When I started Debutiful in 2019, I relied on scrounging up galleys sent to Changing Hands Bookstore, where I worked one or two days a week, hosting author events. I received a few advanced copies because I was writing freelance for outlets like Electric Literature and The Millions, but not enough to truly keep up with the debuts.
Flash forward to 2026 releases, and I can’t even count the number of pitches I get. With a pile of books awaiting my eye, how does a book get selected for a Most Anticipated List?
This recent Galley Brag newsletter between editor Ezra Kupor and writer Kristen Martin shed light on most anticipated lists with Martin saying, “I mean this has been said thousands of times, but with those “most anticipated” lists, the people who are writing it are not reading the books. Like, you just can’t. There is not enough time, and you’re not being paid nearly enough.”
I’m not sure how other outlets choose their titles, but here is some insight into how I select these lists. Which, yes, does include publicists doing their jobs, but also includes me reading full books and a handful of pages of each book I can get my hands on.
The “long list” of books that caught my attention one way or another (a publicist’s email or a book deal from three years ago, I kept noted in a spreadsheet) clocked in at 180 titles that will be released in 2026. From there, I looked at every book I’ve received a copy or PDF of, read around 20 pages, and started compiling titles that excited me the most. This ranged from writers I covered who were now debuting with a novel, books with terrific opening pages, recommendations from writers, or just reading about a book deal that sparked a four-way, multi-million-dollar battle.
The final list of Debutiful’s Most Anticipated Debut Books is 66 titles, most of which are coming out in the next six months. A Part Two will come out in June covering the second half of the year. This is effectively my TBR pile. I want to read all of these, and I know books I don’t list on here will come out, and I’ll be dying to read them, so they become a new most anticipated book.
Before you enjoy the list, and pre-order the books that catch your eye, please check out DEBUT U, a new series of classes we’re launching in 2026 taught by Jared Lemus, Ehsani Surya, and m. mick powell!
Now, we’re proud to introduce Debutiful’s Most Anticipated Debut Books of 2026, Part One!
Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash (January 13)
From the publisher: Rippling with humor, warmth, and style, Lost Lambs is a new vision of the charms and pitfalls of family dysfunction.
What others are saying: “I can’t remember the last time a novel made me laugh so hard or feel so much tenderness for its characters.” —Leslie Jamison, author of Splinters
I first encountered Cash later than most; it was on a Zoom call with librarians and booksellers as part of a Macmillan event I help emcee. Her conversation with The Strand event director, Walker Iversen, sold me instantly on this book. The raw humor in the opening pages delivered the promise of Leslie Jamison’s blurb. This book captures the voice of her generation.
Scavengers by Kathleen Boland (January 13)
From the publisher: A rollicking debut novel about a cautious daughter and her eccentric, estranged mother venturing west in search of buried treasure—and a way back to each other—before they run out of patience, money, and options
What others are saying: “Wholly original and truly surprising, Scavengers is an ode to revisitation and reinvention, proving that changing your views of other people is the only way to change yourself. This is a desert rose of a debut.” —Courtney Maum, author of Touch and Costalegre
When I tell you I saw my mother in Boland’s mother character, I cackled. I cried. I felt something a lot of child-parent relationship books don’t give me. Boland’s characters will live with you a long time. She has a knack for reeling a reader into an intimate scene and welcoming them to the family.
The Age of Calamities by Senaa Ahmad (January 13)
From the publisher: Written by an inimitable new voice, The Age of Calamities is a genre-defying, mind-bending collection of absurdist, funny, and speculative short stories.
What others are saying: “Senaa Ahmad’s stories are dazzlingly inventive. . . .These stories make it clear how ancient history and myths still linger in contemporary life—but also propose the radical possibility that we may yet escape or alter old patterns and old wounds.” –Kelly Link, award-winning author of The Book of Love and White Cat, Black Dog
If you want a taste of Ahmad’s writing, read “Let’s Play Dead”. Ahmad bends genre but not in a “oh this is a genre-bending mash-up.” She plays with tropes and structure in a brilliant way. Each story is a masterpiece.
I Could Be Famous by Sydney Rende (January 13)
From the publisher: From a magnetic new voice in fiction “made for this moment and for those coming of age within it” (Jonathan Dee), a debut story collection following ten ambitious women and one male superstar as they pursue their desires–however deluded–for more.
What others are saying: “A terrific debut: fresh, original, and surprising. Eleven fast, sharp, funny stories laced with a deep understanding of the corrosive effect our fame-hungry attention economy has on real connection between people. Rende is such a witty, engaging writer, with an intuitive understanding that the short story is in the world to delight, engage, and enlarge the reader.” —George Saunders, Booker Prize-winning author of LINCOLN IN THE BARDO
The stories are easy in all the right ways – easy to laugh, easy to love, easy to want to re-read – and challenging in alll the right ways. Rende writes about women in such a smart way, allowing their strengths and flaws to shine equally.
Discipline by Larissa Pham (January 20)
From the publisher: A taut, electrifying debut about a woman forced to confront unsettling truths about herself, her past, and the life she rebuilt following a ruinous affair with her former mentor, from a “lit world phenom” (Harper’s Bazaar)
What others are saying: “Art bleeds into life in Larissa Pham’s exhilarating, exquisite book, full of an eerie intelligence and startling compassion. . . . A pitch-perfect novel.”—Ayşegül Savaş, author of The Anthropologists
I first read Pham’s work when she released her essay collection Pop Song and have been dying to read fiction from her ever since. This is a penetrating story about a woman’s past and the truth she’s spun out of it. Pham dazzles while navigating through the complexities of our pasts.
Hemlock by Melissa Faliveno (January 20)
From the publisher: A woman haunted by a dark inheritance returns to the woods where her mother vanished, in this queer Gothic novel.
What others are saying: “Gorgeous and surprising, Hemlock’s propulsive plot is fueled by equal parts Midwestern dread and Midwestern love, a combination my own Midwestern heart recognizes as home. Faliveno sets her exploration of the complicated, compelling legacies of family and place amid a great and beautiful landscape I’ve loved all my life, but that I’ve maybe never seen as vividly as I do right now, after having been shown it anew through Faliveno’s evocative prose. A spectacular debut.”–Matt Bell, author of Appleseed
Faliveno’s Tomboyland is one of my favorite nonfiction books ever. When I heard Hemlock was coming out, I put everything on pause, got a copy, and devoured it. She captures the struggles with alcohol dependencies in such a real way. The atmosphere of the Wisconsin woods propels this book to great new heights. Faliveno is a master of character and scene.
