There is no shortage of book lists; there is a shortage of restraint. At Sixated, we’d rather name six novels you’ll be glad you read than thirty you’ll never get to. These contemporary titles are widely admired, widely available, and — most importantly — worth the hours. Consider it a starting shelf, not a syllabus.
1. Normal People, Sally Rooney
A quiet, precise study of two people who keep finding and losing each other.
Why it made the six: Few recent novels capture intimacy and miscommunication so cleanly.
2. Pachinko, Min Jin Lee
A multigenerational saga of a Korean family in Japan, spanning most of a century.
Why it made the six: Sweeping history told through characters you come to love.
3. Circe, Madeline Miller
A luminous retelling that gives the minor goddess of myth a full interior life.
Why it made the six: Proof that a familiar story can feel brand new.
4. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
A sprawling, propulsive novel built around a boy, a bombing, and a stolen painting.
Why it made the six: Immersive, ambitious storytelling on a big canvas.
5. A Little Life, Hanya Yanagihara
An intense, divisive portrait of friendship and trauma across decades.
Why it made the six: A demanding read that stays with you — approach when ready.
6. The Overstory, Richard Powers
Interlocking stories that reframe how you think about trees and time.
Why it made the six: A novel that quietly rewires your attention.
The Sixated take
Read them in any order; each stands alone. If you finish even two this season, your reading year is richer for it. More recommendations at our Culture desk.