Best Debut Fiction of 2019

by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

Firing on all circuits, from psychological insight to cultural acuity to narrative strategy to very smart humor. Quite a... Full review >

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by John Englehardt

Hugely important, hauntingly brutal—Englehardt has just announced himself as one of America’s most talented emerging writers. Full review >

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by Kali Fajardo-Anstine

Fajardo-Anstine takes aim at our country's social injustices and ills without succumbing to pessimism. The result is a... Full review >

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by JP Gritton

An affecting, richly drawn, darkly humorous novel about grifting siblings, one worse than the other. Full review >

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by Angie Kim

Intricate plotting and courtroom theatrics, combined with moving insight into parenting special needs children and the... Full review >

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by Casey McQuiston

A clever, romantic, sexy love story. Full review >

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by Julia Phillips

An unusual, cleverly constructed thriller that is also a deep dive into the culture of a place many Americans have probably... Full review >

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by Namwali Serpell

Comparisons with Gabriel García Márquez are inevitable and likely warranted. But this novel’s generous spirit, sensory... Full review >

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by Pitchaya Sudbanthad

This breathtakingly lovely novel is an accomplished debut, beautifully crafted and rich with history rendered in the most... Full review >

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by Alia Trabucco Zerán ; translated by Sophie Hughes

Thanatofiction at its best and a debut that leaves the reader wanting more. Full review >

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by Ocean Vuong

A raw and incandescently written foray into fiction by one of our most gifted poets. Full review >

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by Elvia Wilk

Witty and alarming, a satire with (unexpected) heart. Full review >

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by De'Shawn Charles Winslow

Winslow's heroine isn't easy to like. But over time, she reaches into your heart and touches it deeply. So does this book. Full review >

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