Plunge Into These Splashy Debut Novels This August

Lazy summer days call for a good book. Lucky for us, this summer has been packed with new releases from greats like Jhumpa Lahiri and Rachel Cusk. But August brings with it the debut works of a few newcomers that are equally as buzzy. If you’re in the market for a new book from a fresh voice, read on.

 

"Radiant Fugitives" by Nawaaz Ahmed
Publish Date: August 3

When Seema, at nine months pregnant, reunites with members of her Muslim Indian family after being exiled by her father for being gay, it isn’t a joyous reunion but a trip into identity, meaning, and the tension between personal beliefs and familial obligations. With narration that’s “artfully and convincingly handled from the point of view of Seema’s son, Ishraaq,” the work builds up to what Publisher’s Weekly calls a “shattering and unforgettable conclusion.” Order "Radiant Fugitives" here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Damnation Spring" by Ash Davidson
Publish Date: August 3

Fans of Richard Power’s "The Overstory" will find a similarly compelling novel in "Damnation Spring," Davidson’s debut set against the backdrop of a redwood grove in 1970s California. This work of climate fiction centers on Rich Gundersen, a fourth generation logger; his wife Colleen, who is beginning to believe the stillbirths she’s witnessing as a midwife are tied to the chemicals sprayed by the area logging company; and their son Chub. "Damnation Spring" is “an impressively well-turned story about how environmental damage creeps into our bodies, psyches, and economies,” says The Kirkus. Order "Damnation Spring" here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Afterparties” by Anthony Veasna So
Publish Date: August 3

A vibrant debut collection from a writer who was just getting started, the late Anthony Veasna So’s “Afterparties” explores Cambodian-American life and its intersections with race, sexuality, friendship, and family. Harper’s Bazaar calls it a “2021 title not to be missed,” while Vulture praises it as “[o]ne of the most exciting contributions to Asian American literature in recent years...These stories are funny without being satirical, refreshingly realist, and generous in their levity.” Order “Afterparties” here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Several People Are Typing" by Calvin Kasulke
Publish Date: August 31

As if there isn’t enough Slack in your day-to-day, Calvin Kasulke’s "Several People Are Typing" brings the chat app into the leisure realm in a satire that explores what happens when a mid-level public relations executive accidentally uploads his consciousness to the app. Told through Slack messages, "Several People Are Typing" explores the disintegrating work-life boundary and the politics of office culture. Pre-order "Several People Are Typing" here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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