Many authors’ journeys into success are marked by their debut novels and often, first books are the best. For the 2019 Nerd Daily Reading Challenge prompt, a debut novel, I compiled a list of six debut novels. These books are certainly not recent, but they are books that have been long published but still loved as the best books by their authors.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

One of my favourite books ever and the first book published by the Pulitzer Prize winner Donna Tartt, The Secret History tells the story of six students of Greek Classics, under the professor Julian Morrow. The protagonist is one of the students, Richard Papen, who is sucked into the lives of the other students in the class. The story is a whirlwind of mystery and has unprecedented plots and ending.

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

Helene Wecker’s debut novel, The Golem and the Jinni is a tale of the unlikely connection between Chava, a golem, and Ahmad, a jinni, and their journey. The story is phenomenal in the way it joins the roots of Yiddish and Middle Eastern literature, and creates an epic tale of romance between two completely different creatures.

Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson

Before I Go to Sleep is an unforgettable first novel of mystery and suspense. The main character, Christine, wakes up with no memory of the last two decades. The man next to her says that he is Ben, her husband from before the accident. But Christine slowly becomes unsure and tries to recombine the memories of her past, and we ask the question: Is the sweet Ben really who he claims to be?

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

This exceptional book had to be on this list. Thirteen Reasons Why follows the aftermath of the suicide of the teenager, Hannah Baker, who before her death, records thirteen tapes for thirteen people in her life who she claims are the ‘thirteen reasons why’ she killed herself. The story starts with Clay Jensen receiving the cassette tapes and starting to listen to them. Read Thirteen Reasons Why, if you haven’t already, and if you want to read about modern day issues like suicides and rapes among young people.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

In 1991, Diana Gabaldon published her first book, Outlander, the first in the series of the same name. The book is about Claire Randall, former war nurse, who goes on a second honeymoon with her husband after returning from the war, in 1945, to rekindle their relationship. Whilst on the journey, she steps into an ancient circle that marks the British Isles, taking her two hundred years back to a Scotland torn by war. Outlander has also been adapted as a television show that piloted in 2014.

The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

The first book by Paula Hawkins, The Girl on the Train, published in 2015, blew the charts by selling nearly 20 million copies in just a year. The story is a psychological thriller, from the perspectives of three women, Rachel, Anna and Megan. Rachel is an alcoholic reeling from the divorce form her husband Tom. She idealises a couple she notices and thinks have a good life, christening them “Jess and Jason.” Megan is the person Rachel dubs Jess. She has a troubled past and a dark secret. Anna is Tom’s new wife, boasting that Tom chose her over Rachel. But over time, the three women’s stories become intertwined uncharacteristically.

Are there any memorable debut novels that you would recommend? Tell us in the comments below!