Rough House by Alison Lyn Miller (January 20)
From the publisher: Rich with drama, humor, and heart, Rough House is a ringside seat to a coming-of-age story that reveals the escapism, self-actualization, performance, and violence inherent in one of America’s most dismissed pastimes. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or new to the spectacle, this true story will leave you cheering for more.
What others are saying: “With empathy and grace and insight, driven by respectful and intimate reporting, Alison Lyn Miller pulls the curtain back on a grand American spectacle to show us all that, while suplexes and body slams can be faked, the honest human dramas that draw wrestlers to ‘this brutal ballet’ are universal and revealing.–John T. Edge, host of ESPN’s TrueSouth and author of House of Smoke: A Southerner Goes Searching for Home”
2025 was the year I fell back in love with wrestling and this book came at a perfect time. I dipped my toes into it and truly believe anyone who loves or hates professional wrestling needs to read this book.
Take It From Me by Alia Hanna Habib (January 20)
From the publisher: From the literary agent behind some of today’s most successful authors comes a narrative guide geared specifically to the needs of aspiring and working nonfiction writers, demystifying the world of publishing and offering a practical roadmap to getting your book published.
What others are saying: “I really, really wish I had this book when I was starting out.”—Robert Kolker, author of Hidden Valley Road
I have not read this yet, but based on the kinds of emails I get, this is the book every Debutiful reader/listener needs in their life. Alia Hanna Habib is a powerhouse agent and here you can learn from the best.
Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg (January 20)
From the publisher: Fleabag meets Big Swiss in this bold debut about a charismatic misfit who livestreams her life for seven days and nights to raise money to save her comatose sister—a poignant and darkly funny exploration of grief, forgiveness, and redemption.
What others are saying: “Fans of Melissa Broder, Rufi Thorpe, and Ottessa Moshfegh will laugh, cringe, empathize, and be mesmerized by the spectacle of one woman’s attempt to solve all her financial and emotional problems in the most adventurous, public, and high-stakes way possible. Just Watch Me is addictive and propulsive.” —Emily Gould, author of Perfect Tunes
The opening pages are laugh-out-loud funny. I think writing humor is the hardest thing on the planet, and Torenberg comes out of the gate nailing it.
A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang (January 27)
From the publisher: A dark, magical realist debut family saga that moves through the Japanese occupation of Manchuria, the Cultural Revolution, and the present day to explore the effects of intergenerational trauma, the legacy of colonialism, and the inescapability of fate.
What others are saying: “Epic in scope, written with dauntless power and grace, A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing offers an unflinching look at the legacies that continue to haunt one family through a century of reckoning. Alice Evelyn Yang’s richly threaded novel sings with artful prose and unforgettable storytelling, reminding us of the promise of redemption, even amid the dark consequences of violence. This is a book that will stir you to your core.” – Thao Thai, author of Banyan Moon
This book is intoxicating. Yang will sweep you off your feet with a beautiful and thought-provoking epic.
Escape! by Stephen Fishbach (January 27)
From the publisher: A propulsive debut novel following a has-been reality TV star and a disgraced producer who get one last shot at redemption on a show set on a remote island, only to discover that the plot twists are beyond what they ever imagined.
What others are saying: “A thrilling, emotionally affecting deep dive into the perilous world of reality television production, in all its manipulative glory. In this sharp page-turner, Survivor maven and former contestant Stephen Fishbach captures the lives of both cast and crew, offering up a gorgeously written, compassionate, but ultimately devastating portrait of the lives of the human beings working inside (and often, crushed by) the entertainment machine.”
—Emily Nussbaum, author of Cue The Sun: The Invention of Reality TV and Staff Writer at The New Yorker
This is the Great American Reality TV Book we’ve been waiting for. Yes, it’s thrilling, but the best parts about it are the interiority of the characters, including players on the show and the producers behind-the-scenes. This isn’t just a reality TV novel from a guy who was on a reality TV show. This is a novel that perfectly blends beautiful literary prose with page-turning pace.
Salvation by C. William Langsfeld (February 3)
From the publisher: Set against the Rocky Mountains, this emotionally charged Western noir explores themes of fathers and sons, men and masculinity, and religion and spirituality through the lens of an unimaginable act—one best friend murdering the other
What others are saying: “Langsfeld’s writing hits like a brushfire: sparks that seem harmless quickly burn you alive. It is searing and direct and quite possibly a perfect voice for our world.” —Dane Bahr, author of Stag
We need more Rocky Mountain literature in the world and Langsfeld invites readers into a very specific kind of life in the mountain region.
Every Happiness by Reena Shah (February 3)
From the publisher: Every Happiness is a dazzling debut that explores the ties that bind two women across decades and continents despite rivalry, class difference, and the conflicting needs of family and self.
What others are saying: “A bold and moving novel . . . marks the arrival of a radiant new voice.” – Megha Majumdar, author of A Guardian and a Thief
Lifelong friendships are such an enigma to me (hello, therapist, let’s talk about this). Knowing Shah writes about the complexities of one, but also explores cultures of India and Indian American communities caught my eye. I love exploring new communities and that is the best part of spending so much time with debut voices. I feel I have learned so much and hope Every Happiness introduces me to worlds and people I’ve not yet met.
Murder Bimbo by Rebecca Novack (February 10)
From the publisher: The exhilaratingly twisty story of a sex worker turned political assassin on the run, Murder Bimbo is an unputdownable and wholly fresh take on truth, murder, and optics in our national moment.
What others are saying: “Murder Bimbo is an ingeniously structured prism: at first look it plays satirically on true crime sensationalism, at second, it flays the political moment of grift, greed, and exploitation, and finally, it contemplates the desperate and lasting things we do for love. At all levels, it is a blast.” —Torrey Peters, author of Detransition, Baby
Honestly? The title and cover sucked me right in. Murder Bimbo is unlike everything I’ve ever read. It’s as unhinged as you can imagine and the best thing you could do is read it without reading any reviews or publicity copy. Just dive in and experience the thrill of Novack’s work.
