Happy Tuesday, y’all! This week, Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl has handed control over to Angela at Reading Frenzy. And what has Angela decided on for this week’s topic? She’s asking us to share our favorite debut novels. They can be the first novel a writer has ever published, or their first novel in a new genre. This seems like a relatively easy topic to cover. Thankfully, when I write my reviews, I include if the book is a debut. So, let’s look at some debut novels I’ve read recently and enjoyed.
![Debut Novels I've Read Recently and Enjoyed](https://i0.wp.com/readbakecreate.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Debut-Novels.png?resize=640%2C960&ssl=1)
Before we get to the books, I want to say that not all of these debuts are recent releases; a few are older. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t debuts; I was late reading them. I will also be linking my full reviews to these books. Because what good is it to hype a book if you don’t share why you love it? The titles will take you to the book’s Goodread page.
Now, who wants to see some debut novels I’ve read recently and enjoyed?
The Heroines: A Novel by Eileen Favorite
![](https://i0.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1400876806i/6083411.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
- Genre: Historical Fiction, Magical Realism
- Release Date: December 2007
- My Review: The Heroines by Eileen Favorite: Book Review
Board to Death by C.J. Connor
![](https://i0.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1674489831i/63882020.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
- Genre: Cozy Mystery
- Release Date: August 2023
- My Review: Board to Death by C.J. Connor: Book Review
Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan
![](https://i0.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1674576904i/61151272.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
- Genre: Contemporary
- Release Date: May 2023
- My Review: Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan: Book Review
Maame by Jessica George
![](https://i0.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1666031380i/60784605.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
- Genre: Contemporary
- Release Date: January 2023
- My Review: Maame by Jessica George: Book Review
None of This Would Have Happened If Prince Were Alive by Carolyn Prusa
![](https://i0.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1666802074i/59366255.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
- Genre: Contemporary
- Release Date: November 2022
- My Review: None of This Would Have Happened If Prince Were Alive by Carolyn Prusa: Book Review
You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen
![](https://i0.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1623262719i/57803151.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
- Genre: YA, Contemporary
- Release Date: February 2022
- My Review: You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen: Book Review
When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris
![](https://i0.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603731148i/53018309.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
- Genre: YA, Contemporary
- Release Date: January 2021
- My Review: When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris: Book Review
Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall
![](https://i0.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1634696589i/59417092.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- Release Date: March 2022
- My Review: Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall: Book Review
Revenge of the Sluts by Natalie Walton
![](https://i0.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1606450249i/53138104.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
- Genre: YA, Mystery, Contemporary
- Release Date: February 2021
- My Review: Revenge of the Sluts by Natalie Walton: Book Review
Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson
![](https://i0.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1627322866i/54870176.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- Release Date: August 2021
- My Review: Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson: Book Review
And that’s ten debut novels I’ve read recently and enjoyed. Have you read any of these books? What are some of your favorite debut novels?
![Debut Novels I've Read Recently and Enjoyed](https://i0.wp.com/readbakecreate.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Debut-Novels.png?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1)
Are you looking for some more books to read? Check out my other bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.
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I’m so curious about Maame!
Maame is a great read, it examines a young woman’s experiences of being responsible for caring for a parent while being a first generation Brit.
Pam
I just learned about None of This Would Have Happened If Prince Were Alive and I am so intrigued by this title! Lol.
The title is what drew me to the book. It’s an interesting slice-of-life kind of read. I hope you enjoy it if you give it a read.
Pam
I remember being surprised by Revenge of the Sluts! I’m keen to check out Maame, When You Look Like Us and You Truly Assumed. All look/sound stunning 😍 Great list!
The ending of Revenge of the Sluts is WOW! But I love how it examines social media and text culture. I hope you enjoy reading all of these if and when you get the chance.
Pam
You Truly Assumed and Looking for Jane both sound really interesting after clicking on your reviews!
I feel that both of these books are important reads, and so needed in the current state of the world.
Pam
I’m so cuirous about some of these! Here is my post https://paigesofnovels.com/2024/07/23/top-ten-tuesday-9-debuts-i-loved/
I’ve seen Maame everywhere, but I’ve never really looked into the book much. Your review made me add it to my wishlist!!
Knowing my review is was the push you needed to add it to your wishlist makes me so happy! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Pam
The Heroines cover is so pretty, love the vintage style
The cover is what drew me to the book. When I looked on Goodreads, there were several other covers, but this is the one that my copy has, and it’s the best, in my opinion.
Pam
The Heroines sounds good.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
I haven’t read any of these, but You Truly Assumed is one that I’ve been curious about. (I especially love its cover!)
I love how You Truly Assumed looks. The cover is beautiful. But even better, I feel the inside is beautiful as well. I hope you give it a try.
Pam
It’s so wonderful when the inside of a book is as lovely as the outside!
Nice work. I loved Late Bloomers and Maame was good, too!
The cover art of Late Bloomers is stunning! And while I haven’t seen it around, The Heiresses does look interesting. May be something I need to considering reading. 🙂
Maame has been on my TBR list a long time now. I really need to do better dwindling my list down. LOL. Happy Tuesday!
Maame is a great read. I hope you enjoy it when you get around to reading it.
Pam
The Heroines looks interesting
All of these look great!
I’ve heard excellent things about Maame!
Fab list. I haven’t read any of these but I think I recognise some of them!
I haven’t read any of these but the cover and title of Looking for Jane appeals.
Looking for Jane is a great historical fiction examining women’s reproductive health.
Pam
Ooh nice picks! These are all totally new to me ones!
Thanks for visiting my TTT!
I thought Board to Death was really under-rated! It was good fun!
It was a fun read! I hope the author continues with the series.
Pam
Same!
It’s always amazing to see how many books there are. I haven’t read a single one of yours. So many books, so little time …
Thanks for visiting my TTT about Debut novels:
https://momobookblog.blogspot.com/2024/07/top-ten-tuesday-debut-novels.html
Nice list, Pam. I’ve read Looking for Jane and Maame, but have a couple of the others (Late Bloomers, Board to Death) on my TBR. Thanks for bringing them back to the top of the mountain.
You’re welcome!
Pam
I haven’t read any of these – I’ll look them up.
I haven’t read any of the book on your list this week, though there are some that look very good! I am so impressed that you already log which books are debuts – I feel like most of the participants this week (myself included) spent a lot of time feverishly Googling which books were debuts!
I generally don’t record which books are debuts—well, I didn’t before blogging. Now, I figure other people may be searching for a debut for whatever reason and include it in my tags. It worked in my favor this week as I searched my own blog. LOL!
Pam
I’ve heard lots of good things about Maame!
I really need to pick up You Truly Assumed. Glad you enjoyed these!
Great list this week! I clearly love that you included Maame on your list, because it made it onto my list too. And I can’t help but love the book called None of This Would Have Happened If Prince Were Alive – I’m going to check that one out now.
It’s so funny we haven’t heard of any of the others’ books! I do like that though because then I hear about new titles!