My Favorite Modern Day Fiction Books

I’m not a big contemporary fiction reader, heck, I’m not even a big fiction reader. But when I was looking through my categories and tags for a good topic for a Bookish Tuesday post, I realized I’ve read more than I think I have. And as we wrap up the summer staff picks competition at the bookstore, it’s definitely my contemporary fiction recommendations that have done best. So, without further ado, here are just a few of the modern day fiction books that I’ve loved most in the last few years!

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The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

So, it’s time to admit that I just finished this book (for the first time) on Saturday. I first started it last August and reviewed it on here in November, but I hadn’t actually finished reading it. I don’t really know why I put it off, but this month I’m sitting down to finish books I’ve started – I’m not letting myself start a new book, other than for book club. But The Bromance Book Club is a fun rom com in book form and has turned many contemporary romance tropes on their heads.

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The Royal Runaway by Lindsay Emory

I’ve featured this book a few times (and probably will again when I do a royalty focused Bookish Tuesday) and it’s definitely one of my favorite contemporary books. It involves my two favorite areas of the world, Scandinavia and Scotland, and includes a healthy dose of mystery and political intrigue to accompany it’s royal romance.

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Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Does it get any better than a book about books? I think not. This book was a favorite of both mine, the young millennial employee, and the former owner of the bookstore, a near retirement age (now retired) boomer owner, as we could both very much relate to the two main characters, Clay and Mr. Penumbra, respectively.

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Jessica Darling quintet by Megan McCafferty

The Jessica Darling series was one I discovered my freshman year of high school (way back in 2003) and I’m so excited it is still in print today. It was YA before YA was really a thing, and the five books follow Jessica from sophomore year in high school (Sloppy Firsts) through her late twenties (Perfect Fifths) and it’s the perfect set of books for the high school to young adult transition in life, particularly for girls.

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The Royal We by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan

This was one book I did not expect to be as good as it was. I’m a sucker for Wills and Harry (published) fan fic, so I wasn’t really expecting a great book to find it’s way to me in The Royal We. While full of drama and melodrama, it’s a fun read, and the characters are truly touching and compelling. For a book I picked up on a whim, I didn’t expect to get so fully invested in the characters.

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The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

Here’s another book I’ve featured on a couple different lists. It’s comparatively old (2011) but it’s still around which brings me joy. It’s a great light-hearted read with hints of magical realism sprinkled throughout. I love every single character, and the two parallel romances are equally adorable and touching.