This week’s topic for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is favorite debut novels. I interpret this as the first time a writer has published a full novel, so in some cases they may have written nonfiction or short stories. I also focused on books I read in the last two years, as there were so many good ones I needed to narrow it down.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus: You’ve all heard of this one by now, but I loved the complexity of the story and characters, and Garmus’ ability to tell a story that is heartbreaking at times with cutting humor.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt: This is the book I recommend most often. We all need a book that’s just a pleasure to read or listen to, and this one fits the bill. It avoids being cutesy and I learned a ton about the amazing Giant Pacific Octopus.
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy: noted on the Women’s Prize longlist, this book about the Troubles in Ireland also told a deeply moving story.
Talking at Night by Claire Daverly: most of you won’t have heard of this one, but it was recommended by Modern Mrs. Darcy and is perfect for people who like long-term love and friendship stories like One Day and Normal People.
What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jimenez: this story about a girl who disappears, and the family who think they see her years later on a reality show, was an incredible first novel.
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez: This book is perfect for readers who like novels about troubled families, but I also appreciated that it gave me a very different look at Puerto Rico. This was a tough read but a very good one.
The 100 Year of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin: I don’t love books that are too “sweet” or too melodramatic, so this book about a teenager in a hospital who befriends an elderly woman shouldn’t have worked for me. Maybe Lenni’s Scottish accent helped, but it’s a moving story that I still vividly remember.
Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torsz: an extremely impressive fantasy novel about the dark magic in books, and the bonds of family.
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean: This book felt unique and told a great fantasy-horror story about people who live on eating text instead of food.
The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks: Like The Book Eaters, this book was very different from anything I’d read and will appeal to those who like stories about man’s conflict with nature, and stories that take place in enclosed settings like trains. It also combines a historic setting with dreamlike fantasy.
Those are my ten most recent favorite debut novels. If I was going farther back, I would certainly have included Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu, and Olympus Texas by Stacey Swann.
A few recent reads that almost made my list were Cascade Failure and Women of Good Fortune.
What are some of your favorite debut novels?