In “Darkenbloom,” by the Austrian novelist Eva Menasse, the citizens of a European border town have secrets they’d prefer to ...

For a market full of “tired” and desensitized readers, she writes, today’s novelist must “know how far he can distort without destroying.” Cartoon writing for a cartoon world.

Abby Jimenez is renowned for her romance novels, a number of which have become bestsellers. Her seventh book, “Say You’ll Remember Me,” is being released Tuesday. But, prior to becoming an author, the ...