Every great author starts somewhere, and this July, a new generation of storytellers takes center stage. Their debut novels span genres and voices, but all share one thing in common—a powerful first impression. Here’s a curated look at the most anticipated debut books of Jult 2025.
Of Flame and Fury: By Mikayla Bridge
Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge (releases July 15, 2025) plunges readers into a fiery, ash‑choked island where phoenix‑racing is bigger than F1—and far more lethal. Seventeen‑year‑old phoenix tamer Kelyn “Kel” Varra is desperate to keep her underdog team, the Crimson Howlers, afloat after their rider is killed mid‑race. To survive, she reluctantly partners with the arrogant yet skilled rider Warren “Coup” Coupers. As they train for the high‑stakes tournament, Kel’s beloved phoenix, Savita, becomes the centerpiece of a dangerous conspiracy when a powerful tech magnate offers sponsorship—only to reveal dark motives.
Tension crackles both on and off the track as second‑chance sparks ignite between Kel and Coup, shifting from prickly rivalry to slow‑burn romance. Meanwhile, threats mount: an avian disease looms, alliances fray, and Kel’s burned‑down home forces choices that could cost everything she loves. With explosive phoenix magic, political scheming, and heart‑pounding action, Bridge delivers a climactic showdown in which no one is guaranteed survival—though readers will be rooting for this fierce found family until the last page.
Party of Liars: By Kelsey Cox
Party of Liars (releases July 1, 2025) opens during an opulent Sweet‑Sixteen black‑tie celebration for Sophie Matthews at her father’s renovated cliffside mansion in Texas Hill Country. Just before cake, a body plummets from the balcony onto the dance floor, instantly casting suspicion over the glamorous guest list: Sophie’s insecure new stepmother Dani, the superstitious Irish nanny Órlaith, Sophie’s farm‑girl best friend Mikayla, and her vindictive mother Kim. These narrators unspool a classic locked‑room mystery, where wealth and privilege mask hidden resentments and fault lines.
As the party devolves into paranoia and fear, the disorienting mansion becomes its own character—confusing corridors, haunted histories, and dark family secrets twist reality for the guests. Cox skillfully explores themes of motherhood, manipulation, and memory, with multiple perspectives weaving a chilling narrative that keeps readers guessing until the last revealing twist. Expect pulse‑pounding suspense balanced by emotional depth, as every character emerges both victim and suspect.
Friends to Lovers: By Sally Blakely
friends to Lovers (releases July 22, 2025) follows childhood best friends Joni and Ren, who maintain their bond by being one another’s bridal plus‑ones—year after year, wedding after wedding. When Joni moves away, their yearly tradition becomes a lifeline. But one summer wedding weekend ends in disaster, leading to a two‑and‑a‑half‑year silence between them. Now reunited at her sister’s celebration at their shared family beach house, they agree to “fake” being friends once more—whilst juggling awkward tension, old hurt, and unsaid truths.
As they navigate sun‑drenched days and starry nights on the Oregon coast, Joni and Ren slowly rediscover each other. Dual timelines alternate past memories and present interactions, building a slow-burn romance rooted in nostalgia, longing, and second chances. With emotional depth, lyrical prose, and that irresistible “best‑friends‑to‑lovers” pull, Blakely crafts a heartfelt debut that feels like People We Meet on Vacation crossed with Happy Place—guaranteed to leave readers swooning.
Finding Grace: By Loretta Rothschild
Finding Grace (releasing July 8, 2025) centers on Honor Wharton, a mother and published author whose seemingly perfect life unravels after a desperate desire for a second child results in tragedy. Within the suspenseful opening chapter, a shocking accident obliterates her world—and readers are left reeling. Years later, her husband, Tom, enters a liminal new life with their son, only to discover a link to a mysterious woman named Grace, whose quiet life in London echoes Honor’s in uncanny ways.
The novel weaves dual timelines and alternating narrators—including a unique, ethereal perspective from Honor herself—into a morally complex narrative. As Tom and Grace’s paths intersect, their bond is shaped by grief, deception, and unexpected tenderness. The story probes themes of fate, identity, and whether love can truly be reborn—or if some secrets refuse to fade. Critics call it a gripping debut, with a “gasp-inducing” first chapter and emotionally charged twists
Also Read: 10 Most Anticipated Books of July 2025
