This list doesn’t even scratch the surface of what great debuts are coming out this year. And this list is only through March because again, I have trouble narrowing down choices. But, after going through my tags on Edelweiss, these ten really caught my eye and I look forward to reading them and requesting them at my library. (Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish)
The Secret Wisdom of the Earth by Christopher Scotton (Jan. 6) It’s a coming-of-age story about man, Kevin, looking back to a time when he and his mother spent a summer in Appalachia after a family tragedy.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (Jan. 13) After reading this interview and blurb in BookPage, I immediately requested the ARC and can’t wait to crack it open. This book is being called a “Hitchcockian thriller”. Let’s hope it holds up to the hype.
The Magician’s Lie by Greer Macallister (Jan. 13) The Amazing Arden is accused of her husband’s murder and has one day to clear herself. Is she telling the truth or using her gift as an illusionist to get away with murder? This was pitched at BEA and I’m kicking myself for not grabbing a copy.
Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper (Jan. 20) 80 year-old Etta leaves her husband Otto a note that she has always wanted to see the sea, so she treks the 2,00o miles alone. It is being called “an astounding literary debut about friendship and love, hope and honor, and the romance of last-great-adventures.”
Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekbäck (Jan. 27) Maija and her family leave Finland and arrive in the Swedish Lapland, 1717. One of her daughters happen upon a dead body and the neighbors dismiss it as a wolf attack, but the wounds say otherwise. Surviving one of the harshest winters, secrets, mysteries, crime…who can Maija and her family really trust in this new land?
The Upstairs Wife: An Intimate Story of Pakistan by Rafia Zakaria (Feb. 3) Zakaria’s family immigrated from Bombay to Pakistan in the early 60s and this is her memoir of her life, Pakistani history, and how the military dictators changed the path for women when they allowed men to take additional wives in the 80s.
Single, Carefree, Mellow: Stories by Katherine Heiny (Feb. 3) Eleven short stories whose main characters are women from all walks of life. Topics of adultery, friendship, marriage, parenting and dating but done so with humor and heart.
Find Me by Laura van den Berg (Feb. 17) The very few reviews I’ve read say NOT to read the blurbs, go in blind, otherwise it gives away much of the story. This Dystopia/Sci-Fi/Literary Adult Fiction novel follows Joy who is one of the few who is immune to a disease that is sweeping the nation. Van den Berg has written short stories but this is her first novel and her short story fans are thrilled.
Young Skins: Stories by Colin Barrett (March 3) Set in Ireland, “these six short stories and one explosive novella occupy the ghostly, melancholic spaces between boyhood and old age”.
Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller (March 17) Peggy’s father believes the world is coming to an end so he packs up supplies and takes her to a cabin in a remote forest to survive. Nine years later she returns home and the story reveals what happened to her during that time away. I am hearing major plot twist in the end…we’ll see.
Not enough for you? Check out my other two posts for new releases in 2015. Here are some new releases by familiar authors and the middle grade post has six debuts!
I’m really excited for Single, Carefree Mellow; Find Me; and Our Endless Numbered Days. Great list!
Thanks! So many great reads just in the beginning of the year!!
AWESOME LIST! I’ll be sure to check these books out. Although I wished I had debut books to put on my post too.
MY TOP TEN TUESDAY
Well, I have a “little” problem with looking through publisher’s catalogs…so my TBR lists get way too big and I love finding debuts. I know…first world problems. 🙂
Great list! Find Me sounds like something I’d really like. I’ve got an ARC of The Secret Wisdom of the Earth that I’m excited to get to, and Etta and Otto and Russell and James found a spot on my list today, too!
Thanks. I really want to read The Secret Wisdom. I’ve heard such great reviews already.
So many great books! I’ve heard so much about The Girl on the Train and The Magician’s Lie. Is Girl the book you look forward to reading the most?
Thanks! I wouldn’t say Girl On the Train is my most anticipated book but the fact that it’s showing up on several lists already and is a debut is exciting.
I had The Girl on the Train and Find Me on my list as well. There are so many books that look good! from your list I think I would add Etta and Otto and Russell and James and Our Endless Numbered Days to my list. Of course, I am still trying to catch up with 2014, so who knows when I’ll get to any of them?
Great minds! 🙂 It’s exciting that so many interesting books are coming out so early in the year as well as tons of debuts. I’ll never catch up at this rate!
Ahhhh! Every single book on this list looks FANTASTIC. Especially Wolf Winter! I just got a copy of The Secret Wisdom of the Earth, since it’s out today, also. It seems like I know about so many YA debuts, but I’m fairly in the dark about many adult titles. But now I have 10 new ones to look forward to! 🙂
They do sound fantastic but I’d love to hear what YA debuts you are most excited for. While I don’t read many YA books, I work in a library and need to become more familiar with new authors to recommend!
Great list, and I can vouch for The Secret Wisdom of the Earth and The Girl on the Train. Secret Wisdom is a really special book.
That’s it! I’ve officially put Secret Wisdom on hold at my library.
I keep hearing great things about Our Endless Numbered days and really hope I can get to it! Love your list 🙂
Thanks! I promised myself I wouldn’t request too many ARCs this year but I caved and got Our Endless Days. Hope I can get it in while also trying to finish A Little Life that month!
The Girl on the Train looks like a really good book! I’m excited to know that it comes out in January. Also, Etta and Otto and Russell and James looks interesting, it sounds like a cute book. Great list! And I’m totally going to check out those other lists. 🙂
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Alex @ The Book Banner
Great list yourself. I need to familiarize myself with more YA debuts and authors to recommend to teens coming into the library. Thanks!
I’m really excited about Wolf Winter – though it sounds so bleak – and Ella and Otto (which I just got in the mail!). Happy reading!
Bleak is perfect for the weather we are having. I just got Ella and Otto via Edelweiss since that seems the only way I can get ARCs for this little blog.