She Made Herself a Monster by Anna Kovatcheva (February 10)
From the publisher: A heady, dark-hued Gothic gem of a debut novel: in nineteenth-century Bulgaria, a self-proclaimed vampire slayer—in truth, a traveling con artist—joins forces with a teenage girl to create a monster deadly enough to vanquish their own demons.
What others are saying: “As a longtime fan of Anna Kovatcheva’s shorter fiction, this deliciously dark debut novel delivers the same dreamlike prose I’ve come to admire, but digs far deeper into labyrinths of belief, desperation, and illusions of necessity. By turns horrific, atmospheric, and tender, this is a spell book that practices the best kind of magic—revealing the monsters embedded within and around us.” – Sequoia Nagamatsu
I’ve been creeping more and more into becoming a “horror fan.” I enjoy horror, but now I think I have read enough to say this book breaks all expectations. Its beauty lies within the imagery which engulfs you and brings you deeply into nineteenth-century Bulgaria.
I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For by Bsrat Mezghebe (February 10)
From the publisher: A loving ode to an immigrant community on the cusp of a new age, I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For boldly asks: How does our past define our present? And what stories must we let go of to be truly free?
What others are saying: Written with a tender heart and piercing intelligence, I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For is that novel that just won’t let you go. Bsrat Mezghebe’s prose–wise and witty, unflinchingly honest and insightful–introduces us to generations of fiercely proud and determined Eritrean women carrying memories and questions across borders and into their American lives. . . . This timely book is a must-read and a testament to Bsrat’s tremendous gifts as a writer.–Maaza Mengiste, author of The Shadow King, shortlisted for the Booker Prize
I first encountered Mezghebe when a friend had me read her essay in Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves and once I saw her name attached to a novel, bells started ringing. I haven’t dipped into this book yet, but I am eagerly awaiting cracking it open.
Bloodfire, Baby by Eirinie Carson (February 17)
From the publisher: A maternal gothic tale of new motherhood and the torment of a centuries-old haunting
What others are saying: “A stunning feat of artistry—BLOODFIRE, BABY is a searing meditation on contemporary motherhood, written with the precision of a surgeon. Carson writes with unflinching honesty, capturing both the beauty and the burden of memory and the delicate unraveling of family myth.” —Dionne Irving, author of The Islands
Isn’t all parenthood a gothic horror? This one reminded me of a mashup of Nightbitch, The Nursery, and House of Beth. It is a roaring book about the psychological and physiological highs and lows of motherhood.
I Am the Ghost Here by Kim Samek (February 24)
From the publisher: Twelve women confront the mounting existential terrors of modern life in this absurd, wryly hilarious debut story collection.
What others are saying: “The pages of I Am the Ghost Here are as electric as a live wire: dangerous in the most thrilling possible way. The world of these stories isn’t quite like ours—but is it any more absurd than the one we’re in, honestly? You might start a story thinking you’re reading about, say, a woman who’s turned into scrambled eggs; you’ll end it realizing that, all along, you were reading about yourself.”—Vauhini Vara, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of This Is Salvaged
I don’t think any short story collection provided banger after banger like Samek’s debut collection does. Reading her work is such a thrilling delight. Dive into her Pushcart-winning story “Easement” to tie you over until this book is released. A contender for the Best Short Story Collection of the Decade.
Maybe the Body by Asa Drake (February 24)
From the publisher: A brilliant debut poetry collection by National Poetry Series finalist Asa Drake that explores the lineage and future lineage of a body shaped by economic, ecological, and political dissonance.
What others are saying: “‘Sometimes, history is too beautiful to be believed,’ Asa Drake writes in her collection Maybe the Body, which is an extensive love song of memory, family, self, and the challenges of differentiating one from the other. When a speaker wades in a river that runs beneath an interstate, they think of a mother’s words: ‘Care first. Decide about love later.’ This book is about places and homes: ones we don’t want to lose, ones we find in others, and those we must decide to build for ourselves. Maybe the Body is the home I have longed for.”—Phillip B. Williams, author of Mutiny and Ours
Thought provoking through and through. Reading these poems was like watching like watching a ballet. At first you know they’re beautiful but the more you sit with them the more you find intricate ways they are truly genius.
Soulmate as a Verb by Kelsey L. Smoot (February 24)
From the publisher: Poems of tender knowledge, buoyant survival, and Black, trans embodiment.
What others are saying: “SOULMATE AS A VERB navigates intimate and communal relationships through the lens of a Black, transmasculine, queer, radical, vulnerable AF speaker. I felt pulled into the music, voice, and lyrical diversity of these poems.” —KB Brookins, award-winning author of Pretty: A Memoir
I had the chance to talk to Smooth during a session of the Poets & Writers Get the Word Out Publicity Incubator and their mind is brilliant. These poems are brilliant.
Antediluvian by Kameryn Alexa Carter (February 24)
From the publisher: Antediluvian engages with themes of the ecstatic, desire, mental illness, and spirituality. Overall, the landscape of the collection is a deep dive into the speaker’s psyche, and what it means to push past the confines of one’s oppressive interior.
What others are saying: Kameryn Alexa Carter casts an unforgettable spell in the divine and decadent Antediluvian. She explores physical and spiritual longing as well as mental and physical health with candor and verve. This is a poet unafraid to sing in the dark and to listen for what calls back.–Derrick Austin, author of Tenderness
The opening poems in this collection hit me right in the heart. Carter understands human want and desire better than anyone.
Head of Household by Oliver Munday (February 27)
From the publisher: A powerful, singular collection of short stories depicting the evolving role of fatherhood in contemporary society—perfect for readers of Jamel Brinkley’s A Lucky Man and Phil Klay’s Redeployment.
What others are saying: “Munday has a gift for making the sad dad more than just a trope. Clear, bittersweet tales of masculinity come undone.” – Kirkus
Throughout the years I have read a lot of great books about motherhood, but none that capture the same sense of wonder (and horror) of fatherhood. Munday’s stories about fatherhood finally did it for me. These aren’t how-to stories, but they are more insightful about fatherhood than anything I’ve read in a long time.
