New books, new year! There are so many début books to keep on your radar this year. From young adult to graphic novels, 2019 is the year that keeps giving. But how can you keep up with all the new authors you ask? Besides simply roaming through your favorite bookstores or asking a librarian at your local library, you can always plug in and head over to Goodreads or Amazon in the comforts of your home. What do the stars say?

-        The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald

The blurb: “In the vein of Big Little Lies and Reconstructing Amelia comes an emotionally charged domestic suspense novel about a mother unraveling the truth behind how her daughter became brain dead. And pregnant.”

If you are a fan of mystery and suspense, this one should be on your radar. Stories that reveal seemingly Perfect People and their Imperfect Lives have been on an upswing ever since titles like Gone Girl, Girl on the Train, and Big Little Lies have turned into smash hits.

-        Miracle Creek by Angie Kim

The blurb: “A literary courtroom drama about a Korean immigrant family and a young, single mother accused of murdering her eight-year-old autistic son.”

Recently, literature focuses more on immigrant families and the immigrant experience in the US. Important stories like this are ways to connect the division between citizens and foreigners. The narrative on behavioral health has also changed, and combing two important subjects makes this book a good “want to read.”

-        Here and Now and Then by Mike Chen

The blurb: “Kin Stewart is an everyday family man: working in I.T., trying to keep the spark in his marriage, and struggling to connect with his teenage daughter, Miranda. But his current life is a far cry from his previous career as a time-traveling secret agent from 2142.”

This book gives flash-backs of Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter and that’s a good thing! The plot has Philip Van Dyke themes all over it, coupled with a Interstellar-like familia bond between father and daughter. Don’t miss out on this one.

Find a comfortable couch and your favorite blanket to read some of these debut books. Have any other books on your radar? Don’t forget to share!

submitted by ChiWriMo participant Sarah Luyengi