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
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The book of doors : a novel
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
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 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...
The women
Hannah, Kristin
Paper Book
Soon to be a major motion picture!'Astonishing. Compelling. Powerful' - Delia Owens, bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing'Stuns with sacrifice. Uplifts with heroism' - Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of Lessons in ChemistryFrom the worldwide bestselling author of The Four Winds, The...
By any other name : a novel
Picoult, Jodi
Paper Book
The Number 1 New York Times bestseller from the author of My Sister's Keeper and Mad Honey 'Her best one yet' JOJO MOYES 'A timeless classic' CHRIS WHITAKER -- Student playwright Melina Green finds that even in New...
Funny story
Henry, Emily
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- Petra's ex,...
By Any Other Name A Novel
Picoult, Jodi
Paper Book
The Number 1 New York Times bestseller from the author of My Sister's Keeper and Mad Honey 'Her best one yet' JOJO MOYES 'A timeless classic' CHRIS WHITAKER -- Student playwright Melina Green finds that even in New...
James : a novel
Everett, Percival
Paper Book
LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2024!Selected as one of the top 12 reads of 2024 by The Times and Sunday Times'Percival Everett is a giant of American letters, and James is a canon-shatteringly great book' - Hernan Diaz, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Trust'Who should read this book? Every single...
Expiration dates : a novel
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
An epic thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Douglas Preston, perfect for fans of Michael Crichton. Extinction explores the very real effort to resurrect the woolly mammoth and other extinct megafauna from the Pleistocene Age. Erebus Resort,...
Extinction A Novel
Preston, Douglas J.
Paper Book
An epic thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Douglas Preston, perfect for fans of Michael Crichton. Extinction explores the very real effort to resurrect the woolly mammoth and other extinct megafauna from the Pleistocene Age. Erebus Resort,...
The wedding people : a novel
Espach, Alison
Paper Book
The #2 New York Times bestseller A Read With Jenna book club pick 'UTTERLY CHARMING' PANDORA SYKES 'WICKEDLY FUNNY' JENNY JACKSON 'A PERFECT NOVEL' CATHERINE NEWMAN 'THE BEST READ OF THE YEAR SO FAR'...
Funny Story
Henry, Emily.
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- Petra's ex,...
James A Novel
Everett, Percival.
Paper Book
LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2024!Selected as one of the top 12 reads of 2024 by The Times and Sunday Times'Percival Everett is a giant of American letters, and James is a canon-shatteringly great book' - Hernan Diaz, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Trust'Who should read this book? Every single...
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 A Novel
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 : a novel
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...
Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books A Novel
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...
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 delight of a novel' - Katherine Arden...
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 delight of a novel' - Katherine Arden...
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 A Novel
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 A Novel
Espach, Alison.
Paper Book
The #2 New York Times bestseller A Read With Jenna book club pick 'UTTERLY CHARMING' PANDORA SYKES 'WICKEDLY FUNNY' JENNY JACKSON 'A PERFECT NOVEL' CATHERINE NEWMAN 'THE BEST READ OF THE YEAR SO FAR'...
The women : a novel
Hannah, Kristin
Paper Book
Soon to be a major motion picture!'Astonishing. Compelling. Powerful' - Delia Owens, bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing'Stuns with sacrifice. Uplifts with heroism' - Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of Lessons in ChemistryFrom the worldwide bestselling author of The Four Winds, The...
The Women A Novel
Hannah, Kristin.
Paper Book
Soon to be a major motion picture!'Astonishing. Compelling. Powerful' - Delia Owens, bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing'Stuns with sacrifice. Uplifts with heroism' - Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of Lessons in ChemistryFrom the worldwide bestselling author of The Four Winds, The...
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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