Best Debut Novels Of September 2021

While September saw the new releases from three Pulitzer winning authors – Colson Whitehead, Anthony Doerr and Richard Powers – along with other renowned authors like Liane Moriarty and Roshni Chokshi, there were also great debut authors in the mix. Here are best debut novels of September 2021. We’ve included books from all genres, so you find something you definitely like.

Nice Girls by Catherine Dang

This thriller follows the intersecting lives of two girls. The first is the overweight Mary who is determined to go to Ivy League but gets kicked out after the first year. The second is her childhood best friend and rising social media icon who suddenly goes missing. Mary links her disappearance with that of another girl, and tries to find out the mystery behind these disappearances.

My Sweet Girl by Amanda Jayatissa

Paloma is a thirty year old Sri Lankan immigrant to USA who decides to take in the Indian Arun as a paying guest. Then Arun discovers Paloma’s darkest secret, and before she can deal with the situation, someone murders Arun. But by the time the police arrive, Arun’s body is gone. This mystery thriller is a chilling piece of cultural fiction that will keep you on your toes.

Snowflake by Louise Nealon

In a farm a few miles away from Dublin, 18 year old Debbie, her single mother Maeve and her alcoholic brother Billy live a life of harmony. But as Debbie begins to commute to Trinity College, she begins to withdraw from the safety and comfort of her home, and ventures into the real world She begins to have dreams that she will meet the same fate as her mother, and an accident threatens to tear the family apart.

Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang

This intimate and beautiful memoir is an account of the life trajectory of an illegal Chinese immigrant to ‘beautiful country’ USA. Professors in China, her parents labour in sweatshops in America and bicker constantly. But she does find silver linings here and there, but her world shatters when her mother dies of a concealed disease and her father becomes distant. This is a poignant coming of age novel.

My Darling From The Lions by Rachel Long

This beautiful poetry collection tackles themes of gender, body, race, lineage, prophesy, trauma and healing. Bending structure and carving rhythm with all of her diverse poems, Long announces her breathtaking arrival into the literary world with this collection.

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

This is a light holiday romance and a beautiful piece of Jewish literature that deals with a chronically ill and closeted Christmas romance writer Rachel. But when her publisher asks her to write a Hanukkah romance, she hits a writer’s block. She decides to scourge for her muse at the Jewish music festival, the Matzah Ball. But she has no idea that her muse is going to be her archenemy Jacob, and that she is going to find the love she writes about.

The Jasmine Project by Meredith Ireland

Korean American adoptee Jasmine’s life is going great until she catches her long term boyfriend cheating on her. After this, she is least interested in romance, even though her overenthusiastic family is keen on showing her she deserves better. So they set up a secret Jasmine project and arrange a graduation party with all eligible bachelors in town. But plans go awry when the family is conflicted about who they’re rooting for, the bachelors may not be all that eligible and the ex boyfriend wants Jasmine back.

Idol Gossip by Alexandra Leigh Young

This contemporary YA novel is the story of a Korean American girl finding her standing in the world as she ventures into the K-Pop world. This book is full of honesty and humous, and a close look at what it means to fit in and stand out at the same time.

Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray

This fantasy novel follows 16 year old Koffi who works in a zoo, taking care of magical creatures, to pay her family debt. But when the keeper of the zoo is mean to her loved ones, she accidentally unleashes a power she has no idea about, but which will have dire circumstances. Against this story, we have the story of the elite warrior Ekon who must team up with Koffi to take the Shetani down.

Also Read: 15 Most Anticipated Books Of September 2021