Fall 2025 promises a number of contemporary and literary fiction books.. Master Thomas Pynchon is expected to publish his new novel “Shadow Ticket”, Ian McEwa has got the new one coming too, and many more novels and short story collections from multigenerational sagas set in the American heartland to introspective tales of identity from around the globe. Here is the list of this season’s most anticipated novels that blend rich storytelling with bold experimentation including a few translated works:

Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchon.

A new novel by Pynchon set in 1932 Milwaukee during the Great Depression is a noir-inflected literary mystery that follows private eye Hicks McTaggart, hired to find a runaway Wisconsin cheese heiress. His investigation spirals into a transcontinental caper involving Nazis, Soviet spies, swing musicians, and paranormal practitioners. Pynchon’s dense, playful prose weaves paranoia, historical intrigue, and cultural critique into a dazzling, chaotic tapestry of 1930s America and beyond.

What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

Set in 2119, this speculative literary novel follows an academic reflecting on humanity’s peak through fragmented narratives in a dystopian future. McEwan explores themes of knowledge, memory, and societal collapse, using shifting perspectives to question what endures when civilization falters. His intellectual rigor and elegant prose make this a thought-provoking meditation on time and human limits.

Venetian Vespers by John Banville

1899. As the new century approaches, struggling English writer Evelyn Dolman, a hack, by his own description, marries Laura Rensselaer, daughter of an American oil tycoon. Evelyn anticipates that he and Laura will inherit a substantial fortune and lead a comfortable, settled life. But his hopes are dashed when a mysterious rift between Laura and her father, just before the patriarch’s death, leads to her disinheritance. The unhappy newlyweds travel to Venice to celebrate the New Year. From their first moments in the mist-blanketed floating city, otherworldly occurrences begin to accumulate. Evelyn’s already jangled nerves fray further. Could he be losing his mind? Venetian Vespers is a haunting, atmospheric novel from one of the most sophisticated stylists of our time.

The Eleventh Hour by Salman Rushdie

From internationally renowned, award-winning author Salman Rushdie, a spellbinding exploration of life, death, and what comes into focus at the proverbial eleventh hour of life. Rushdie turns his extraordinary imagination to life’s final act with a quintet of stories that span the three countries in which he has made his work — India, England, and America — and feature an unforgettable cast of characters. The Eleventh Hour ponders life and death, legacy and identity with the penetrating insight and boundless imagination that have made Salman Rushdie one of the most celebrated writers of our time.

House of Day, House of Night by Olga Tokarczuk

A novel about the rich stories of small places, from the Nobel Prize–winning, New York Times bestselling author of The Books of Jacob and Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead. Another brilliant “constellation novel” in the mode of Tokarczuk’s International Booker Prize-winning Flights, House of Day, House of Night reminds us that the story of any place, no matter how humble, is boundless.

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

This multigenerational saga that traces the lives of two families in a small Ohio town, spanning from the 1940s through the 1970s. Through moments of joy, tragedy, and quiet resilience, Ryan explores the heart of the American Midwest, delving into themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. The novel’s rich character studies and vivid historical detail paint a poignant portrait of community and change, capturing the essence of a nation in flux.

Amity by Nathan Harris

Set in the aftermath of the Civil War, this historical novel follows two emancipated siblings, Amity and her brother, as they journey from a ravaged South to the harsh Mexican desert in search of true freedom. Their quest is fraught with danger, from bandits to internal doubts, as they confront the limits of liberty in a world still scarred by oppression. Harris’s lyrical prose and deep empathy illuminate the siblings’ bond and the cost of their dreams.

Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy

Blending fiction with memoir-like introspection, Roy’s latest is a profound meditation on faith, politics, and personal identity in contemporary India. The story follows a writer grappling with her spiritual and political convictions amid a rapidly changing society. Through fragmented narratives and poetic prose, Roy weaves a tapestry of resistance, hope, and reckoning, offering a searing commentary on modern India’s complexities.

Mercy by Joan Silber is a book interconnected stories revolve around acts of mercy, small and large, that ripple across lives. From a nurse aiding a stranger to a family forgiving past wrongs, each tale explores how compassion shapes human connections. Silber’s understated yet incisive style captures the moral ambiguities of kindness, making this collection a deeply human reflection on empathy in a fractured world.

Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola reimagines love through a Black lens, infusing modern tales with mythological elements. From a Nigerian goddess finding love in London to a couple navigating cultural expectations, Babalola’s stories pulse with humor, warmth, and joy. Her lyrical voice celebrates Black romance, offering a fresh, culturally rich take on the universal quest for connection.

We Do Not Part by Han Kang

From the Nobel Prize winning Korean author, this fragmented narrative explores loss and memory during wartime Korea. Centered on a woman revisiting her family’s past, the novel unravels through haunting, poetic vignettes, blending personal grief with historical trauma. Kang’s spare yet evocative prose, masterfully translated, captures the weight of separation and the enduring search for meaning.

