In the vast world of literature, there’s something uniquely exciting about discovering a debut author. These fresh voices bring new perspectives, untold stories, and a burst of creativity that invigorates the literary scene. Debut novels often capture the raw, unfiltered passion of an author’s first foray into the published world, offering readers a chance to experience the birth of what could be the next big literary sensation.
In this blog post, we shine a spotlight on some of the most promising debut authors whose books are creating a buzz in the literary community. From compelling narratives and unforgettable characters to innovative storytelling and profound themes, these first-time authors are making a significant impact with their debut novels. Discover the extraordinary talent of these emerging writers by adding one (or all) of these books to your reading list.
I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue
In this wildly funny and heartwarming office comedy, an admin worker accidentally gains access to her colleagues’ private emails and DMs and decides to use this intel to save her job but her plans get away from her in chaotic and emotional ways—a laugh-till-you-cry debut novel you’ll be eager to share with your entire list of contacts, perfect for fans of Anxious People and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
The author, Natalie Sue, is a Canadian writer who has been featured as one of 30 Canadian writers to watch by CBC Books. Her inspiration for this book came from when she was once having an inappropriate DM conversation with her work friend at a former office job and she wondered what would happen if that conversation ended up in the wrong hands. From there the story bloomed, with character inspiration coming from a mix of people she's met in real life, conversations that she's overheard and ideas in her head. After perseverance, luck and help from a few kind people, she was able to finally get her debut novel published. She's currently working on her next story which will include an ensemble cast and explores different types of isolation in a fun and interesting way. Based on the compelling storytelling of I Hope This Finds You Well, Natalie Sue is an author whose career will be one to follow.
Five-Star Stranger by Kat Tang
In Kat Tang’s resonant debut, Five-Star Stranger, the protagonist, known only as Stranger, navigates New York City as a top-rated hire on the Rental Stranger app, where users can rent companions for various roles. As Stranger juggles his professional personas and maintains emotional distance, a nosy patron jeopardizes his longstanding role as a pretend father, forcing him to confront the boundaries he has set and the legacy of abandonment that has shaped his life. This novel explores the commodification of relationships in a gig economy, isolation in a hyperconnected world, and the risk of asking for what we want from those who cannot give.
Kat Tang is a former lawyer who previously wrote short stories and graphic narratives. She first heard about rental families as a phenomenon in Japan and the idea stuck with her for years. She finally got to explore elements of it further when she began writing her debut novel. She has always been fascinated by how we make and fake human connection in a technologically evolving world and this novel captures the feelings of being lonely and searching for human connection in our modern life of parasocial relationships and contractual experiences. A timely story that is one of the year's most anticipated books, Kat Tang is an author who has tapped into a human experience that will resonate with readers alike.
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
Charlie and Eve, are a young queer couple who flip houses and can't believe the deal they've gotten on an old home in a charming neighborhood. One day a man claiming to be a former resident shows up on their doorstep with his family asking if he can show his kids around. Eve lets them in however eerie and inexplicable events soon begin, including the disappearance of their child and a ghostly presence in the basement. As Charlie vanishes and the family overstays their welcome, Eve starts to question her sanity, suspecting something is terribly wrong with the house and its visitors.
Marcus Kliewer's inspiration for this novel came from a visit he made as a kid to his parent's old house. The new owner of the house asked his parents if they had ever experienced anything "strange" in the house. The question, along with the way it was asked, always stayed with the author. He tapped into this memory when working on the first iteration of this book when it was a serialized short story on Reddit where it won the Scariest Story of 2021. The story has since evolved into the masterpiece that it is today and has become one of the most anticipated novels of the year. The film rights have been acquired by Netflix and Blake Lively is set to star in the film adaption. The book rights to this story were snapped up in a three book deal before the story was even extended to a full length novel. As part of this deal, he has two other stories that are being turned into novels with the film rights for the second book, based on an unpublished story called The Caretaker, already sold to Universal with Sydney Sweeney attached to star. With so much buzz surrounding this debut novel, Marcus Kliewer is a rising star to watch.