Lariat Adult Fiction List

Here are 25 recommend fiction titles for adults from the 2025 Lariat List! The Lariat List features outstanding fiction titles for adults, published within the current and previous year, that are simply a pleasure to read! That's it. That's the criteria. The Lariat List is selected by a committee of Texas librarians and is one of 10 reading lists from the Texas Library Association. Visit txla.org/lariat for lists from previous years.


Updated January 13, 2025
Lewisville Public Library
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The Book of Doors
Brown, Gareth.
Paper Book
The spell-binding, mind-bending, heart-pounding fantasy adventure and instant Sunday Times bestseller, perfect for fans of The Binding, The Midnight Library and A Discovery of Witches. ** A FINAL ROUND NOMINEE FOR READERS' FAVOURITE FANTASY NOVEL AND...
The frozen river
Lawhon, Ariel
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Helene comes a gripping historical mystery based on the real-life diary entries of Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife who found herself at the center of a murder trial. Maine, 1789:...
We Used to Live Here
Kliewer, Marcus.
Paper Book
You let them back in. You shouldn't have... Young couple Charlie and Eve can't believe the killer deal they got on an old house deep in the mountains. One day, a man knocks on the door. He says he lived there years before and asks if he can show his family around.
The God of The Woods
Moore, Liz.
Paper Book
AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERAN AMAZON BEST BOOK OF 2024WINNER OF GOODREADS MYSTERY & THRILLER BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024'I was totally gripped' DOUGLAS STUART'Immersive and enthralling' PAULA HAWKINS ___________ Some said it was tragic, what happened to the Van Laars. Some...
Worst Case Scenario
Newman, T. J.
Paper Book
"Worst Case Scenario is the best thriller I've read so far this year. It's a chilling idea with great characters and near-perfect execution." -James Patterson When a pilot suffers a heart attack at 35,000 feet, a commercial airliner...
Funny story
Henry, Emily.
Paper Book
FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR & GLOBAL TIK TOK SENSATION, EMILY HENRY 'One of my favourite authors' COLLEEN HOOVER, It Ends With Us 'Emily knows how to craft a love story like the all-time greats' TAYLOR JENKINS REID, Daisy Jones...
The women a novel
Hannah, Kristin
Paper Book
"Women can be heroes, too." When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances "Frankie" McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in...
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife
Johnston, Anna.
Paper Book
'A sincere, heartfelt and laugh-out-loud debut . . . a genuinely delightful read.' The Australian 'Would you mind terribly, old boy, if I borrowed the rest of your life? I promise I'll take excellent care of it.' Frederick Fife was born with an...
By any other name
Picoult, Jodi.
Paper Book
No.1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult brings to life the woman many believe was the real playwright behind the work of William Shakespeare alongside a contemporary story of a New York author suffering the same fate of being silenced.
James : a novel
Everett, Percival
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER * A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and darkly humorous, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST * ONE OF...
By any other name
Picoult, Jodi.
Paper Book
No.1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult brings to life the woman many believe was the real playwright behind the work of William Shakespeare alongside a contemporary story of a New York author suffering the same fate of being silenced.
Expiration dates
Serle, Rebecca
Paper Book
'Rebecca Serle is a maestro of love in all its forms' GABRIELLE ZEVIN, author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow 'Everything you could wish for in a love story - beautifully told, effortlessly romantic, and surprising in the very best of ways' HOLLY MILLER,...
Expiration dates
Serle, Rebecca
Paper Book
'Rebecca Serle is a maestro of love in all its forms' GABRIELLE ZEVIN, author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow 'Everything you could wish for in a love story - beautifully told, effortlessly romantic, and surprising in the very best of ways' HOLLY MILLER,...
The wedding people : a novel
Espach, Alison
Paper Book
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A Today Show #ReadwithJenna Book Club Pick A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew. It's a beautiful day in Newport,...
Extinction : a novel
Preston, Douglas J.
Paper Book
With Extinction, #1 New York Times bestselling author Douglas Preston has written a page-turning thriller in the Michael Crichton mode that explores the possible and unintended dangers of the very real efforts to resurrect the woolly mammoth and other long-extinct animals.
Extinction : a novel
Preston, Douglas J.
Paper Book
With Extinction, #1 New York Times bestselling author Douglas Preston has written a page-turning thriller in the Michael Crichton mode that explores the possible and unintended dangers of the very real efforts to resurrect the woolly mammoth and other long-extinct animals.
