10 Debut Books Which Are Just Chef’s Kiss

I’ll be honest, I don’t always pay much attention to the author of a book when I’m reading. It’s only after I finish a book that I look up the author, their other works and the social media. Of course, there are exceptions but that’s not what I’m here to talk about today.

Sometimes I’ll start looking up an author and be absolutely flabbergasted at how the masterpiece I read is actually their debut book.

This is not to say people should keep low expectation form debut books or debut books aren’t always great but in my experience authors improve upon their writing and storytelling as they publish more books and while sometimes I may not like an author’s debut I fall in love with their more recent works.

So when I see debut books that are intensely complex or beautiful and bring me to my knees I’m just in awe. These debut books need a shoutout for sure so here I am to talk about some of my favourite debut books that were simply put, chef’s kiss 🙂

100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons

100 Days of Sunlight made me feel so many freaking emotions. It’s a book about Tessa, a poetry blogger who has gone blind for 100 days and Weston who’s trying to help her out and give her hope. A boy with no legs, Weston is thrilled to be treated like anyone else and refuses to let anyone disclose his disability to Tessa. Emmons’ writing is so freaking powerful and motivating. I was a mess of tears and heartache and hope at the end of this book. Both characters are just true gems and the story writing itself is amazing. Truly a book you need to check out!

Add it on Goodreads or Storygraph!

Related Post: Interview with Author Abbie Emmons

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

What a fucking masterpiece. I’m an absolute Joan He stan so let me tell you how wonderful her debut novel is. Descendant of the Crane is about princess Hesina who’s father was recently killed. Turning to illegal magic and imprisoned criminals, Hesina will go to any lengths to find what happened to her father while trying to take charge of her kingdom. I swear the characters from this novel like Cassian, Sajing, Mei and Akira haunt me to this date because they’re so raw and beautiful and all of them have my heart. This book is filled with shocking plot twists and words that made me sob my heart out. One of the best fantasy standalones I’ve read, for sure.

Add it on Goodreads or Storygraph!

Related Post: Descendant of the Crane: The Masterpiece that Stole my Soul

A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G Drews

It still feels like yesterday when Cait released her first book and when I held it in my hands with great excitement. A Thousand Perfect Notes is a beautiful narrative about Beck who has an abusive mother forcing him on the piano. His life is grim and riddled with tension until he meets August who’s sunshine personified. Beck made my heart break and at the same time I loved reading about August and Joey and the beautiful plot of the book. It’s such an important story and very well written as well. And I’m sure if you’re in the bookish community you know and adore Cait so why not go and support her debut and other books 🙂

Check it out on Goodreads and Storygraph!

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R Pan

The Astonishing Color of After is a breathtaking and heart-wrenching story about a girl named Leigh who loses her mother to suicide and finds her reincarnated as a bird. Travelling to Taiwan for the first time, she finds herself struggling to fit in, searching for answers and connections and learning to live with her grief. The book addresses some heavy themes so I would advise you to read the trigger warnings before going ahead with this one but I still vividly remember how enamored I had been with the author’s writing and Leigh’s story.

Check it out on Goodreads or Storygraph!

The Perfect Escape by Suzanne Park

The moment I read the blurb for this book I was all in. Zombies and escape rooms and a survival contest? How could I resist??? The Perfect Escape is a perfect read in one sitting book because it’s so fluffy and light-hearted and cute. Kate meets Nate at the zombie escape room he works at and sparks fly between them so they decide to enter a week-long survival contest to win a grand cash prize – something they both need desperately. But as their relationship grows and they uncover each other’s past and lives things start getting rocky. I honestly loved this book, it’s the perfect cheer me up story to read on a lazy day or out at the beach!

Add it on Goodreads!

Related Post: Interviewing Suzanne Park: Author of The Perfect Escape

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow

I’ve absolutely given my entire soul and life to Alechia Dow and I still can’t thank her enough for writing this masterpiece. I honestly don’t know what my life was before reading The Sound of Stars. This is such an epic sci-fi book about Ellie, a human who loves books and art and wants to save humanity and Morris, born in a lab and yet falls in love with music and a beautiful human girl. This book just defies all expectation of breathtaking and beautiful. Every freaking line is a dream and the representation? It was everything I asked for and more. If you’ve been following my blog for a while you’re probably sick of me yelling about this book but I honestly can’t help myself.

Go add it on Goodreads or Storygraph!

Related Posts: The Sound Of Stars: A Piece Of Art That Spoke To My Soul

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Read the Rainbow Spotlight: The Sound of Stars

All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban

All of Your Twisted Secrets is an amazing thriller where six students find themselves locked in a room with an hour to pick which of them dies. If they don’t choose, everyone will be dead. I really like how the author explored the dynamics between these different characters and I absolutely loved the dimension the dual timeline added! I think the ending was quite satisfying and surprising and I thoroughly enjoyed second-guessing everything in this book.

Add it on Goodreads and Storygraph!

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar

The Henna Wars is one of the softest and cutest sapphic book I’ve ever read! It follows Nishat who comes out to her family as a lesbian and falls for a girl named Flavia. They’re both entering a competition and running a henna business and their feelings only get more intense as time passes but so does the drama. I really adore this book and the manner in which the author wove in some really important messages and theme into the story. Also the characters are definitely what attracted me the most, I would absolutely die for Nishat!

Check it out on Goodreads and Storygraph!

Related Posts: Read the Rainbow Spotlight: The Henna Wars

I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver

This might be one of the most emotional books I’ve read. I Wish You All the Best follows Ben who comes out as non-binary and is immediately thrown out by their parents, having to take refuge with their sister who has been away for a long time. It’s a painstaking journey as Ben builds up a new life for themself and tried therapy. A lot goes on in this book and if you’re queer it may be triggering but it’s honestly so well-written, I may have cried like through half of this book. This is definitely worth a read.

Add on Goodreads or Storygraph!

You Should See Me In A Crown

Oh my god if you get a chance, do listen to this in audiobook format because what an experience that was! You Should See Me In A Crown follows our queer girl Liz whose financial aid fails and now she plans on winning prom queen to get the scholarship money. Except that the new girl Mack is also in the running and Liz is most definitely not crushing on her. I swear these two lines barely cover what all goes on in this book and the amazing representation we get. This is a truly amazing debut and I honestly can’t wait for more books from the author!

Add it on Goodreads or Storygraph!

Related Post: Read the Rainbow Spotlight: You Should See Me In A Crown

Have you read any of these debuts? If yes, what are your thoughts on them?

Which are some of your favourite debuts?

Do you keep an eye out for debut authors or do you like sticking with authors you know?