Every month, Debutiful selects can’t-miss books from debut authors that readers will love. You can find more recommendations here.
Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig (May 6; Bloomsbury)
A page-turning adventure about a Chinese pirate queen awaits you this summer. Deep as the Sky will captivate readers regardless of what genre or style they like. This is beautifully written with a sharp eye for pace. It feels cinematic.
Countries of Origin by Javier Fuentes (June 6; Pantheon)
A chance meeting between two men on an airplane to Spain starts this engrossing and tender story about love, place, and family. Both are leaving America for different reasons. One is permanently returning to his homeland for the first time since childhood. The other is headed back temporarily before returning to America to finish his studies. Their entanglement and affair are both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
​​A Quitter’s Paradise by Elysha Chang (June 6; SJP Lit)
After her mother’s death, a woman has yet to begin to grieve and is avoiding processing what has happened, physically and mentally. Once she starts to go through her late mother’s possessions, this becomes a poignant portrait of grief and uncovering family mysteries. Chang’s novel is one for the ages.
At the Edge of the Woods by Kathryn Bromwich (June 6; Two Dollar Radio)
This book is an absolute stunner. Set in the Italian Alps, we find a woman living alone in a cabin in the woods. Bromwich follows her life with beautiful writing that pairs well with the stark and unsettling plot that unfolds.
Pedro & Daniel by Federico Erebia (June 6; Levine Querido)
Two brothers come of age in the 1970s as they navigate their differences and have each other’s backs when no one else will. This young adult novel is uplifting and charming.
You Can’t Stay Here Forever by Katherine Lin (June 13; Harper)
A young widow flees her reality for the French Riviera to grieve, reflect, and discover her new place in the world. This is the literary version of The White Lotus. Lin’s pitch-perfect characters coupled with thoughtful reflections on love and privilege make this an unforgettable read. This book will grab you and not let you go from the very first page to the last period.
Leg by Greg Marshall (June 13; Abrams)
Greg Marshall’s memoir is hilarious and sincere. Subtitled “The Story of a Limb and the Boy Who Grew from It” allows readers to meet the author in a genuine way and by the end of it feel like they’re best friends.
Holding Pattern by Jenny Xie (June 20; Riverhead)
We find Xie’s main character in a moment of vulnerability after she turned her life upside down and returned home for a fresh start. What follows is an intimate portrayal of a newfound relationship with her mother, discovering her place in the world, and uncovering old wounds and how they shape her. Xie is a maestro and this is the first book in a career we’ll want to watch closely.
Mrs. S by K Patrick (June 20; Europa Editions)
Mrs. S is steamy and seductive. Set in a boarding school, an unnamed character arrives to be a school matron. All is well until she meets the headmaster’s wife and the two begin an affair. The exploration of queer love is brilliant.
Talking At Night by Claire Daverley (June 20; Pamela Dorman)
This is the perfect love story for the summer. It feels like a light breeze right after dinner. The atmosphere that surrounds the two young people falling for each other, growing distant, and learning what love is really about is Daverley’s greatest strength. She crafted the perfect vibe for these characters to inhabit.
Banyan Moon by Thao Thai (June 27; Mariner)
This book about generations of women in a family spans decades and continents. The complications and secrets the women have and hold between each other make this feel like a page-turning thriller. It’s a soft and nuanced book with rich characters.
That Reminds Me by Derek Owusu (June 27; And Other Stories)
A dense, poetic coming-of-age story about a boy written in short bursts. It will move you in ways you aren’t prepared for. Originally published in the U.K. in 2019, it is finally being published in America by And Other Stories.