Self Discovery Fiction

When Loretta Ashton dies suddenly, her family is shattered. As a devoted wife and mother, Loretta was their rock—a woman admired by the entire community. But at her funeral, an unexpected guest turns their grief into confusion. A stranger claiming to be Loretta’s sister takes a seat with the family, only to vanish before anyone can confront her. The problem? Loretta was an only child.

Dartmouth professor Dan Jackson did not want to murder his students. Yet, when he finds two pistols perched on top of the mid-term exams in his briefcase, he cannot resist the impulse to pull out the guns and start shooting. Now Dan struggles to find the answer to the question that haunts him: why did he kill 15 of his students? Dan's search for the answer must be pursued through his defense to the criminal charges and possible death penalty.

Someone once said, 'The cruelest lies are told in silence.' Experience says, that someone was right. Melanie was born without a left arm and bears the scars of shame and embarrassment. Sam blames himself for his sister's childhood death, along with everyone else. The greatest lies have altered their lives, possibly forever. Unless the truth be known, Melanie and Sam might not realize they have always been in love.

In the heart of Manhattan, Kate Alden appears to have it all: the owner of a top publishing house, a circle of supportive friends, and a life filled with upscale events. But beneath the facade of her high-society life lies a turbulent past, threatening to shatter the walls she’s carefully built around her darkest memories. When an innocent moment triggers a haunting memory from her childhood, Kate’s carefully compartmentalized world begins to crumble. Torn between the shadows of her past and the promise of a future, she finds herself navigating a maze of emotions, relationships, and ...

Originally published in 1994, When the World Was Steady is award-winning author Claire Messud's first novel.

Lucie Marshal is absolutely furious! How did she go from being a successful wife and mother to divorced, teetering on bankruptcy, and barely speaking to her grown-up daughter? Even worse, she’s just heard that her moronic ex-husband Miles is marrying a much younger woman in an influencer-style wedding in France #blessed #theone. Lucie will absolutely NOT be going. To hell with Miles, his new teeth, new hair and new wife! She’s perfectly fine...In fact, Lucie feels lost and angry almost all of the time. Just what happened to her younger, freer wild child self, who used to live life to the full?

Recently and abruptly divorced Veronica Barrington is anxious for a new direction when she answers a listing for a travel companion. It’s from Mariah Ellsworth, a young woman adjusting to an injury that ended her Olympic career. She’s also grieving her mother, Rachel, a lauded food writer, and Mariah aims to trace the steps of her mother’s final, unfinished project so she can heal and also honor the woman she misses.

COURAGE - CHARACTER - CONVICTION Stom Carpenter has always lived on the fringes, navigating the confusing and isolating world of high school under an assumed name. Unseen for who he really is, and standing out only for his differences, he’s a silent giant in the halls—a boy whose quiet nature and intense focus make him an easy target for ridicule. Misunderstood by his peers and even by himself, Stom carries the weight of struggles he can’t explain, living in a time when words like "autism" and "neurodivergent" were rarely spoken and even less understood. COMPATIBILITY WAS ONLY A ...

Fannie Johnson has seen darn near all the world has to offer at her Thank the Lord Boarding House. It is home to a variety of interesting people who regard each other as family. One such is Sarah Jolene Tilman, who is ready to strike out on her own. In stark contrast, Richard Peterson has done more than his share of living and is looking for simpler pleasures. Under Fannie's watchful eye, each will embark on a path of self-exploration and find that life is nothing if not a wildly unpredictable journey.

As two couples, Andie and Craig and Jennifer and Robert head off, the highway in front and the caravans behind, everyone is looking forward to the excitement and freedom of life on the road. But underneath, doubt lingers for both Andie and Jennifer. Not about their carefully planned trip. The doubt relates to something more personal than that—their marriages. From Tropical North Queensland, across the Top End into the Kimberleys, down the west coast to Perth, across the Nullarbor, over Bass Strait, and up the east coast of Australia, both couples find that adventure comes in many forms. ...

