Popular Nonlinear Narrative Novels
As Kirsten and I sat discussing some of our favorite books, the topic of nonlinear narratives came up and it got us thinking about the details and planning that goes into nonlinear storytelling. These are some of my favorite books and I knew I wanted to make a list of the best ones I have read.
So what is a nonlinear narrative? These are stories that do not follow one timeline from beginning to end, rather, the stories move around and tell the story in pieces. Sometimes nonlinear storytelling will tell the story from the perspective of different people and other times, the story is told about one character but not in chronological order. These nonlinear narratives are not the same as Time Loop books.
I often find nonlinear novels to be more interesting and attention grabbing. I love knowing things that happen later in the story and wonder how we got there. I think writing these books takes amazing creativity and a well thought out plan. These books are smart. If you have read other nonlinear narratives you think I should read, please let me know.
The Best Nonlinear Narratives
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
Best Contemporary Nonlinear Narrative
Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore – Click to read the review and see more books in this category
Best Historical Fiction Nonlinear Novel
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Derr – Click to read the review and see more books in this category
Best Nonlinear Timeline Thriller
Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gilliam McAllister – Click to read the review and see more books in this category
Best Nonlinear Romance Novel
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Nifenegger – Click to read the review and see more books in this category
Best Nonlinear Sci-fi and Fantasy Novels
11/22/63 by Steven King – Click to read the review and see more books in this category
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Nonlinear Timeline Contemporary Fiction Novels
The Lightning Bottles
Author: Marissa Stapley
Year: 2024
Genre: Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling author of Lucky (September 2024 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick)
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range:18+
Plot
Jane Pyre and her husband Elijah Hart were a rock duo known as the Lightning Bottles. But when Elijah disappeared 5 years ago, Jane became the most hated woman in rock. Fans already resented Jane, hated her coldness, and did not believe that she was the written voice of the music. Jane buys a house in the German countryside to escape the public and moves next door to a teenage girl who is a Lightning Bottles superfan.
She claims that she has proof Elijah is alive and trying to send messages to Jane. The two embark on a cross-country road trip in search of answers as they follow clues.
Trigger Warnings
Drug Addiction
Why Jackie loves it
From the first page, I was completely hooked on this fantastic book. I love that the story is a dual-timeline narrative that moves between the present and the beginning of Jane and Elijah’s love story. The characters are rich and believable, and loveable because of their flaws.
Find this book in: Novels About Music, Bands, and Musicians / Popular Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Books Set in the 80s
Oona Out of Order
Author: Margarita Montimore
Year: 2020
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: April 2020 GMA Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range:16+
Plot
I absolutely loved this story about Oona who at the stroke of midnight on her 19th birthday, finds herself in her 51-year-old body. She is greeted by a stranger who is waiting for her in her home and tells her that every year, she will jump to another point in her life- she will live her life out of order.
This is an emotional, well-written story that will not only keep you quickly turning pages but also make you think about the small things in life that we take for granted.
Why Jackie loves it
This is such a unique book that left me wanting more with every turn of the page. Because this book is a nonlinear narrative, you never know what is going to happen or what age Oona will be.
Find this book in: New Year’s Eve Books / Best Time Travel Books / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Feel-Good Books / Books Set in the 80s
The Fallen Fruit
Author: Shawntelle Madison
Year: 2024
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This historical fantasy is also an epic family saga that could not put down. In this pick from the September 2024 book releases, Cecily Bridge-Davis is researching her family curse and trying to figure out how to break it. One member of the family in every generation from her father’s side falls back in time. The family has rules that every member of the family is taught from a young age. They learn how to survive in the past.
As she learns more about her family and her past, we also move through the past and meet the members of the Bridge family. Will she ever be able to find out where the curse began and find a way to stop it?
Why Jackie loves it
I was not sure what to expect when reading this book but I had high hopes. This book was everything I hoped it would be and more. The narrative is brilliant. As the reader meets more members of the Bridge family, more of the story comes together and we get one step closer to solving the mystery of the family curse of falling through time.
