Bookle reading guide: Literary fiction
⏱️ 4 min read
Think literary fiction is difficult or only for English professors? It really doesn’t have to be.
Literary fiction is less about a particular kind of story and more about how a story explores people, relationships, ideas and the world around us. Some books are quiet and reflective, while others are emotional, unsettling, funny or completely absorbing. Often, they’re the books that stay with you because there’s something to think about after you’ve turned the last page.
And there’s no single formula. A novel can be a family saga, a coming-of-age story, a historical novel or even a speculative story and still be literary fiction. The difference is often in the attention given to character, language, ideas and the experience of reading the story.
Here’s a look at some of the types you’ll come across, and where to start if you’re looking for a book with a little more to chew on.
In this guide you'll discover:
- Some of the most common types of literary fiction
- What makes each one distinctive
- Which style might suit your reading taste
- Authors and books to look out for
1. Coming-of-age fiction
Coming-of-age stories follow characters as they grow up and begin to understand themselves and the world around them. They often explore identity, family, friendship, first experiences and the moments that shape who we become.
If you enjoy stories about growing up, self-discovery and finding your place in the world, coming-of-age fiction is a good place to start.
Look out for: Harper Lee, J.D. Salinger, John Green, John Boyne, Douglas Stuart and Donna Tartt.
Try:
- Harper Lee – To Kill a Mockingbird
- J.D. Salinger – The Catcher in the Rye
- John Green – Looking for Alaska; The Fault in Our Stars
- John Boyne – The Heart’s Invisible Furies; The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
- Douglas Stuart – Shuggie Bain; Young Mungo
- Donna Tartt – The Secret History; The Goldfinch
2. Family sagas
Family sagas take a long view of family life, often following relationships across generations. Secrets, old wounds, love, conflict and the choices of one generation can shape the lives of the next.
If you enjoy complicated family relationships, multi-generational stories and characters whose lives become intertwined, family sagas are worth exploring.
Look out for: Isabel Allende, Jonathan Franzen, Barbara Kingsolver, Jeffrey Eugenides, Min Jin Lee and Abraham Verghese.
Try:
- Isabel Allende – The House of the Spirits; Daughter of Fortune.
- Jonathan Franzen – The Corrections; Freedom
- Barbara Kingsolver – The Poisonwood Bible; Demon Copperhead
- Jeffrey Eugenides – Middlesex; The Virgin Suicides
- Min Jin Lee – Pachinko
- Abraham Verghese – Cutting for Stone; The Covenant of Water
3. Historical literary fiction
Historical literary fiction takes us into another time while keeping the focus on characters, relationships and the human experience. The historical setting isn’t simply background; it shapes the lives, choices and experiences of the people in the story.
If you enjoy immersive historical settings, complex characters and beautifully written stories, historical literary fiction is a good place to start.
Look out for: Hilary Mantel, Anthony Doerr, Geraldine Brooks, Maggie O’Farrell, Sarah Waters and Rose Tremain.
Try:
- Hilary Mantel – Wolf Hall; Bring Up the Bodies
- Anthony Doerr – All the Light We Cannot See; Cloud Cuckoo Land
- Geraldine Brooks – March; People of the Book
- Maggie O’Farrell – Hamnet; The Marriage Portrait
- Sarah Waters – Fingersmith; The Night Watch
- Rose Tremain – Restoration; The Colour
4. Contemporary literary fiction
Contemporary literary fiction explores modern life through a literary lens. The stories may focus on relationships, family, identity, loneliness, ageing or society, with particular attention given to character, language and the ideas beneath the story.
If you enjoy thoughtful stories about modern life, complex characters and writing that gives you something to ponder, contemporary literary fiction is a good place to start.
Look out for: Ann Patchett, Elizabeth Strout, David Nicholls, Ian McEwan, Colm Tóibín and Zadie Smith.
Try:
- Ann Patchett – The Dutch House; Tom Lake
- Elizabeth Strout – Olive Kitteridge; My Name Is Lucy Barton
- David Nicholls – One Day; Us
- Ian McEwan – Atonement; Saturday
- Colm Tóibín – Brooklyn; Long Island
- Zadie Smith – White Teeth; On Beauty
5. Psychological literary fiction
These novels take a close look at what happens inside their characters. Thoughts, memories, fears, desires and inner conflicts can be just as important as the events taking place around them.
