The five candidates that made it to the last round of the esteemed National Book Awards—the top honor for American literature—are particularly exciting this year.
While the finalists soak up all the attention (and create huge wait times as they pile up on hold lists), here are some books on similar themes that might ease the wait.
For recommendations based on Refund by Karen Bender, more books about money and social class:
NWby Zadie Smith
Capital by John Lanchester
Run by Ann Patchett
For recommendations based on The Turner House by Angela Flournoy, more multi-generational family novels:
The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler
The Year She Left Us by Kathryn Ma
Family Life by Akhil Sharma
For recommendations based on Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff, more novels about complex marriages, gender politics, and relationships:
The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud
Before I Go by Collean Oakley
The End of the Affair by Graham Greene
For recommendations based on Fortune Smiles by Adam Johnson, more world-building short stories with compelling characters:
This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz
Get in Trouble by Kelly Link
When the Messenger Is Hot by Elizabeth Crane
For recommendations based on A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, more powerful novels involving post-college friendships:
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend.
And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for 100 new recommendations every month!