PrevNext

Book Recommendations for General Fiction + Coming of Age

Click on the buttons below to filter by subgenre/theme, time period and setting.
All of these books have been read, reviewed, and recommended by our professional reviewers.
Learn how we choose recommended books here.
Total Books Recommended: 592

Page 1 of 74
Reset Filters
Filter by Genre
Genre: Fiction
Literary Fiction - 389
Historical Fiction - 109
Thrillers - 21
Mystery - 14
Romance/Love Stories - 25
Short Stories - 26
Speculative, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Alt. History - 55
Poetry & Novels in Verse - 3

Filter by Subgenre/Theme
Firsts
Debuts - 203
1st in Series - 18

Humor & Uplifting
Uplifting - 16
Humor & Satire - 15

Families
Generational Sagas - 111
Parenting & Families - 109

Ages & Stages
Adult Books From Child's Perspective - 63
Coming of Age - 592
Mid-Life Onwards - 22
Dealing with Loss - 160

Ethnicity
Books in Translation - 22
Immigrants & Expats - 83
Black Authors - 54
Latinx Authors - 9
Asian Authors - 77
Jewish Authors - 28
Middle-Eastern Authors - 16
Native and Indigenous Authors - 7

Gender & Sexuality
Female Friendships - 74
Strong Women - 204
LGBTQ+ - 65

Philosophy & Spiritual
Philosophical - 22
Religious or Spiritual Themes - 47

Magical or Supernatural
Magical or Supernatural - 56
Magical Realism - 10

Miscellaneous
Books with Discussion Guides - 308
Small Press Titles - 52
Books about Books - 11
Physical & Mental Differences - 53
Books About Animals - 8
War Related - 90
Nature & Environment - 26
Music and the Arts - 15
Activism & Volunteering - 6
Heroes - 5
LibraryReads Picks - 48

Number of Pages
400+ Pages - 48
250-400 Pages - 592
Less Than 250 Pages - 95

Filter by Time Period
Time Period
17th Century or Earlier - 11
18th Century - 5
19th Century - 30
20th Century (multiple decades) - 63
Early 20th Century - 19
1920s & '30s - 12
1940s & '50s - 56
1960s & '70s - 56
1980s & '90s - 69
Contemporary - 258
The Future - 18
Across The Centuries - 6

Filter by Setting
Major Regions
USA - 277
Canada - 18
Central & S. America, Mexico, Caribbean - 16
Europe - 89
Asia - 58
Africa - 25
Pacific, inc. Hawaii, Aus & NZ - 11
Alaska & Other Polar/Sub Polar Regions - 3
On The High Seas - 4
Global - 8
Imaginary Locations - 25

USA (48 States)
N.H. Vt. Maine - 15
Conn. & R.I. - 5
Mass. - 12
Penn. - 10
New York State - 65
New Jersey - 7
Md. Del. - 1
Washington DC - 3
Tenn. Va. W.Va. Ky. - 7
N & S Carolina - 7
Mis. Ala. Ga. - 4
Florida - 8
Texas - 8
Ark. La. Ok. - 11
Kas. Mo. - 4
Illinois - 7
Ind. Mich. Ohio - 11
Minn. Wis. Iowa - 14
Nebr.& Dakotas - 4
Colo. Wyo. Mont. - 6
Ariz. Nev. N.M. Utah - 7
California - 46
Wash. Ore. Idaho - 16

USA Regions
New England, USA - 57
Mid-Atlantic, USA - 79
South, USA - 56
Midwest, USA - 46
West, USA - 80

Europe by Region
UK (Britain) & Ireland - 76
Scandinavia - 5
Netherlands & Belgium - 2
France - 13
Spain - 3
Germany - 6
Italy - 8
Eastern Europe - 9

Asia by Region
Middle-East (West Asia) - 18
Russia (North Asia) - 3
Central Asia - 3
East Asia (except China) - 15
China - 11
South Asia (except India) - 4
India - 11
South-East Asia - 7

Africa by Region
Eastern Africa - 11
Middle & Southern Africa - 4
Northern & Western Africa - 11

Select your view:
Order books by:
  • Tom Lake
    Tom Lake: A Novel
    Ann Patchett
    Paperback: 04/01/2025
     
    In this beautiful and moving novel about family, love, and growing up, Ann Patchett once again proves herself ...
  • Snowglobe
    Snowglobe: Snowglobe, Book 1
    Soyoung Park, Joungmin Lee Comfort
    Paperback: 04/01/2025
     
    In a world of constant winter, only the citizens of the climate-controlled city of Snowglobe can escape the ...
  • Theft
    Theft: A Novel
    Abdulrazak Gurnah
    Hardcover: 03/18/2025
     
    In his first new novel since winning the 2021 Nobel Prize, a master storyteller captures a time of dizzying ...
  • The Last Bloodcarver
    The Last Bloodcarver: (The Last Bloodcarver Duology, Book 1)
    Vanessa Le
    Paperback: 03/18/2025
     
    "A gritty world filled with a beautifully crafted cast and an intricate magic system. A smart, lush, and ...
  • Icarus
    K. Ancrum
    Paperback: 03/18/2025
     
    Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, this ...
  • Headshot
    Headshot: A Novel
    Rita Bullwinkel
    Paperback: 03/12/2025
     
    An electrifying debut novel from an "unusually gifted writer" (Lorrie Moore) about the radical intimacy of ...
  • Woodworking
    Emily St. James
    Hardcover: 03/04/2025
     
    An unforgettable and heartwarming book-club debut following a trans high school teacher from a small town in ...

Full results are for members only - but you can cross-reference more than one theme by using the buttons in the right column. Members please login. Interested in becoming a member? Explore the many benefits of membership here.

The reviewer of each book decides which categories it belongs in - but we're only human, mistakes happen. If you see a book that you think is in the wrong place, tell us!

Your guide toexceptional          books

BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.