Debutiful’s Adam Vitcavage recommends noteworthy debut books for readers to discover each month.
Appetite by P Paramita (August 4)
From the publisher: An affirming and utterly original debut about a young chef chasing her dreams—and the pro wrestler she idolizes who derails everything
What others are saying: “Peerless in its wily and humorous blend of back-of-house restaurant life, internet fan culture, and the extravagant pageantry of pro-wrestling, P. Paramita’s Appetite holds a mirror to the puzzling ways humans sometimes find themselves connecting with one another, on and offline. It’s as comforting as a warm hug—prepare to be captivated, and hungry.”—Jinwoo Chong, author of I Leave It Up to You
Sometimes a book comes along that hits all the right notes and makes all the right moves. Paramita’s ode to wrestling and food is a deliciously fun book. The novel digs deep into what happens to a person who finds fame and the fandom that comes along with it.
Soft Spots by Leila Renee (August 4)
From the publisher: Raven Leilani’s Luster meets Halle Butler’s The New Me, SOFT SPOTS is a darkly funny and off-kilter coming-of-age novel following recent college graduate Robin Clarke after she runs away from her family, only to be forced to confront whether she should reconcile with her father when his health takes a sudden turn for the worst.
What others are saying: “With far too few Awkward Black Girls in literature, Leila Renee has given us the gift of Robin, one of the most original, resonant characters I’ve read in a long time. As Robin missteps her way through the world, I cringed, held my breath, laughed, and said, “Babygirl, noooo” an inordinate amount of times. From the first page to the last, you can’t help but root for this beautiful, wounded soul to survive. And to win. Soft Spots is an irresistible, astonishing, unforgettable debut!” – Deesha Philyaw, author of the National Book Award Finalist, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies
The time after college graduation feels like you’re floating in space. One part of your life is dead. Either you miss it, or you’re glad to get rid of it. But the next part of your life isn’t ready to start yet. Renee captures these moments, along with clever observations of human interaction, with glowing prose. Reading it felt like I was floating in the pages.
Kitten by Stacey Yu (August 4)
From the publisher: An enchanting debut novel about a young woman whose growing obsession with her boyfriend’s cat opens new possibilities for her life—but not without threatening to unravel it.
What others are saying: “Even the most loyal dog person will be charmed by Yu’s hilarious, wry, and moving novel about the pleasure and pain of realizing you can be and do whatever you want.”—Jean Kyoung Frazier, author of Pizza Girl
Now, this is a novel! It balances Gen Z snark with sincerity so well. A love story unlike any other love story you have read. Yu’s astute writing will satisfy even the most picky of readers. There’s something in Kitten for everyone.
Burnside by Devyn Defoe (August 4)
From the publisher: A Lynchian, absurdist debut novel for fans of Joy Williams and Emma Cline about two disaffected young women and the local homeless man they become obsessed with.
What others are saying: “Slippery and elegant, sublime and profane, Burnside is a vortex. This is a beautiful, bizarre, visionary book, utterly unafraid of its own intelligence. I think Devyn Defoe is an oracle.” —Avigayl Sharp, author of Offseason
Do you know that scene in Booksmart that is claymation? I can’t explain it, but reading this novel felt like living in that scene. Defoe transports readers to her world. Writing it felt like reading a POV I had never experienced. We live exactly what Defoe wanted us to experience. Her writing will engulf you.
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.
Murder Bites by Mimi Montgomery (August 4)
From the publisher: A city transplant in a dog-obsessed small town becomes the prime suspect when the local dog walker is murdered in this charmingly quirky and clever mystery.
What others are saying: “Heartwarming and thoroughly Southern, Murder Bites is the most fun I’ve had reading all year. It’s hilarious, smart, and proof that there are no bad dogs¾just bad owners. This book, wild in the best way and so relatable, is about a fish out of water doing her best to make friends and family in the weird times we live in. I cannot wait to bring this one to my book club.”—Kate Myers, bestselling author of Salty and Excavations
Wildly fun and offbeat. This is the charming debut that uses cozy-mystery tropes wrapped in fun satire. A pure joy to read from start to finish with a cast of characters that could rival any beloved sitcom.
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
What others are saying: “Family dysfunction and inherited trauma have rarely gotten such rich, off-beat, searingly funny treatment. Claire Carusillo is a juggernaut of comic invention and her novel teems with dark wit and feeling. This debut is unsinkable.” —Sam Lipsyte, author of Home Land, The Ask, and No One Left to Come Looking for You
Gripping and funny, Carusillo unravels mysteries long buried with precise pacing and dialogue. This is a Hollywood-ready story—a complete knockout.
The Hill in the Dark Grove by Liam Higginson (August 11)
From the publisher: In this gripping debut, steeped in Welsh folklore, a husband and wife living in the beautiful but isolated mountains of Snowdonia stumble upon a buried Neolithic ruin—awakening a mysterious, ancient presence with its own dark designs.
What others are saying: “Gracefully and lovingly rendered with the heft of folklore, land, and history . . . evokes, in dazzling detail, the tribulations of everyday life and the grandeur of ancestry . . . bewitching.”—Gerardo Sámano Córdova, author of Monstrilio
This gothic horror story lingers long after the final page. Higginson’s ability to create atmosphere is this novel’s strongest selling point. He sucks you into a world of Welsh folklore and doesn’t let go.
My Person by Téa Mutonji (August 11)
From the publisher: A bold debut from an exhilarating, multi-award-winning young writer, following two lifelong friends who suddenly find themselves in an emotional deadlock when one abruptly proposes to break up after years of subtle betrayals.
What others are saying: “Téa Mutonji writes sharply about the subtle ruptures endemic to formative friendships.” —Raven Leilani, bestselling author of Luster
A razor-sharp and incredibly nuanced debut that captures the intoxicating and power of lifelong friendship with remarkable emotional precision. She effortlessly explores race, class, and identity with prose that packs a punch.
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 being heralded as the first great Covid novel. It’s clear this is a writer to watch and is going to have a long, healthy career of producing novels everyone will love.
First Summer by Ekin Oklap (August 18)
From the publisher: A dreamy debut novel about the summer love that changes two girls at the edge of adulthood.
What others are saying: “An intimate story of self-discovery.” —Orhan Pamuk
Oklap’s First Summer feels like the waning days of summer. Self-discovery, existential questions, and coming-of-age with your friends are ripe for stories. This novel feels right at home with the classics.
Dayton Teddy Riggs by Drew Buxton (August 25)
From the publisher: It’s 1996 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Teddy Riggs–call him Daytona–will stop at nothing to win the World’s Strongest Man competition. He spends his days training and downing as many calories as possible. Cast out from his oil-rich family, his main companion is a tape set by self-help guru Pat Dupree that he plays on repeat.
What others are saying: “In this raucous debut novel, Drew Buxton gets in the ring with the likes of Harry Crews, Charles Portis, and Barry Hannah. Buxton’s prose is electric, full of language that vibrates on the page. Daytona Teddy Riggs is daringly perceived, psychologically penetrating, and funny as hell.” –William Boyle, author of Saint of the Narrows Street
Do we have humorists anymore? Buxton has some of the sharpest and funniest observations, bringing clever turns of phrases and moments that make you think, “Oh. OH! LOL!” Teddy is such a treat to read.