Why You Should Read More Contemporary Fiction

(And Where to Start)

Books

All books are worth reading (ok, maybe not all - but most!). Fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, and even cookbooks will teach you something you didn't know before. However, contemporary literature is particularly unique, in that it narrates stories that are believable, with characters that are easier to empathise with.

Very often, these books explore themes that were not part of the cultural discourse in the past, or they bring up social issues that have only recently become relevant. Even certain identities were less represented until a couple of decades ago - think of LGBTQ+ characters, for example. Additionally, contemporary fiction often features current technologies, social media, and popular references which makes the setting more familiar, modern and relevant. Finally, they tend to be easier to follow, with more colloquial and current English.


If you're new to contemporary fiction and don't know where to start, check out this reading list by Bookshop.org
Or if you live in London, join our book club and purchase next month's book below 📚