The list contains some of my absolute favourite debut novels. There are some award-winners and big hitters that I had to include, but I’ve also tried to highlight some lesser-known debuts that I’ve absolutely adored.
I’ve also tried to include books from a few different genres including mythology, crime and historical fiction. Hopefully there’s something for everyone on this list!
Clytemnestra is the 2023 debut Greek mythology novel by Costanza Casati. It’s a powerful retelling of the life of Clytemnestra, the fierce and often misunderstood queen of the ruthless King Agamemnon.
The Birdcage Library is a novel by bestselling author Freya Berry, whose debut novel The Dictator’s Wife was featured on BBC’s Between The Covers.
It tells the story of It tells the story of Emily Blackwood, a plant-hunter in 1932, who’s tasked with finding hidden treasure in a remote Scottish castle. But her discovery of an old diary, filled with dark secrets and warnings, leads her on a different kind of hunt—one that may endanger her own life.
How to End a Love Story is the debut novel by screenwriter and director Yulin Kuang.
It follows Helen Zhang, a bestselling author grappling with writer’s block and imposter syndrome, as she reluctantly reconnects with Grant Shepard, the man tied to a tragedy that changed both their lives over a decade ago.
The Appeal is the debut crime novel by Janice Hallett. It was was awarded the CWA Debut Dagger of 2021 and was a Sunday Times’ Bestseller, Waterstones’ Thriller of the Month and Sunday Times’ Crime Book of the Month.
The Walled Garden is the debut novel by Sarah Hardy, published in 2023.
The story focuses on the aftermath of WWII as the men from the village of Oakbourne return home, grappling with the psychological scars of war and the strain on their relationships with loved ones who barely recognise them anymore.
Tall Oaks is the debut crime novel by Chris Whitaker, published in 2016.
The story is a mystery set in a small American town, where the disappearance of a young boy unravels the secrets, struggles and eccentricities of its quirky residents.
The Beholders is the debut novel by Hestor Musson, published in 2024. It’s a gothic historical mystery set in the shadowy, atmospheric world of Victorian England.
Thrown is the debut novel by British tv and radio presenter Sara Cox.
The story follows the lives of four women who come together in a pottery class at their local community centre. Each woman is dealing with her own personal challenges and complexities, and they find solace, friendship and unexpected growth through the shared experience of creating pottery.
Throne of Glass is the first book in the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas.
The Throne of Glass series is a collection of fantasy novels that follow the journey of Celaena Sardothien, an infamous assassin with a tumultuous past, as she navigates treacherous political intrigue, deadly competitions, and powerful magic in the kingdom of Adarlan.