We can always count on debut novelists to deliver some of the buzziest, boldest, listens of the year—and today, there are more emerging writers than we can even begin to count! Warming our hearts with nostalgia-driven narratives while chilling our imaginations with projections for the future, and accomplishing everything in-between, these fresh perspectives light up the literary world from every direction, firmly grounding us in the here and now of storytelling.
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After a personally tumultuous 2023, I have decided to embrace a “new year, new me” mentality for 2024. So far, I have found that adjusting to change, even when positive, often feels disorienting. However, wrapping my head around entering a new chapter in my life has been made easier alongside the companionship of Holly Gramazio’s debut novel. Day in and day out, Lauren grapples with the sudden enchantment of her attic, which swaps out one new husband for another on a seemingly endless loop. And while, yes, some of the men manage to woo her in the little time they spend together, The Husbands is about so much more than finding romance. The rapid changes to Lauren’s life that propel her narrative forward, from sudden adjustments to her class status to changes in her profession, offer an endless stream of fascinating insights and undeniable humor. —Haley H.
As you’ll hear in the audio, author Vanessa Chan introduces herself and her debut novel in the form of a letter to readers and listeners. She talks about her Malaysian grandparents, who endured Japanese occupation but rarely spoke of it. In her own words, she explains, “As I grew older, excavating truths from my grandmother ... was like playing an oral scavenger hunt.” The Storm We Made is the fruit of everything she discovered in this scavenger hunt and infused into the storytelling she built around these revelations. This is historical fiction steeped in ancestral wisdom learned through time well spent with people you love—it’s evident in her characters and makes listening a pure joy. —Tricia F.
It’s rare to come across a novel about Black American life in the 1990s—books about Blacks during slavery, though, are plentiful. That’s what drew me to poet DéLana R.A. Dameron’s fiction debut. It’s a slice of life we don’t often hear about, charting the history of one family who settled in South Carolina post-World War II, mostly told through the point-of-view of Mika, the youngest grandchild. As an ‘80s baby and a child of the ‘90s, I related to Mika’s coming-of-age story so much. We both made our first trip to Disney World not on an airplane, but from the backseat of a car on a 10+ hour road trip to Florida. And I know what it’s like to be the only Black student in a classroom full of white kids. Each chapter of this novel-in-stories could easily stand on its own, but the way Dameron delicately weaves her connective narrative tissue through them is masterful. The harmony of narrators, featuring a mix of both new and veteran voices, enhances this unforgettable story that brims with joy and helps to showcase the beautiful, bright side of Black lives. —Margaret H.
Every so often (and especially during an election year), I experience the anxious urge to flee society for somewhere remote and sublimely beautiful. Lucky for me, Caroline Hewitt’s narration of The Impossible Brightness absolutely transported me to the secluded lighthouse off the coast of New England where Alma Hughes, the beacon at the center of this novel, resides. There, Alma attempts to grieve the disappearance of her fiancé in isolation. However, as is often the case in our modern world, her fortress of solitude does not last long, as pesky—and potentially paranormal—radio emissions start dinging off appliances across the small town. (Personal note: If I ever do manage to go off the grid, please do not contact me through any medium, supernatural or other). What unfolds is a gorgeous exploration of how communities form around grief. —Haley H.
I was drawn to Martyr! because, in my experience, poets make good novelists (looking at you, Ocean Vuong). And Kaveh Akbar’s poetry certainly shines through in his debut novel. The story teems with inventive language, mixing the humorous and profound in surprising ways, like in an imagined conversation between the protagonist’s dead mother and Lisa Simpson (yes, of The Simpsons). And narrator Arian Moayed, an Emmy- and Tony-nominated actor, is a perfect match for our hero, Cyrus Shams, a recovering addict, aspiring poet, and orphaned son of Iranian immigrants. Cyrus’s obsession with martyrdom becomes a vehicle for trying to shake his demons, find his voice, and make sense of his parents’ deaths. Through Cyrus, Akbar wrestles with the eternal question: What does it all mean? Cyrus’s journey to find answers is one I won’t soon forget. —Phoebe N.
As a writer in my late twenties living in Brooklyn whose screen-time average is higher than I’d ever publicly admit, Alexandra Tanner’s debut sings to my jaded little Jewish soul. Aside from Worry just being fun to listen to (shoutout Helen Laser), I was struck—verklempt, even!—by Tanner’s ability to give language to a very specific kind of malaise that I and many of my peers know so intimately: It isn’t quite burnout—how could it be when you feel like you’re not really ever doing anything?—and it isn’t just that good old fashioned analog type of sadness either. It’s more like an overwhelming feeling of disappointment in how you can have the entire world buzzing at you in your pocket as if it’s begging for you to join it, and still feel like an island all on your own. —Aaron S.
