Debutiful’s Adam Vitcavage recommends noteworthy debut books for readers to discover each month.
Women and Children First by Alina Grabowski (SJP Lit; May 7)
Ten women nimbly narrate this tale of tragedy. Grabowski is a maestro who manipulates voice, tone, and dialogue with ease. The voices leap off the page and create a memorable and meditative book. There’s no doubt Grabowski will be a writer that readers will love for years to come.
Cinema Love by Jiaming Tang (Dutton; May 7)
Tang’s beautiful and kind story of two men in rural China (and later America) is an ode to perseverance, honesty, and intimacy. Simply put: this book is exquisite.
The Skunks by Fiona Warnick (Tin House; May 7)
Set during the summer after graduating college where the weight of possibility is crushing, Warnick’s book is a breath of fresh air. It is a loving laugh toward the mistakes we make in our early 20s and how each moment is equally a grand, romantic moment as well as laughably not of consequence.
Loneliness & Company by Charlee Dyroff (Bloomsbury; May 7)
Dryoff’s near future-set book is a bewitching story about technology and isolation. It will grip readers with mesmerizing writing and a tautly-paced plot.
Ghostroots by ‘Pemi Aguda (WW Norton; May 7)
The stories in Aguda lean into the speculative and open worlds with ease. Set in modern Nigeria, the collection explores womanhood from multiple, fresh angles. Each story is gorgeous and marvelous.
Early Sobrieties by Michael Deagler (Astra House; May 7)
Deagler’s debut shines as a raw and captivating introspective journey. He blends of humor, insight, and sparkling prose to explore the complexities of sobriety and self-discovery.
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (Avid Reader Press; May 7)
This will be the book everyone is talking about this summer. Booksellers, social media, your parents, your teens. Everyone will simply love this time-traveling spy romance. It literally checks off all of the boxes for what a damn good book should be. Just go get it right now. Seriously.
The Way You Make Me Feel by Nina Sharma (Penguin Press; May 7)
Sharma’s amazing collection of essays about love and culture will move you. She invites readers into her interracial relationship with a lot of heart and humor. This is a book that will remind you of the kindness in the world.
The Witches of Bellinas by J. Nicole Jones (Catapult; May 14)
Jones’s memoir was a Best Debut of 2021 and I’ve been eagerly awaiting what comes next from this brilliant writer. She turns her wit and masterful writing toward a fictitious cult in her first novel.
Oye by Melissa Mogollon (May 14; Hogarth)
Mogollon’s book is a swoon-worthy family saga that will make you fall in love with the characters. It’s bursting with heart on every page and it is so warm and alive. It’s a reminder that though life can drag you down, there is hope lurking around every corner.
We Were the Universe by Kimberly King Parsons (Knopf; May 14)
Black Light is an all-timer when it comes to short story collections and her novel has been at the top of my list of must-reads for ages. King Parsons can go from hilarity to heartbreak, sexy to somber, and cozy to cringe with ease within the span of a page. Kimberly King Parsons is a queen of storytelling.
Mood Swings by Frankie Barnet (Astra House; May 21)
They say not to judge a book by its cover but this one stopped me dead in my tracks. The cover, like the book, is absurd and witty. It is a laugh-out-loud masterpiece.
Cactus Country by Zoë Bossiere (Abrams; May 21)
Bossiere’s memoir about coming-of-age in a trailer park in the desert is an unforgettable trans memoir. It is an incredibly moving and thought-provoking story expertly told. It’s a vital book that instantly belongs in the queer canon.
Kittentits by Holly Wilson (Gillian Flynn Books; May 21)
A wild ride. Wilson transports readers to the early-1990s for a rollercoaster ride of female friendship, sleaze, and overcoming the perils of early adulthood. It’s a book you’ll want to share with all of your friends the moment you finish the last page.
Housemates by Emma Copley Eisenberg (Hogarth; May 28)
Emma Copley Eisenberg was the first guest on the podcast when it launched back in 2020 and her nonfiction The Third Rainbow Girl was one of the best debuts that year. Housemates is a brilliant book about friendship, found family, and jawns. It’s an ode to our bonds told through exquisite character work that makes the world feel so lived in.