200 Monas by Jan Saenz (March 3)
From the publisher: For fans of Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Miranda July-and the darker edge of Breaking Bad and Uncut Gems-comes a whip-smart, irresistible debut novel about a college senior who has 48 hours to sell her recently deceased mother’s surprise stash of rare pills, or suffer the consequences.
What others are saying: “200 Monas is a horny fever dream that had me tearing through the pages, desperate for another hit. This high-octane nail-biter is also a deeply cathartic exploration of loss. I laughed, I cried, I did other things you probably shouldn’t put in a blurb.”–Rose Dommu, author of Best Woman
Reading this is like having a panic attack while laughing uncontrollably. Funny, tense, absurd. It is a novel to read when you think your life is awful and unmanageable. Avry’s life is tossed upside down and watching her scramble was a thrill.
The Body Builders by Albertine Clarke (March 3)
From the publisher: For readers of Megan Nolan and Sheila Heti, a mesmerizing Borgesian literary debut about the frayed borders between our bodies and minds.
What others are saying: “An exciting and remarkably controlled debut using a brilliant sci-fi conceit to tell a story about estrangement, selfhood, and love.” —Catherine Lacey, author of THE MÖBIUS BOOK
The opening pages of this are very quiet and subtle. Clarke looks inward into her characters and I desperately want to learn more about them.
Spoiled Milk by Avery Curran (March 10)
From the publisher: A thrilling gothic debut. The untimely death of a student at a girls’ boarding school marks the first in a haunting series of escalating supernatural events, and uncovers buried truths of teenage repression, queer desire, and the everyday horror of coming of age.
What others are saying: “The haunted lesbian boarding school horror show we always wanted. From its dread-inducing opening to that breathtaking finale, Spoiled Milk is brimming with images that we’ll carry into way too many nightmares. Avery Curran is a witch.” —Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta, authors of Feast While You Can
There’s been a shift in my interests recently but one throughline is I love books that are in the intersection of sad/weird/horny. Spoiled Milk is the perfect sad/weird/horny book. I simply couldn’t put it down.
Whidbey by T Kira Madden (March 10)
From the publisher: A portrait of three women connected through one man in the aftermath of his murder—a stunning literary achievement and the explosive and highly anticipated debut novel from beloved award-winning memoirist T Kira Madden.
What others are saying: “It is not enough to say that Whidbey is a masterpiece or T Kira Madden is a genius—it is, she is. But how lucky we are to have such a radically empathetic novel about pain and justice; such a rigorous, lucid accounting of the strangulation of violence and its slow, meticulous unwinding. Whidbey is an exceptional and staggering gift.” – Carmen Maria Machado, New York Times bestselling author of In the Dream House and Her Body and Other Parties
It is not an exaggeration to say I have been waiting to read this book for over half a decade. T Kira Madden’s memoir is an all-timer. And now, Whidbey is an all-timer. Madden bounces from different POVs so smooth it’s like butter. She is a master at the craft and if this is what she can do with a first novel, we’re in for a long, fun career that will define what modern literature can do.
The Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man by Tom Junod (March 10)
From the publisher: From two-time National Magazine Award winner Tom Junod, a searching, brilliantly stylized memoir about a charismatic, philandering father who tried to mold his son in his image, the many secrets he hid, the son’s obsessive quest to uncover them, and ultimately, the true meaning of manhood
What others are saying: “Tom Junod has always been a dazzling writer, but in this book he turns his powers on the hardest subject of all—the secrets and lies and complicity at the heart of a family. His family. The result is a sort of shocking detective story, a deeply affecting search for truth, as brave as it is beautiful.” —Ayad Akhtar, author of Homeland Elegies and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama
A brilliant writer whose career I have long admired. If you read any of his work you know how easy it is for Junod to bring out the heart and soul of a story. His memoir is no different.
The Fountain by Casey Scieszka (March 17)
From the publisher: A propulsive and deeply moving novel about eternity and mortality that asks what it would mean to live forever.
What others are saying: “Casey Scieszka’s The Fountain is a meditation on beauty, nature, and what in our lives can be bought and sold (and at what cost). Hilarious yet tender, Scieszka’s alluring voice shines on the page as she guides us through the joys and pains of never growing old amongst the majestic landscape of the Catskills. Here is a page-turner of a novel that is book club-ready, a frothy combination of magical realism, the foibles of modern life, an examination of the influence of big tech, along with a wallop of small town heart.” – Isaac Fitzgerald, New York Times bestselling author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts
I had an existential crisis reading this book. What do we do in the face of our own mortality? What is life about? Scieszka’s novel isn’t doom and gloom – it’s quite cozy, which is all I ever am really after in life. But she tackles existential questions with such warmth and intelligence. A truly outstanding novel.
Under Water by Tara Menon (March 17)
From the publisher: An intense, atmospheric novel about the devastating power of friendship, set against the backdrop of two cataclysmic events.
What others are saying: “Reading Under Water is like being under water: immersive and stirring, pellucid and mysterious, shot through with light and with shades, overwhelming and exquisite–in a word, sublime.” —Namwali Serpell, author of The Old Drift and The Furrows
This recently landed at Debutiful HQ, but quickly reading the opening pages makes it clear that Menon’s skillful prose is going to be a delight to read for hundreds of pages.
Anywhere Else: Essays on Florida by Rachel Knox (March 24)
From the publisher: A memoir of growing up in Florida interwoven with cultural reflections of the state from The X-Files to Emerson–revealing the complex truths of life as a Floridian
What others are saying: Anywhere Else is a wild ride of an essay collection, and Rachel Knox is the ideal guide, taking readers beyond the glossy postcard image of Florida to a deeper, truer, and far stranger place. Equal parts cultural critique and love letter, this book is a gift: smart, funny, and brimming with stories only a local can tell. Anywhere Else establishes Knox as one of Florida’s compelling new voices.” —Edgar Gomez, author of Alligator Tears
A wholeheartedly enjoyable essay collection that is global in theme with very specific references that make it feel incredibly personable.
Harmless by Miranda Shulman (April 14)
From the publisher: A twisty novel of sisterhood, friendship, and obsession that asks: Can we ever really outrun what haunts us most?
