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Here are some incredible stories that explore various angles of fatherhood and father figures in the most poignant and wonderful ways. Featuring some of the team's favourite books of 2026 so far, as well as some classics that remain influential today, there are some truly excellent books about fathers and fatherhood to pick up!
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John Steinbeck's East of Eden is an epic tale set in California's Salinas Valley, focusing on the complex destinies of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons. The novel explores themes of good versus evil, illustrating the struggles of its characters to overcome their pasts and the moral dilemmas they face over generations.
The Things We Never Say completely won me over! Elizabeth Strout’s writing is as beautiful as ever and Artie Dam is a character I won’t forget anytime soon. This is one of those books that makes you wonder how your own life might have changed if you’d crossed paths with someone like Artie. I especially loved the classroom scenes and his interactions with his students, as well as the quietly evolving relationship with his son Rob. It’s a thoughtful novel reminding you of the quiet impact one person can have on the lives around them. I can't wait for everyone to meet Artie Dam!
The Road by Cormac McCarthy follows the harrowing journey of a father and his young son as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world. Together, they face numerous challenges as they struggle to survive in a landscape marred by devastation and devoid of civilisation. Their bond and determination drive them forward amidst the haunting desolation.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a poignant tale set in the racially charged atmosphere of the American South during the 1930s. It follows the narrative through the eyes of young Scout Finch, whose father, Atticus Finch, is an honourable lawyer defending a black man unjustly accused of a grave crime. The story explores themes of racial injustice, moral growth, and compassion, capturing the essence of human morality amidst prejudice.
I went into this new release by Douglas Stuart expecting the same utter heartbreak and emotional torture that we got in Shuggie Bain and Young Mungo (both books I loved!) but John of John was different. More rural and isolated, quieter and slower, and gentler in it's exploration of fatherhood, masculinity, queerness, and religion. It was full to the brim with Stuart's incredible prose and this time the use of Gaelic was incorporated in a beautifully natural way. This novel is about an isolated community, a son returning home, a father grappling with not just the identity of his son but of his own as well, and the ways in which we reach for connection.
Foster by Claire Keegan is a touching story set in rural Ireland, where a young girl is sent to live with foster parents for the summer. Through the warmth and kindness of her new family, she discovers affection and stability, prompting self-discovery and a deeper understanding of family bonds.
Bringing head and heart together with its own crazy glue, Lost Lambs follows the spectacular falling apart—and eventual coming together—of the Flynn family. The funny and compassionate new literary novel that turns family dysfunction into an art form. 'Goes off like a firework. As sincere as it is funny (and it's very funny)' - Ramona Ausubel, bestselling author of The Last Animal 'A voice like no other... will shift the way you see the family and community into something operatic, strange and profound.' - Lena Dunham, award-winning writer, director and creator of comedy-drama Girls The Flynns are not alright. It's been disastrous since Bud and Catherine opened up their marriage, and none of the Flynns can remember the last time a meal was cooked, a load of laundry...
‘I’ve been yearning for a novel that connects the American generations who dealt with our two Wars – one of Omaha Beach, the other of the Ia Drang Valley. Buckeye is that book, and it soars’ TOM HANKS ‘Funny and tender ... Patrick Ryan has long been one of my favourite writers’ ANN PATCHETT ‘I love this novel with my entire heart … Wise and heartbreaking’ ANN NAPOLITANO May, 1945. As news of the Allied victory in Europe reaches the small town of Bonhomie, Ohio, a woman named Margaret Salt walks into a hardware store and asks the man behind the counter, Cal Jenkins, for a radio. What happens next will change both of their lives forever. While the country reconstructs in the post-war boom, a secret grows...
Irresistibly funny, wise and thought-provoking, The Bee Sting is a tour de force about family, fortune, and the struggle to be a good person when the world is falling apart. The Barnes family is in trouble. Dickie's once-lucrative car dealership is going under, and while his wife is frantically selling off her jewellery on eBay, he's busy building an apocalypse-proof bunker in the woods. Meanwhile, their teenage daughter is veering off the rails, in thrall to a toxic friendship, and her little brother is falling into the black hole of the internet... Where did it all go wrong? The present is in crisis, but the causes lie deep in the past. How long can this unhappy family wait before they have to face the truth? And, if the...
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles follows Count Alexander Rostov, a Russian aristocrat, as he is sentenced to house arrest in a grand hotel in Moscow after the Russian Revolution. Confined to the hotel, Rostov witnesses dramatic changes in Russian society from his unique perspective, forming deep relationships and rediscovering purpose within his limited world.
Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby is a gripping crime thriller about two fathers—one black and one white—who team up on a dangerous quest for revenge after their sons are brutally murdered. As ex-convicts with their own troubled pasts, they find redemption in their shared grief and determination to uncover the truth, navigating a world filled with violence, prejudice, and secrets. Their journey tests their limits, both morally and physically, as they strive for justice.
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders imaginatively explores the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln's young son Willie’s death. Set in a graveyard, this unique tale combines historical and supernatural elements, delving into a liminal space where the dead interact and Lincoln grieves. The story is told through a tapestry of voices, blending to convey deep reflections on life, sorrow, and the human condition.
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid follows the story of a tennis legend, Carrie Soto, who comes out of retirement to reclaim her record from an up-and-coming player. The novel explores themes of ambition, sacrifice, and the price of greatness, set against the backdrop of competitive sports.
Follow the Ingalls family as they journey across the vast, sun-drenched prairie to build a new life on the American frontier. Amidst the beauty, they face the challenges of wild bears and sharing land with Native Americans, discovering the harsh realities and hopes of pioneer life.
The Sunday Times Bestseller Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2022 From the Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Extraordinary – The New York Times Remarkable – Observer Heartfelt – The Guardian Bewilderment tells the story of Theo Byrne, a promising young scientist who has discovered a way to search for life on planets dozens of light years away. However, his greatest challenge is at home as the widowed father of a most unusual nine-year-old. His son, Robin, is funny, loving, and full of plans. Robin thinks and feels deeply, adores animals, and can spend hours painting elaborate pictures. Yet, after a violent outburst from Robin at school, the strength of their close bond will be tested to its limits... What can a father do when those around him refuse to understand...
