Tag: novel

Interviews

Alison Leiby on Identity, Chronic Pain, and Why the Messiest Parts of Life Are Worth Writing About

by AdamLeave a Comment on Alison Leiby on Identity, Chronic Pain, and Why the Messiest Parts of Life Are Worth Writing About
Alison Leiby on Identity, Chronic Pain, and Why the Messiest Parts of Life Are Worth Writing About

I’m a Lot, the debut memoir from comedian and writer Alison Leiby, showcases her signature deadpan humor and combines it with sincere reflection to create a memorable memoir-in-essays that unravels the expectations put on modern women. Drenched in wit, her writing unpacks everything from the impact of a near-death experience to the highs of discount shopping, and even the joys of being a “Housewives” stan. Pushing back against the narrow definitions women are told they need to fit into, Leiby embraces the joy of unrepentantly living every one of your identities. 

I spoke with Leiby about the complexities of writing a memoir, the pressure to be palatable, and why humor was integral to her essays.

Continue reading “Alison Leiby on Identity, Chronic Pain, and Why the Messiest Parts of Life Are Worth Writing About” →
Interviews

Chiara Bullen on D&D, Fantasy Taverns, and Writing Like You Rolled a Nat 20

by AdamLeave a Comment on Chiara Bullen on D&D, Fantasy Taverns, and Writing Like You Rolled a Nat 20
Chiara Bullen on D&D, Fantasy Taverns, and Writing Like You Rolled a Nat 20

The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance captures everything that makes a great TTRPG campaign memorable: the camaraderie, improvisation, and delight of telling a story with friends. In her debut novel, Chiara Bullen follows an ambitious historian investigating a legendary mountain where adventurers arrive eager for glory, yet somehow never make the climb. We spoke with Bullen about D&D’s influence on her writing, creating unforgettable fantasy taverns, and why food scenes are always a critical success.

Continue reading “Chiara Bullen on D&D, Fantasy Taverns, and Writing Like You Rolled a Nat 20” →
News

See the cover for Buzzard by Inez Ray

by AdamLeave a Comment on See the cover for Buzzard by Inez Ray
See the cover for Buzzard by Inez Ray

Buzzard, the debut novel by Inez Ray, is a dystopian novel set in a future where fertility is tightly controlled, abortion is outlawed, and corporations wield enormous power over reproductive rights. Imprisoned midwife Mae Bastet uncovers a dangerous conspiracy involving mysterious pregnancies among teenage drone pilots, forcing her to choose between her own freedom and her commitment to protecting others. Blending political urgency with high-stakes suspense, Buzzard explores bodily autonomy, surveillance, and the enduring strength of family bonds.

Buzzard will be published on September 22, 2026, by Bindery Books and is available for preorder now.

Debutiful is honored to reveal the cover of Buzzard, designed by Charlotte Strick and featuring illustrations by Kwonny, along with a Q&A with Ray about its creation.

Continue reading “See the cover for Buzzard by Inez Ray” →
book list, News, Recommendations

The Most Anticipated Debut Books of 2026, Part 2

by Adam1 Comment on The Most Anticipated Debut Books of 2026, Part 2
The Most Anticipated Debut Books of 2026, Part 2

The first half of the year produced some of the best debuts in recent memory. And the upcoming months promise to follow up with just as many unforgettable books from writers with promising careers ahead of them.

From family sagas to coming-of-age comedies, the novels, collections, and memoirs below represent the titles I’ve read completely, started and want more of, or have caught my attention. 

When I last stopped counting, I had over 2,000 emails and submissions pitching debut books for all of 2026–an insane amount. These stood above the rest for one reason or another, but it doesn’t mean there won’t be a knockout book on this list. That’s the beauty of debut books. Even someone like me, who only reads debut writers, will miss a banger from time to time.

Still, these are ones that offer something for everyone. Lucious prose, taut pacing, fun concepts. You’ll find everything from literary fiction, horror, satire, and true crime in this list.

I hope you find your next favorite writer.

A bonus Most Anticipated Book that is not included below is Living, Together: Reimagining Community in the Age of Disconnection, edited by Samantha Paige Rosen. Why wasn’t it included? Because I have an essay in it and have already proclaimed it a Most Anticipated Debut Book. It features essays about home, found family, and finding connection in the modern age. Kristen Arnett, Kim Stanley Robinson, Sarah Thankam Mathews, and so many more amazing writers are featured in the anthology.

Continue reading “The Most Anticipated Debut Books of 2026, Part 2” →
News

See the cover for Good People by Kat Lewis

by AdamLeave a Comment on See the cover for Good People by Kat Lewis
See the cover for Good People by Kat Lewis

Good People, the debut novel by Kat Lewis, is a sharp, darkly funny debut about race, identity, ambition, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are. Raised by a Black family after being abandoned as a baby, Jo Tope—a white woman obsessed with achievement and belonging—believes success will unlock the life she was meant to have. But as her pursuit of a Rhodes Scholarship collides with alcoholism, privilege, and uncomfortable truths about herself, Jo is forced to confront what it really means to be a good person.

Good People will be published on April 27, 2027, by Simon & Schuster and is available for preorder now.

Lewis is a video game writer and professional Dungeons & Dragons game master who holds degrees in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University and the University of South Florida.

Debutiful is honored to reveal the cover of Good People, designed by Madelyn Rodriguez, along with a Q&A with Lewis about its creation.

Continue reading “See the cover for Good People by Kat Lewis” →
News

See the cover for The Flowers Along the Way by Claudia Castro Luna

by AdamLeave a Comment on See the cover for The Flowers Along the Way by Claudia Castro Luna
See the cover for The Flowers Along the Way by Claudia Castro Luna

Claudia Castro Luna, the former Washington State Poet Laureate, and Seattle’s inaugural Civic Poet, is publishing her debut memoir, The Flowers Along the Way (Northwestern University Press) on September 15, 2026.

The memoir follows the poet as she reckons with the lasting effects of war, displacement, and inherited trauma after surviving a shooting in Oakland decades after fleeing civil war in El Salvador. Moving between personal memory and family history, it is a powerful exploration of PTSD, resilience, motherhood, and the long journey toward healing and belonging.

The Flowers Along the Way is available for preorder now and Debutiful is honored to reveal the cover, designed by José Cándido Pineda, along with a Q&A with Luna about its creation.

Continue reading “See the cover for The Flowers Along the Way by Claudia Castro Luna” →
Interviews, my reading life

Nasty Little Secrets author Gabbie Hanks devoured Pretty Little Liars as a tween

by AdamLeave a Comment on Nasty Little Secrets author Gabbie Hanks devoured Pretty Little Liars as a tween
Nasty Little Secrets author Gabbie Hanks devoured Pretty Little Liars as a tween

Gabbie Hanks knows books. She is a former librarian who now works in literacy for the government. Her debut novel, Nasty Little Secrets, is a twisty psychological suspense novel about a crime writer forced to revisit the murder case that made her famous when her younger sister suddenly disappears. As old wounds reopen and disturbing links emerge between the two cases, Rose Dearling discovers that the book she wrote to prove her brother’s innocence may contain the clues needed to uncover a far darker truth.

We asked Hanks to answer our recurring My Reading Life Q&A so readers can get to know the books that shaped her life and influenced her writing.

Continue reading “Nasty Little Secrets author Gabbie Hanks devoured Pretty Little Liars as a tween” →