Genres such as horror, science fiction and fantasy transport us to another world and expand our imagination to new realms. Although we love these kinds of stories that take us away from our daily lives, sometimes the most exciting novels of all are those with which we can really identify.
The realistic fiction genre is exactly what you’d expect; stories that could easily happen in real life. Sure, it’s still fiction, but the settings are believable and the characters react the same way real people do. the authors of these stories often include actual historical events or base their settings on places that actually exist.
You are reading: Best realistic fiction books
If you’re in the mood for mind-blowingly realistic fiction, then you’ve come to the right place. I compiled a list of my 8 favorite realistic fiction books of all time.
best realistic fiction books
1. when we believed in barbara o’neal’s sirens
Fifteen years ago, Kit’s sister, Josie, was killed in a violent terrorist attack, at least that’s what Kit has always believed. But one day, her world comes crashing down when she sees live TV footage of a woman stumbling out of a fire in Aukland, New Zealand. this woman is the spitting image of josie; everything in it is exactly the same, but how can that be?
kit decides to get on a plane and go to new zealand to find out for herself. As she sets out on a journey to find her long-lost sister, Kit must confront a deeply buried trauma from her past. Even if she manages to find Josie, can they rekindle her relationship and put the past behind them?
2. little fires everywhere by celeste ng
shaker heights is an affluent and upscale suburb of cleveland. On the surface of everything, everything looks perfect. not a blade of grass or a lock of hair is out of place. But when Mia Warren and her daughter Pearl come to town, things start to change.
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Little Fires Everywhere is the story of a seemingly idyllic community that is deeply fractured beneath its glittering surface. perceptions are torn apart and secrets are exposed, leaving nothing but the raw truth to be told.
3. the god of little things by arundhati roy
Set in 1969 Kerala, India, The God of Little Things tells the harrowing story of two tenacious children, Esthappen and Rahel, and their devoted mother, Ammu. When Cousin Sophie Mol visits from England, something happens that shakes her family to the core. The God of Small Things is said to be one of the best realistic fiction books.
Illicit love, momentous tragedy, and profound loss follow. Will the children be able to come to terms with their pain or will they swim in a sea of regret forever?
4. the fault in our stars by john green
Hazel knows her terminal cancer diagnosis means an inevitable end. Sure, through the wonders of modern science, she might have a few more years to mope before the lights go out, but her fate is sealed nonetheless. that is until she meets august waters, and her heart bursts out of her chest. Does Hazel have something to live for after all?
5. since you left morgan matson
sloane loves taking emily out of her comfort zone and forcing her to live on her head. She goes against Emily’s reserved and uptight nature, but she goes along with it anyway. Thanks to Sloane, Emily begins to overcome her limiting beliefs and enjoys what she hopes will be the best summer of her life.
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but when sloane disappears into thin air, emily is left scared and alone. the only thing her friend has left behind is a to-do list addressed to emily, full of things that scare her. Can Emily muster up the courage to complete the items on the list and find her way back to her missing friend?
6. the outsiders by s.e. hint
This 1967 classic tells the story of a fourteen year old curtis ponyboy. Ponyboy is a stubborn boy who believes that there are only two types of people in this world; socks and greasers. soc is short for “social”; These are the people with all the money and all the power. Greasers are the people pushed to the edge, the outsiders who never quite fit in.
Ponyboy is a self-confessed, loud and proud greaser. he does not live according to the rules of society and has no intention of ever doing so.
But when his friend Johnny murders a Soc, Ponyboy is forced to reevaluate his beliefs. he is about to discover that the world is not as black and white as he had imagined.
7. the curious incident of the dog in the night by mark haddon
Christopher John Francis Boone, fifteen, has a brain like lightning. he can recite the capital city of every country in the world without missing a beat and is a math wizard.
but his book knowledge doesn’t seem to help him in the human interaction department. Christopher is hopeless when it comes to relating to other people. animals, yes, but humans, absolutely not. Humans don’t follow the strict patterns and rules that Chrispoher likes, and most of the time, he has no idea what they’re talking about.
One day, the neighbor’s wellington dog is mysteriously killed. Christopher sees that this is a job for an outside thinker, and sets out to crack the case, Sherlock Holmes-style. what follows is a hilariously witty and heartwarming story of a young boy who sees the world in a very different way than most people.
8. out of my mind by sharon draper
the melody is not like the others. trapped in her own body, unable to walk or speak. since he has such a deep physical problem, everyone around him assumes that he has a mental problem as well. but that’s not true.
melody has an amazing mind and is smarter than almost everyone around her. Your photographic memory means you can remember every aspect of your life so far in vivid detail. But without the power of words, how will she ever break out of her physical prison and show the world who she really is?
what are some of your favorite realistic fiction books? let us know in the comments below.
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