As the nights get darker and the air grows crisp, there’s nothing better than getting cozy at home with a great book and your favorite warm drink. For a true bookworm, the only thing better than a great story is a great story about books. From charming bookshops to stolen manuscripts, we’ve curated a list of the 9 Best Fiction Novels About Books, Bookstores, and Libraries.
Whether you call yourself a bibliophile or a book-lover, this list of heartwarming and thrilling reads is guaranteed to keep your love for the written word alive.
1. Beach Read by Emily Henry
January Andrews is a cynical romance novelist with writer’s block. Gus Everett is a serious literary author who thinks true love is a fairytale. The two rivals end up as neighbors and, despite being polar opposites, make a deal: to swap genres and write each other’s book. As they spend the summer trying to write a bestseller, their worlds—and their beliefs about love and writing—are turned upside down. Henry’s writing is witty and heartfelt, making this a perfect read for fans of character-driven stories with a lot of charm.
2. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
A.J. Fikry, the grumpy owner of Island Books, is going through a tough time. His bookshop is failing, his wife has passed away, and his most prized possession, a rare first edition, has been stolen. He’s all but given up on people and the books in his store. But one day, a two-year-old girl named Maya is left on his bookshop floor, with a note asking him to care for her. This small act of trust changes both his life and hers forever. Zevin’s novel is a beautiful story about found family and the quiet, life-changing magic of books and kindness.
3. Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
When failed writer June Hayward witnesses her literary rival, Athena Liu, die in a freak accident, she seizes the opportunity. She steals Athena’s final manuscript and “borrows” her identity, finally gaining the fame and recognition she believes she deserves. But as her success grows, so does her paranoia. Someone knows what she did, and if she can’t find out who, she risks losing everything. Kuang’s novel is a sharp, satirical thriller that delves into themes of cultural appropriation, racism, and the dark side of the publishing world.
4. A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
Eileen loves a good fictional love story. When her car breaks down on her way to an annual book club retreat, she finds herself in Eloraton, a town where every encounter feels like a meet-cute, it always rains in the afternoon, and the bookshop has an impeccable collection. It feels too good to be true, because Eloraton is the setting of her favorite romance series. Eileen is convinced she’s there to give the town its happily ever after, but she might just find one of her own. This novel is a heartwarming and meta love letter to romance stories and the power they hold.
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5. The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
After the death of his father, 14-year-old Benny Oh starts hearing voices—the voices of inanimate objects. As his mother develops a hoarding problem, the voices grow louder, causing Benny to seek refuge in the quiet of a public library. There, he meets a mesmerizing street artist, a homeless philosopher, and even his very own book, which begins to narrate his life. This beautiful, imaginative, and quirky novel explores grief, connection, and the quiet magic found in the most unexpected places.
6. This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page
Tilly is shocked when she receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her husband waiting at her local bookshop. She can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure, but the biggest surprise is that her husband, Joe, died five months ago. Joe has carefully chosen 12 books, one for each month, to help her through her first year without him. The books take Tilly on a reading-inspired journey around the world, helping her discover who she is now, without Joe. This novel, set to be released on January 29, 2026, is a heartfelt and moving story about love, loss, and the healing power of a good book.
7. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
After her boyfriend reveals he’s marrying someone else, Takako reluctantly accepts her eccentric uncle Satoru’s offer to live rent-free in the tiny room above his bookshop. Satoru’s shop is his pride and joy, but it’s just a place for Takako to recover from her heartbreak. To her surprise, she encounters new worlds within the stacks of books lining the shop. As summer fades to autumn, she and Satoru discover they have more in common than they first thought, and the bookshop teaches them both about life, love, and the healing power of books.
8. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
Nina is a librarian who loves her job of matchmaking books with the perfect person. When her beloved library closes, she’s left without a job and an idea of what to do next. Then, an ad catches her eye: a tiny bookshop bus that she could drive around the Scottish highlands. Using all her courage and savings, Nina makes a new start, but real life is a bit trickier than the stories she loves—especially when she keeps having to be rescued by the grumpy-but-gorgeous farmer next door. This novel is a charming, feel-good story that celebrates the power of a fresh start and the community that books can create. We’ve included this on our list of the Best Fiction Novels About Books, Bookstores, and Libraries for its heartwarming tone.
9. The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Jake, a teacher and failed novelist, finds himself at a dead end. When one of his students dies before completing his first novel, Jake helps himself to its plot. The resulting book is a phenomenal success, bringing him the fame and recognition he always craved. But somebody out there knows what Jake did. He must now figure out who is blackmailing him, or he risks something far worse than the loss of his career. This gripping thriller explores ambition, morality, and the high price of success, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
The novels on this list are a great way to celebrate the stories that bring us together. What’s your favorite book on this list of the 9 Best Fiction Novels About Books, Bookstores, and Libraries?