Looking to branch out with your reading selections but not sure where to start? Here are some suggestions that span several of the subgenres in our adult fiction section! Whether you enjoy the twists and turns of a good mystery or the breathless wonder of a fantasy setting, there’s something in our collection for every reader. Many thanks to our Library Assistant Annie for contributing some of these book recommendations.

The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard (Science Fiction)
Taking place in the year 2145, The Drowned World envisions a future in which much of the earth’s land has been submerged by flooding due to rapidly rising temperatures. The novel follows a team of scientists on an expedition to study the jungles that have arisen out of the radically changed climate. Readers who enjoy adventure, speculative works, and postapocalyptic settings will be taken in by the air of mystery and the unknowns of the changed planet. This book is also great for lovers of classic science fiction by genre greats like H.G. Wells and Philip K. Dick.

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers (Romance)
Grace Porter’s life is supposed to be on track. She knows that as a Black lesbian under the gaze of her stern military father, she needs to work thrice as hard to prove herself and live up to her parents’ and society’s expectations. But once she’s finally gotten there, she feels unmoored and unfulfilled. Then, after a girls’ trip to Vegas, she wakes up married to a stranger– Yuki Yamamoto. Yuki is creative and interesting and gives Grace a refuge, but Grace also dreads what she knows must come. Readers of Talia Hibbert, Casey McQuiston and Kalynn Bayron will love Honey Girl.

Early Riser by Jasper Fforde (Fantasy)
Fforde imagines a world where humans hibernate each year during bitter Winters, while the Winter Consuls, a ragtag team including protagonist Charlie Worthing, monitor the safety of the sleeping population. This year’s hibernation is plagued by an outbreak of strange, prophetic dreams that prove to be deadly. Early Riser, along with Fforde’s other works, will appeal to fans of quirky, humorous, satirical fantasy and science fiction authors like Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams.

Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (Mystery)
When the system doesn’t deliver, Virgil Wounded Horse is hired to take matters into his own hands. With the help of his ex-girlfriend Marie Short Bear, he investigates an influx of heroin on his reservation, determined to keep his nephew safe. An impossible-to-put-down read for fans of S.A. Cosby, Louise Erdrich, and Stephen Graham Jones.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng (Fiction)
Part family drama, part exploration of families, relationships, and race in 1970s Ohio, Everything I Never Told You is a heart-wrenching and character-driven story about a family dealing with tragedy. When teenager Lydia’s body is found in the lake, her Chinese American family struggles under the weight of the past and a now lost future. Readers of Liane Moriarty and Brit Bennett will be drawn to Ng’s work.

Taproot by Keezy Young (Graphic Novel)
Blue is a ghost, but he doesn’t mind. He has all the time in the world to haunt his best friend and the boy with whom he’s in love, Hamal– or so he thinks. When that time runs out, Blue is forced to contend with leaving Hamal for his well-being. Beautiful art and a sweet story make Taproot well worth the read. Great for fans of Jen Wang, Trung Le Nguyen, and Noelle Stevenson.