We have been having fun with Top Ten Tuesday, so we decided we will do one every week. This bookish meme was hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, and has been going since June 2010! Since January 2018 Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week’s topic is debut novels I Enjoyed. I’m actually going to have to think about this, because nine out of ten times I’m not sure if something is a debut novel or not, haha. So let’s take a look!

That’s Not My Name – Megan Lally

When I read That’s Not My Name, I actually didn’t know it was a debut novel. I listened to the audiobook and was pulled in from the start. This was an emotional thriller and the twist at the end wasn’t one I saw coming. I saw that Megan Lally announced a second book and I can’t wait until it releases.

Out of Character – Jenna Miller

Out of Character was a book I loved. I’m someone who loves reading books where characters have fandoms that they love. That was the case in this one and I also appreciated that it really talked about how it was affecting Cass’ life. There was some emotional family stuff and I thought the author handled it in a great way.

The Hurricane Wars – Thea Guanzon

I know The Hurricane Wars seems to be a book you either love or you don’t, and I’m on the side of loving it. When I read this book it was during a buddyread and I loved how I was sucked into this world and the dual POV kept me hooked. I recently received an eARC of book 2 and need to get to it ASAP.

Girl in Pieces – Kathleen Glasgow

Girl in Pieces isn’t an easy book to read, but the subject shouldn’t be easy. Our main character definitely struggles with self-harm as a way of coping with everything she’s been through. The author clearly thought this one through and even though we didn’t necessarily have a happily ever after, I don’t think that would’ve been fitting for this story.

Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus

Lessons in Chemistry was everywhere when it released and it deserved all of the hype that it received. Our main character Elizabeth didn’t fit the mold of what was expected of a woman in the 1960s and she wasn’t going to let anyone change her. This was sweet and heartwarming. I hope we get more from this author.

The Exact Opposite Of Okay -Laura Steven

I’ve talked about this book a lot of on the blog, but The Exact Opposite of Okay is a book I still think about since the first time I read it in 2018! Laura Steven wrote a book that makes you think and hits you in all the feels. I need to catch up with her backlist, because this amazing debut made Laura Steven an auto-buy author for me.

The Serpent King – Jeff Zentner

The Serpent King is a book I’ve had on my shelves for years and one I’ve heard amazing things about. I’ve only recently read this one and I should’ve read it soon. After reading this, I wouldn’t have said that The Serpent King was a debut book. The Serpent King isn’t an easy book to read, but it’s so powerful and emotional.

The Reader – Traci Lee

Even though I still need to read the final two books in the trilogy, I had to mention The Reader. This book was so good! A world where reading is unheard of was a pretty interesting concept. I flew through this book and I loved trying to get all of the words for the “hidden” message throughout the book.

A Flicker in the Dark – Stacy Willingham

Thrillers aren’t something I read often, but I do want to read more of. A Flicker in the Dark was an amazing debut. I couldn’t put this one down. The only unfortunate thing was that the ending was spoiled for me before I got to the ending, but it’s one I would definitely still recommend.

Red, White & Royal Blue – Casey McQuiston

I remember that I was so excited when I received an eARC of this book and loving every minute of it. This is such a heartwarming and fun romance. Our main characters are flawed, but that makes this one even more amazing. Red, White & Royal Blue was a very well received book and even has a movie adaptation now. I’ll definitely be rereading this one in the near future.

 

So these are ten debut books I really enjoyed! Have you read any of these? Or what are some debut novels you enjoyed? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.