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
**ONE OF GOODREADS' TOP 6 MOST-READ DEBUTS OF 2024** **THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING DEBUT AND ONE OF THE BBC'S BEST DEBUTS OF 2024 ** **A WOMAN & HOME 'Book of the Year'** 'Joyful, exuberant, and crackling with adventure.' STUART TURTON
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
House of Leaves meets Parasite in this gripping and eerily haunting debut psychological horror, soon to be a Netflix film starring Blake Lively. Perfect for fans of Stephen King and Leave the World Behind. ⭐ Winner of Reddit NoSleep Scariest...
James : a novel
Everett, Percival
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER * ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'S 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR * SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE * KIRKUS PRIZE WINNER * A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both...
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...
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.
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,...
Funny story
Henry, Emily.
Paper Book
Daphne always loved the way Peter told their story. That is until it became the prologue to his actual love story with his childhood bestie, Petra. Which is how Daphne ends up rooming with her total opposite and the only person who could possibly understand her predicament-...
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 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.
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
Daphne always loved the way Peter told their story. That is until it became the prologue to his actual love story with his childhood bestie, Petra. Which is how Daphne ends up rooming with her total opposite and the only person who could possibly understand her predicament-...
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 * ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'S 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR * SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE * KIRKUS PRIZE WINNER * A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both...
Listen for the lie
Tintera, Amy
Paper Book
**RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK** **INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER** **THE SUNDAY TIMES 'PICK OF THE MONTH'** **PRIMA 'BOOK OF THE YEAR'** **WOMAN & HOME 'BOOK OF THE YEAR'** **WOMAN & HOME 'BOOK OF THE MONTH'**...
Listen for the lie
Tintera, Amy
Paper Book
**RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK** **INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER** **THE SUNDAY TIMES 'PICK OF THE MONTH'** **PRIMA 'BOOK OF THE YEAR'** **WOMAN & HOME 'BOOK OF THE YEAR'** **WOMAN & HOME 'BOOK OF THE MONTH'**...
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. 'Reading this book was like sitting in the sun . . . a warm, peaceful...
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. 'Reading this book was like sitting in the sun . . . a warm, peaceful...
We Solve Murders
Osman, Richard.
Paper Book
FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB A brand new series. An iconic new detective team. And a thrilling new murder to solve . . . ----- Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of...
We Solve Murders
Osman, Richard.
Paper Book
FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB A brand new series. An iconic new detective team. And a thrilling new murder to solve . . . ----- Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of...
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 urban fantasy loosely inspired by Beauty and the Beast - perfect for fans of V. E. Schwab and Leigh Bardugo. She stole from a monster . . . now...
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 urban fantasy loosely inspired by Beauty and the Beast - perfect for fans of V. E. Schwab and Leigh Bardugo. She stole from a monster . . . now...

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