Reclaiming the joy of reading- what did I miss for the past 25 years?

Hey everyone,

I’m trying to reclaim the joy of reading after about 25 years of avoiding it. For context: I grew up in a very abusive household, and one of my parents was a modern lit professor who completely destroyed my love of books and writing. It’s taken a long time, but I feel ready to try again.

Background: I have a solid grounding in the European and US classics you’d expect up to A-levels. I remember loving The Master and Margarita, One Hundred Years of Solitude, most of Jane Austen, and Tortilla Flat, Solaris, Steppenwolf. I also have a soft spot for magical realism. The only “newer” book I’ve read in decades was Life of Pi, which I devoured while stranded in an airport.

Now I’d like to catch up a bit. If I wanted to read around 15–20 title that reflect the main trends of the past 30 years or so, what would you recommend? The sheer number of choices feels overwhelming, and I’d love some guidance.

I can read anything, never liked romance or rom-com too much. I'd rather stick to books with the vibe of "modern classics"

Big thanks!