In recent years, 'The Miseducation of Cameron Post' has been influential. It deals with the difficult topic of gay conversion therapy and has brought more attention to the struggles of LGBTQ+ youth. 'Her Body and Other Parties' by Carmen Maria Machado is also important. It's a collection of short stories that often explore queer female experiences in unique and thought - provoking ways. And 'Fun Home' by Alison Bechdel, which is a graphic memoir that has been widely read and has helped to normalize queer family stories.
I think 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' has been very influential. It contains lesbian themes and has been extremely popular, making more people aware of queer stories within mainstream literature. 'A Little Life' by Hanya Yanagihara, though not solely about gay relationships, has a central gay character and has made an impact in terms of exploring complex human emotions and relationships within the context of a gay man's life. Also, 'Less' by Andrew Sean Greer, which has a gay protagonist and has won major awards, contributing to the visibility of gay - themed fiction.
In recent years, 'There There' by Tommy Orange has made an impact. It focuses on the urban Native American experience, exploring themes like identity, community, and the effects of historical trauma. 'The Testaments' by Margaret Atwood, which is a sequel to 'The Handmaid's Tale', continues to explore the sociological implications of a repressive society, this time from different perspectives within that society.
One of the most influential is 'They Both Die at the End' by Adam Silvera. It has a diverse cast including LGBTQ characters and deals with themes of love and mortality. Another is 'The Song of Achilles' by Madeline Miller which reimagines the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus in a way that emphasizes their love. 'Heartstopper' by Alice Oseman is also very influential, especially among younger readers as it portrays a sweet and positive LGBTQ relationship in a school setting.
'The Expanse' series by James S. A. Corey has been very influential in recent years. It has a gritty and realistic portrayal of a future solar system, with complex characters and political drama. Another one is 'Children of Time' by Adrian Tchaikovsky. It has an interesting concept of the evolution of intelligent spiders on a planet. 'Red Rising' by Pierce Brown also stands out. It's set in a hierarchical society on Mars and has elements of rebellion and revolution.
One of the most influential recent fiction social justice books is 'On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous' by Ocean Vuong. It delves into the experiences of a Vietnamese - American family, dealing with themes like immigration, identity, and the long - lasting effects of war. Another influential work is 'There There' which focuses on Native American experiences, including issues of displacement, poverty, and the struggle to preserve cultural identity. These books are important as they give voices to marginalized groups and raise awareness about social justice issues specific to them.
One of the recent influential ones is 'Red Clocks' by Leni Zumas. It weaves together different female stories in a near - future America where reproductive rights are under threat, highlighting the importance of gender equality in issues like family planning and women's autonomy. Another is 'The Testaments' by Margaret Atwood. As a sequel to 'The Handmaid's Tale', it continues to explore the themes of gender oppression and resistance in a more complex way, further promoting discussions on gender equality.
One of the most influential in recent years is 'The One and Only Ivan'. It tells the story of a captive gorilla and his journey towards a better life. It has raised awareness about the living conditions of animals in captivity. Another is 'The Bear and the Nightingale' which, although not solely focused on animal rights, has elements that make readers more empathetic towards animals in a magical - realism setting.
Sure. 'The Three - Body Problem' by Liu Cixin has been very influential. It introduced a unique view of alien contact and the concept of the Dark Forest, which has fascinated readers around the world. Another one is 'Ready Player One' by Ernest Cline. Its nostalgic look at 80s pop culture within a virtual reality setting has made it extremely popular and influential in recent years.
Recently, 'Red, White & Royal Blue' has been very popular. It's a fun and romantic story about the relationship between the son of the US president and a British prince. Another popular one is 'On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous' which, while not strictly a gay male fiction book in the traditional sense, has important themes related to gay identity and love.
One popular one is 'The Price of Salt' which has been around for a while but has gained more popularity recently. It was quite revolutionary for its time in portraying a lesbian relationship.
Well, 'The Great Gatsby' is among the most influential fiction books. F. Scott Fitzgerald's work explores themes of wealth, love, and the American Dream. 'Lord of the Flies' by William Golding is very influential too. It shows how quickly civilization can break down when people are left to their own devices. And don't forget 'Harry Potter' series by J.K. Rowling. It has not only been a global phenomenon but also influenced a whole generation's view on magic, friendship, and good vs. evil.