We Love Debut Novels!

"The first sentence can’t be written until the final sentence is written."

~ Joyce Carol Oates

The Center for Fiction has announced the longlist for their 2024 First Novel Prize. This got us thinking about 2024 debut novels that have caught our eye. Here are seven new works that called out to us. You can see the full Center for Fiction longlist here.

We Were the Universe by Kimberly King Parsons

A young mother, in denial after the death of her sister, navigates the dizzying landscapes of desire, guilt, and grief in this darkly comic, highly anticipated debut novel from Kimberly King Parsons, author of the story collection, Black Light.

Fire Exit by Morgan Talty

Morgan Talty's debut novel, Fire Exit, is a masterful and unforgettable story of family, legacy, bloodlines, culture and inheritance, and what, if anything, we owe one another.

Your Presence is Mandatory by Sasha Vasilyuk

A riveting debut novel, based on real events, about a World War II veteran with a secret that could land him in the Gulag, and his family who are forced to live in the shadow of all he has not told them.

Oye by Melissa Mogollon

A coming-of-age comedy. A telenovela-worthy drama. A moving family saga. All in a phone call you won't want to hang up on.

The Book of Love by Kelly Link

In the long-awaited first novel from short story virtuoso and Pulitzer Prize finalist Kelly Link, three teenagers become pawns in a supernatural power struggle.

The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan

In this "espionage-laden family epic" (Vanity Fair), an ordinary housewife becomes an unlikely spy--and her dark secrets will test even the most unbreakable ties.

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

Electrifying, funny, and wholly original, Martyr! heralds the arrival of an essential new voice in contemporary fiction. Martyr! is a paean to how we spend our lives seeking meaning--in faith, art, ourselves, others.