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The biggest new authors of 2024 (so far)
Hailed by critics and readers alike as authors to watch, these debut writers have penned some of the best novels of the year.
Published on June 11, 2024
The Storm We Made: A Novel
Vanessa ChanIn the years preceding World War II, Cecily Alcantara is taken with the idea of building an “Asia for Asians,” and begins spying for the Japanese to usurp British rule over her home country of Malaya (now Malaysia). A decade later, the fallout of her choices has devastating consequences — not just for the nation, but within her very family. Chan’s historical fiction offers richly drawn, morally complex characters while exploring the generational traumas of war and occupation.
Worry: A Novel
Alexandra TannerDubbed a writer to watch in 2024 by Publisher’s Weekly, Tanner presents a claustrophobic comedy of a novel that speaks to the anxious, the chronically online, and anyone who feels a sense that they should be doing more with their lives but they’re not sure what “more” means (hello, fellow millennials). Jules’ depression-prone sister winds up crashing with Jules indefinitely, leading to clashes and growing conflict between the two.
Annie Bot: A Novel
Sierra GreerSimilar to works of speculative sci-fi like “Machines Like Me” and “Speak,” Greer’s contemporary robot Bildungsroman is an intimate examination of the relationship dynamics between humans and AI. Annie was designed to meet Doug’s every need: She cooks, cleans, provides emotional support, and can adjust her libido level to her owner’s liking (Doug kind of sucks, if you haven’t picked up on that). But the more she learns, the more human she becomes, and in the lasting words of Alexander Pope, “to err is human.” In Annie’s case, this means a growing awareness of herself and the manipulation, misogyny, and exploitation she’s subjected to at the hands of her owner.
The Turtle House: A Novel
Amanda ChurchillLia and her grandmother’s heartbreaking (yet hopeful) multi-generational story of sacrifice and loss shines a light on the strength of familial love. Oscillating between scenes set in the 1990s Texas countryside and World War II Japan, Churchill weaves together past and present to gorgeous effect.
The Book of Doors: A Novel
Gareth BrownIf there’s one thing that I can never get enough of, it’s books about books, and Brown’s low fantasy debut checks all the boxes: It features a recognizable New York City and a magical book that acts as a portal to other times and places. Cassie, the recipient of said book, and Izzy, her BFF, embark on a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse as dark book hunters close in, determined to steal the book at any cost.
The Blueprint: A Novel
Rae Giana RashadIf the sinister cover indicates anything about “The Blueprint,” it’s that readers are in for a dark, twisted ride. Rashad imagines a near-future America where, in the wake of Civil War II, bondage is once again legal and Black women are forced into concubinary. One such woman, Solenne, becomes entangled with a high-ranking government official. Rashad painstakingly incorporates many aspects of real-life history into Solenne’s story (including the life of Sally Hemings, a slave of Thomas Jefferson), making this work of speculative fiction all the more terrifying.
Holiday Country: A Novel
İnci AtrekAtrek’s lyrical, character-driven debut is at once a coming-of-age story, an entertaining family drama, and a tale of summer romance. Caught between American culture and her Turkish heritage, Ada is struggling to find her place in the world. She spends her last summer before college seeking connection with her mother and grandmother and grappling with concepts of identity and adulthood. (Lush and vibrant descriptions of the Aegean coast are an added bonus.)
The Other Valley: A Novel
Scott Alexander HowardImagine living in a valley where an identical town to the east is living 20 years in the future and another town to the west is living 20 years in the past. This mind bending, wholly unique concept introduces a host of moral quandaries when a young girl gets caught between her desire to uphold the town’s strict guidelines against timeline interference and an opportunity to save the life of her only friend. A compelling hook combined with evocative prose makes for a masterpiece of speculative fiction that’s already been optioned for a TV series.
City of Laughter
Temim FruchterAfter losing her father, Shiva — a queer, Jewish woman from Brooklyn — hopes to heal by learning more about her ancestors, eventually traveling to Ropshitz, Poland. Meanwhile, her mother Hannah reflects on her own isolation after refusing to be open with Shiva about their family history. A touch of mysticism threads through this family saga about Jewish culture and folklore, queer expression, and generational trauma.
I Love You So Much It's Killing Us Both: A Novel
Mariah StovallAccording to NPR book critic Michael Schaub, “‘I Love You So Much It's Killing Us Both’ is a rare thing: a genuinely successful rock novel.” As encapsulated by its title, Stovall’s debut explores the myriad properties — both healing and destructive — that can be found in all forms of love. A mixtape created by central character Khaki guides the readers through the highs and lows with her former best friend, Fiona.
A Fire So Wild: A Novel
Sarah Ruiz-GrossmanThere are few people more well-suited to pen a moving work of climate fiction than Ruiz-Grossman, a journalist who has extensively covered the climate change and housing crises. This multi-POV, vignette-style narrative incisively examines the impact of wildfires on a diverse group of individuals in the Bay Area. Thought-provoking and timely, “A Fire So Wild” sparks important conversations about wealth disparity, homelessness, and land distribution. Ruiz-Grossman was declared a writer to watch in 2024 by Publishers Weekly.
In Universes: A Novel
Emet NorthIn this inspired work of queer speculative fiction, a scientist named Raffi explores the multiverse, hoping to land in a reality where they have a happily ever after with an artist named Britt. The universes vary wildly — from mundane to magical — but Raffi’s desires to live authentically and find love remain constant. “I hope people walk away with a belief that, whatever universe you’re in, it’s possible to find a way to make that the universe you want to be in,” says author North in an interview with Publishers Weekly about “In Universes.”
The Ministry of Time: A Novel
Kaliane BradleyIn this genre-blending debut, a British Cambodian government worker must help a time traveler from the past orient himself in modern-day England. Hilarious situations — and unexpected romance — ensue between the unnamed narrator and Graham Gore, a real-life Royal Navy commander who, in this novel, is plucked from the 19th century before the disastrous end of his arctic expedition. BBC and A24 are already planning a six-part series adaptation of this charming and witty book.
See Loss See Also Love: A Novel
Yukiko TominagaAfter the sudden death of her American husband, a Japanese woman chooses to raise their son in San Francisco, in close proximity to her well-meaning Jewish mother-in-law. Exploring grief’s winding road and the connections that sustain us, Tominaga’s stirring debut offers glimpses of life before, during, and after world-shattering loss.
Swift River: A Read with Jenna Pick
Essie ChambersTeenager Diamond Newberry feels like she’s drowning in a current of microaggressions and fatphobia in Swift River, a working-class, otherwise all-white New England town in the late 1980s. Ultimately, the river of life takes Diamond, who’s mixed-race, on a winding journey connecting her to unknown and distant relatives. Debut author Chambers, producer of the documentary “Descendant” and mixed-race herself, writes with the clarity and acuity acquired from personal experience and extensive research.