Téa Obreht — beautifully written, myth-infused family saga.

Yaa Gyasi — multigenerational historical epic about slavery’s legacy.

Ocean Vuong — lyrical coming-of-age novel told as a letter to his mother.

Celeste Ng — incisive suburban family drama about motherhood and belonging.

R. O. Kwon — intense psychological thriller involving faith and obsession.

Brit Bennett — compelling exploration of twins, race, and family secrets.

Lidia Yuknavitch — bold dystopian sci-fi reimagining Joan of Arc.

Maggie Nelson — memoiristic, theory-inflected novel on motherhood and queerness.

Ottessa Moshfegh — darkly funny novel about isolation and a year of sleep.

Sigrid Nunez — intimate meditation on friendship, grief, and love.

Rachel Kushner — vivid art-world/political novel full of passion and revolution.

Valeria Luiselli — sensitive immigration narrative about language and belonging.

Rebecca Makkai — moving novel about the AIDS crisis, loss, and hope.

Leila Slimani — elegant, unsettling examination of family and motherhood.

Jia Tolentino — sharp cultural criticism and essays on society and selfhood.