Marie-Helene Bertino’s “Beautyland” is on the New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2024 List

Here is the standout fiction and nonfiction of the year, selected by the staff of The New York Times Book Review.

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Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino

In 1970s Philadelphia, an alien girl sent to Earth before she’s born communicates with her fellow life-forms via fax as she helps gather intel about whether our planet is habitable. This funny-sad novel follows the girl and her single mother as they find the means to persevere.