Best Contemporary Fiction Books July 2025

Everything I Never Told You

Lydia Lee is dead, but her family doesn’t know it yet. As the Lees grapple with their loss, long-buried secrets surface, revealing the complexities of love, identity, and belonging. Set in 1970s Ohio, this poignant tale explores the weight of expectations and the struggle to fit in. Ng’s masterful prose delves into the intricate dynamics of a mixed-race family, unraveling the threads that bind them together and the silences that tear them apart. A haunting, intimate portrait of family life that will linger in your thoughts long after the final page.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

Nina Hill’s life revolves around books, her cat, and a meticulously organized planner. Introverted and content, she works at a quirky bookstore and leads a trivia team. But when her estranged father dies, leaving her with a sprawling family she never knew existed, Nina’s carefully curated world is thrown into chaos. Suddenly, she’s navigating new relationships, unexpected feelings for a trivia rival, and the realization that stepping out of her comfort zone might just lead to the greatest adventure of all. A charming tale of self-discovery, family, and the power of embracing the unexpected.

Other People’s Houses

Abbi Waxman’s “Other People’s Houses” is a delightfully witty peek into the lives of four families in a close-knit Los Angeles neighborhood. As the neighborhood carpool driver, Frances Bloom thinks she knows everything about her neighbors, until she accidentally walks in on Anne Porter in a compromising position. Suddenly, the facade of suburban perfection crumbles, revealing the messy, complicated lives behind closed doors. With humor and heart, Waxman explores marriage, friendship, and the secrets we keep, reminding us that sometimes the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the picket fence.

The Garden of Small Beginnings

Lilian Girvan’s life took an unexpected turn when her husband died in a car accident. Now, three years later, she’s a single mom juggling work, two daughters, and a sister who’s determined to drag her back into the land of the living. When her boss assigns her to illustrate a vegetable encyclopedia, Lilian finds herself enrolled in a gardening class. Surrounded by quirky characters and budding plants, she discovers that new beginnings can sprout in the most unlikely places. With humor, heart, and a touch of dirt under her fingernails, Lilian learns that sometimes, the smallest seeds can grow into the most beautiful gardens.

What Alice Forgot

Alice wakes up on the gym floor, thinking she’s 29 and madly in love. In reality, she’s 39, with three kids and a crumbling marriage. As she pieces together the lost decade, Alice grapples with how she became this stranger to herself. Funny and poignant, this novel explores identity, relationships, and second chances. It’s a thought-provoking journey that’ll make you ponder your own life choices and the power of perspective.

Truly Madly Guilty

Liane Moriarty’s “Truly Madly Guilty” is a gripping exploration of friendship, marriage, and the ripple effects of one fateful day. Set in suburban Sydney, the story revolves around three couples whose lives are forever changed by a seemingly ordinary barbecue. Moriarty’s keen insight into human nature shines as she unravels the complex web of secrets and regrets that bind these characters together. I found myself completely absorbed, turning pages late into the night, desperate to uncover the truth behind the mysterious incident. With her trademark wit and compassion, Moriarty delivers a thought-provoking tale that will linger long after the final page.

The Husband’s Secret

Cecilia Fitzpatrick’s life is picture-perfect: successful businesswoman, devoted wife, and loving mother. But when she stumbles upon a letter from her husband meant to be opened only after his death, her world shatters. As she grapples with the shocking contents, Cecilia finds herself entangled in a web of secrets that connects her to two other women in unexpected ways. Moriarty’s gripping tale explores the ripple effects of our choices and the power of truth to upend even the most carefully constructed lives.

A God in Ruins

Teddy Todd, a beloved RAF pilot, navigates the complexities of life after World War II in this poignant tale of love, loss, and redemption. As he grapples with the weight of his wartime experiences, Teddy’s journey unfolds across decades, revealing the ripple effects of his choices on generations to come. Atkinson’s masterful prose weaves a tapestry of human resilience, exploring the fragility of existence and the enduring power of hope in the face of life’s cruel twists.

Cities of the Plain

McCarthy’s haunting finale to the Border Trilogy weaves a tapestry of love and loss against the harsh backdrop of the American Southwest. John Grady Cole and Billy Parham, now seasoned cowboys, face the twilight of their era as modernity encroaches. Their friendship, tested by time and tragedy, anchors this elegiac tale. McCarthy’s sparse prose cuts to the bone, revealing the raw beauty and brutality of a vanishing world. A masterful exploration of the human spirit in the face of inexorable change.

The Little Friend

Harriet Dufresnes, a precocious 12-year-old in 1970s Mississippi, is haunted by her brother’s unsolved murder. Determined to uncover the truth, she embarks on a dangerous investigation, dragging her friends into a world of small-town secrets and racial tensions. Tartt’s rich prose brings the sultry South to life, weaving a mesmerizing tale of childhood innocence lost and the relentless pursuit of justice. As Harriet delves deeper, she discovers that the past is never truly buried, and some mysteries are better left unsolved.