Beautyland

Winner of the American Book Award

Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award

A Best Book of 2024 at The New York Times

Top 10 Books of 2024 TIME Magazine

#1 Novel of 2024 Electric Literature

An Esquire Best Science Fiction Book of All Time

Finalist for the Libby Award, Sci-Fi

Longlisted for the Comedy Women in Print Prize

Longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize

Longlisted for the Mark Twain Prize

Top Books of 2024: Goodreads, Elle, Boston Globe, The Guardian, Lit Hub, Kirkus Reviews, Book Riot, Christian Science Monitor, Mother Jones, Women’s World, Bookshop.org, WBEZ Chicago

A Dakota Johnson x TeaTime Book Club Pick

A wise, tender novel about a woman who doesn’t feel at home on Earth by the acclaimed author of Parakeet.

At the moment when Voyager 1 is launched into space carrying its famous golden record, a baby of unusual perception is born to a single mother in Philadelphia. As a child, Adina Giorno recognizes that she is different; she also possesses knowledge of a faraway planet. The arrival of a fax machine enables her to contact her extraterrestrial relatives, beings who have sent her to report on the oddities of earthlings. As she moves through the world and makes a life for herself among humans, she dispatches transmissions on the terrors and surprising joys of their existence. But at a precarious moment, a beloved friend urges Adina to share her messages with the world. Is there a chance she is not alone?

“Beautyland is a monumental accomplishment, a shimmering masterpiece from an author with talent to spare.” — Michael Schaub for The Boston Globe

“It’s like fiction was invented for Adina and her tale.” —Annie Bostrom for Booklist

“This is the kind of humor that made Seinfeld millions, and Bertino does pathos, too.” —Alexandra Jacobs for The New York Times

“Deftly blurring the line between reality and metaphor to create a work of exquisite beauty, joyfully off-kilter humor, and aching sorrow.” — Dan Sheehan for Lit Hub