Station Eleven

I picked this one up because I saw it on a list of top sci-fi books (I forget now where I saw the list). Plotwise, the story centers around a flu-like disease that takes out most of the population (not sure if I bought into the speed and totality of the collapse, but that's a minor squabble compared to where the book excels). There are definitely a few moments of suspense, but overall I would consider this a character driven novel–and here the book really excels.

The book follows a number of characters, lives interrelated, both before and after the apocalypse. Throughout the book you see slowly unfold how their various stories are connected. More than that, you see expertly woven into the story themes of what life is meant to be, how we relate to the past and future, and how we react to disaster and tragedy. All of this is pulled off very naturally such that the themes really don't start to hit you until you've taken some time to reflect on the story afterward (the edition I read had some questions in the back that helped spark some of this reflection).

I would put this on my highly recommended list (for just about anyone). I think the combination of deep characters with compelling storylines, all interwoven expertly, should make this book appealing to a wide audience.