Journey to the Edge of Life by Tezer Özlü (translated from Turkish): This autobiographical novel follows a Turkish woman’s existential odyssey across Europe, grappling with mental health struggles and the search for purpose. Özlü’s introspective narrative traces her travels from Istanbul to Berlin, blending stark realism with dreamlike reflections. It’s a searing exploration of identity, freedom, and the edges of human endurance.

The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy is a poignant novel follows five Black women whose friendships, formed in youth, are tested by the challenges of adulthood in the early 2000s. From career ambitions to personal betrayals, Flournoy delves into the complexities of their bonds, set against a backdrop of societal shifts. Her nuanced storytelling highlights resilience, love, and the struggle to maintain connection in a changing world.

Heart the Lover by Lily King is a bittersweet tale of a love triangle among young English majors in the 1990s that excavates the lingering impact of past choices. When a reunion forces the trio to confront old secrets, King unravels their regrets with empathy and precision. Her keen insight into relationships and literary ambition makes this a compelling exploration of love’s lasting echoes.

Fox by Mieko Kawakami (translated from Japanese): This surreal, feminist novel explores identity and societal expectations through the perspective of a fox navigating human and animal worlds. Kawakami’s lyrical, unsettling prose, brought to life in Boyd’s translation, delves into themes of transformation, gender, and autonomy. The fox’s journey becomes a lens for examining human constraints, making this a bold, imaginative work.

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai: This intimate novel follows two women, Sonia and Sunny, whose lives intersect in unexpected ways as they navigate isolation and identity in a globalized world. Desai’s lush prose captures their inner struggles and fleeting connections, set against a backdrop of cultural displacement. The story offers a tender yet incisive look at loneliness and the search for belonging.

Perspective(s) by Laurent Binet (translated from French: A metafictional mystery set in Renaissance Florence, this novel plays with multiple viewpoints to explore art, history, and truth. Through letters, diaries, and shifting narratives, Binet constructs a puzzle-like tale of intrigue and creativity. Clifton’s translation preserves the wit and intellectual spark, making this a clever, immersive dive into the past.

Trip by Amie Barrodale: This quirky novel blends humor, absurdity, and emotional depth, following a cast of eccentric characters navigating mundane yet surreal lives. Barrodale’s sharp, offbeat style captures the strangeness of everyday moments, from awkward encounters to fleeting epiphanies, crafting a narrative that’s both disorienting and profoundly relatable.

The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong: Vuong’s poetic prose shines in this novel about joy, grief, and immigrant experiences in a fractured America. Following a Vietnamese-American family, the story weaves personal and collective histories, exploring how moments of gladness persist amid pain. Vuong’s lyrical intensity and emotional depth make this a luminous reflection on resilience and identity.

Engagement by Gun-Britt Sundström. Translated from Swedish and set in 1970s Sweden, this introspective novel blends diary-like entries with sharp wit to explore love, commitment, and self-discovery. The protagonist’s reflections on her relationship and societal expectations offer a feminist lens on personal growth. Madhavan’s translation captures Sundström’s nuanced voice, making this a compelling portrait of a woman’s inner life.

Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite: Set in Nigeria, this vibrant novel mixes romance, humor, and supernatural elements, following a woman believed to be her aunt’s reincarnation. As family curses and modern life collide, Braithwaite crafts a lively tale of identity, love, and breaking free from the past. Her sharp dialogue and cultural insight make this a standout.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy: A haunting novel set on a remote island, this story explores environmental loss and personal redemption. The protagonist, grappling with grief, confronts the island’s rugged beauty and her own fractured past. McConaghy’s evocative prose weaves ecological and emotional themes, creating a powerful narrative of healing and survival.

Open, Heaven by Chigozie Obioma: This lyrical novel examines faith, colonialism, and redemption in postcolonial Africa. Following a young man’s spiritual journey, Obioma blends myth and reality to explore the lingering impacts of history. His rich, allegorical storytelling offers a profound meditation on belief and the search for meaning in a complex world.

The Antidote by Shelley Puhak: Interwoven narratives tackle modern anxieties, from political unrest to personal despair, seeking antidotes through human connection. Puhak’s incisive prose captures the chaos of contemporary life while offering glimmers of hope. The novel’s structure mirrors the fragmented yet resilient nature of its characters’ lives.

Canticle by Janet Rich Edwards: This historical novel follows a 13th-century Belgian teen who flees an arranged marriage to join a community of mystics in Bruges. Her journey unveils truths about women’s lives and spiritual rebellion in a restrictive era. Edwards’s vivid historical detail and empathetic storytelling make this a compelling exploration of agency and faith.

The Imagined Life by Rachel Khong: This experimental novel delves into alternate realities and the blurred lines between memory and imagination. Following a woman navigating parallel versions of her life, Khong’s innovative structure and introspective prose explore identity, choice, and the stories we tell ourselves. It’s a thought-provoking meditation on existence and possibility.