15 Fiction Books to Read to Relax

Here are stories that will grab you from the first pages and help you switch your attention from everyday affairs to a fascinating plot. For some it will be cozy detective stories, for others it will be romance novels or fantasy. We tried to present the widest book range possible.

1. Shot off target by Richard Osman

Funny and smart detective from Richard Osman - master of subtle English humor and author of the bestselling series "Thursday Murder Club». His new novel has become Britain's fastest-selling book, with more than 200,000 copies sold in just three days after it went on sale.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron are retirees who enjoy solving old crime cases. The plot revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a journalist who was working on a story about a major tax fraud. She disappeared 10 years ago, but the shadows of the past haunt those who knew about the reporting business.

Osman's book will appeal to connoisseurs of action-packed stories - intricate, sometimes scary, but at the same time cozy.

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2. The Golden Girl, Elin Hildebrand

Elin Hildebrand is called the queen of summer romances and family sagas. The main character of her story is Vivian, a mother of three children and author of books set on Nantucket Island. Vivi's life is like a dream, but an unexpected and tragic accident suddenly turns everything upside down. Now the heroine has only one chance to correct past mistakes.

The book will appeal to fans of light but thoughtful reading, as well as fans of novels by Fanny Flagg, Delia Owens and Kristin Hannah.

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3. "Songs of Joy, Songs of Sorrow", Vasily Raksha

Captivating Slavic fantasy from Vasily Raksha, the author of the Pyatimir series. You've never seen this version of fairy tales before! Under the cover - a mixture of eras with a pinch of magic, royal civil strife and great dangers.

When creating a work, the author was inspired by the characters Slavic fairy tales, myths and legends. The result was a story about five kingdoms that divide one continent among themselves. According to the plot, Princess Ladimila sails to the majestic Buyan-grad - the very heart of Pyatimir. She dreams of finding happiness, but she does not yet know that many people here are weaving intrigues, and secrets and vices are hidden behind the carved facades. Ladimila will have to save not only herself, but the entire Pyatimirie.

The book will be loved by those who are not indifferent to fantasy, are interested in mythology and folk tales.

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4. “Purely Swedish murders. Dangerous Find, Anders de la Motte

The Pure Swedish Murders detective series has been translated into 14 languages. In the new book, two detectives investigate an unusual murder at an antique fair. They quickly realize that there are many long-standing conflicts, terrible secrets and strange people in this area. And that means potential criminals.

It seems that merchant Teddy was lucky: from under the nose of an expert in Chinese porcelain, he stole an invaluable find. But soon Teddy was killed. Due to the sudden downpour, no one noticed how it happened. Will detectives Peter Winston and Tova Esping be able to find the intruder?

The book will appeal to fans of classic detective stories and stories from Scandinavian atmosphere.

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5. The Stranger, Keiichiro Hirano

Keiichiro Hirano is an outstanding contemporary Japanese writer, winner of the prestigious Akutagawa and Yomiuri literary awards. His novel The Stranger is a layered detective story about a man who lived and died under a false name.

A year after the death of her husband, Rie discovered a terrible thing: it turns out that all this time she lived with... a stranger who appropriated the identity and history of Daisuke Taniguchi, whom she considered her husband. The woman turns to a lawyer, and together they begin to unravel this strange and terrible story.

The book will appeal to connoisseurs twisted plots and Japanese culture.

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6. The House with the Golden Door, Elodie Harper

Elodie Harper is a journalist and writer, author of the world bestseller "House of she-wolves”, translated into 10 languages. Her new book became a #1 London Times and Sunday Times bestseller.

This is the story of the former slave Amara, who lives in a luxurious house, wears expensive clothes and gives orders to the servants. But the past haunts her: it comes in nightmares, where Amara sees a brothel and the friends she left there, and during the day her former owner Felix pursues her. What sacrifices will the heroine make to finally breathe freely?

The book is suitable for those who love the arrangements of Greek stories and stories about female friendship, support and humanity.

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7. “Like me”, Islam Khanipaev

He is sometimes called the Dagestan Bakman, then the Dagestan Nesbo. But both definitions are not entirely accurate: the finalist of the "National Bestseller" Islam Khanipaev is not like anyone else - he plays by his own rules.

"Like Me" describes 10 days in the life of eight-year-old Arthur. This is a story about a typical Dagestan, shown through the eyes of an orphan, who, with his imaginary friend, the super-cool warrior Ali, is trying to find his father. Khanipaev does not gloss over reality: social problems, orphanhood, school bullying, he writes out the painful living of grief in deliberately simple phrases, but at the same time with irony, great tenderness and respect for his people.

The book will appeal to those who would like to read a hybrid "Terribly loud and extremely close" And "Carlson, who lives on the roof».

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8. "Queen Lear. Wonderful stories, Lyudmila Petrushevskaya

A separate article can be written about the merits and regalia of Lyudmila Petrushevskaya. Her charming prose, sounding in all registers from gently ironic to bitterly sarcastic, is a non-trivial creation of myths.

In the collection "Queen Lear. Wonderful stories "included good fairy tales for adults. At the same time, fate is not so favorable to his heroes: they are deceived and betrayed, they face difficulties and failures, get sick and suffer hardships. But they certainly rise, go further and win small victories. The name does not deceive - these are really wonderful stories that Lyudmila Stefanovna once told her six-year-old granddaughter, and then wrote down for all of us.