Find this book in: Nonlinear Narrative Novels / September 2024 Book Releases / Best Adult Fantasy Novels
The Final Revival of Opal and Nev
Author: Dawnie Walton
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Good Morning America Buzz Pick
Best Books of 2021 by Barack Obama, The Washington Post, Goodreads
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This fantastic story looks at the rise and eventual breakup of an interracial punk-rock duo. It’s told in a multi-time narrative set in the 1970s and 2016 – when she’s considering reuniting with Nev. But as musical journalist Sunny digs into Opal & Nev’s history, she uncovers surprising hidden facts. With a narrative structure similar to Daisy Jones, you’ll be hooked from the very first chapter.
Trigger Warnings
Racism, violence
Why Kirsten loves it
This is the closest of the books like Daisy Jones and The Six. It’s told in an interview format and is about a band from the 70s. The comparison makes sense… and yet…
This 70s book is wonderful in its own right! No comparison is needed. It looks at sexism and racism in the music industry during this time period and is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. It is a total must-read.
Find this book in: Books Like Daisy Jones / Full Cast Audiobooks / Books About Music, Bands, and Musicians / Feel-Good Books / Faux Celebrity Fiction / Epistolary Novels / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Best Books of 2021
Fates and Furies
Author: Lauren Groff
Year: 2015
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: National Book Award Finalist
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This book immediately caught my attention and I loved it. This is a love story between Leo and Mathilde told first from the point of view of Leo and then from the point of view of Mathilde.
However, it isn’t repetitive at all and offers surprises at every turn. It is believable, emotional, and just a tad bit crazy which is good in my books!!
Why Kirsten loves it
I love how the stories told from the two perspectives were completely different. It was like reading two completely separate books!
Why Jackie loves it
I loved the nonlinear storytelling in this book. Rather than tell the story from two narrators at the same time, the novel starts over and tells the story again from another perspective.
Find this book in: Nonlinear Narrative Novels
The Matchmaker’s Gift
Author: Lynda Cohen Loigman
Year: 2022
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: Named Best Book of Fall 2022 by Parade, Buzzfeed, New York Post
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is the story of Sara Glikman who in 1910, as a young child, was able to see the glow between her sister and the man who would become her husband. She very quietly arranged their match and many more for years.
Her granddaughter Abby is a divorce attorney who represents some of the biggest divorces in the city. When Sara dies, leaves Abby all of her diaries.
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this unexpected book. It is so unique and a pleasure to read. The story is such a wonderful feel-good book. I loved going back and forth seeing both Abby and her grandmother’s stories.
Find this book in: Feel-Good Books / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Charming Matchmaking Books / Best Books by Jewish Writers and Authors
Historical Fiction Nonlinear
Cloud Cuckoo Land
Author: Anthony Doerr
Year: 2021
Genre: Literary Fiction
More info: National Book Award Finalist
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author
Age Range: 14+
Plot
I don’t know how to begin to describe this book. This is NOTHING like All The Light We Cannot See and yet, I absolutely loved it. It is part historical fiction, part sci-fi, and absolutely amazing.
The book is set in Constantinople in the fifteenth century, Five hundred years later in a library in Idaho and in a spaceship traveling to a new planet sometime in the near future. Even while trying to describe this book, it does not seem to go together and yet, the story of Cloud Cuckoo Land (a story within the Novel) acts as the glue that brings the characters together. The result is an amazing sci-fi book with a very powerful message.
This is not an easy read but is well worth it.
Trigger Warnings
War, school shooting
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this unique sci-fi historical fiction novel. The story within the story was woven perfectly throughout. I think people will either LOVE this book or hate it. But the mark of a good book is one that will be remembered and talked about.
Find this book in: Nonlinear Narrative Novels / 20 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time / The Best Audiobooks of All Time / Books about Libraries
The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois
Author: Honorèe Fanonne Jeffers
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: August 2021 Oprah’s Book Club Pick
National Book Critics Circle AwardWinner, 2021
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Wow. This is one of the best books I’ve listened to this year, and yes, I recommend it on audio for a few reasons.
First, the different narrators help tell this dual-timeline contemporary fiction. Through one narrator, we learn about Ailey’s life as an African American woman in the 20th century. The other narrator tells the story of the female ancestors of Ailey’s going all the way back to her Indigenous, black, and white relatives from two centuries earlier.
Through Ailey and her ancestors, the weight of what it means to be a black woman in America means. The sacrifices, injustices, struggles, and harassment endured by Ailey and her kin in the present day and the past are explored with a depth so real, I forgot it was a fictional story at times.