What others are saying: “Miranda Shulman’s glorious, original debut Harmless is a beautifully observed zeitgeist novel set in Park Slope; it’s also a hilarious, painful look at young adulthood, sibling rivalry, friendship, competition, love, and loss—with a shocking twist. The young women in Shulman’s world are the vivid, messy, unforgettable characters everyone will be talking about. This is a fantastic debut you don’t want to miss.” —Karen E. Bender, author of The Words of Dr. L and the National Book Award finalist Refund
I can never tire of a group of friends navigating life. Shulman does it with such a keen eye, turning the mundane into the hilarious. The voices of each character are so distinct and original. This is a book with a big heart.
Honey in the Wound by Jiyoung Han (April 7)
From the publisher: A lyrical and suspenseful debut novel about a mysteriously gifted Korean family confronting the brutality of the Japanese empire, Honey in the Wound is an epic tale of survival and the reclamation of power.
What others are saying: “A fierce and mythic family saga, Honey in the Wound moves with the urgency of anti-colonial resistance and the grace of folklore. Even as history bears down, its most magical moments rise from the sorrow, fury, and enduring love of ordinary lives. Refusing to let the ghosts of the Japanese empire fall silent, the novel honors the truth still burning in the wound.” —Silvia Park, author of Luminous
I can’’t remember who, but a writer told me this is going to blow me away. I haven’t dug into it yet, but anytime I see a sprawling magical realism epic, I know I have to sink my teeth into it.
Tail Bone by Che Yeun (April 7)
From the publisher: A fierce and gorgeous debut novel about a teenager who runs away from her abusive home to live in a boarding house for single women as a global financial crash threatens the people of Seoul.
What others are saying: “With this story of how we betray and are betrayed, by others but especially by ourselves, Che Yeun has given us an unforgettable debut novel, indelible, knowing, powerful, consuming. This marks the start of a major career.” —Alexander Chee, author of HOW TO WRITE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOVEL
An unforgettable novel. When a coming-of-age story can surprise me, I know a writer has done their job. Yeun takes the darkest moments and finds hope in them.
Like This, But Funnier by Hallie Cantor (April 7)
From the publisher: For fans of Dolly Alderton and HBO’s Hacks, a whip-smart, laugh-out-loud funny debut novel about faking it (and “making it”) as a writer in Hollywood.
What others are saying: “This book is every bit as delightful and hilariously self-revealing as the author herself. Which, come to think of it, is what makes them both so hard to put down. Hallie captures something so funny about the shame and envy common to the truly gifted that I’m ashamed to admit makes me envious. I hope that doesn’t sound like I’m bragging.”—Mitchell Hurwitz, creator of Arrested Development
An uproarious romp. We’re all faking it, and Cantor bites into that with a comedic lens. The book is one of the most fun times I’ve had reading in a long time.
The Scoop by Erin van der Meer (April 21)
From the publisher: A piercing satire about a journalist working the night shift at a tabloid and the explosive consequences of her “harmless” clickbait.
What others are saying: “I gorged on The Scoop as though reading an explosive exposé about the state of the world–which, in many ways, I was. Erin Van Der Meer has crafted a devastating satire that reads the media, and those devoted to making a name for themselves within it, for filth. Smart, savage, and tinged with grief, The Scoop is required reading for anyone who has compromised themselves today for a better tomorrow.” –Ruth Madievsky, award-winning author of All-Night Pharmacy
Get ready to binge this novel by van der Meer. If you pay attention to how the media shapes and manipulates us, or even if you are blissfully unaware, this book is incendiary.
Odessa by Gabrielle Sher (April 21)
From the publisher: In a powerfully imagined Russia at the height of the pogroms, a grief-stricken family turn to ancient magic to bring their daughter back from the grave.
What others are saying: “Odessa is a triumph. Gabrielle Sher has given us, at once, a classic monster tale, a heartbreakingly relevant historical drama, a pulse-poundingly contemporary descent into horror, a timeless parable about the porous boundaries between atrocity and self-defense, and above all, a powerful reclamation of agency. Count me in for whatever Sher writes next.”–Nat Cassidy, author of When the Wolf Comes Home
An early condenser for book cover of the year, the early pages in Sher’s novel grabbed me by the collar. Gothic literature never went away, but I think it might hit its peak in 2026. This looks like it will be one of the titles leading the way.
The Memory Museum by M Lin (April 21)
From the publisher: With daring political and creative commitment, The Memory Museum brims with joy even as Lin exposes the knife’s edge between powerlessness and agency, pain and intimacy, our memories and our futures.
What others are saying: “The Memory Museum is a book to get very excited about. With gumption and pizzazz M Lin can seemingly take any form, genre, or style and make it do whatever she wants, always something unexpected. But under all the technical brilliance are the timeless literary subjects: love, death, money, family, and mind-blowing sex with some random guy.”—Tony Tulathimutte, author of Rejection
M Lin can do things with the short story that no other writer can do. This collection is a masterclass is structure, character, plot, and pace. If you’re looking to learn how to write short stories, read Lin’s collection.
Fat Swim by Emma Copley Eisenberg (April 28)
From the publisher: An electrifying collection of linked stories following a cast of characters navigating bodies, queerness, power, and sex—with radical results—from the bestselling author of Housemates.
What others are saying: “I love the way Emma Copley Eisenberg observes the world so precisely, attuned to unexpected—yet perfect—details. Fat Swim is lush with physical life and bodily sensation, vivid with textures and colors and temperature. Funny, mordant, and tender all at once—this is the rare book that exuberantly inhabits the human body, in all its grossness and glory.”—Rachel Khong, author of Real Americans and Goodbye, Vitamin
Debutiful is completing the Emma Copley Eisenberg Trilogy. From her nonfiction debut to her novel debut to her story collection debut, everything she has written has been superb. These stories about body and queerness are an education on how to write without being fatphobic.
Hope House by Joe Bond (May 5)
From the publisher: Set in 1980s Kentucky, this striking debut novel is told from inside a treatment home for troubled teenagers, where lost boys become more than their pasts and dare to imagine different futures.
