ever, contemporary fiction gives us something irreplaceable — a mirror held up to our times. These stories capture the pulse of modern life: our anxieties, relationships, triumphs, and quiet moments of self-discovery.

At its best, contemporary fiction doesn’t just entertain; it expands our empathy, deepens our understanding of others, and helps us see ourselves more clearly. Below is a list of 8 contemporary fiction books you need to read in 2025.

1. Trust by Hernan Diaz

Hernan Diaz’s Trust is an intricate literary puzzle about wealth, power, and narrative control. Set against the backdrop of 1920s New York, it follows a financier and his enigmatic wife through multiple perspectives — including a novel within a novel.

Diaz challenges readers to question who gets to tell the story of success and what truths lie hidden beneath the myths of capitalism. With its elegant structure and psychological depth, Trust is a masterclass in storytelling and a meditation on perception itself.

2. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Bonnie Garmus’s Lessons in Chemistry delivers wit, warmth, and sharp social commentary through the unforgettable character of Elizabeth Zott — a chemist in the 1960s who refuses to conform to societal expectations.

This story is as much about female empowerment as it is about defying the status quo. Garmus blends humor and heartbreak beautifully, crafting a heroine who inspires readers to question the limitations imposed by culture and gender. It’s a powerful reminder that intelligence, courage, and authenticity can ignite real change.

3. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water is a sweeping, multigenerational epic set in southern India, spanning from the early 1900s to the late 20th century. It follows a family plagued by a mysterious condition: in every generation, someone drowns.

Verghese, a physician and acclaimed author of Cutting for Stone, combines medical insight with lyrical storytelling, exploring themes of faith, science, love, and the ties that bind families across time. His descriptions of Kerala’s lush landscapes and complex human relationships make this novel both immersive and deeply moving.

4. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

Emily St. John Mandel’s Sea of Tranquility is a beautifully intricate exploration of time, connection, and the human need for meaning. Following multiple characters across centuries, including a pandemic-era writer and a traveler from the future, Mandel weaves a narrative that feels both intimate and cosmic.

Her writing balances philosophical depth with emotional immediacy, questioning the nature of reality and the impact of our choices across time. The novel challenges readers to reflect on loss, resilience, and the interconnectedness of human lives.

5. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Demon Copperhead reimagines Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield in modern-day Appalachia. Through the eyes of Demon, a boy born into poverty and systemic neglect, Kingsolver confronts America’s opioid crisis, social inequality, and the resilience of the human spirit.

The novel’s voice is raw, poetic, and unforgettable. Kingsolver’s empathy shines through every page, making Demon Copperhead not only a powerful work of fiction but also a call to see — and care for — those often overlooked.

6. Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface is a razor-sharp satire of the publishing world and the ethics of authorship. When struggling writer June Hayward steals her late friend’s manuscript — and her identity — she launches a meteoric rise built on deception and cultural appropriation.

This novel is both darkly funny and unflinchingly honest, exploring questions of race, privilege, and authenticity in art. Kuang’s narrative is tense, provocative, and uncomfortably relevant in today’s discourse around representation and creative ownership.

7. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half delves into the lives of twin sisters who choose very different paths — one passing as white, the other embracing her Black identity. Spanning decades, the novel examines race, identity, and belonging with profound nuance and emotional depth.

Bennett’s storytelling is cinematic and compassionate, offering a multi-generational exploration of how our choices shape our destinies. It’s a poignant and timely meditation on the American dream and the masks we wear to survive.

8. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These is a quiet masterpiece — a novella that says more in 120 pages than many epics do in hundreds. Set in 1980s Ireland, it follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant who discovers the harrowing truth about a local convent’s treatment of young women.

Keegan’s prose is spare yet luminous, capturing both the beauty of compassion and the cost of moral courage. This story is a meditation on conscience, silence, and responsibility — a reminder that even the smallest act of kindness can stand against injustice.

Conclusion

Contemporary fiction is the heartbeat of our cultural moment. It documents what we fear, what we love, and what we strive to become. Through the courage and creativity of today’s authors, we see a reflection of our shared humanity — flawed, fragile, yet endlessly capable of change.

So, the next time you pick up a contemporary novel, remember: you’re not just reading a story — you’re participating in a conversation about who we are, and who we might yet become.