Loneliness Books

Books centered on loneliness examine what it means to be isolated -- physically, emotionally, or socially. These stories sit with the discomfort of disconnection and often illuminate how solitude can be both a prison and, occasionally, a path toward unexpected self-understanding.

32 books
Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino book cover

Beautyland

Marie-Helene Bertino, 2024
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami book cover
Fantasy

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

Haruki Murakami
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh book cover
Thriller

Eileen

Ottessa Moshfegh, 2015
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine book cover
Romance

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin book cover
Non-Fiction

Giovanni's Room

James Baldwin, 1956
How to Stop Time by Matt Haig book cover
Non-Fiction

How to Stop Time

Matt Haig, 2017
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro book cover
Literary Fiction

Klara and the Sun

Kazuo Ishiguro, 2021
Memorial by Bryan Washington book cover
Literary Fiction

Memorial

Bryan Washington, 2020
Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka book cover
Literary Fiction

Metamorphosis

Franz Kafka, 2010
My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout book cover
Literary Fiction

My Name Is Lucy Barton

Elizabeth Strout, 2016
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh book cover
Literary Fiction

My Year of Rest and Relaxation

Ottessa Moshfegh, 2018
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro book cover
Literary Fiction

Never Let Me Go

Kazuo Ishiguro, 2005
Oh William! book cover

Oh William!

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout book cover

Olive Kitteridge

Elizabeth Strout, 2007
Orbital by Samantha Harvey book cover
Literary Fiction

Orbital

Samantha Harvey, 2023
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke book cover
Fantasy

Piranesi

Susanna Clarke, 2020
Pretend I'm Dead book cover

Pretend I'm Dead

Real Life by Brandon Taylor book cover
Literary Fiction

Real Life

Brandon Taylor, 2020
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt book cover

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Shelby Van Pelt, 2022
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt book cover
Contemporary Fiction

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Shelby Van Pelt, 2022
Room by Emma Donoghue book cover
Non-Fiction

Room

Emma Donoghue, 2015
Sputnik Sweetheart by 村上春樹 book cover

Sputnik Sweetheart

村上春樹, 2011
Stoner by John Williams book cover
Contemporary Fiction

Stoner

John Williams, 1965
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers book cover
Literary Fiction

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

Carson McCullers, 1940
The Idiot by Elif Batuman book cover
Literary Fiction

The Idiot

Elif Batuman, 1969
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab book cover
Fantasy

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

V.E. Schwab, 2020
The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa book cover
Dystopian

The Memory Police

Yoko Ogawa
The Moviegoer by Walker Percy book cover
Non-Fiction

The Moviegoer

Walker Percy, 1961
The New Me by Halle Butler book cover
Non-Fiction

The New Me

Halle Butler, 2019
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender book cover
Literary Fiction

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

Aimee Bender, 2010
The Plover book cover

The Plover

Villette by Charlotte Bronte book cover
Literary Fiction

Villette

Charlotte Bronte, 1992
Get AI picks