What others are saying: “I had the great pleasure of picking Bond’s amazing short story for an award years ago, and what a thrill it is to see how it’s grown into a beautiful novel of such tender frankness, building the lives of this group of kids with bottomless care and a fiercely keen eye for detail and movement.” –Aimee Bender, author of The Butterfly Lampshade
Hub City is one of those presses that continually knock it out of the park. Every year, one title ends up finding its way into my favorite books. This one, from Bond, who won the Masters Review Short Story Award, is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
Honey by Imani Thompson (May 5)
From the publisher: A wickedly funny, adrenaline-rush of a novel about a graduate student who murders bad men and justifies it in the name of feminism, by a bold new voice in fiction
Oooh, baby. If there was one book you could judge by a cover, it’s Honey. This book is a hot, sweet, and unforgettable ride.
Good News by Alexa Yasemin Brahme (May 5)
From the publisher: In this stylish provocative debut, a young artist struggles to find her way in New York City while navigating strained relationships, the reappearance of an ex, and her burgeoning sense of self. A mess, of course, ensues.
What others are saying: “Good News is about the complicated work of finding one’s way–as a woman, as an artist, as a daughter, as a lover. Alexa Brahme’s debut, like Sally Rooney’s, is a clear-eyed exploration of passion and discontent in equal measure. I rooted for Maggie all the way through.”–Emma Straub, author of This Time Tomorrow
I recently forgot a book during a trip and urgently put out a plea for a PDF, and Good News was the one that landed in my inbox. Two cross-country flights later, I ventured with Maggie through her ups and downs and was all in on Brahme’s luminous writing where her character shines.
The Outer Country by Davin Malasarn (May 12)
From the publisher: This tender, elegant debut examines the struggle of keeping a family together when secrets threaten to pull it apart.
What others are saying: “Both a book of demons and a book of uncommon grace; an instant classic in the queer canon. Davin Malasarn is an exquisite writer of the heart.”—Justin Torres, author of Blackouts
The opening pages of Malasarn’s debut promise an empathetic read about siblings, place, and queer identity. He writes with lush prose that wraps readers up.
Femme Feral by Sam Beckbessinger (May 12)
From the publisher: Hyper-competent Ellie thinks she’s going through perimenopause, but discovers she’s actually turning into a werewolf in this feminist, dark-comedy debut
What others are saying: “A savage, witty, gory, heartfelt, utterly relatable rage fantasy and a helluva good time. Miranda July meets Stephen King.” –Lauren Beukes, New York Times bestselling author of The Shining Girls
Horrifically perfect. I planned on only reading the first dozen or so pages but ended up staying up until 3 a.m. Beckbessinger knows how to write an addictive, page-turning story. Once you start reading this, you won’t be able to stop.
New Skin by Sarah Wang (May 12)
From the publisher: A scalding, darkly humorous debut following an enmeshed mother-daughter duo, both best friends and enemies, and the plastic surgery addiction that warps their lives into a perilous spiral
What others are saying: “New Skin offers a brilliantly dark account of a mother and her daughter locked in a relationship with each other and the wider world that no amount of surgery can cure. Sarah Wang’s novel is intense, engaging, original and hilarious.”–Colm Tóibín, New York Times bestselling author of Long Island
I met Sarah Wang by happenstance at an event where we discussed her book and a little bit of the behind-the-scenes of writing it. When I got my hands on it, it was evident that I was reading something special.
Decomposition Book by Sara Van Os (May 19)
From the publisher: An emotional, electrifying, and darkly hilarious debut about a woman who finds a dead body and can’t give up its ghost, for fans of Mona Awad, Yellowjackets, and weird girl fiction.
What others are saying: “Intense, irreverent, surprising, raw. I relished every minute of Sara van Os’s debut and–heart in mouth–will be coming back for more.” –Natalia Theodoridou, author of Sour Cherry
Come for the weird, stay for the weird. This book’s unique concept ramps up page after page and when you’re done with it you’ll think to yourself, “What the hell did I just read? Can I read it again?”
All Them Dogs by Djamel White (May 19)
From the publisher: A young Irish gangster is caught in a brutal dance between desire and loyalty
What others are saying: “All Them Dogs is all that— a book you inhale, devour, grapple with, and reel from more than read. A coming-of-age novel for an age that comes breathing down the back of your neck. The kind of book where everything is on the edge of a knife and where love, like death, is either a kiss or a bullet away.” – Marlon James, author of the Booker Prize-winning A Brief History of Seven Killings
I know blurb culture can be problematic but when I see Isaac Fitzgerald, August Thompson, and Marlon James all backing a book, I know it will be one readers are going to obsess over.
No God But Us by Bobuq Sayed (May 25)
From the publisher: In this wry, provocative debut, two gay Afghan men—cast out of their respective countries of birth by circumstances beyond their control—collide in Istanbul, a city that will test their willingness to sacrifice everything for the ones they love.
What others are saying: “I can’t remember the last time I was so moved by a book. Bobuq Sayed’s No God but Us asks what might happen to one’s consciousness when it’s mangled by the forces of empire. The deeply felt and irreverent story traces two Quixotic journeys through personal pain, faith, exile, and queer self-discovery, all the way from the Afghan refugee community in Tehran to the suburbs of Northern Virginia. At its heart, this is a novel about family––chosen and not––and I am lucky to count this story among my literary kin. This book is simply necessary, and very gorgeous.” – Aria Aber, author of Good Girl
I received a PDF of this months and months ago and can’t stop thinking about it. It moved me to my core. Sayed’s emotional intelligence provides a strong backbone to a tender story.
Waiting On A Friend by Natalie Adler (May 26)
From the publisher: New York City, East Village, 1984. A young woman with the power to see the ghosts of her friends is haunted by the one who refuses to return—a dazzling, big-hearted debut of friendship and community during a time of devastation and defiance.
What others are saying: “Waiting on a Friend is a wildly inventive and moving novel that walks a tightrope of emotion with grace and humor. It’s both a portrait of a time and place—New York City in the early 1980s—and a testament to the challenge of carrying on in the face of devastating loss. Natalie Adler has written an astonishingly brilliant debut.”—Patrick Ryan, New York Times bestselling author of Buckeye
OH MY GOD. This is the type of book I wait all year to drop into my lap. Simply put, this is one everyone should be itching to read. Adler has her finger on the pulse of humanity, humor, and a damn good haunting plot.
