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!  

Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge! 

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