Debutiful’s Adam Vitcavage recommends noteworthy debut books for readers to discover each month.
Extinction Capital of the World by Mariah Rigg (August 5)
These ten stories expertly explore desire, loss, displacement, and environmental fragility across characters throughout Hawai’i. Each is electric and lyrical. Rigg’s a master short story writer with unbelievable skill. As someone who has never been to Hawai’i, this transported me there and made me care about the people, locations, and history like no book ever has.
Dwelling by Emily Hunt Kivel (August 5)
A banger about the end of the world, philosophically, emotionally, and physically. Run out and pre-order this now. I haven’t stopped thinking about this since I put it down. Who could have imagined the housing crisis could be so captivating? There’s a bite to Emily Hunt Kivel’s writing that is so rare on the page. It’s going to be a crowd pleaser for years to come.
Atomic Hearts by Megan Cummins (August 5)
The emotional rawness leaps off the page. It follows Gertie throughout her life, which is filled with carefree highs and disastrous lows. Gertie’s voice is so well developed and nuanced; she’s set to be one of the most memorable characters of the year.
Dead Girl Cameo by m. mick powell (August 5)
powell is a ferocious writer with an unapologetic voice. She explores how we treat our heroes, and what heroes do and do not owe us. The poems are odes to those we lost (Whitney Houston, Left Eye) and a reminder that we’re all hiding pain. Moving and refreshing. A knockout.
These Memories Do Not Belong to Us by Yiming Ma (August 12)
A slim and powerful speculative novel about what happens when memories are taken from us and given to everyone. Ma is a brilliant mind with a shining voice. His writing is spellbinding, and his plot and characters are innovative and engaging. Reading it was reminiscent of the first time I read Ted Chiang’s “Story of Your Life.” It made me believe that books can change my brain’s chemistry.
The Sunflower Boys by Sam Wachman (August 12)
A tender and moving story about love and belonging, as a young boy comes to terms with his sexuality, set against war breaking out in Ukraine. This book could not come at a more poignant time as the world watches Ukrainian lives continue to be destroyed. Wachman immerses readers in the visceral realities of trauma and hope with profound insight.
Loved One by Aisha Muharrar (August 12)
Muharrar’s comedic chops are known to anyone who loved Parks and Recreation and Hacks. She turns her attention to the emotional and poignant story of Julia, whose first love dies unexpectedly. Julia then goes on a journey to find his missing guitar and becomes entangled with his most recent girlfriend. She brings heartfelt humor to the forefront.
Vulture by Phoebe Greenwood (August 12)
Journalist Phoebe Greenwood satirically exposes the devastation of war. At times heartbreaking, the book uses dark humor, which is when Vulture really packs a punch. This book is enthralling through and through.
Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (August 19)
Mississippi will always hold a special place in my heart. My wife lived there for a decade before we met, and we bonded over our love of Jesmyn Ward’s novels. This book is yet another Mississippi novel that fully breathes life into the state that many misunderstand. Set in a Black Southern town where faith, ambition, and violence collide, it’s a raw, intimate look at how we’re all caught in the webs we weave. Citchens is a powerhouse ready to step onto the scene.
The Once and Future Me by Melissa Pace (August 19)
This made my head spin as a woman enters a psychiatric hospital, remembering nothing. It’s a psychological thriller where her potential husband comes to visit, but can she really believe it is him? Pace blurs reality and delusion in an utterly thrilling way. Easily re-readable, which is such a rarity these days.
Black Cherokee by Antonio Michael Downing (August 19)
Downing has already accomplished in children’s fiction and has released an acclaimed memoir, and with his debut novel, he proves lightning can strike thrice. Black Cherokee is a captivating story about ancestry and belonging in a South Carolina Cherokee community.
Hothouse Bloom by Austyn Wohlers (August 26)
Hothouse Bloom is a lush exploration of isolation, fixation, and the insidious ways capitalism seeps into our private lives. Wohlers packs a lot into this slim novel. While you may finish it in one sitting, it will stay with you for much, much longer.
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