Debut novels are always great fun to keep an eye on. They are full of promise and if a book demonstrates ability there's a certain heady joy in realizing that you are among the first to recognize a new talent in ascendance. BookBrowse loves debut authors because we know how much book lovers value the thrill of a find, in seeking out that special talent and getting in on the action with a ringside seat. In this edition, we feature half a dozen outstanding debuts, all of which are now released in paperback. To make things even better for your book club, these selections also have reading guides to kick-start discussions. Happy reading!
Fallen Land by Taylor Brown
Paperback Jan 2017. 288 pages. Published by St. Martin's Griffin.
Historical fiction doesn't get more raw and powerful than this. An improbable relationship unfolds as a new Irish immigrant and a young woman left vulnerable to the uncertainties of battle, must band together to fight for survival in a ravaged landscape. Set in the last year of the Civil War, this deeply engaging novel paints vivid portraits of the scarred terrain. The constant fear of the enemy at their backs galvanizes the couple to seek refuge in the unlikeliest of places.
Review, article, excerpt and discussion guide
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
Paperback Nov 2016. 384 pages. Published by Berkley Books.
It's a situation that is every parent's nightmare: You let go of your toddler's hand for a split second and things spin completely out of your control. In this spellbinding thriller, Kate is understandably devastated when her five-year-old son is mowed down by a hit-and-run driver when she is distracted for a brief moment. But there are further layers in this story, ones that Mackintosh peels so expertly and with such studied dexterity that you'll find it hard to believe this is her first outing. If you're in the mood for a discussable edge-of-the-seat thriller, look no further.
Review, article, excerpt and discussion guide
The Never-Open Desert Diner by James Anderson
Paperback Nov 2016. 304 pages. Published by Broadway Books.
It might be cliché to say that the prose here is as crisp and crackling as the desert Utah landscape in which this novel is set, but it is the truth. At the center of this high-wattage story is a man who is the anchor for a motley crew of residents in a remote small town, until he himself gets sucked into a new mystery woman's past. Enmeshing himself into her life is not easy especially because her complications soon become everyone else's, and in short order the town's tragic past is unearthed for all to revisit. A compelling and breathtaking novel.
Review, article, excerpt and discussion guide
Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta
Paperback Sep 2016. 336 pages. Published by Mariner Books.
This quietly devastating story of coming out in Nigeria won many critical accolades and shows just how universal its message can be. Set in a small town torn apart by war, one young woman comes to terms with her sexuality and wrestles with the religious beliefs she holds dear. A deeply affecting novel that is surely to deliver plenty of fuel for discussion about religion, class and sexuality.
Review, article, excerpt and discussion guide
Youngblood by Matt Gallagher
Paperback Sep 2016. 352 pages. Published by Washington Square Press.
You can almost feel the shrapnel in your side with this story saturated in the landscape of the Iraq war. While battle is ugly and psychological wounds run deep, this brilliant debut plays with the morality of the characters involved, making for a nuanced tale that is more pithy than the clickbait headlines one reads in the news every day. Deeply moving and utterly absorbing.
Review, article, excerpt and discussion guide
Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom
Paperback Nov 2016. 320 pages. Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
High school junior Parker Grant might be visually impaired but she is perceptive in many ways, especially astute in the ways that she can be taken for a ride. So when boyfriend Scott leaves her in the worst possible way, she knows she has to move on and remake herself so she can be there for the other people in her life. Unfortunately tragedy will not leave her alone and Parker soon realizes that life's dark spots are sometimes necessary to shed light on the truth.
Review, article, excerpt and discussion guide
