Discover the new authors book clubs will be reading in 2026. These debut novels introduce bold voices, unforgettable characters, and stories made for lively book club discussions.
Debut novels are some of the best books to read with a book club — they introduce fresh voices, bold storytelling, and ideas that spark unforgettable discussions. Here are the debut books we’re most excited to read and discuss together in 2026. This list spans literary fiction, suspense, fantasy, romance, and genre-bending stories from authors we expect to be talking about for years to come.
This year’s standout debuts include twisty courtroom drama, darkly funny family sagas, sweeping romantic fantasy, immigrant friendship stories, literary mysteries, and ambitious coming-of-age novels exploring identity, grief, ambition, and reinvention. If your club loves discovering new authors before everyone else, these books belong at the top of your reading list.
Bookmark this page and check back throughout the year as we add more of the best debut books releasing in 2026.
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The Last Starborn Seer by Venetia Constantine
Publication date: March 3, 2026
Cursed with prophetic magic and hunted by a violent court, Leilani must flee across warring realms in search of a relic that could save her world. Venetia Constantine’s sweeping debut blends romance, destiny, and rebellion into an epic fantasy adventure. Book clubs will enjoy its themes of power, identity, and the burden of knowing the future..
The Lies We Trade by Kristine Delano
Publication date: January 20, 2026
A Wall Street executive’s carefully controlled life begins to fracture when blackmail exposes dangerous corporate secrets tied to her family. Kristine Delano’s sharp debut pairs high-stakes financial intrigue with emotional suspense. Book clubs will gravitate toward its moral dilemmas and questions about loyalty, ambition, and the cost of success.
Dandelion Is Dead: A Novel About Life by Rosie Storey
Publication date: January 13, 2026
After a sudden death fractures a tight-knit circle, buried resentments and fragile grief rise to the surface. Rosie Storey’s debut explores friendship, loss, and the strange humor of survival. Book clubs will find rich emotional terrain here, particularly in its candid portrayal of mourning and the ways people rebuild after tragedy.
This Story Might Save Your Life: A Novel by Tiffany Crum
Publication date: March 10, 2026
When a beloved podcast duo disappears, their closest friend becomes the prime suspect and the keeper of devastating secrets. Tiffany Crum’s breakout debut merges domestic suspense with romantic heart. Book clubs will be drawn to its unreliable narration, friendship dynamics, and exploration of how well we truly know the people we love.
The Roman Holiday Rule by Andra Loy
Publication date: August 4, 2026
In Andra Loy’s debut The Roman Holiday Rule , Lexi Walker heads to Italy with a detailed itinerary and her late mother’s final painting for a festival—only to find the artwork coming to life in unexpected ways. Architect Mark Russo swears off tourists, but a playful photo challenge with Lexi sparks chemistry he can’t ignore. As magic and mishaps unfold, they must decide if love can outlast a holiday. This is a must-read for fans of Rebecca Serle, witty rom-coms, and the rivals to lovers trope.
How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder: A Novel by Nina McConigley
Publication date: January 20, 2026
Two sisters in 1980s Wyoming confess to killing their abusive uncle — and blame colonial history. Nina McConigley’s inventive debut mixes murder mystery, coming-of-age, and cultural satire. Book clubs will find powerful discussion in its examination of family, trauma, identity, and the legacies that shape us.
A Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage: A Novel by M.K. Oliver
Publication date: February 17, 2026
Lalla Rook is determined to maintain her perfect suburban life — even if that means murder. M.K. Oliver’s darkly comic crime debut introduces an unforgettable antiheroine juggling motherhood and body disposal. Book clubs will relish debating morality, ambition, and the performance of domestic perfection.
Good People: A Novel by Patmeena Sabit
Publication date: February 3, 2026
After tragedy strikes a celebrated Afghan immigrant family, their carefully constructed image collapses under public scrutiny. Patmeena Sabit’s kaleidoscopic debut blends mystery and literary drama. Book clubs will be captivated by its questions of belonging, cultural identity, and the fragile truth behind reputation.
If I Ruled the World: A Novel by Amy DuBois Barnett
Publication date: January 27, 2026
In late-90s New York, a young editor takes over a failing hip-hop magazine and fights to save both her career and her voice. Drawing from media insider experience, Amy DuBois Barnett’s debut crackles with ambition and reinvention. Book clubs will enjoy its exploration of power, friendship, and identity in the spotlight.
In Her Defense: A Novel by Philippa Malicka
Publication date: February 3, 2026
A celebrity libel trial spirals as one quiet witness holds the truth that could destroy everyone involved. Philippa Malicka’s psychological debut examines memory, obsession, and public spectacle. Book clubs will be drawn to its moral ambiguity and layered perspective on truth and reputation.
Every Happiness: A Novel by Reena Shah
Publication date: February 3, 2026
A lifelong friendship stretches from childhood in India to adulthood in America, shaped by love, jealousy, and class. Reena Shah’s debut is a portrait of intimacy and identity across cultures. Book clubs will connect deeply with its themes of loyalty, migration, and the fragile nature of closeness.
Whidbey: A Novel by T Kira Madden
Publication date: March 10, 2026
Three women connected by one man’s murder search for answers across intersecting pasts. T Kira Madden’s searing literary debut explores violence, justice, and storytelling itself. Book clubs will find urgent conversation in its examination of trauma, accountability, and who controls a narrative.
Family Drama: A Novel by Rebecca Fallon
Publication date: February 3, 2026
A former soap star’s glamorous past collides with her children’s present, forcing decades-old secrets into the open. Rebecca Fallon’s debut spans timelines and generations. Book clubs will appreciate its look at motherhood, ambition, and the stories families tell to survive.
The Infamous Gilberts: A Novel by Angela Tomaski
Publication date: January 20, 2026
Through the eyes of a watchful neighbor, the rise and fall of an eccentric English family unfolds inside a crumbling manor. Angela Tomaski’s gothic debut blends humor, tragedy, and mystery. Book clubs will savor its generational secrets and its meditation on memory, legacy, and decline.
The Sea Child: A Novel by Linda Wilgus
Publication date: January 20, 2026
A widow with a hidden past becomes entangled with smugglers along the Cornish coast while searching for her origins. Linda Wilgus’s atmospheric debut merges folklore, romance, and suspense. Book clubs will enjoy discussing fate, independence, and the pull between myth and reality.
Daughter of Chaos (The Dark Pantheon Trilogy Book 1) by A.S. Webb
Publication date: January 14, 2026
A young warrior caught between rival powers must claim a dangerous inheritance before it destroys her world. This action-driven fantasy debut delivers epic stakes and emotional depth. Book clubs will be drawn to its themes of destiny, loyalty, and chosen family.
Related content: check out our top fiction picks and our top nonfiction picks for book clubs in 2026, our 2026 short story collection picks, and our most anticipated books for book clubs of 2026.