I’ve been following Ella Dawson ever since she, in her words, “became famous for having herpes” after giving her 2016 TED Talk that aimed to de-stigmatize the STI. Nearly a decade later, the outspoken, queer, sex-positive writer and activist now brings us relatable characters in her debut novel about a late-twenty-something “burned-out bisexual” who reconnects with her chosen family—and considers igniting an old flame—when she’s invited to be a guest speaker at her alma mater’s graduation ceremony during her five-year reunion. This debut novel is about evolving identities, navigating adulthood, and decoding the human heart—everything that I look forward to in a good listen. —Rachael X.
It would be tempting to think this is a story you’ve heard before: a robot created solely for human subservience and sexual gratification wrestles with the complexities of free will and personhood. But you’d be missing out on one heck of a story—because Sierra Greer’s version manages a fresh, unexpected take on AI and all the hopes and fears we ascribe to it. What results is a highly plausible vision of what our eventual coexistence may look like. The highly intelligent yet painfully naive Annie is not like any AI character I’ve encountered before—she’s messier, more adrift. Jennifer Jill Araya did her homework for this performance: Her subtle shifts in cadence between types of bots, as well as capturing the range of human affects we don throughout our day, added such dimension to this story. —Sam D.
While there's the old adage about literature teaching empathy, in her gorgeous debut Carolina Ixta delivers a poignant portrayal of a young person in the process of developing empathy. Belén (who narrator Frankie Corzo just totally inhabits) is a soon-to-be high school graduate (or nongraduate, depending), and she's facing the weight of her future while battling an unwieldy heaviness that she can't identify as depression. She's also drowning in the legacy of her family's immigration journey, the archetypes of the Mexican housewife her community keeps laying on top of her, and society's insistence that she share her trauma for mass consumption. And amidst it all, she and her best friend are trying to understand and support each other through equally difficult, but very different, life transitions. It's a lot, but Ixta's a remarkable storyteller, and not only has she delivered something gloriously complex and nuanced, but her narrative voice is consistently and authentically that of a teenager, transporting me back in time as only the best listens can. —Emily C.
I have always been fascinated by the Book of Genesis, so to me, a story with an Edenic setting sounds like a slice of heaven. And when I say “Edenic,” I mean: set beyond the boundaries of life and death. Scott Alexander Howard’s speculative novel explores such a world with truly stunning grace, while Cindy Kay’s performance elevates the listen to its next tier of transcendence. Mortality is certainly a looming factor throughout The Other Valley. However, in a reality where each bordering land exists as a version of its neighbor differentiated by 20-year spans of time, grief becomes an impermeable border that makes the listen all the more heart-wrenching and profound. —Haley H.
I love a story that intertwines prose with verse, and that’s one area where Hope Ablaze excels. But it also provides a much-needed look at Islamophobia and racism from the perspective of a Muslim teen and poet. It’s clear that this story comes from an incredible mix of research and lived experience, and author Sarah Mughal Rana’s commentary on colonialism and the history of the Pakistani diaspora illuminates both the micro- and macro- forms of bigotry and systemic policies that are felt by immigrant families in the West. Plus, the performance from another rising star—Pakistani American narrator Farah Kidwai—adds an uplifting and powerful tone to the narrator that can truly be felt and sticks with you long after the story is over. —Michael C.
Well, I’m climbing in. The City of Stardust promises a story reminiscent of Erin Morgenstern or V.E. Schwab’s lush, folkloric worlds. Kitty Parker is a fresh new narrator, and she sounds lovely. It begins with a curse, as all good fairy tales do, and follows with a fierce heroine who plunges down the rabbit hole. It’s a portal fantasy for book lovers, with hints of dark academia and a lean toward the lyrical. Ready to be swept away? —Melissa B.
Seeing Miranda Raison (who exceptionally performed one of my favorites, Lessons in Chemistry) as the performer, plus the stunning cover in The Book of Doors was all the convincing it took for me to download this title. The story is centered on Cassie Andrews, a bookstore employee who inherits a mysterious book with strange inscriptions from an elderly customer who was very dear to her. Shortly after Cassie discovers how to use the book—which can open a door to any place she desires—she’s approached by Drummond Fox, a librarian who not only claims that there is danger coming for Cassie, but that he is the only one who can help. The Book of Doors is equal parts adventure and fantasy that, combined with Raison’s stellar performance, has left me wondering if we will hear more about other “books” from debut author Gareth Brown. —Patty R.
It feels strange to call The Book of Love a debut—Kelly Link is, after all, a highly accomplished, Pulitzer-nominated short story writer with several collections to her name. And sure enough, this ambitious fever dream of a tale demonstrates her enormous range, signature wit, and uncanny knack for illuminating truth in the magical. The shifting perspectives could have easily been a job for a multicast—and no doubt that listening experience would have been good as well—but kudos to Link and the casting team for trusting in January LaVoy’s ability to carry this performance solo. Fantastical tales like this were meant to be heard, and LaVoy absolutely enchants. —Sam D.
A Gatsby-inspired debut about Black high-society in Chicago during the roaring 1920s—performed by Bahni Turpin—and a gorgeous Art Deco cover. Sometimes, all I need to know about a listen to make it an immediate “add-to-Library” is a compelling setting, a narrator I love, and, for good or bad, I can be sold by an appealing cover. Luckily, in the case of The Mayor of Maxwell Street, these queues led me to a brilliant discovery! Debut novelist Avery Cunningham has given us a shining example of historical fiction with all the right twists—full of mystery, extravagance, danger, a dash of romance, and a wholly different perspective on the American Dream. —Tricia F.
