There’s something about debut authors and the idea of a writer’s first book that we adore. With plenty of new releases in 2019, these are our must-read debuts you should check out this year.

We Shall See the Sky Sparkling by Susana Aikin

This historical fiction debut is about a brave woman who breaks the mold others have put her in during a time when forging your own future as a female was frowned upon. With ambitions that reach further than motherhood and marriage, Lily Throop is determined to make her own dreams of being on the stage a reality. But with war on the horizon between Russia and Japan, she’ll have to look to her own strength to save her life and future. This enthralling debut novel will break your heart, inspire hope and keep you wanting more from the brilliant Susana Aikin.

The Au Pair by Emma Rous

Twins Seraphine and Danny lost their mother on the day they were born to suicide and are now picking up the pieces of their adult lives after their father’s passing. When they come across a photo from the day of their birth with their mother holding only one baby, they will have to unlock the mystery of their mother and their past to find out the truth.

In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton

Ruth Robb’s entire life is turned upside down when her father dies and her family must relocate from New York City to Atlanta. When she is caught between being popular or being true to her religion, she must make an important decision, one that could impact her whole new life.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Blurbed by the debut thriller master A.J. Finn, The Silent Patient is a twisty psychological read that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout its entirety. Alicia Berenson is an esteemed painter with the ideal life… until she viciously shoots and kills her husband one night. Now famous as the ‘killer painter,’ she begins treatment with a psychotherapist who will unravel the mysteries of Alicia and the murder.

The Perfect Fraud by Ellen LaCorte

As much as Claire wants to believe she’s a talented psychic like her mother, she knows at heart she’s a fraud. But her life will change immensely when she meets a mother struggling to keep her daughter, Stephanie, healthy and happy. Together, these two women may have the power to cure Stephanie’s mysterious health problems.

Golden Child by Claire Adam

Clyde has worked hard to make sacrifices for his 13-year-old twin boys, ensuring they have a decent life and a good education. But the twins are nothing alike – Peter is considered a genius while Paul is the odd son. When Paul walks off and doesn’t return, Clyde goes in search of the son who has already caused so much trouble. As the search turns into days, Clyde’s world will shatter as he learns of Paul’s fate, and he’ll be forced to make a decision no parent should have to make.

The House Children by Heidi Daniele

In this historical YA read from Heidi Daniele, a young girl will fight to find her place in the world amidst the difficult circumstances she’s been given. Born in the Tuam Home for unwed mothers, and then sentenced to an industrial school, she is given a new name, Peg, and assigned a number. Growing up observing a routine of prayer, work, and silence, she is shocked when she learns the identity of her birth mother. Doing her best to plan a future and leave Ireland, tensions begin to rise between Peg and her mother, creating a tumultuous relationship between the two. 

(This article is sponsored by Kensington Books)