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Looking for your next favorite author before they blow up? This episode is for you.
Joe is joined by Amy Allen Clark of the Book Gang Podcast, an expert in spotlighting debut authors, for a conversation that starts with a little podcast inside baseball. From prepping interviews to working with first-time authors, they dig into what makes debut conversations so special.
Then, it’s all about the books.
Joe and Amy share standout debut novels from 2022 through 2026 that completely delivered. These are the first books that don’t feel like first books: bold, buzzworthy, and absolutely worth adding to your TBR.
If you loved the Dazzling Debuts conversation, this is your official reading list follow-up.
Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!
Book recommendations:
Amy’s Picks:
The Sunflower Boys by Sam Wachman
Harvesting Rosewater by Paria Hassouri
The Sign for Home by Blair Fell
With Friends Like You by Amy Chozick
If I Ruled the World by Amy DuBois Barnett
Joe’s Picks:
Mayra – Nicky Gonzalez
The Dallergut Dream Department Store – Miye Lee
Cactus Country – Zoe Bossiere
The September House – Carissa Orlando
I Want You More – Swan Huntley
The Compound – Aisling Rawle
Julie Chan is Dead – Liann Zhang
How to Survive a Horror Story – Mallory Arnold
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes – Anais Flogny
Fitting Indian – Jyoti Chand
Homebody – Theo Parish
Who’s in this episode:
Amy Allen Clark – Links
Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro to Dazzling Debuts 00:05:00 Inside baseball – talking to debut authors and the art of the interview 00:25:35 Dazzling Debut Recommendations 01:19:35 Outro
Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!
Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!
We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!
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