The universal human prose of Petrushevskaya will appeal to both children and adults who love the novels of Maria Parr, the stories of Narine Abgaryan, the fairy tales of Sergei Kozlov and the parables of Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

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9. "Sato", Rahim Jafarov

Rahim Jafarov is a laureate of the New Horizons (2021) and New Literature (2020) literary awards in the Audience Award nomination. With the dexterity of a thimble-maker, he confuses readers, offering them either a carefully written psychologism, or a dashing space fantasy, then postmodernist experiments filled with gloomy irony. And all this, as a rule, within the boundaries of one text, for example, the already filmed novel Sato.

Either Rear Admiral Sato really moves into the five-year-old Kostya, or the preschooler suffers from a split personality - readers will have to solve this puzzle on their own. The only thing that is known for sure: there will be no time to be bored.

The novel will appeal to those who have already read Daniel Keyes and Kurt Vonnegut, but would like something similar in a more modern way.

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10. "Another Life" by Jodie Chapman

Debut novel by English writer Jodie Chapman. Nick gets a seasonal part-time job at a summer cinema and meets Anna there, with whom he immediately falls in love. Anna's family is in a closed religious community, where the behavior of each member is tightly controlled. Parents consider her relationship with Nick sinful, so the heroes part, but after 20 years they meet again. How their relationship will develop now is the most interesting part of the book.

The novel will appeal to those who love family sagas and books where the psychological portraits of the characters are clearly drawn: “dutch house» Anne Patchat, «crossroadsby Jonathan Franzen andSummer 1969» Elin Hildebrand.

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11. "Who is Maude Dixon?" by Alexandra Andrews

The novel by American journalist and graphic designer Alexandra Andrews won the Macavity Award for Best Debut Detective and the Barry Award for Best Debut Novel.

Florence Darrow fired from publishing house relationship with a married man boss, after which she becomes the personal assistant of the world-famous writer, living under the pseudonym Maud Dixon. Together they go to Florence, where the girl gets into an accident, losing control of the car.

Florence loses her memory and ends up in the hospital, while Maude Dixon disappears without a trace. Everyone convinces Florence that she was alone in the car. Without even suspecting that she is putting herself in mortal danger, the heroine decides to tell everyone that she is Maud Dixon. Hope for popularity and glory turns into a tragedy.

"Who is Maude Dixon?" Lovers of the detective genre will love it. The book will fit perfectly on the shelf along with "Thursday Murder Club» Richard Osman, «Snow girl" Javier Castillo and "by another woman» Sandy Jones.

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12. "Bitter Orange", Claire Fuller

The third novel by the talented English writer Claire Fuller. Her first book, Our Last Days, won the Desmond Elliott Prize for Best First Novel, and her follow-up, Swimming Lessons, was shortlisted for the Encore Prize for Best Second Book.

Forty-year-old Frances Jellicoe arrives at an old English estate to compile an inventory of garden architecture. There she meets a beautiful couple - Kara and Peter. Soon they become real friends: they drink wine in the evenings, listen to music and have long conversations.

Frances seems to have met perfect couple. It seems until the woman begins to spy on new friends. So she opens the other side of their happy family life.

The book will appeal to connoisseurs of real English novels. Such as "Night is tender"Francis Scott Fitzgerald,"Origin of all things"Elizabeth Gilbert and"Wuthering Heights» Emily Bronte.

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13. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

The literary debut of Australian IT specialist Graeme Simsion. The rights to publish the book have been acquired by publishing houses in 44 countries; at present, its total circulation has exceeded 10 million copies.

The protagonist of the novel, a young scientist Don Tillman, has become disillusioned with traditional dating with girls and cannot find his own. second half. He decides to seek his love using the scientific method. Don is developing a specialized questionnaire, which includes questions with a double bottom to weed out unsuitable candidates and choose the right one. But, as you know, love does not obey mathematical rules.

Fans of The Big Bang Theory will love this book.

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14. "Britt-Marie Was Here" by Fredrik Backman

A touching story of the world-famous Swedish writer Fredrik Backman. In 2019, the book was filmed, its slogan was the quote "It's never too late to start life anew."

Britt-Marie has never done anything against the rules in her life, she is an ideal housewife and wife. But after 40 years of marriage, the heroine finds out that her husband cheated on her. Betrayal destroys her entire previous life, all the rules that she created over the years. But it is after this that her story of happiness begins.

The book will appeal to fans of Buckman, Fannie Flag, as well as those who read "Project Happiness. Dreams. Plan. New life» Gretchen Rubin.

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15. "Honey Days", Eshkol Nevo

The fourth novel by the famous Israeli author Eshkol Nevo. At home, his book "Four Houses and Longing" sold 60,000 copies and held the first place in the bestseller rating for more than a year.

The protagonist of Honey Days is a wealthy American Jew, Jeremiah Mendelstrom. He donates money for the construction of a ritual bath - a mikvah - in memory of his dead wife. A suitable place is only in an area inhabited by repatriates who do not know what a mikvah is and sincerely believe that the municipality is building for them chess Club. In the most incredible way, the club-bath changes the fate of many of its visitors.

The book will appeal to fans of inspiring stories from Fredrik Backman and Narine Abgaryan.

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