I liked the Time Traveler's Wife too. Just finished the Fault in Our Stars and you probably will too.

Not abuse but death happens. The Fault in our Stars.

I second The Goldfinch.

I also enjoyed The Girl on the Train, Where did you go Bernadette.

I just finished Big Little Lies - I thought it was decent. A page turner and entertaining. I'm going to read the Husband's secret once the library gets my copy.

OP, I think you would love The Road by Cormac McCarthy!

Lots of great books mentioned-
Bel Canto- soooo good
Book Thief- incredible
Poisonwood Bible- loved, actually love everything by Barbara Kingsolver, although "Animal Dreams" is my favorite
We were liars-- fabulous! Can't say anything more for fear of ruining it but trust, worth the read
Three Junes--one of my all time favorites and no one I know will ever read it, no matter how much I push it. Thrilled to see it recommended here!!!

The Nest
Eligible
Erin Hilderbrand books

The Book Thief is the most memorable book I've read in the last decade. The Goldfinch is also great, though long and more of a slow burn.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We Were Liars is a quick, engrossing read.

Yep - YA, but very good.

Agree.

The Nightingale

The Corrections -- Jonathan Franzen

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have good sci fi book recs?

Any of Octavia Butler's books. Standouts are "Kindred" and a series I can't recall the name of right now that she wrote in the 80s/90s with a egomanaicial politician who campaigns "to make American great again." http://fusion.net/story/313923/make-america-great-again-fictional-presidential-candidate/

Ah, Bel Canto (Ann Patchett). Yes, yes. Love that book and highly recommend it.

I also love love love The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver). I think it would be ok based on OP's list of "no"s. Prodigal Summer is also good, and I also really enjoyed The Lacuna.

John Irving books: there are many good ones, though I enjoy the older ones more than his recent novels. A Prayer for Owen Meany, The Hotel New Hampshire, The Cider House Rules. A Widow for One Year is on the newer side, but may be my favorite of his books.

Straight Man by Richard Russo is excellent. I also liked Empire Falls, Bridge of Sighs, and Nobody's Fool.

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley is an old favorite.

Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer.

Anonymous wrote:The new Ann Tyler, "Vinegar Girl", based on The Taming of the Shrew sounds good.
Of course I love anything Ann Tyler, though never read her last book, "The Blue Spool"

The new Laura Lippman also sounds good, "Wilde Lake", set in Columbia, MD

Grew up in Columbia, and "Wilde Lake" is next on my list.

Anonymous wrote:Anything by Erik Larson, he writes historical fiction and they are super engrossing.
My favorites are:
Thunderstruck
Issac's Storm
In the Garden of Beasts
Dead Wake

Also, I'm trying to read the books on the 100 best books of the 20th century list. https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6

Erik Larson does not write fiction. It is all non-fiction - it just reads like fiction.

http://eriklarsonbooks.com/about-the-author/