12 can’t-miss debut books to read in March

Each month, Debutiful helps readers discover debut authors who are releasing can’t-miss books!

Another Appalachia by Neema Avashia (WVU Press; March 1)

This is the coming-of-age story of a queer, Indian girl in rural West Virginia. The essays Avashia has collected offer a lens into a very specific upbringing that sheds light as America as a whole.

Sin Eaters by Caleb Tankersley (University of Alaska Press; March 1)

Tankersley’s short stories feature characters that you’ve never experienced before. He has a grasp on what makes us so weirdly obsessed with small towns. This is the book for anyone who wants something dark and peculiar on their nightstand.

The Wonders by Elena Medel; translated by Lizzie Davis and Thomas Bunstead (Algonquin; March 1)

This English-language debut from the acclaimed Spanish poet is vivid and mesmerizing. The translators knocked it out of the park and the prose just oozes off the page.

Eleutheria by Allegra Hyde (Vintage; March 8)

Allegra Hyde has added another novel to the environmental fiction canon. She tackled idealism and survival in such a tender way. It’s the kind of novel that teeters on introspection and propulsive narration. Every page is a knock out.

A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch (Dutton; March 15)

As the title may suggest, this is a novel set in the literary world and of obsession. It’s a fast-paced book filled with dark and twisted corners about the pitfalls of desire. On top of all of that, Barasch perfectly sprinkles the right sense of humor just when the plot needs it.

Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu (Little, Brown; March 15)

In this stunning generational novel, Fu offers the realities of war and the lasting impact it has on a family’s search for belonging. It’s deeply moving and offers hope for even the darkest of times.

When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo (Doubleday; March 15)

Set in Trinadad, this books balances love and magic in a remarkably original novel. It’s captivating from the first page. Banwo masterfully weaves together multiple types of stories into one unforgettable overarching plot.

Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou (Penguin Press; March 22)

Disorientation is the millennial satire you didn’t know you needed. Chou’s wry wit is in full force on every single page as she tackles modern culture and our career-driven obsessions.

The Town of Babylon by Alejandro Varela (Astra House; March 22)

Varela’s tender book about a man who reluctantly returns to his hometown is heartwarming. He explores race, class, sexuality, and more in a poignant novel that will sit with readers long after the final page is finished.

Out There by Kate Folk (Random House; March 29)

Wild stories fill this collection. A perfect blend of sci-fi, realism, and tinges of Kaufa-esque horror. This is for readers who think they’ve read everything. It’ll break your brain in the best possible way.

Monarch by Candice Wuehle (Soft Skull; March 29)

In her first novel, poet Candice Wuehle writes a sinisterly fun novel about a former pageant queen who uncovers the dark side of the government. This is for fans of Stranger Things mixed with Little Miss Sunshine. It doesn’t sound like it works, but it sure as hell does.

All The White Spaces by Ally Wilkes (Atria; March 29)

A haunting historical thriller set in the frozen nights of Antartica. Wilkes has mastered the page-turner for anyone who has the compulsion to stay up until 2am to finish a book.