contemporary novels | fivedirectionspress

A drawing that looks like a cracked iPhone made out of brown paper against a black/gray gradient; cover of Ben Lerner's Transition

Books We Loved, July 2026

Books We Loved in July, by Ben Lerner, Kelly Rimmer, and Caitlin Shetterly—all contemporary fiction

Five Directions Press

2 days ago6 min read

Drawing of an open mailbox with its flag up, with flowers climbing the wooden post, against a background shaped like a postage stamp; cover of The Unforgettable Mailman by April Howells

Books We Loved, June 2026

Books We Love in June 2026, historical fiction by April Howells and Samantha Silva, plus a family contemporary novel by Allegra Goodman

Five Directions Press

Jun 174 min read

A partially visible sideways view of a woman's face, hair piled behind her head, and a border like ancient Greek embroidery at the bottom; cover of Lauren J. A. Bear's Aphrodite in Pieces

Books We Loved, May 2026

Books We Loved at Five Directions Press in May 2026—fantasy by Lauren J. A. Bear, historical fiction by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie, and a contemporary novel by Gabriel Tallent

Five Directions Press

May 154 min read

A woman in a white, long-sleeved robe, her face obscured by the dark background, sits with clasped hands; cover of Linda Hamilton's The Fourth Wife

Books We Loved, Apr. 2026

Books We Loved in May, including Gothic novels by Linda Hamilton and Alex E. Harrow, as well as an exploration of grief and healing by Lynn C. Miller

Five Directions Press

Apr 155 min read

A young woman in red stands out against a darkened background, looking toward a large house with lights in several windows; cover of Janie Chang's The Fourth Princess

Books We Loved, Mar. 2026

Books We Loved in March 2026, by Janie Chang, Penny Haw, and Jodi McAlister—historical fiction and contemporary romance

Five Directions Press

Mar 184 min read

Two clock faces joined by a ribbon. At top left, a woman sits on the edge of the ribbon. At bottom right, a man looks up at her; cover of Melissa Baron's Twice in a Lifetime

Books We Loved, Feb. 2026

Books We Loved in February 2026, by Melissa Baron, Colm Toibin, and Evie Woods

Five Directions Press

Feb 164 min read

Books We Loved, Jan. 2026

Books We Loved in January 2026, by Jennifer Ashley, Sandra Freels, and Wally Lamb—historical fiction and contemporary novels

Five Directions Press

Jan 154 min read

A dark mansion, lit from within against a blue backdrop ringed by leaves and purple flowers; cover of Chrystal Schleyer, A Rather Peculiar Poisoning

Books We Loved, Sep. 2025

Books We Loved in September 2025, by Liana de la Rosa, Katie Kitamura, and Chrystal Schleyer

Five Directions Press

Sep 17, 20255 min read

Two women of color in Victorian-style hoop skirts and a biracial man in a suit against a backdrop of multicolored flowers; cover of S. Isabelle's YA romance The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick

Books We Loved, July 2025

Books We Loved in July 2025, by S. Isabelle, Ali Rosen, and Sarah Winman

Five Directions Press

Jul 16, 20255 min read

A white house isolated on a grassy landscape against a cloudy sky, all shaded with a bright orange-red; cover of Tana French's The Hunter

Books We Loved, June 2025

Books We Loved in June 2025, by Tana French (contemporary), Laurie R. King (historical mystery), and Lea Ypi (memoir)

Five Directions Press

Jun 16, 20255 min read

The standing figure of a woman is visible behind the backlit window of a house; cover of Ashley Elston's First Lie Wins

Books We Loved, Apr. 2025

Books We Loved in April 2025, contemporary and historical fiction by Ashley Elston, Elise Hooper, and Alka Joshi

Five Directions Press

Apr 16, 20254 min read

Two ballerinas in tutus against a swirling background of turquoise and pink; cover of Elyse Durham's Maya and Natasha

Books We Loved, Mar. 2025

Books We Loved in March 2025: historical and contemporary fiction by Elyse Durham, Rachel Kushner, and S. G. Maclean

Five Directions Press

Mar 14, 20255 min read

Books We Loved, Feb. 2025

Books We Loved in February 2025, by Ryan Graudin, Heather McBreen, and Andrea Pickens

Five Directions Press

Feb 14, 20254 min read

Spotlight Interview with Claudia H. Long

Spotlight Interview with Claudia H. Long, whose contemporary mystery Murder without a Duck came out in November 2024

Joan Schweighardt

Jan 29, 20255 min read

Books We Loved, Jan. 2025

Books We Loved in Jan. 2025, by Fiona Davis, Claire Keegan, and Jodi Picoult co-writing with Jennifer Finney Boylan

Five Directions Press

Jan 15, 20255 min read

Books We Loved, Dec. 2024

Books We Loved in December 2024, by Diana R. Chambers, Claudia H. Long, and Breanne Randall

Five Directions Press

Dec 16, 20243 min read

Spotlight Interview with Cynthia J. Sylvester

Joan Schweighardt conducts this Spotlight interview with Cynthia J. Sylvester, author of The Half-White Album

Joan Schweighardt

Nov 29, 20246 min read

Books We Loved, Oct. 2024

Books We Loved in October 2024, by Magda Alexander, Hernan Diaz, and Percival Everett

Five Directions Press

Oct 15, 20246 min read

Books We Loved, Sep. 2024

Books We Loved in September 2024, by Christina Dodd, Emily L. Finch, and Paul Murray

Five Directions Press

Sep 16, 20245 min read

Spotlight Interview with Mary Fleming

Spotlight interview with Mary Fleming, whose third novel, Civilisation Francaise, appeared in July 2024

Joan Schweighardt

Jul 31, 20246 min read