In a genre dominated by a short list of popular writers, I’m always excited to discover a new voice in romance. Naina Kumar’s tender debut follows Meghna and Karthik, who plot a fake engagement to survive an ex's wedding and escape matchmaking pressure from their Indian families. Narrator Soneela Nankani is the perfect match for this witty and romantic story, portraying the vibrant cast with distinct accents and authenticity. Filled with memorable characters and snappy banter, culture and family play equally important roles in this narrative as Meghna and Karthik explore past hurts and traumas to discover who they are and what they truly want. The ending might be a given, but their joyful journey puts Kumar firmly on my list of favorite romance authors, and I absolutely look forward to hearing more of what she writes. —Margaret H.
As a former queer musical theater kid, I was obsessed with Mammia Mia! in high school. So as soon as I heard that this debut from Kalie Holford was a queer love story inspired by my favorite jukebox musical, I knew I was in for a treat. The Last Love Song is the perfect mix of music, romance, and scavenger hunt. Original song lyrics are beautifully intertwined into the narrative and overall structure of the story, and there’s a dual-timeline narrative that moves between Mia’s point of view and that of her mom’s, years earlier. It’s such a sweet and touching exploration of love, family, and following your dreams—which is everything you could want in a coming-of-age story. —Michael C.
Few YA fantasy novels in recent memory have thrilled the way Sky’s End does. There’s incredible tension, world-building, climaxes, and cliffhangers. Author Marc J. Gregson’s passion for the story is infused through the narrative, and listeners are already clamoring for the next book in the promised trilogy. At the heart of the story sits Conrad, a 16-year-old hell-bent on revenge, and then, suddenly, on the precipice of rebellion. Vikas Adam, unsurprisingly, delivers an amazing performance that enhances the plot twists and thrills, all while remaining grounded in the emotional nuance of our young hero. —Katie O.
The Cleaner is a delightfully strange and deeply unsettling listen that starts with our unnamed protagonist taking on more than she can chew. Overly invested in her work, the cleaner is more than a little nosy, and ends up meddling in the lives of the daytime office employees, making subtle changes as she cleans, in the firm belief she is helping to make workers healthier and happier. When she discovers that the CEO of the company is involved in sinister behavior, the cleaner must decide if she will step in and help fix problems under the cover of night. Narrator Francine Brody’s performance made for a very intimate-feeling audiobook that left me double checking that my passwords weren’t left on my computer monitor. —Patty R.
My mom texted me a few months ago that she had been seeing the number “333” everywhere she turned, so I would categorize my curiosity in the spiritual meaning of repeating digits, also known as “angel numbers,” as a casual interest. But for the fictional character Young Wang, the college-aged protagonist of Abraham Chang’s forthcoming debut novel, 888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers, Chinese numerology is the lens through which he finds meaning in the chaos of life itself. That is, until he falls in love with the sixth woman he’s dated—a fellow NYU student named Erena—and not the seventh as his beloved uncle/mentor had prophesied. Set in 1995 and told in the voice of a first-generation Chinese American New Yorker, Chang’s first publication promises feelings of brain-scratching nostalgia, cringe humor, and the sweaty-palmed desperation of wanting to keep a new flame alive despite the negative odds. I have high hopes for this one. —Rachael X.
As a devout Swiftie, I must admit that I was first drawn to Emma R. Alban’s debut novel because of its title. But then I learned that the queer Victorian romance is being touted as a cross between Bridgerton and The Parent Trap. A millennial’s dream, TBH. Veteran historical romance narrators Mary Jane Wells and Morag Sims give voice to debutantes Gwen and Beth, who hatch a plot to set up their widowed parents as they avoid being matched with husbands of their own. It was witty and swoony (and the start of a series!), and I had a marvelous time listening. —Katie O.
I devoured this debut in just a few sittings, and believe me, Piglet is sure to be one of the most mouth-watering releases of 2024. Lottie Hazell’s novel is all about nourishing desire, as it follows Piglet, a bride-to-be, and her burgeoning appetite, which swells alongside her intensifying anxieties over marrying a man who does not treat her correctly. Just as she remarks in the story, “bourguignon would not let you down like a lover,” and neither will this binge-worthy listen. —Haley H.
Many debuts come in under the radar—after all, these are mostly unknown writers who are yet to be discovered and embraced. But some, like Matthew Blake’s Anna O, come in hot. It’s the kind of story that immediately catches your attention: a woman suffering from a mysterious affliction called “resignation syndrome,” murder while sleep walking, and a dedicated forensic psychologist who may be getting too close to his patient. It’s all catnip for thriller fans! Add a killer cast of narrators—Dan Stevens, Hannah Curtis, Sarah Cullum, and Christine Rendel—and you’re in for the ultimate audio experience. —Tricia F.