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
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
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. **ONE OF GOODREADS' TOP 6 MOST-READ DEBUTS OF 2024** *...
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...
The God of The Woods
Moore, Liz.
Paper Book
AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER AN AMAZON BEST BOOK OF 2024 WINNER 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...
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...
By any other name a novel
Picoult, Jodi
Paper Book
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...
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-...
By any other name a novel
Picoult, Jodi
Paper Book
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...
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,...
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 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,...
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 * 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...
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...
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...
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:...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.