How to Start Reading Aja Gabel
Since Aja Gabel writes standalone literary fiction, there is no strict chronological order or series continuity to worry about. You can read her books in any order you choose. However, your ideal starting point depends on your personal genre preferences:
- If you love character-driven stories and the arts: Start with her debut novel, The Ensemble (2018). It is a rich, realistic exploration of a chamber music quartet, following four musicians over two decades as their friendships, rivalries, and romantic lives intertwine.
- If you enjoy speculative fiction and relationship dramas: Start with her second novel, Lightbreakers (2025). This book blends literary fiction with speculative elements, focusing on a couple navigating time travel, grief, and the loss of their young daughter in the Texas desert.
Aja Gabel Novels in Publication Order
Aja Gabel has published two standalone novels, both released by Riverhead Books. Here is the order in which they were published:
- The Ensemble (May 15, 2018)
- Lightbreakers (November 4, 2025)
Deep Dive into the Novels
The Ensemble (2018)
Set against the backdrop of the high-stakes classical music world, Gabel's debut novel introduces readers to the Van Ness Quartet: Jana, Brit, Daniel, and Henry. The narrative spans twenty-five years, tracking the group's journey from struggling young musicians to world-class performers. Drawing on Gabel's personal history as a cellist, the novel avoids romanticized tropes about classical musicians, showcasing instead the physical pain, creative compromises, and profound intimacy that come with sharing a career and a stage for decades. It is a perfect fit for readers who enjoy detailed ensemble casts and stories centered on chosen families.
Lightbreakers (2025)
Gabel’s sophomore novel, Lightbreakers, shifts into the realm of speculative literary fiction. The story centers on Maya, an artist, and Noah, a quantum physicist, who are mourning the death of Noah's young daughter, Serena. When Noah is invited to join a secretive project in Marfa, Texas, that researches time travel, he becomes obsessed with using the experimental technology to see his daughter again. Meanwhile, Maya travels back to Japan, reconnecting with a former lover and confronting her own past. The novel is a poignant, genre-bending look at marriage, the mechanics of memory, and how far humans will go to undo grief.
Short Fiction and the Film Adaptation of "Little Fish"
Before publishing her novels, Gabel established herself as a short story writer. Her most notable short piece is "Little Fish", which won the fiction contest in the literary journal phoebe in 2011. The story depicts a couple trying to hold onto their love and shared history during a mysterious global pandemic known as Neuroinflammatory Affliction (NIA), which erases people's memories.
In 2020, the short story was adapted into a feature-length science fiction romantic drama film, also titled Little Fish. Directed by Chad Hartigan and written by Mattson Tomlin, the film stars Olivia Cooke and Jack O'Connell. It received critical acclaim for its intimate, grounded portrayal of love and memory loss in a pandemic setting.
In addition to "Little Fish," Gabel has published other shorter works, including:
- "In The Time of Adonis" (Short story published in Glimmer Train, Issue #88, 2013)
- "The Sparrows in France" (Nonfiction essay published in The Kenyon Review, Fall 2014)
What to Know Before You Start
Gabel’s writing is characterized by its lyrical cadence and its deep interest in how human relationships survive under pressure—whether that pressure comes from the demands of artistic ambition, the weight of grief, or a memory-erasing virus. Because her novels are standalone works, there are no cliffhangers or reading order requirements. Readers can comfortably select the premise that intrigues them most and dive right in.