Contemporary
Explore books in the Contemporary category
35 books in this category
Normal People
Sally Rooney
A novel about the complex relationship between two young people navigating love, friendship, and class.
You Had Me at Hola
Alexis Daria
A romance novel about a soap opera star and a telenovela actor who must navigate their relationship under public scrutiny.
Evenings and Avenues
Stuart Dischell
A poetry collection exploring themes of urban life, relationships, and existential reflection.
Dig Safe
Stuart Dischell
A poetry collection by Stuart Dischell, exploring themes of life, memory, and the search for meaning.
Backwards Days
Stuart Dischell
A poetry collection that captures the nuances of human relationships, emotions, and self-reflection.
Alien vs. Predator
Michael Robbins
A poetry collection that blends pop culture references with humor and social commentary.
Children with Enemies
Stuart Dischell
A poetry collection exploring themes of conflict, humanity, and personal reflection.
Girl, Woman, Other
Bernardine Evaristo
A novel following the lives of twelve interconnected characters, exploring themes of race, gender, and identity in Britain.
The Hours
Michael Cunningham
A novel that interweaves the lives of three women, inspired by Virginia Woolf’s *Mrs. Dalloway*, exploring themes of life and art.
The Echo Maker
Richard Powers
A novel about a man with a rare brain disorder, exploring themes of memory, identity, and environmental science.
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You
Peter Cameron
A coming-of-age novel about a young man’s search for identity and belonging in contemporary New York.
The Goldfinch
Donna Tartt
A novel following a young man whose life is shaped by a tragic event and an obsession with a painting, exploring themes of loss and beauty.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette
Maria Semple
A comedic novel about a mother’s mysterious disappearance, exploring themes of family, identity, and social expectations.
The Casual Vacancy
J.K. Rowling
A dark comedy set in a small English town, exploring themes of class, politics, and social conflict.
Infinite Jest
David Foster Wallace
A complex novel exploring addiction, entertainment, and family dynamics, blending dark humor with philosophical themes.
Necessary People
Anna Pitoniak
A psychological thriller about ambition, friendship, and betrayal among young professionals in New York.
While I Was Gone
Sue Miller
A novel about a woman confronting her past and re-evaluating her life, exploring themes of identity and regret.
The Topeka School
Ben Lerner
A novel exploring American culture and politics through the lens of a high school debate champion in Kansas.
White Teeth
Zadie Smith
Follows the intertwined lives of two families in London, exploring themes of multiculturalism and identity.
Stargirl
Jerry Spinelli
A young adult novel about individuality and nonconformity, following a unique girl named Stargirl as she navigates high school life.
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage
Haruki Murakami
A novel about a man’s journey to reconnect with old friends and understand past betrayals, blending existential themes with Murakami’s surreal style.
Fifty Shades of Grey
E L James
A romance novel about a young woman’s relationship with a wealthy man, exploring themes of desire and control.
The Book of Form and Emptiness
Ruth Ozeki
A novel about a boy who begins hearing the voices of inanimate objects, exploring grief, reality, and self-acceptance.
Rodham
Curtis Sittenfeld
A fictional reimagining of Hillary Clinton’s life if she had not married Bill Clinton, exploring ambition and gender.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Jonathan Safran Foer
A novel about a young boy dealing with the loss of his father after 9/11, mixing themes of grief and healing.
Behold the Dreamers
Imbolo Mbue
Novel about a Cameroonian immigrant family navigating the American Dream in New York City.
Commonwealth
Ann Patchett
Novel about family, loyalty, and shared secrets spanning five decades.
Conversations with Friends
Sally Rooney
Novel about complex relationships among young adults in contemporary Dublin.
Freshwater
Akwaeke Emezi
Novel exploring identity, spirituality, and mental health through the life of a Nigerian woman.
Songs in Ordinary Time
Mary McGarry Morris
Novel about a dysfunctional family and complex relationships in a small town.
Olive, Again
Elizabeth Strout
Sequel to *Olive Kitteridge*, following the life of Olive and others in her town.
Anxious People
Fredrik Backman
Fictional story centered on a hostage situation and human connections.
The Unfolding
A.M. Homes
Fictional exploration of political and social issues in contemporary America.