ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

June's New Fiction: Coming-of-Age and Complicated Relationships

publication · 2026-06-03

This June, the literary world welcomes 20 new novels that delve into themes such as coming-of-age, grief, love, and identity. Among the standout releases is Anna Maria Volkova's debut, 'Games,' which tells the story of a 22-year-old student and a 45-year-old man. Ann Patchett's 'Whistler' features a woman reconnecting with her former stepfather, while Claudia Piñeiro's 'Cathedrals' revolves around a murder. Other notable works include Catherine Kurtz's historical fiction 'Feast,' Caroline Kepnes' prequel 'You First,' Jessica M. Goldstein's time-travel tale 'Retro,' and Erica Hendry's mystery 'Let's Not Go Overboard.' Additional titles encompass Allie Rowbottom's 'Lovers XXX,' Krista Diamond's 'Close Relationships With Strangers,' and Sarah Vaughan's 'Based On A True Story.'

Key facts

  • Anna Maria Volkova's debut novel 'Games' is out this month.
  • 'Games' charts the relationship of Lili, a 22-year-old student, and Aleksandr, a 45-year-old man who grew up in the Soviet Union.
  • Ann Pachett's 'Whistler' involves a museum trip reunion with a former stepfather.
  • Claudia Piñeiro's 'Cathedrals' is about a teenage girl's brutal death three decades prior.
  • Catherine Kurtz's 'Feast' is set in 19th-century London and France.
  • Caroline Kepnes' 'You First' is a prequel to her Joe Goldberg series.
  • Jessica M. Goldstein's 'Retro' features a Time Travel agent.
  • Erica Hendry's 'Let's Not Go Overboard' is set on a yacht in Greece.
  • Allie Rowbottom's 'Lovers XXX' is set in 1980s Los Angeles.
  • Krista Diamond's 'Close Relationships With Strangers' follows a paparazzo.
  • Cecilia Eudave's 'Summer Of The Serpent' involves mythology and horror.
  • Carla Madeira's 'It's All River' is translated from Portuguese.
  • Sofia Montrone's 'Nymph' is a debut set at an Italian agriturismo.
  • Deborah Levy's 'My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein' explores modernity.
  • Melissa Albert's 'The Children' deals with a legendary author's legacy.
  • Kate Christensen's 'Good Company' is set over a weekend at a book festival.
  • Kimberly McCreight's 'Someone Else's Husband' involves a murder charge.
  • Claire Fuller's 'Hunger & Thirst' is a gothic haunted house story.
  • Isabel J. Kim's 'Sublimation' explores immigration and doppelgängers.
  • Sarah Vaughan's 'Based On A True Story' features a children's author's birthday party.

Entities

Artists

  • Anna Maria Volkova
  • Ann Pachett
  • Claudia Piñeiro
  • Catherine Kurtz
  • Caroline Kepnes
  • Jessica M. Goldstein
  • Erica Hendry
  • Allie Rowbottom
  • Krista Diamond
  • Cecilia Eudave
  • Carla Madeira
  • Sofia Montrone
  • Deborah Levy
  • Melissa Albert
  • Kate Christensen
  • Kimberly McCreight
  • Claire Fuller
  • Isabel J. Kim
  • Sarah Vaughan
  • Juliette Jeffers
  • Gertrude Stein

Institutions

  • Forbes
  • Interview

Locations

  • Soviet Union
  • London
  • France
  • Greece
  • Los Angeles
  • New York
  • Mount Kilimanjaro
  • Italy

Sources