The Maidenheads by Benny Peterson (May 26)
From the publisher: A bighearted debut novel about queer yearning, indie musicians, and bushwacking a thorny path back to your first love
What others are saying: “I never wanted to stop reading this thrilling, lively, and moving book! Jamie and Mari felt so real that I expect their story to go on, expect to see them at a show, or walking down the street, holding hands, eating gummy bears, or fighting. A book about finding out who you are in art, gender and sexuality, family and love, and in every way that matters. This novel is as scrappy and full of heart as the Maidenhead’s music, and I flew through it with joy and plenty of tears.” —Lydi Conklin, author of Songs of No Provenance
A recent arrival to Debutiful HQ, but it tackles so many topics and themes past Debutiful favorites are about: music, coming-of-age, first loves, and all of the awkwardness that comes with navigating it all. Peterson has a long track record of writing interesting pieces and I can’t wait to dive into this one.
Say Nephew by Steven Pfau (May 26)
From the publisher: For readers of Maggie Nelson and Jeremy Atherton Lin, Say Nephew is an eclectic and inquisitive exploration of the rich and complex mythology of gay uncles
From the blurb: “In this fluid, sexy, and delightfully campy inversion of autotheory, Steven Pfau performs a kind of alchemy, turning grief into comfort, loss into nourishment. I can’t remember the last time a stylish debut brimmed over with such wisdom, and such stern tenderness.” —Patrick Nathan, author of The Future Was Color
A beautiful ode to family and coming into your own. A blend of traditional memoir with a larger scope exploring mentorship, this book was a pleasure to weave in and out of while
Girl’s Girl by Sonia Feldman (June 2)
From the publisher: A hypnotic debut about the pivotal summer that shatters the delicate balance between three best friends
From the publisher: “An extraordinary book about friendships, first lust, and other quiet terrors. Full of longing and many different kinds of love.”—Frances Cha, author of If I Had Your Face
I first encountered Feldman when she won the PEN America PEN/Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers for her short story “Waxwing.” When I saw she had a debut coming-of-age novel coming out, it skyrocketed to the top of my TBR pile.
Rabbit, Fox, Tar by P.C. Verrone (June 2)
From the publisher: A mesmerizing, fable-like debut novel about a mysterious young Black woman whose arrival in an insular neighborhood threatens to shake its foundations
What others are saying: “P.C. Verrone’s debut novel Rabbit, Fox, Tar is as haunting as it is enchanting. Innovative in its play on one of America’s best known folktales, adroit in its exploration of themes ranging from gentrification, political campaigning and racial dispossession to the complexities of race, desire and selfhood, and written with incomparable lyricism and verve, Rabbit, Fox, Tar offers a striking new take on a quintessential American story.” —John Keene, author of Punks
A recent arrival to Debutiful HQ, this looks to be in the same line of Helen Oyeyemi’s fiction and the world needs more fiction like Helen Oyeyemi writes.
The Problem Drinker by Kyle Kouri (June 2)
From the publisher: His girlfriend is horror famous, his own writing and acting is floundering, and he is drinking to make sense of it all.
What others are saying: “Searing, sobering, powered by an immense heartbeat all its own, The Problem Drinker effortlessly brings to life a singular literary voice, as humorous as it is grave. With candid and profoundly moving prose, Kouri journeys through grief, duty, art, apocalypse, and the absurdity of human life to create nothing short of a manifesto for the goriness and glory of being alive. I cried, and laughed, and I could not put this book down.” –Mina Seçkin, author of The Four Humors
A tongue-in-cheek collection of essays about failing as a writer, feeling like a loser, and the shenanigans that unfold when you’re just trying your best. It reminded me a lot of another CLASH Books memoir, Out in Public by Greg Mania in all the right ways.
Voyagers by Meg Charlton (June 16)
From the publisher: With the imaginative soul and propulsive storytelling of Station Eleven and The Ministry of Time, Voyagers is a thrillingly original and brilliantly ambitious literary debut about friendship at the end of the world.
What others are saying: “In Voyagers, Meg Charlton explores the connections between memory, storytelling, and truth. Against the backdrop of a global crisis, her characters contend with the lasting pain and confusion of a personal crisis. This novel grapples with the possibility of extraterrestrial life, but even more so with the possibility of friendship that is generous and forgiving. A delightful and moving debut.” – Helen Phillips, author of Hum and The Need
I’ve become obsessed with aliens in the past few years, and I had this marked in a spreadsheet as “*****must get my hands on.” I finally got my hands on it and devoured it in less than a week. Charlton writes with such pristine propulsion and packs a punch on every page. This is going to be the book everyone loves and will be the talk of the town come summer.
Close Relationships With Strangers by Krista Diamond (June 23)
From the publisher: Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler meets Ryan Gosling in Drive, Close Relationships with Strangers follows a Las Vegas wildlife photographer who moves to Los Angeles to become a paparazzo and in the process loses his relationships, his morals, and eventually his tether to reality.
What others are saying: “Krista Diamond beautifully depicts Ben, a paparazzo at the end of the golden age of tabloid photography, as he is drawn into the liminal zone between illusion and delusion. She’s captured the uncanny solitude of Las Vegas and Los Angeles, both cities in the American west that loom as simulacra in popular imagination, with an undercurrent of nostalgia for the recent past in this story of a loner obsessively pursuing his already anachronistic calling; it’s reminiscent of the noir stories of Raymond Chandler and Nathaniel West, and the mood it evokes has stayed with me a very long time.” —Maile Chapman, author of Your Presence is Requested at Suvanto
Comps don’t always get me, but the mashup of Nightcrawler and Drive caught my eye, and the first pages deliver on the atmospheric tension of those films.
Names Have Been Changed by Yu-Mei Balasingamchow (June 23)
From the publisher: After ten years on the run around the world, Ophir—not her real name—comes clean in a confessional podcast about her life as a fugitive, charming countless fans even as she risks her freedom.
What others are saying: “Names Have Been Changed is a spiky, smart story about an itinerant Singaporean ex-con who yearns above all, to return. It’s a book about displacement, friendship, diaspora, love, and criminal enterprise, but above all, the gasping need for connection, when home is out of reach.”
