Three times a year, Library Journal picks out their top debut novels, and in this Fall/Winter iteration, there is a bevy of HarperCollins titles to look out for:
The Fire by Night by Teresa Messineo: A powerful and evocative debut novel about two American military nurses during World War II that illuminates the unsung heroism of women who risked their lives in the fight—a riveting saga of friendship, valor, sacrifice, and survival combining the grit and selflessness of Band of Brothers with the emotional resonance of The Nightingale. Request an egalley here.
Our Hearts Will Burn Us Down by Anne Valente: The lives of four teenagers are capsized by a shocking school shooting and its aftermath in this powerful debut novel, a coming-of-age story with the haunting power of Station Eleven and the bittersweet poignancy of Everything I Never Told You. On sale now!
A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell: A single mother’s life is turned upside down when her best friend vanishes, in this chilling debut thriller in the vein of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. Request an egalley here.
Ragdoll by Daniel Cole: A pulse-pounding procedural with a dark sense of humor, Ragdoll follows a volatile detective as he tracks down a murderer before he becomes its next victim. Request an egalley here.
The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan: A charming, clever, and quietly moving debut novel of endless possibilities and joyful discoveries that explores the promises we make and break, losing and finding ourselves, the objects that hold magic and meaning for our lives, and the surprising connections that bind us. Request an egalley here.
No Other World by Rahul Mehta: From the author of the prize-winning collection Quarantine, an insightful, compelling debut novel set in rural America and India in the 1980s and ’90s, part coming-of-age story about a gay Indian American boy, part family saga about an immigrant family’s struggles to find a sense of belonging, identity, and hope. Request an egalley here.
The Midnight Cool by Lydia Peelle: The Whiting Award-winning author of the story collection Reasons for and Advantages of Breathing delivers her enchanting debut novel, set in 1916 Tennessee: a rich and rewarding tale of two flawed yet endearing grifters who pursue women, wealth, and a surprisingly valuable commodity for the troops in Europe—mules. Request an egalley here.
No One Is Coming To Save Us by Stephanie Powell Watts: The Great Gatsby brilliantly recast in the contemporary South: a powerful first novel about an extended African-American family and their colliding visions of the American Dream. Request an egalley here.
So many great debuts to read! I hope by now you've found a few new authors to add to your TBR pile. And, as always, we'd love to hear what you think!
-Amanda