What will your life mean to others? What unseen mark will you leave behind? In Echoes of Eternity, ordinary people are given extraordinary glimpses into the legacies they create, guided by the mysterious Joseph Crown. This collection of stories invites you to explore what it means to truly matter, to see the quiet ripples of your choices, and to consider the ways your life might impact others in ways you may never know. Meet Vincent, a dedicated clockmaker who doubts the purpose of his work—until he discovers how his creations have quietly inspired generations. Walk with Leah, a musician ...

This completely original collection of poetry and prose captures the imagination and is a delight for both Lang Leav's avid fans and anyone encountering her writing for the first time. With every moment, Sea of Strangers invites you to go beyond love and loss to explore themes of self-discovery and empowerment as you navigate your way around the human heart.

A literary fiction book set in New York and the South Seas during the early 1900s. The story unravels the inner world of Bellair, a man disillusioned by his mundane life, who discovers a transformative experience that alters his destiny. Bellair starts his novel journey in an old boarding house on a drowsy Sunday in New York. Entangled in his disenchanted reality, he wanders east to Brooklyn's waterfront, where he stumbles upon the ship "Jade of Adelaide." Captivated by the ship’s beauty and the promise of adventure it symbolizes, Bellair feels a surge of emotions—a longing for escape ...

In this captivating memoir, follow Tommy as he embarks on a powerful journey of self-discovery, navigating the intricate layers of grief, identity, and acceptance. When tragedy strikes, Tommy finds himself grappling with profound loss, igniting a relentless quest to unearth the truth of his own identity and reconcile with his estranged father. Embarking on a poignant exploration of grief, Tommy finds that healing is a deeply personal process. Throughout his journey, he uncovers unexpected moments of forgiveness and understanding that bridge the gaps between heartache and hope.

Emily Herds an Ox is a contemporary novel that utilizes the framework of the "Ten Ox Herding Pictures" from Zen Buddhism. The Ten Ox-herding Pictures have concretely depicted the process in which the imperfect, limited, and relative self (the little child) awakens to the perfect, unlimited, and absolute essential self (the ox), grasps it, tames it, forgets it, and completely incorporates it into the personality. The “Ten Ox Herding Pictures” shows the stages of Zen practice and enlightenment. Depicting both dramatic breakthroughs and plodding practice, it reconciles “sudden ...

"Your daddy killed Chris!" When Nikki heard her little cousin utter these four words, she had no idea they would change the course of her young life forever. Had no idea that her beloved father would be ripped away from her, drawn into a protracted legal battle. Had no idea that she would be forced to flee her home and go into hiding with her mother and siblings.

A tragic accident, a life-threatening ordeal, and haunting visions of the future forces one man to set out on a quest to alter his fate. Clint, a self-absorbed and arrogant man, spends every waking moment looking out for the most important person in his life. Himself. With no regard for the people he harms, he manipulates and negotiates his way to a life of extravagance. After a near-fatal accident, he is compelled to confront his past and explore the possibilities of his future. Realizing he needs to change his ways or suffer the consequences of his past actions, Clint struggles to ...

A romantic adventure book set in the South Pacific during the late 19th century. Following a shipwreck, Mabel Miller, a disillusioned socialite from San Francisco, finds herself on the vibrant yet dangerous island of Kaahlanai with a small band of survivors, including Captain Gray and the Gray family. Initially seeking a break from her monotonous lifestyle, Mabel embarks on a journey that takes her far beyond her wildest dreams. Upon their ship's destruction by fire and subsequent arduous days at sea, the survivors finally land on Kaahlanai. They initially face both the harsh realities of ...

I’m Sad and Horny explores the highs and lows of living life deeply in your twenties. From ghostings and breakups to depression masturbating and finding a little inner peace—Haley Lu captures it all. Through wit and tears, this poetry collection showcases the versatility and personal side of the critically acclaimed actress.

Spoiler alert: To avoid mind-altering information below, read the novel, The Difference, first! Twelve years after anxiety-prone Rachel Granza achieved her genealogy journey, emptiness creeps back into her otherwise perfect life, married to Brian in the ‘burbs with a booming psychotherapy practice. She finally has a clue about her mental health and knows her old coping methods jeopardize relationships and beyond. No thanks. But what would return her peace? A new ancestry mission? Yes, that’s it! Deciding she still needs answers to lingering questions about her Italian family history, ...