The second reason this book is great on audio? It’s LONG. It clocks in at over 800 pages or almost 30 hours of audiobook time. The narrators sucked me in and those 30 hrs flew by.
Trigger Warnings
Rape, slavery, incest
Why Kirsten loves it
I will say, this book made me consider my White Privilege in a way no non-fiction book could have. It’s a heavy story, but very worth the read and a great book for book clubs. The audiobook was fantastic and the 30 hours of story sucked me in.
Find this book in: Oprah’s Book Club List / The Best Celebrity Book Clubs / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Books by Female BIPOC Authors
The Goddess of Warsaw
Author: Lisa Barr
Year: 2024
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info:
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range:
Plot
The story opens in 2005 with legendary actress Lena Browning, telling her dark, daring past to an actress who wants to star in and direct a biopic about Lena. It then flashes forward to Lena’s time in the Warsaw Ghetto.
There, Bina Blonski as she was known at the time, narrates a story of persistence and sacrifice within the Ghetto walls. Torn between two brothers and with a survival instinct, Bina uses her Arayan looks and skills as an actress to work for the resistance.
Eventually, the story returns to 2005 and post-war Hollywood where we learn how Bina became Lena and how Lena has always continued the fight against those who seek her annihilation.
Trigger Warnings
War, death
Why Kirsten loves it
This is the best story I’ve ever read about the Holocaust because it depicts Jewish people, particularly women, as fierce fighters determined to prove their right to exist. I was inspired and awed by both the writing and the characters.
I laughed, cried, screamed in frustration, and was on the edge of my seat throughout. The tension was so high at times I found myself fidgeting, walking around, and wringing my hands. I’ll be recommending this book for years to come. It’s an absolute must-read. #Gifted
Why Jackie loves it
I love that this story takes place in multiple time periods. Lena is a great character and I loved reading her story. I called Kirsten yelling and needing to know the ending- which she would not spoil for me. At the end of the book, I was yelling with joy.
Find this book in: Books about the Holocaust / World War II Books / Best Historical Fiction Books of 2024 /Ultimate List of Best Historical Fiction Books/ Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Old Hollywood Books / Hollywood Novels
Trust by Hernan Diaz
Author: Hernan Diaz
Year: 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is a story told in four parts. The first is a bestselling novel written about a wealthy couple who rose to power and prominence in the 1920s before finding a sharp decline.
The second is the outline of a memoir written by the husband whom the novel is about. The third is the memoir of the husband’s former secretary and the final piece is the wife’s diary. The stories of all 4 conflict and coincide in various ways to tell a tale the reader has to decipher.
Why Kirsten loves it
I understand why Diaz won both The Booker Prize and the Pulitzer for this story. The way the layers unfolded, revealing secrets and answering questions was quite clever. It took all four narratives laid atop one another like layers of tracing paper to see the entire picture. It was just brilliantly done.
Adaptation Information
Kate Winslet is set to produce this series made for HBOMax. Todd Haynes is on board to write and direct the project.
Find this book in: Jazz Age Novels / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Books Becoming Movies
Nonlinear Timeline Thrillers
Wrong Place Wrong Time
Author: Gillian McAllister
Year: 2022
Genre: Mystery Thriller
More info: August 2022 Reese’s Book Club Pick
Age Range: 15+
Plot
Jen is waiting for the 18-year-old son, Todd to return home the night before Halloween when she watches him come from the darkness and murder a total stranger by stabbing him. She does not know why her son would do this but her life is torn to pieces.
When she wakes up the next morning, she is shocked to discover that she has gone back to a day before the murder. Can she stop it from happening? First, she needs to find out why.
Now, each time Jen wakes up, she has gone further back in the past- days, weeks, and years before the murder ever happened.
Why Jackie loves it
This time travel mystery is one of the smartest and most captivating books I have ever read. It is an easy pick for a favorite book of the year.
Find this book in:Best Thriller Books / Best Time Loop Books / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / Nonlinear Narrative Novels
The Dinner Herman Koch
Author: Herman Koch
Year: 2013
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Two couples, one family out for dinner- what can happen? The family has come together because they must help their 15-year-old sons after a horrific act. The meal starts with polite conversation on anything but the incident. What follows is anything other than a fun family meal. Each family is willing to do anything to protect their son.
