Internationally recognised art and literary critic, writer and cultural producer. Published in ELLE, Glamour, Esquire and Cosmopolitan; member of the Union of Writers.
A Guide To The Most Exciting Fiction Coming Out Year
If you are looking for some literary inspiration for the new year, look no further than this list of the most exciting fiction coming out in 2024. From historical epics to contemporary comedies, from magical realism to thrillers, there is something for everyone in this diverse and dazzling selection of novels.
Whether you want to escape to a different time and place, learn something new, or simply enjoy a good story, these books will keep you hooked and entertained. Here are some of the highlights of the fiction to look out for in 2024:
My Friends by Hisham Matar (Viking, January)
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Return returns with a powerful and poignant novel about friendship and loss. Set in London in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, the novel follows Khaled and Mustafa, two Libyan men who are wounded by government agents during a protest at the Libyan embassy. As they recover in a hospital, they reflect on their lives, their homeland, and their bond. Matar explores the themes of exile, identity, and memory with his trademark elegance and insight.
The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez (Virago, January)
Sigrid Nunez, the National Book Award-winning author of The Friend, delivers the first great lockdown novel. The Vulnerables tells the story of an unlikely couple who are thrown together by the confines of Covid-19: an older writer and a young college dropout, united by their shared responsibility for a cantankerous parrot named Eureka. With humor and empathy, Nunez examines the effects of isolation, loneliness, and fear on human relationships and creativity.
James by Percival Everett (Mantle, April)
Percival Everett, one of the most prolific and versatile writers of our time, offers a fresh and provocative take on a classic of American literature: Huckleberry Finn. James is a retelling of the novel from the perspective of Jim, the runaway slave who accompanies Huck on his raft down the Mississippi River. Everett reimagines the story as a critique of racism, slavery, and colonialism, while preserving the adventurous spirit and the humor of the original.
You Are Here by David Nicholls (Sceptre, April)
David Nicholls, the bestselling author of One Day and Us, returns with a romantic comedy that will make you laugh and cry. You Are Here follows Marnie and Michael, two middle-aged strangers who meet on a 10-day hike through the Lakes and Dales. As they walk, talk, and flirt, they discover that they have more in common than they thought. Nicholls captures the joys and sorrows of love, life, and aging with his trademark wit and warmth.
Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan (Faber, April)
Andrew O’Hagan, the acclaimed author of The Illuminations and Mayflies, delivers a thrilling and stylish novel that mixes art, crime, and politics. Caledonian Road is the story of Campbell Flynn, a Scottish art history professor who teaches at a London university. When he meets a charismatic young student named Milo Mangasha, he is drawn into a dangerous plot that involves a stolen painting, a Russian oligarch, and a secret history of the British empire.
Enlightenment by Sarah Perry (Jonathan Cape, May)
Sarah Perry, the award-winning author of The Essex Serpent and Melmoth, transports us to the 18th century with a historical novel that blends fact and fiction. Enlightenment is the story of Mary Finch, a young woman who joins a radical sect called the Philadelphians, who believe in the imminent end of the world and the equality of all people. As Mary becomes involved in the sect’s activities, she encounters figures such as William Blake, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Thomas Paine, and witnesses the events of the French Revolution.
The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki (Canongate, June)
Ruth Ozeki, the Booker Prize-shortlisted author of A Tale for the Time Being, returns with a magical realism novel that explores the power of stories and the meaning of life. The Book of Form and Emptiness is the story of Benny Oh, a 14-year-old boy who hears voices from the objects around him after his father’s death. As he struggles to cope with his grief and his gift, he finds solace in a mysterious book that seems to write itself.
This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud (Harvill Secker, June)
Claire Messud, the celebrated author of The Emperor’s Children and The Burning Girl, delivers a family saga that spans from the 1960s to the present day. This Strange Eventful History follows the lives of four siblings: Daniel, a successful actor; Tess, a rebellious journalist; Claudia, a troubled artist; and Grace, a devoted mother. As they navigate the changes and challenges of their times, they also confront the secrets and lies of their past.
The Hard Crowd by Rachel Kushner (Jonathan Cape, July)
Rachel Kushner, the Booker Prize-nominated author of The Flamethrowers and The Mars Room, presents a collection of essays that showcase her range and depth as a writer. The Hard Crowd covers topics such as art, politics, culture, and crime, drawing on Kushner’s personal experiences and observations. From riding motorcycles in Baja California to visiting a Palestinian refugee camp, from interviewing Denis Johnson to profiling Marguerite Duras, Kushner offers a sharp and insightful perspective on the world we live in.
Flights of Fancy by Kevin Barry (Canongate, August)
Kevin Barry, the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award-winning author of City of Bohane and Night Boat to Tangier, imagines the lives of famous writers who died young, such as Sylvia Plath, F Scott Fitzgerald, and Roberto Bolaño. Flights of Fancy is a novel that blends biography, fiction, and fantasy, creating alternative scenarios and endings for these literary legends. Barry pays homage to their works and personalities, while also exploring the themes of fame, mortality, and creativity.
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak (Viking, August)
Elif Shafak, the most widely read female writer in Turkey and the author of 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World, explores the legacy of the Cyprus conflict through the eyes of a fig tree and a teenage girl. The Island of Missing Trees is a novel that moves between the past and the present, between Cyprus and London, between humans and nature. Shafak weaves a tale of love, war, and memory, with a touch of magic and humor.
The Sea View Has Me Again by Evie Wyld (Jonathan Cape, September)
Evie Wyld, the winner of the Stella Prize and the Encore Award for All the Birds, Singing, follows three generations of women who live on a remote island off the coast of Scotland. The Sea View Has Me Again is a novel that explores the bonds and burdens of family, the secrets and scars of history, and the beauty and brutality of nature. Wyld writes with a lyrical and haunting voice that captures the essence of the island and the sea.
The New Me by Miranda July (Granta, October)
Miranda July, the acclaimed filmmaker and author of The First Bad Man and No One Belongs Here More Than You, delivers a novel that satirizes the self-help industry and the obsession with personal transformation. The New Me is the story of Lila, a 40-year-old woman who is unhappy with her life and decides to enroll in a program that promises to make her a new person in 12 weeks. As she follows the instructions of the program, she encounters various challenges, surprises, and revelations.
Flâneuse by Lauren Elkin (Chatto & Windus, November)
Lauren Elkin, the author of The Novel of the Century and The End of Oulipo?, presents a memoir that celebrates the art of wandering the city as a woman. Flâneuse is a term that Elkin coined to describe a female version of the flâneur, the urban explorer who observes and experiences the city. Elkin shares her own experiences of flânerie in cities such as Paris, New York, Tokyo, and London, as well as the stories of other women writers and artists who have practiced this art, such as Virginia Woolf, George Sand, and Sophie Calle.
These are just some of the books that will make 2024 a special year for fiction lovers. Whether you are looking for romance, adventure, history, or humor, you will find it in these novels. So, get ready to dive into these amazing stories and discover new worlds, new perspectives, and new emotions. Happy reading!