If you enjoy complex characters, unreliable perspectives, human psychology and stories that get under your skin, psychological literary fiction is a good place to start.
Look out for: Ian McEwan, Kazuo Ishiguro, Virginia Woolf, Paul Auster, Patrick McGrath and John Fowles.
Try:
- Ian McEwan – Enduring Love; Atonement
- Kazuo Ishiguro – Never Let Me Go; The Remains of the Day
- Virginia Woolf – Mrs Dalloway; To the Lighthouse
- Paul Auster – 4 3 2 1
- Patrick McGrath – Spider; Asylum
- John Fowles – The Collector; The Magus
6. Social and cultural fiction
Some literary novels use individual lives to explore bigger questions about society, culture, identity, class, race, migration, politics and belonging. Rather than simply giving you answers, they invite you to see the world through another person’s experience.
If you enjoy different perspectives, social themes, cultural settings and stories that make you look at familiar issues differently, this is a good place to start.
Look out for: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Khaled Hosseini, Arundhati Roy, Zadie Smith, Mohsin Hamid, Yaa Gyasi and Bernardine Evaristo.
Try:
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – Americanah; Half of a Yellow Sun
- Khaled Hosseini – The Kite Runner; A Thousand Splendid Suns
- Arundhati Roy – The God of Small Things; The Ministry of Utmost Happiness
- Zadie Smith – White Teeth; NW
- Mohsin Hamid – Exit West; The Reluctant Fundamentalist
- Yaa Gyasi – Homegoing; Transcendent Kingdom
- Bernardine Evaristo – Girl, Woman, Other; Mr Loverman
7. Literary speculative fiction
What if the world were different? Literary speculative fiction uses imagined futures, altered realities and “what if?” scenarios to explore human nature, society and the choices people make. The speculative element may be unusual, but the characters and their experiences remain at the heart of the story.
If you enjoy big ideas, imagined worlds and thought-provoking stories that still feel deeply human, literary speculative fiction is a good place to start.
Look out for: Margaret Atwood, Kazuo Ishiguro, Emily St. John Mandel, David Mitchell and Ted Chiang.
Try:
- Margaret Atwood – The Handmaid’s Tale; Oryx and Crake
- Kazuo Ishiguro – Klara and the Sun; Never Let Me Go
- Emily St. John Mandel – Station Eleven; Sea of Tranquility
- David Mitchell – Cloud Atlas; The Bone Clocks
- Ted Chiang – Stories of Your Life and Others; Exhalation
Looking for Afrikaans literary fiction?
Afrikaans literary fiction has a long and distinctive tradition, with novels exploring South African history, identity, politics, family and the complexities of life in this country.
If you’d like to explore thought-provoking Afrikaans fiction with strong characters and a distinctly South African perspective, look out for:
- André P. Brink – Kennis van die aand; Bidsprinkaan
- Etienne van Heerden – Toorberg; Die wêreld van Charlie Oeng
- Anna M. Louw – Kroniek van Perdepoort
- Karel Schoeman – ‘n Ander land; Verliesfontein
- Marlene van Niekerk – Triomf; Agaat
- Ingrid Winterbach – Niggie; Die boek van toeval en toeverlaat
- Alexander Strachan – ‘n Wêreld sonder grense; Die jakkalsjagter
What kind of literary fiction reader are you?
Literary fiction can be difficult to define, and that’s part of what makes it interesting. You might love a sprawling family saga, a story about growing up, a novel rooted in history or a book that takes you somewhere completely unexpected.
You don’t need to be an expert in literature to enjoy it. You just need to find a story that gives you something to feel, think about or remember.
Continue exploring
📚 Browse literary fiction books on Bookle
Discover preloved literary fiction in our Literary Fiction category.
📖 Read another reading guide
Love stories set in another time? Explore our Bookle reading guide: Historical fiction and discover which historical novels are right for you.
💬 Join the conversation
Which literary novel has stayed with you the longest? We’d love to hear your recommendations in the Bookle – Let’s Talk Books Facebook group.