10 Most Anticipated Debut Novels In April

April is going to be a great month for debut authors. From fantasy to literary fiction, lots of genres are seeing tremendously promising budding authors who are set on defining their respective genres. They’re definitely creating a buzz in the book community, and it is our pleasure to bring them to your notice. Here, we have for you a list of the 10 Most Anticipated Debut Novels In April 2021 spanning genres and countries.

Pride and Premeditation by Tirza Price (April 6)

This novel offers a unique take on Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice by compounding a murder mystery into it. With the same setting, characters and basic plot that is sure to make readers reminisce about their favourite classic, this book adds an element on feminism to the book. The book strikes such a good balance between preserving Austen’s spirit and adding novel, exciting touches that it’s a must read.

What Beauty There is by Cory Anderson (April 6)

This young adult thriller has a well-sketched plot. A boy and a dangerous man are both on the trail of money – money that is important to both in different ways. Now it’s up to the dangerous man’s daughter whether to intervene and help the good boy or stay silent and let her villainous father triumph. In this never-seen-before thriller, Cory shatters the heart and moves the reader to tears – but it all seems worth it.

The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch (April 6)

This is a soft queer romance that tugs at the heartstrings. Our gay protagonist Sky has chosen to be invisible all his life. Then one day, he decides to go all out and make the most of his senior year by promposing to his crush at a beach bum party. He has thirty days to figure it all out, but a homophobic hacker threatens to spoil all his plans. What ensues is heartbreak yet astonishing support from those around Sky. A quintessential gay romance full of heartwarming, wholesome vibes, this one should definitely be on your radar!

Tall Bones by Anna Bailey (April 8)

Tall Bones is a mystery novel that deals with the disappearance of a teenager called Abi in a small town in Colorado, USA. In this boo, Anna draws on from her experiences in the town, and pens down the fanatically religious and homophobic environment that made her feel alienated from the community. From here, the novel becomes a meditation on loneliness and delves deep into the psyche of those alienated.

Fragile Monsters by Catherine Menon (April 8)

This novel brings to the fore a rare perspective to the Second World War – that of Malaysia. Menon tells the novel in two perspectives – Durga’s and her grandmother Mary’s. Soon the duo is forced to confront ancient family secrets, such as how many family members disappeared in the war and what befell Durga’s mother. What emerges are different perspectives to the same story and the idea that perception plays an important role in reality. Definitely one to watch out for, this book will make you question your understanding of Truth and History.

What Comes After by Joanne Tompkins (April 13)

This is a mystery novel that centers around the suicide of best friends Jonah and Daniel. Told in multiple perspectives, it switches between the boys’ final thoughts and Daniel’s grief stricken father who’s hosting an unexpected guest. As the book progresses, characters and their relationships are unveiled and the book becomes a harrowing meditation on loss and anguish.

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart (April 20)

This Jamaican inspired fantasy is the story of two witches – Iraya and Jazmyne – who despite being enemies, enter grudgingly into an alliance is one of the most promising fantasy debuts of not just the month, but also the year.

These Feathered Flames by Alexander Overy (April 20)

This fantasy novel is a queer retelling of the Russian folktale ‘Firebird.’ It’s the story of twins born to the Queen of Tourin who are separated at a young age. One stays back at the court and the other is taken to their mysterious aunt ‘Firebird’ so that they’re both trained in different ways. Their training put together, they form a whole from their two halves and are the perfect ruling power. But when the training is interrupted by the untimely death of the Queen, priorities shift and the murder must be uncovered. This fantasy book seems to pack a punch.

Crying in Hmart by Michelle Zauner (April 20)

Known for her albums under the alias Japanese Breakfast, Korean-American pop Singer Michelle has penned her memoir which is slated for release next week. In this, she talks about her struggles with her Asian identity as an adolescent in Oregon and her pain when her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. As the title suggests, she links these heavy themes with lighthearted discussions on food, which become powerful meditations on its relationship with culture, identity and motherhood.

Between Perfect and Real by Ray Stoeve (April 27)

The last queer book on our list takes a different approach to LGBTQA+ fiction. Dean has always used she/her pronouns but realized early on that he wasn’t straight. So he came out as a lesbian. But that didn’t seem enough, he was still having an identity conflict. Then after countless youtube videos and internet searches, he realizes he is trans. He can’t accept his identity as a lesbian anymore but coming out again seems like a daunting task. Then, he gets accepted as the male protagonist of his school play and has to play Romeo. The premise of the book is this – will this help him confident enough in his identity to tell the world? This book is a stunning YA exploration of the whole spectrum of gender, unlike most books that take a straight/queer dimension

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