There is something uniquely exciting about discovering a debut novel and knowing you’ll get to follow a new author in their writing journey. To help you discover your next favorite, here are 20 debut novels from across a variety of genres coming out in 2025.
The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King
Readers who love a generational tale and a touch of magic won’t want to miss out on this novel where a woman’s search for a lost family member leads her to learning about a secret power her family possesses.
Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox
A birthday bash at a supposedly haunted cliffside mansion is the ideal location for a murder in this locked-room thriller where every guest is a suspect and anyone could be next on the hit list.
Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon by Annie Mare
Will a temporal paradox get in the way of love? When Tressa Fay learns that the woman she’s text flirting with is missing (and from another timeline) she does everything she can to save her.
Luminous by Silvia Park
Silvia Park transports readers to a near future where a mystery unfolds in a reunified Korea after a junkyard discovery throws estranged siblings Jun, Morgan, and Yoyo (a robot) together.
When the Harvest Comes by Denne Michele Norris
A young gay man grapples with his relationship with his reverend father and the trauma in his childhood after learning on his wedding day that his father was in a horrific car accident.
A Murder for Miss Hortense by Mel Pennant
Calling all armchair detectives, you’ll want to meet the new sleuth on the block: Miss Hortense. She’s tracking down a killer whose murder victim is bringing back memories she hoped to leave behind.
Crash Landing by Annie McQuaid
In this contemporary second chance romance, exes Piper and Wyatt must put aside the past and work together to survive after their plane crashes and leaves them stranded on a deserted island.
Silver Elite by Dani Francis
Dystopian fans, this one’s for you! When Wren is conscripted into her enemy’s elite training program, she must hide her psychic abilities while rising through the ranks to take them down from within.
Love, Misha by Askel Aden
Askel Aden’s YA graphic novel debut follows a nonbinary teen who is dreading a road trip with their mom, who doesn’t understand them. But things take a turn when they accidentally end up in the Realm of Spirits.
The Eights by Joanna Miller
Take a trip to Oxford in 1920, where four women become bonded together as they navigate the aftermath of World War I and what it was like to be the first female class at the university.
Up Close & Personal by Ana Holguin
A cynical journalist meets his match in this rom-com. Silas doesn’t buy the hype around the subject of his latest article: celebrity spin instructor Jo. But she’s determined to prove him wrong.
Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil
Samantha Bansil drew from the history and myths of the precolonial Philippines for this fantasy about two women vying for the throne and the queen who fears what may happen if either of them succeed.
Eliza, from Scratch by Sophia Lee
Eliza’s place has always been at the top of the class, so when she’s accidentally enrolled in a cooking class she can’t stand feeling clueless—especially when the annoying Wesley is sailing through.
Penitence by Kristin Koval
Kristin Koval asks readers if we’re defined by our worst actions in this novel about a murder that shakes a family and unexpectedly brings a tragic accident from years ago back to the surface.
Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice by Cynthia Timoti
A fake dating proposal sparks real feelings between Ellie, a diabetic opening a sugar-free bakery, and her brother’s best friend Alec, who needs a girlfriend to help finalize a business deal.
Immortal Consequences by I. V. Marie
I. V. Marie’s YA fantasy follows six dead teens, enrolled in a magical school in the afterlife, who are offered the chance to compete for the chance to escape and cross over to the Other Side.
Which of these books is at the top of your TBR?
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