This popular thriller book was recently adapted into a movie starring Richard Gere and Laura Linney.
Why Kirsten loves it
This thriller was unexpected in so many ways. The tension builds and the result is unexpected.
Why Jackie loves it
This is a slow-burn thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Find this book in: Best Thriller Books / Nonlinear Narrative Novels /
Listen for the Lie
Author: Amy Tintera
Year: 2024
Genre: Thriller
More info: March 2024 Good Morning America Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
2024 is the year of the thriller and this one doesn’t disappoint! Lucy is returning to her hometown for the first time since she was accused, but never charged, with murdering her best friend Savvy 5 years ago.
She has no memories of the night Savvy died, but she needs answers for herself. So she decides to team up with true crime podcaster, Ben Owens, to discover the truth – even if she’s implicated in the process.
Ben is real-time podcasting the whole investigation and his interviews are interspersed between chapters, revealing new insights each time.
Trigger Warnings
Domestic Abuse, murder
Why Jackie loves it
This is one mystery/thriller that is even better in audiobook format! The background noises and interviews bring the podcast to life. #gifted by Macmillan Audio
Why Kirsten loves it
I felt like I was in the story investigating it myself. I can’t emphasis enough that this one is best consumed by listening. Like Jackie noted, the audiobook adds elements not available in print. I will say I couldn’t figure out the ending on this one and was completely surprised by who committed the murder!
Find this book in: Best Audiobooks / Best Beach Reads 2024 / New Mystery Books of 2024 /Epistolary Novels / Nonlinear Narrative Novels
Girl on the Train
Author: Paula Hawkins
Year: 2015
Genre: Thriller
More info: #1 New York Times Bestseller
Movie Starring Emily Blunt
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Rachel takes the same train every day and peers out the window watching people. She watched two people in particular as they led what appeared to be a perfect life until one day she saw something terrible while watching them.
She reports it to the police but, can they trust a dysfunctional alcoholic? This is a domestic thriller story that will have you questioning who is telling the truth from the beginning until the end. Unreliable narrators like Rachel make the best page-turners! You’ll never know what to believe!
Trigger Warnings
Alcoholism
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a thriller that is unexpected and original. The unreliable narrator is one of my favorite thriller tropes and Hawkins did it to perfection in this book.
Why Jackie loves it
I loved to hate Rachel. She is the perfect unreliable narrator and I never guessed what would happen next.
Find this book in: Books with Stalkers / Domestic Thrillers / Unreliable Narrators / Psychological Thriller Books / British Books / Nonlinear Narrative Novels
Gone Girl
Author: Gillian Flynn
Year: 2012
Genre: Thriller
More info: #1 New York Times Bestseller
One of Time’s 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This is a psychological thriller book that almost everyone had heard of when it became a hit movie. It is the perfect example of what happens when a marriage goes terribly wrong. You will be questioning this book from the first page to the last.
On her fifth wedding anniversary, Amy Dunne mysteriously disappears. At the top of the suspect list is her husband Nick who seems perfect to the outside world. But, Nick and Amy are not who they appear to be.
There are so many twists and turns in this book that is the epitome of a domestic thriller and, if you love unreliable narrator books, this one is right up your alley. You may end up hating the characters, but this is one of the most popular thriller books ever written.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is such a great psychological thriller. I never knew what was going to happen and it kept me turning the pages to see how this thriller would end.
Why Jackie loves it
This is another book where I loved to hate both Nick and Amy. They are both despicable which adds to the fun of this book
Find this book in: Domestic Thriller Books / Best Mystery Books / Unreliable Narrator / Popular Thriller Books / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Best Psychological Thriller Books
Nonlinear Timeline Books: Romance
The Time Traveler’s Wife
Year: 2003
Genre: Time Travel Fiction
More info: 2009 Movie starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range:16+
Plot
Clare and Henry have an unusual love story. They’ve known each other since Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six but were married when Clare was twenty-three and Henry was thirty-one. Henry is an adventurous librarian who inadvertently travels through time.
