The most popular literary fiction books of 2020

Literary fiction is read for how it is written as much as for what happens. These are novels and stories that care most about language, character and ideas, and take their time with all three. Prize winners and modern classics sit here, beside quieter books that reward a slow read. This list shows the ones first published in 2020.

Results

Piranesi
Cover of Piranesi

Piranesi

Susanna Clarke

Published 2020

245 pages

Hamnet
Cover of Hamnet

Hamnet

Maggie O'Farrell, 玛姬·欧法洛, 瑪姬·歐法洛

2020 · 2025 edition

372 pages

My Dark Vanessa
Cover of My Dark Vanessa

My Dark Vanessa

Kate Elizabeth Russell, 凯特·伊丽莎白·拉塞尔, 케이트 엘리자베스 러셀

Published 2020

372 pages

His And Hers
Cover of His And Hers

His And Hers

Alice Feeney

Published 2020

384 pages

Dear Edward
Cover of Dear Edward

Dear Edward

Ann Napolitano

2020 · 2021 edition

400 pages

Shuggie Bain
Cover of Shuggie Bain

Shuggie Bain

Douglas Stuart

Published 2020

430 pages

Invisible Girl
Cover of Invisible Girl

Invisible Girl

Lisa Jewell

2020 · 2021 edition

384 pages

The Other Mrs.
Cover of The Other Mrs.

The Other Mrs.

Mary Kubica

2020 · 2022 edition

432 pages

The Searcher
Cover of The Searcher

The Searcher

Tana French

2020 · 2021 edition

451 pages

Ghosts
Cover of Ghosts

Ghosts

Dolly Alderton

2020 · 2022 edition

320 pages

Girl, Forgotten
Cover of Girl, Forgotten

Girl, Forgotten

Karin Slaughter

2020 · 2023 edition

400 pages

The End of Her
Cover of The End of Her

The End of Her

Shari Lapena

2020 · 2022 edition

365 pages

The Night Swim
Cover of The Night Swim

The Night Swim

Megan Goldin

2020 · 2023 edition

362 pages

Migrations
Cover of Migrations

Migrations

Şarlot Makkonahi

2020 · 2021 edition

288 pages

The Book of Two Ways
Cover of The Book of Two Ways

The Book of Two Ways

Jodi Picoult, Джоді Піколт

Published 2020

416 pages