June 21st Father's Day! All the best gift ideas. Shop NowJune 21st Father's Day! All the best gift ideas. Shop Now

General Fiction Books

From heartwarming stories to sweeping tales that span generations, fiction is where storytelling shines. Find out what everyone is reading with our bestsellers, discover our Monthly Book Club Pick or find your new favorite genre. Whether it’s a compelling historical tale from Kristin Hannah or a literary achievement from Harper Lee, don’t be afraid to read widely and find something new.

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke - Shop Now
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke - Shop Now
B&N Exclusive - Land by Maggie O'Farrell - New from the award-winning author of Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait - Shop Now
B&N Exclusive - Land by Maggie O'Farrell - New from the award-winning author of Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait - Shop Now
Whistler by Ann Patchett - Shop Now - "One of the most beloved authors of her generation." - Sunday Times
Whistler by Ann Patchett - Shop Now - "One of the most beloved authors of her generation." - Sunday Times
Our June Fiction Pick. Bug Hollow. A richly layered tapestry of one family's changing seasons. Shop Now
Our June Fiction Pick. Bug Hollow. A richly layered tapestry of one family's changing seasons. Shop Now
Women's Prize Fiction 2026 Shop Now
Women's Prize Fiction 2026 Shop Now

Fiction

What is General Fiction?

Fiction books are stories that describe imaginary events and people. Fiction can be broken down into many different genres including romance, western, science fiction, fantasy, horror, thriller, mystery and more. General fiction describes fiction books that don’t fit into one of these genres, or are a combination of multiple genres. For example, a story about a character who has a bit of romance drama while trying to solve a murder in the 1800s has a mix of many different genres but not enough of one to be considered a true romance, mystery, or historical fiction. Coming of age books are often classified in general fiction since they focus on the main characters life. Some popular general fiction books you have probably heard of include To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye, The Alchemist, Animal Farm, 1984, Of Mice and Men, Pride and Prejudice, The Fault in Our Stars, and Where the Crawdads Sing.