As the seasons shift and we seek stories that linger long after the last page, here at LoveReading we've decided to collate some of our favourite selections within our most-loved genres. These literary selections all offer rich, resonant explorations of identity, belonging, and the quiet (or not so quiet) struggles that shape us. From the piercing clarity of contemporary relationships to the haunting echoes of displacement and desire, these novels are bold in scope and deeply human at heart.

What is Literary Fiction?

Literary fiction is where storytelling meets artistry. It’s the kind of fiction that doesn’t just entertain, it invites you to think, to feel deeply, and to linger in the quiet spaces between the lines. Rather than racing toward a twist or a tidy ending, literary fiction is more likely to take its time, drawing you into the inner lives of characters, the texture of language, and the bigger questions that shape our lives.

These are stories often centred on people more than plot. On memory, identity, love, loss, or what it means to belong. They might play with structure or voice, surprise you with their emotional depth, or leave you with more questions than answers. But that’s part of the joy: literary fiction makes space for reflection, discovery, and connection.

If you love books that stay with you long after you turn the last page, that challenge your perspective or move you in unexpected ways, then literary fiction is probably your bag.

Each month we'll be adding a Literary Pick of the Month, and we'll capture them here for your delectation.

Flesh: Literary Pick, March 2025

Published in March, David Szalay’s Flesh is a masterful meditation on the physical and emotional landscapes of modern life. It's intimate, unsparing, and written with razor-sharp insight. This brilliant existential novel explores a man’s accidental stumbling through life’s lows, highs and deeper lows with exquisite page-turning verve. As LoveReading reviewer Joanne Owen commented: "Consummately compelling, Flesh is a cuttingly moving story of transformations, and accidents (happy and otherwise) that lays bare cold-blooded truths about the human condition, and how life is barely within our grasp or control. I couldn’t put it down."

The Best of Everything: Literary Pick, April 2025

Our April Literary Pick was Kit de Waal's The Best of Everything. It's a star of a novel from the poignant pen of de Waal that delves into grief, resilience, and the transformative power of kindness with such incredible tenderness that you won't want it to end. LoveReading MD Deborah Maclaren shared: "De Waal's narrative shines with its usual warmth and authenticity, capturing the nuances of human relationships and the quiet strength of its protagonist. She has such a beautiful ability to show such compassion through her characters and build such emotionally rich stories. I absolutely loved it and I adored Paulette. Bursting with heart, I need to read everything Kit de Waal ever writes."

Speak to Me of Home: Literary Pick, May 2025

Jeanine Cummins returns with Speak to Me of Home, a lyrical, moving novel that captures the ache of exile and the search for connection, brimming with compassion and grace. It's a stunning, sweeping, emotionally resonant novel that delves into the complexities of identity, belonging, and the enduring bonds of family. LoveReading MD Deborah Maclaren described it as: "a book to savour, one to linger over, one to absorb slowly. And I certainly did that: a strong stamp of approval from me."

The Gowkaran Tree in the Middle of Our Kitchen: Literary Pick, June 2025

The Gowkaran Tree in the Middle of Our Kitchen by Shokoofeh Azar is a haunting and beautifully woven story of love, loss, and resilience, set against the turbulent backdrop of modern Iran, where family and culture fight to endure beneath the shadow of revolution. Our MD Deborah Maclaren commented: "Ultimately, The Gowkaran Tree is more than just a story. It's an experience. It invited me to slow down, reflect, and appreciate the enduring power of roots - both literal and metaphorical."

After The Clearances: Literary Pick, July 2025

After The Clearances by Alison Layland is a sublimely powerful work of speculative climate fiction. As our reviewer Joanne Owen shares: "This inventive, thought-provoking feat of climate fiction is as bold, beautiful and enthralling as the Welsh landscapes it conjures." Set in 2056, the story is centred on the remote Welsh-island community of The Seeders, which was founded several years earlier as a result of the government’s Clearances policy. It's a bold and soulful story of resilience, revenge and rising from ruins. 

Emma: Literary Pick, August 2025

Handsome, clever and rich, Emma Woodhouse has no desire to fall in love or be married. Playing Cupid for her peers is far more appealing. Our Literary Pick for the Summer is this gorgeous, new, JM Classics edition of Emma, Jane Austen's timeless tale of matchmaking mischief, with a new introduction by Gill Hornby. It's a thing of beauty.

Buckeye: Literary Pick, September 2025

A sprawling, quietly powerful family saga set in mid-century Midwest America, Buckeye unfolds in the unassuming town of Bonhomie, Ohio. From a VE Day spark of forbidden intimacy through years of desire, regret, and resilience, Patrick Ryan brings his characters to life with bundles of empathy and oodles of narrative warmth. Utterly unputdownable it's full of compassion, humour and charm, and is a dazzling portrait of the human spirit. 

These are books to savour, to share, and to return to. Each one is a powerful reminder of literature’s ability to illuminate the complexities of our inner and outer worlds. And we can't wait to add more into the mix as 2025 progresses.

If you're looking for more recommendations, check out our Literary Fiction category.