9 Incredible Debut Novels Written by Women

9 Incredible Debut Novels Written by Women

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There's nothing more joyful than discovering your new favorite author by reading their debut novel. Not only does their first work showcase the writer's raw talent, but it also brings a fresh perspective into the literary world. That is why we've compiled nine incredible works of fiction written by women that will bring something new to your table. From heart-wrenching tales about family to genre-bending romance stories, here is our list, presented in no particular order.

Starting off at #1 is "The Idea of You," which tells the story of a 39-year-old divorced art gallery owner named Solene. After her ex-husband backs out on his promise to take their daughter and her friends to Las Vegas, to see the famous boy band August Moon, she is forced to escort them herself.

After a brief meet-and-greet with the band, Solene finds herself in a series of passionate encounters with the 20-year-old lead singer, Hayes Campbell, and their intense emotional love affair gains a lot of attention in the media. Robinne Lee explores the issues of aging and sexism in this captivating novel.

After a brief meet-and-greet with the band, Solene finds herself in a series of passionate encounters with the 20-year-old lead singer, Hayes Campbell, and their intense emotional love affair gains a lot of attention in the media.

What we have at #2 is "Halsey Street," an absorbing novel about gentrification by Naima Coster. It tells the story of art school dropout Penelope Grand, who moves back to Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn to take care of her sick father. While seeing all the gentrification taking place in her hometown, she receives a postcard from her estranged mother Mirella, who left years ago, asking to reconnect. Coster explores the complexities of family relationships, change, and race.

Coming in at #3 is "My Name is Venus Black." At the age of thirteen, top student Venus Black kills her stepfather, shooting him in the head. Refusing to cooperate with the investigation, she is sentenced to jail for five years. When her autistic younger brother, Leo, is kidnapped a few days after her arrest, she blames her mother for her carelessness and ignorance. Heather Lloyd unfolds the mystery behind a young girl's crime, and presents Venus' journey after she is released from prison, assumes a new identity, and struggles to make a fresh start in life.

At #4 is "The Leavers," by Lisa Ko. This haunting novel explores familial love and illegal immigration. It follows the viewpoints of Polly, a Chinese immigrant who disappears after leaving for work one day, and her US-born son, Deming, who is renamed Daniel after he is adopted by a pair of academic professors. Unable to cope with the disappearance of his mother, Daniel grows up isolating himself. When he learns that his mother is still alive, readers are taken back to the day she never came home.

This haunting novel explores familial love and illegal immigration.

At #5 is "Shelter." Kyung Cho, a Korean-born man who immigrated to the US with his parents and now lives with his American wife and 4-year-old son, is struggling with finances but is hesitant to ask for help from his wealthy parents. However, seeing his mother battered and afraid after a brutal home invasion, Kyung is forced to take them in, which brings old wounds back to the surface. Jung Yun gives us a lot of plot twists in her deeply moving novel, which examines domestic violence and forgiveness.

At #6 is "Miss You," which follows the separate journeys of two individuals whose lives crisscross over the years. In 1997, Tess and her best friend are in Florence for a vacation before starting university in London. At the same time, Gus is in Florence with his parents, after the death of his older brother.

Miserable and awkward, Gus meets Tess for the first time, and the two have a brief connection with each other. Kate Eberlen's heart-warming story chronicles their lives over the next sixteen years, as they miss each other several times, and experience similar struggles with love, work, and loss.

Miserable and awkward, Gus meets Tess for the first time, and the two have a brief connection with each other.

At #7 is "Dietland," a critically acclaimed tale by Sarai Walker that depicts society's obsession with beauty and weight loss. It follows the story of Plum Kettle, a 300-pound ghostwriter who answers fan mail for a teen magazine. As she counts the days to her weight loss surgery, she gets recruited to a secret feminist group called "Calliope House" that wants to help her accept her body. Meanwhile, a guerrilla group known as "Jennifer," abducts and murders misogynists, rapists, and porn barons, causing Plum to transform into someone she never thought she could be.

At #8 is "Everybody Rise." It tells the story of Evelyn Beegan, who wants to break free from the ways of her social-climbing mother. However, at the age of 26, Evelyn is determined to succeed in her first job at a social networking site that aims to acquire elite people. She uses her connections at school, and finds herself telling lies about her personal background in order to climb the ranks of the upper class. Stephanie Clifford gives us a brutally honest tale about ambition and class distinction.

Finally, at #9 is "Love Me Back," which follows the life of Marie, a waitress at an upscale steakhouse in Dallas. Pregnant at the age of 16, Marie marries the father of the child, but they eventually split up. After abandoning her daughter, she succumbs into a life of drugs, self-harm, and meaningless sex with anyone who wants her. Written by Merritt Tierce, the novel details the dark side of working late nights, while portraying how a young mother struggles to find her way in a self-destructive world.