10 Delightful Debuts Perfect for Summer Reading
By Kelly Hooker
It’s the season for buzzy books by big-name authors. While I love the nostalgia of a tried and true beach read, there are fresh new voices that are worthy of attention as well. Be sure to save room in your beach bag for this roundup of fantastic books by debut authors.
One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris
This story of redemption and forgiveness makes for the perfect summer book club pick. When Sara was 18 years old she gave birth to a daughter conceived from a rape. Sara fled from Georgia to Maine, leaving behind the man convicted of her assault who is unaware that he has fathered a child. Years later, Sara returns home for a family matter and love finds her in the most unexpected place. With poetry woven throughout the pages, One Summer in Savannah is a lyrical and thought-provoking story that shouldn’t be missed.
The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman
Prudence Childs was a childhood piano prodigy who now finds herself middle-aged and lacking creative spark. When her ex-husband blackmails her, Prudence’s fate in a national dueling piano competition is jeopardized. The focus of rediscovering one’s identity and forging a new path despite familial expectations will resonate with many readers. With a bit of bravado and streak of ambition, The Second Ending reminds us that it’s never too late to make a fresh start.
Super Bloom by Megan Tady
Joan Johnston is slogging through life after her boyfriend is tragically killed in an accident. She feels stuck in a lackluster job as a massage therapist at a Vermont spa, and she can’t seem to move forward in her relationships. When Joan is approached by a famous author to collect data on the secrets of the spa, she realizes that writing on her own terms might be the key to her next chapter. With the book-within-a-book structure, satisfying main character growth, and the found family trope, there is so much to appreciate about this feel-good debut.
Lucky Girl by Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu
Seeking to define womanhood, faith, and relationships on her own terms, Soila leaves Kenya to pursue university in New York City. Ambitious and headstrong, navigates life in America, wrestles with familial obligations, and discovers what it means to live life on her own terms, despite her mother’s wishes. The author’s Own Voices perspective offers a unique commentary on racism and the differences between African Americans and Africans living in the United States. Toss Lucky Girl in your beach bag for a fascinating cross-cultural debut.
The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon
This slow-burn suspense novel calls into question how well we know the people close to us. Aidan Thomas is a widowed father and pillar of the community but holds dark secrets: He is a serial killer with a woman held captive in his home. Told from the perspective of three women caught in his orbit, this character study is one you won’t be able to pull yourself away from. The writing is tense but not gory and highlights the indomitable spirit of women. The Quiet Tenant gives voice to victims and is a story you won’t soon forget.
Banyan Moon by Thao Thai
In the shade of a Florida banyan tree lies a home that has seen the sacrifices of three generations of Vietnamese-American women. This character-driven story is told in alternating perspectives from Minh the matriarch, Minh’s daughter Huong, and granddaughter Ann. After Minh passes away, Huang and Ann are left to reckon with their strained relationship and past missteps. Banyan Moon explores the ties that bind, loss and regret, and finding the courage to begin again.
Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan
This Own Voices story follows an Indian-American family as the parents end their thirty-six-year arranged marriage. Brimming with heart and humor, Late Bloomers highlights the cultural challenges that children of immigrant parents face and the universal challenge of entering the dating pool. These deeply flawed yet endearing characters will capture your heart as they navigate intergenerational cultural differences, find new beginnings, and pursue their own versions of The American Dream.
Go As a River by Shelley Read
This stunning novel follows a young woman living on her family's peach farm in a small Colorado town in the 1950s. We follow Victoria over the course of twenty years as she faces tragedy, finds unexpected friendships in the midst of her sorrows, and learns to offer herself grace for past mistakes. With a deep-rooted reverence for the natural world, Read’s writing is lyrical and cinematic. Go As a River is a timeless story of motherhood sacrifices and an instant modern classic.
The Great Transition by Nick Fuller Googins
This near-future dystopian novel is set in the aftermath of a massive climate crisis during which humanity came together to save the earth from destruction and to rebuild a sustainable society. Told in alternating timelines, the story follows a fractured family as they search for their missing wife/mother in the midst of political unrest. The Great Transition is a frighteningly plausible story with a well-developed world and memorable characters, raising timely questions worthy of discussion.
The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin
Lara was an affluent soccer mom turned prison inmate after being convicted of 32 felonies for stealing credit cards to fund her opioid addiction. In her memoir, Lara recounts her harrowing time in prison and the incredible second chance at life she reclaimed upon her release. With wit and tenderness, The Many Lives of Mama Love explores themes of shame and forgiveness and Lara’s unlikely path to becoming a bestselling author/ghostwriter. Lara’s own story proves that stories have the power to transcend and heal.
Kelly Hooker is a bookstagrammer, avid book reviewer, and cohost of The Chapters and Chats book club featuring monthly author interviews. She creates an annual summer reading guide and is a bimonthly guest on the Thoughts From a Page Podcast. With three little boys at home, she firmly believes that naptime is for novels. Connect with her @kellyhook.readsbooks on Instagram.