He never knows where he will turn up and when he will disappear. He knows that he will travel suddenly and without warning. Will Clare and Henry be able to determine what causes the time jumps or is Henry destined to spend the rest of his life wondering and worrying?
Trigger Warnings
Sudden Death
Why Kirsten loves it
I adore how this story explores very real challenges that any couple faces. With the added time travel element, it becomes an unforgettable pick from our list of romance books.
Why Jackie loves it
The way Clare and Henry fight for their love shows a deep connection between the two that is unmatched.
Find this book in: Best Time Travel Books / Time Travel Romance Books / Books Like A Discovery of Witches / Best Romance Novels of All Time / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Books About Librarians
Husbands and Lovers
Author: Beatriz Williams
Year: 2024
Genre: Romance
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Mallory is searching for a donor kidney for her son after he eats a poisonous death cap mushroom and goes into kidney failure. Now, she is forced to confront secrets from her mother’s past and her own. Her mother’s adoption and her romance with her childhood best friend who is a famous singer-songwriter.
This is a nonlinear narrative that also goes back to 1951 Cair. It is the story of a Hungarian refugee who is married to a British Diplomat but has an affair with the manager of the Cairo Hotel. This pick from the spring 2024 book releases is a story that is so much more than the sum of its parts.
Trigger Warnings
Sexual Assault
Why Jackie loves it
I was not sure what to expect from this book but there was so much to dissect when I was done reading. At its heart, this is a story of women and what we do to survive and thrive.
Find this book in: June 2024 Book Releases / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Best Poolside Reads / Second Chance Romance Books
The Hundred Loves of Juliet
Author: Evelyn Skye
Year: 2023
Genre: Romance
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
After a terrible divorce, Helene moves to a small town in Alaska to write a novel. When she meets Sebastian, a handsome fisherman, he is the personification of all the dreams she ever had of her perfect man.
Helene is determined to find the truth about her instant connection to Sebastian, but he’s determined to keep it from her.
Why Kirsten loves it
I don’t want to spoil exactly how this Romeo and Juliet retelling is connected to the original story, but it’s a lovely romance with many mini-romances scattered throughout.
Why Jackie loves it
This book will keep you turning the pages and smiling at the end. Kirsten and I both think this is one of the best romance books of 2023.
Find this book in: Best Books of 2023 / Cozy Books / Second Chance Romance / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / Nonlinear Narrative Novels
Plot
Beth O’Leary has done it again with the No-show. The premise is simple. Three women are stood up on Valentine’s Day. As they try to overcome the embarrassment and stay in the relationship with their respective dates, secrets are told, love is tested, and not all is what it seems.
This may seem like a typical romance, but it’s really about each of the women finding themselves and what they need in a relationship. There is also a tragedy woven into the story that had me in tears at the end. The way their lives interconnect is special and wrapped up beautifully at the end.
Trigger Warnings
Car Accident
Why Kirsten loves it
This is an unexpected story that had me in tears. I love the way the relationships come together in this nonlinear narrative.
Find this book in: Ultimate Beach Reads 2022 / Nonlinear Narrative Novels
Plot
The story of Eva and Jim takes three separate paths. From when they first meet at University until they die, each time in their life unfolds in alternating stories.
A little hard to follow at first, it becomes increasingly easy as the stories depart in their various directions. The book was a study in the paths untaken. It also showed that what makes us happiest now, might be the worst for our future.
This book depicts real life and how love can change and grow or diminish. I cried at all three endings because I invested so much in Eva and Jim’s story.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a love story unlike any other. You can watch their love story unfold in three different ways.
Find this book in: Best Romance Novels of All Time / Nonlinear Narrative Novels
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Author: Emily Henry
Year: 2021
Genre: Romance
More info: #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range:18+
Plot
Do you believe Harry (from When Harry Met Sally) when he said “Women and men can’t be friends”?
We are sure think he’s wrong, but one of our favorite tropes is friends to lovers. People We Met on Vacation is the latest beach read from Emily Henry and it’s addicting.
Poppy has been best friends with Alex since a car ride home from college a decade ago. Since then, they’ve gone on vacation together every year until 2 years ago when it all came crashing down.
Will they recover their friendship with one more trip or will their relationship be irrevocably ruined? This is the perfect beach, poolside read, or vacation read. You should be sure to add it to your summer reading romance books list. And if you are looking for the best friends-to-lovers romance novel, this is it.
