New Literary Fiction Debuts Explore Identity, Art, Religion

Several notable fiction releases in 2025 showcase a wide range of styles and themes. Kate Riley’s novel explores the life of Ruth, raised in an Anabaptist community, highlighting her struggles and resilience in a restrictive religious setting. Dominic Amerena’s debut satirizes themes of deceit and writerly ambition through a narrator who capitalizes on a mistaken identity involving a disgraced author. British author C.D. Rose’s We Live Here Now is a composite novel centered on the contemporary art world, blending connected stories around a fictional artist’s mysterious disappearance. Additionally, Gary Shteyngart’s Vera, or Faith, Michael Clune’s Pan, and Ed Park’s An Oral History of Atlantis received critical acclaim for their inventive storytelling and emotional depth. These works collectively reflect diverse explorations of identity, art, and societal critique in contemporary literature.