In Episode 96, Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits) and I share some of our favorite debut novels and discuss why we gravitate toward debuts.  We also discuss our reading stats for debut novels, as well as exploring some sophomore novels…the good, the not so good, and those we’re still awaiting.

This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). I also included Bookshop.org affiliate links.

Highlights

• Why I like having debut authors on the podcast.
• A full breakdown of debut-related stats and our best year for debuts
• Debuts we love, divided into four categories:
  • All-Time Favorite Debuts
  • Sophomore Slumps — alongside the debuts that came before them
  • Anxiously Awaiting — debut novelists who’ve not yet released a second novel
  • Upcoming Sophomore Novels

All-Time Favorite Debuts [9:35]

Sarah

• The Mothers by Brit Bennett | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org[11:00]
• Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [16:35] & [41:05]

Honorable Mentions

• Shelter by Jung Yun | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [10:00]
• Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [10:16]

Susie

• Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [13:22]
• The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [18:46]

Honorable Mention

• Mudbound by Hillary Jordan | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [10:26]

Sophomore Slumps [21:05]

Sarah

• Debut: The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhon | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [21:20]
• Sophomore: Flight of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [23:40]
• Debut: Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [29:46]
• Sophomore: We Went to the Woods by Caite Dolan-Leach | Buy from Amazon| Buy from Bookshop.org [32:03]

Susie

• Debut: Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [25:04]
• Sophomore: Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [28:13]
• Debut: Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [33:14]
• Sophomore: The End of the Day by Bill Clegg | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [35:09]

Anxiously Awaiting [36:25]

Sarah

• The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [36:37]
• We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [41:13]

Susie

• If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org[38:54]
• Tuesday Nights in 1980 by Molly Prentiss | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [43:57]

Upcoming Sophomore Novels [45:40]

Sarah

• Debut: Miracle Creek by Angie Kim | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [45:55]
• Upcoming: Happiness Quotient by Angie Kim (TBA) [46:19]
• Debut: Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [48:51]
• Upcoming: Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (January 18, 2022) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [50:02]

Susie

• Debut: Girl at War by Sara Nović | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [47:04]
• Upcoming: True Biz by Sara Nović (March 15, 2022) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [47:58]
• Debut: Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [51:03]
• Upcoming: Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (April 12, 2022) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [52:39]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett [11:40] 
• Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi [13:53] 
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins [17:21]
• The Secret History by Donna Tartt [17:24] & [39:31]
• The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer [17:26] 
• Rules of Civility by Amor Towles [22:18]
• A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara [34:06] 
• Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee [52:28] 

Other Links

• Podcast Episode 93: Fall 2021 Book Preview with Catherine from @GilmoreGuide
• Podcast Episode 83: 2021 Summer Reading Special with Susie from @NovelVisits
• Podcast Episode 78: Deep Backlist Books with Catherine from @GilmoreGuide
• Podcast Episode 64: Catherine Adel West (Author of Saving Ruby King)

If you’d like to track your own reading stats, check out my downloadable spreadsheet.  Learn more about the 2021 Rock Your Reading Tracking Spreadsheet here, or by becoming a supporter on Patreon and choosing the Superstar level, you’ll get the upcoming 2022 Reading Tracker included with your membership.