—Vanessa Chan, international bestselling author of The Storm We Made
I first read Balasingamchow’s book last July, and I have been thinking about it ever since. Ophir is one of the most memorable characters to jump off the page and the inevitable Hollywood adaptation will have actresses chomping at the bit to play this role.. Names Have Been Changed is crackling with energy.
The Great Wherever by Shannon Sanders (July 1)
From the publisher: The dead are relentless gossips, or at least these dead are. An impulsive and heartbroken woman inherits her father’s share of a Tennessee farm that is rich in family secrets and occupied with busybody ghosts in this sweeping family portrait.
What others are saying: “The Great Wherever is fertile ground for Shannon Sanders’ vast gifts as a writer. Dead or alive, righteous or wrong, every one of her Lambs is a singular, beautiful mess, together growing the rich family history she seeds, from page 1, with great care, heart, and unyielding humor. By novel’s end, I felt as dazzled as one of the ancestors at the edge of the pond, in awe of all its beauty and magic.” —Dawnie Walton, author of The Final Revival of Opal & Nev
Sanders’s debut story collection, Company, was one of my absolute favorites. The moment the galley for her debut novel was available I made sure it was on its way to me. The Great Wherever is an ambitious multigenerational novel where the past (ghosts) is everpresent. Sanders is an sublime writer with unparalleled talent. I could read her writing all day, every day.
A Real Animal by Emeline Atwood (July 7)
From the publisher: In this unforgettable debut, a moment of metaphysical transformation launches a woman’s beautiful and terrifying journey through her twenties, through loneliness and complicated love that takes her from the depths of the Pacific Ocean to the plains of Texas
What others are saying: “Emeline Atwood’s A Real Animal is a strange and astonishing and entirely original book, full of darkness shot through with light, wild and tender. Atwood writes brilliantly about our interior, personal wildernesses, the snarling, wounded animal at the heart of any person. Lucy is an unforgettable narrator: compelling, terrifying, lovable, surprising, human. She, and this book, are extraordinary.” —Elizabeth McCracken, author of The Hero of This Book
A powerhouse. Atwood’s book is simply one of the best books I’ve read since I started covering books. She perfectly writes the turbulent time when one finishes college and enters “adulthood” – whatever that means.
Living, Together by Samantha Paige Rosen (July 14)
From the publisher: 21 writers and organizers on found family, hacking adulthood, and other lessons communal living can teach us about the future of housing in America Featuring Kristen Arnett, Rhaina Cohen, Kim Stanley Robinson, and more.
Full disclosure, I am a contributor to this anthology, but even if I wasn’t, I’d still recommend it. I got to read an early copy and the essays (and interviews) in this anthology are thoughtful, funny, and full of life.
Please Don’t Touch the Body by Emily Doyle (July 14)
From the publisher: The 11 stories in Please Don’t Touch the Body are at once dry and comic, grounded and surreal as they play deftly with genre and expectation to explore human alienation.
What others are saying: “Open-heartedly honest, fiercely intelligent, and wonderfully fresh . . . Please Don’t Touch the Body not only surprises and delights, it sings.” —Jessie Ren Marshall, author of WOMEN! IN! PERIL!
There are a few writers I trust to give me a new BS spin on what books should be on my radar and Mariah Rigg is one of them. When I asked if there were any short story collections I should keep my eye out for, this was the one Rigg gave me. I went through and read some of her published stories, and I can confirm Doyle is a knockout writer.
Sisters of the Midnight Sun by Rebecca Wright Stevens (July 14)
From the publisher: The stunning and complex story of a gruesome double homicide in the vibrant Inupiat community at the northernmost edge of the Alaska—and the public defender who represented the drifter at its center
A true crime novel worth your time. This one is about more than a double homicide and the ensuing trial. Midnight Sun is an engrossing read that that blends memoir and cultural criticism
Freyja by Margrét Ann Thors (August 4)
From the publisher: The unsolved case of a young girl’s disappearance reopens after twenty years in this moody, atmospheric debut of suspense set in Reykjavík and the Icelandic coast.
What others are saying: “An eerie novel that will keep you up late into the night. Unnur is desperate to escape the past and protect her young daughter, but she will learn that memory is fickle and changelings lurk in the shadows. Margrét Ann Thors beautifully evokes Iceland, with its cold winds, wave-battered cliffs, and mysterious folk tales. Gripping and heartfelt.”–Eowyn Ivey, New York Times bestselling author of The Snow Child and Black Woods, Blue Sky
Nordic murder mysteries have captivated millions of readers, but what caught my eye was the comps to Celeste Ng, Janelle Brown, Liz Moore, and Angie Kim. Earmark this one for all of the thriller fans in your life.
The Responsible Party by Claire Carusillo (August 11)
From the publisher: Geek Love meets Sam Lipsyte in this rollicking, hilarious debut novel about a family of unforgettable women obsessed with securing their legacy
I saw this book in Henry Holt’s catalog and instantly was drawn to it (cover designer, great job!). Then I discovered Carusillo owns a bookstore/skate shop? Sign me up.
Unprecedented Time by Malavika Kannan (August 18)
From the publisher: Malavika Kannan establishes herself as an inimitable voice of Gen Z in this piercing coming-of-age debut novel.
What others are saying: “Unprecedented Times holds all the youth and assurance of a fresh new day. Malavika Kannan writes with a rare fearlessness about what the world promises versus what our lives actually turn out to be. A deeply propulsive read, as well as wonderfully insightful and funny. Unprecedented Times is a bright and lovely work.” —Kristen Arnett, bestselling author of Stop Me if You’ve Heard This One
Kannan’s YA writing has captivated readers across the globe, and now her literary fiction debut about a college freshman who left her life in Central Florida behind is set to release later this year.
Bodega Stories by Amaris Castillo (September 8)
This book popped on my radar when I saw the book deal in August 2025 and I started reading Bodega Stories.
The House Built on Alligator Bones by Sophia Honeycutt (October 1)
This book is so far out it doesn’t even have a bookshop.org listing. I met Honeycutt in a virtual event and started reading her short stories. It’s clear she’s a talented writer whose career will be fun to watch.