The frozen river
Lawhon, Ariel
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Helene comes a gripping historical mystery based on the real-life diary entries of Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife who found herself at the center of a murder trial. Maine, 1789:...
Funny story
Henry, Emily.
Paper Book
FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR & GLOBAL TIK TOK SENSATION, EMILY HENRY 'One of my favourite authors' COLLEEN HOOVER, It Ends With Us 'Emily knows how to craft a love story like the all-time greats' TAYLOR JENKINS REID, Daisy Jones...
How the light gets in
Maynard, Joyce
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard comes the eagerly anticipated follow-up to her beloved novel Count the Ways--a complex story of three generations of a family and its remarkable, resilient, indomitable matriarch, Eleanor. Following the death of her former...
James
Everett, Percival
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER * A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and darkly humorous, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST * ONE OF...
Listen for the lie
Tintera, Amy
Paper Book
Am I a murderer? You tell me . . . Lucy Chase can't remember anything about the night her best friend was murdered. Lucky her, you're probably thinking. Who would want that to be their last memory of someone they love? But for Lucy, it's become an issue....
Listen for the lie
Tintera, Amy
Paper Book
Am I a murderer? You tell me . . . Lucy Chase can't remember anything about the night her best friend was murdered. Lucky her, you're probably thinking. Who would want that to be their last memory of someone they love? But for Lucy, it's become an issue....
Lula Dean's Little Library Of Banned Books
Miller, Kirsten.
Paper Book
'Clever and astute ... a cracking read' The Belfast Telegraph'One by one, residents read the books and find their lives changed in unexpected ways' Hello Magazine* * * From the author of The Change, comes a novel about book banning and those brave enough to stand up against this...
Lula Dean's Little Library Of Banned Books
Miller, Kirsten.
Paper Book
'Clever and astute ... a cracking read' The Belfast Telegraph'One by one, residents read the books and find their lives changed in unexpected ways' Hello Magazine* * * From the author of The Change, comes a novel about book banning and those brave enough to stand up against this...
The spellshop
Durst, Sarah Beth
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Travis Baldree and TJ Klune, The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is a cosy fantasy tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams and even sweeter romance.'Sarah Beth Durst is the hidden gem of the fantasy world' -- Book RiotEvery home needs a little magic . ....
The spellshop
Durst, Sarah Beth
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Travis Baldree and TJ Klune, The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is a cosy fantasy tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams and even sweeter romance.'Sarah Beth Durst is the hidden gem of the fantasy world' -- Book RiotEvery home needs a little magic . ....
We Solve Murders
Osman, Richard.
Paper Book
Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines- the pub quiz, his favourite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over- adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy's business...
We Solve Murders
Osman, Richard.
Paper Book
Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines- the pub quiz, his favourite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over- adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy's business...
The wedding people
Espach, Alison
Paper Book
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A Today Show #ReadwithJenna Book Club Pick A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew. It's a beautiful day in Newport,...
The women a novel
Hannah, Kristin
Paper Book
"Women can be heroes, too." When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances "Frankie" McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in...
The women a novel
Hannah, Kristin
Paper Book
"Women can be heroes, too." When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances "Frankie" McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in...
The Wren in the Holly Library
Linde, K A.
Paper Book
Set in an alternate day New York filled with monsters, The Wren in the Holly Library is a dark, spicy romantasy loosely inspired by Beauty and the Beast -- perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab and Leigh Bardugo.She stole from a monster . . . now she must pay the priceStreet thief Kierse should have known...
The Wren in the Holly Library
Linde, K A.
Paper Book
Set in an alternate day New York filled with monsters, The Wren in the Holly Library is a dark, spicy romantasy loosely inspired by Beauty and the Beast -- perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab and Leigh Bardugo.She stole from a monster . . . now she must pay the priceStreet thief Kierse should have known...

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