Hiya,
Looking for suggestions for a single POV fiction book where the protagonist is kind of a loner and a pessimist with trouble opening up emotionally, yet you still managed to have a lot of fun reading their story and found their narrative engaging. My preferences are that it’s either fantasy, contemporary or a nice mix of both, but I don’t mind the genre all that much as long as it’s not horror or litfic. YA, NA or Adult is fine. Preferably under 500 pages. Female protagonist would be ideal. I’d also prefer a lack of smut, but I can survive the odd scene.
I’m thinking if Kaz Brekker was a woman and was a little more entertaining without the rest of the crows to spice him up.
TIA\~
by fuchsielle
17 Comments
Maybe [Hench](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/1c13611f-d80d-49d6-b9ca-5c4c3af6f994) by Natalie Zina Walschots
[A Man Called Ove](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18774964) is the obvious answer. Main character is male clearly but secondary character is female
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow
Oh man you need Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
Not a female protagonist, but you may enjoy The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison. It technically ties in with the Goblin Emperor, but you don’t really have to read that one, it’s just set in the same world.
Eleanor Rigby by Douglas Coupland
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver has 3 MCs, a young widow, a woman in late middle age who dislikes humanity to the point where she lives in the backwoods, and an elderly man who spends all day ranting and raving about the choices of his neighbors. You’ll love them all
The Witcher series perhaps? Mainly male protagonist
The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson. A man wakes up in a field with no memories. Turns out, he’s in Medieval England. The book is also peppered with excerpts from a time-traveling brochure. Fun & quick and mostly meets your criteria (but I don’t want to spoil anything).
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine checks all of your boxes and actually did make me laugh out loud.
TW: child abuse, rape, domestic violence
Mystery Man by Bateman
Although to be fair he challenges the ‘likable’ criteria 😀
I’m currently reading the Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey and really enjoying it. It’s sci-fi but the main character fits your criteria.
I’m currently reading the Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey and really enjoying it. It’s sci-fi but the main character fits your criteria.
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead. One of the best grumpy female characters I’ve ever encountered.
The Zoey Ashe books by Jason Pargin may be worth a shot. Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits is the first, then Zoey Punches The Future In The Dick. There’s a third book in the series coming out later this year.
I was going to suggest The Idiot by Elif Batuman or The New Me by Halle Butler. I don’t really know what you consider to be ‘litfic’ though.
I Thought There Would Be Cake by Katharine Welby-Roberts
The Jubal County Saga by Bob McGough. The MC Howard Marsh is a total reprobate. Living in a shipping container next to the Dairy queen. He is also a Magician who uses drugs to fuel his magic which he uses to solve supernatural happenings around the county.
A blacksheep son hailing from an ancient family of really scary hillbillies. So it makes for an interesting juxtaposition. 6 books in the series so far.
I figured I’d hate Howard, but he is oddly endearing. Can’t wait for the next book.