Why Jackie loves it
This is one of the best friends to lovers romances I have read. I love the way Emily Henry’s books. The stories are so relatable and utterly charming
Adaptation Information
Tom Blythe and Emily Bader are set to star in the Netflix movie adaptation. Sarah Catherine Hook, Lukas Gage, Lucien Laviscount, and Jameela Jamil have also joined the cast.
Find this book in: Friends to Lovers Romance Books / Books Like People We Meet on Vacation / Books Becoming Movies / Ultimate Beach Reads 2021
NonLinear Storytelling in Fantasy & Sci-fi Books
Plot
This historical fantasy book was brilliantly researched and had an amazing premise in which Jake Epping steps into a time hole to stop the assassination of Kennedy. Every time he leaves history, time resets itself. Each time something does not go right, he can reset the clock by stepping out of the hole no matter how much time has passed while he was in the past.
Sound confusing? King is a brilliant writer who can make transitions between the past and present seamless. His attention to detail in this whopper of a book is unmatched.
Why Jackie likes it
The historic details in this book were immaculate but, as much as everyone loved this book, I thought that it was much too long. You have to be prepared for almost 900 pages. The beginning and the end of the book were outstanding.
Find this book in: Historical Fantasy Books / Time Loop Books / Nonlinear Narrative Novels
Weyward by Emilia Hart
Author: Emilia Hart
Year: 2023
Genre: Historical Fantasy
More info: Indie Next March 2023 Pick, Winner of two Goodreads Choice Awards (Best Debut and Best Historical Fiction)
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is such a well-thought-out book and one of the best witch books I have read in a while. This adult fantasy book follows three Weyward women. In 2017, Kate is fleeing an abusive partner to her great-aunt’s cottage. In 1619, Altha is awaiting her own witch trial and in 1942 we meet Violet whose father keeps her trapped in her house because she cannot fit into what society expects of her.
Each of these women finds themselves and who they are as the story progresses and I found myself completely sucked in.
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this debut fantasy novel and I cannot wait to see what comes next from this author. It is also a perfect book to read if you love the Practical Magic Series or the All Souls Trilogy. If fantasy books are your favorite, you will love this book.
Find this book in: The Best Witch Books / Books Like A Discovery of Witches / Ultimate List of Best Adult Fantasy Novels / Urban Fantasy Books / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Best Adult Fantasy Novels
Plot
This 5-star read is making our best books of 2019 list for sure. When people start to become ill with False Memory Syndrome, nobody knows who will get it or how.
Barry is a cop who sees the devastating effect of FMS on the people who contract it. Helen is a scientist who studies memory. Barry and Helen come together to find answers and stop everyone’s past from becoming one distorted memory.
Why Jackie loves it
Blake Crouch is so smart, this book made me think about concepts I had never considered. If you like sci-fi, this is an absolute must-read. If you have never read Sci-fi, this is a perfect book to read first.
Find this book in: Best Sci-Fi Books / Time Loop Books / Best Books of 2019 / Books Set in New York / Nonlinear Narrative Novels
Expert Tip
Nonlinear narratives have complex plots and often have dual timelines. This can get confusing if there are a lot of characters or events. To make it easier or keep track of what is happening consider the following:
- Make a list of characters in each timeline
- Make a mini timeline for yourself of important events and when they take place
- If there is a family tree, reference it or make one for yourself to reference while you are reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Nonlinear Timeline?
A nonlinear narrative is a type of storytelling that does not go in chronological order. This type of storytelling is very effective for building suspense.
Why would an author write a nonlinear narrative?
Nonlinear storytelling is a great way to tell a story and build suspense. Often, nonlinear narratives have dual timelines. In these cases, the stories will move back and forth between the past and the present to build a story.
How do you tell a story nonlinearly?
The key to effective storytelling when the novel is nonlinear is a very strong plot. Every book we included on this list of nonlinear novels has carefully constructed the plot so the story does not get confusing. Rather, the story is more compelling when the information is not given all at once.
Related Content
Epilogue
Do you keep track of which books are nonlinear novels? It recently occurred to me how much I love these books. They really give me something to think about which is really important to me when reading. What is your favorite nonlinear Narrative?
