Before They Were Famous: The Surprising Debut Novels of Your Favourite Authors
Before They Were Famous: The Surprising Debut Novels of Your Favourite Authors
Every iconic author has a starting point, and honestly, some of those beginnings are wild. From Frieda McFadden to Emily Henry, many of today’s most beloved writers launched their careers with books that are underrated, surprising, or quietly brilliant. If you’re curious about where your favourites began, here’s a tour through the debut novels that set the stage for their success.
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Publish Date - 21st October 2021
It’s hard to believe that this was Ali Hazelwood’s debut novel, with how quickly it was ingrained into the romance genre forever. Her flawless mix of STEM wrapped in spicy romance filled a gap in the fiction community that became truly beloved, and this love has only grown as Hazelwood has put out similar novels over the years.
Now that it is set to become a movie, fans are re-reading this debut novel as a form of recapturing nostalgia, and reigniting their years-old love for her writing.
This was one of the first romance novels that I ever read, and I immediately fell in love with her writing style, and her unique ability to make me smile at the page. Her books balance the goofiness of romance and the problems of academia in a way I don’t believe anyone else can replicate.
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Ralph’s Party by Lisa Jewell
Publish Date -1st January 1999
It may come as a shock that your favourite thriller writer actually began their career with a sit-com style romance novel about the six residents of 31 Almanac Road, but that is exactly what happened with Lisa Jewell. Now famous for books such as Don’t Let Him In and Then She Was Gone, her debut novel could not be more different.
Despite its solid rating on Goodreads of 3.54 (as of writing this), my effervescent distaste of this novel is well known to anyone that has been following my review page for a while. In my book review, I discuss at length how the novel pushes the narrative that women are objects of desire, rather than fully fleshed out human beings. All of the male characters present themselves with creepy, misogynist or fat-phobic ideologies that do not get fixed, and we are supposed to like it. But remember, this is my opinion and you are more than welcome to check it out yourself or read my full review for more information.
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The Devil Wears Scrubs by Frieda McFadden
Publish Date -23rd August 2013
Frieda McFadden has undoubtedly become one of the most staple authors in modern fiction, with the likes of The Housemaid being a fan favourite. The Devil Wears Scrubs allows readers to see a completely different side of McFadden, as it markets itself as a medical humour novel. You follow Jane McGill as she goes through her first month of her internship at County Hospital. With a 4.0 Amazon rating, readers clearly enjoyed this lighter, more comedic side of McFadden. It’s a refreshing look at where she started before she became the name in modern thrillers.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Publish Date -18th October 2018
R.F. Kuang, famous for Babel, Katabasis and Yellowface, has blown up across the world, especially on booktok for her fantastical writing throughout different genres. The Poppy War is a well-known novel made by her, but not many know that it was her debut. This trilogy centers around a fantasy world inspired by twentieth century China, and with a 4.16 average rating on goodreads, it’s safe to say it was a success.
Personally, I have not read this trilogy, but I adore her later works and it is one of my priority TBR reads in the third quarter of 2026!
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Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
Publish Date -1st March 2018
Sally Rooney’s Normal People captured the hearts of contemporary fans with the heartbreaking romance. Conversations with Friends as her debut novel proves that this style of writing is what she is called to, with it centering on young adults trying to survive in a world not made for them.
With a 3.73 Goodreads rating, readers were initially divided on her sparse, observational writing, but over time it’s become clear that Rooney’s voice is one people return to again and again.
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Protecting What’s His by Tessa Bailey
Publish Date -18th November 2013
Tessa Bailey has always written steamy romances that are loved by many romance readers across the world, but her first novel isn’t as well known as her later works. Protecting What’s His is book 1 in the ‘A Line of Duty’ series, her first series ever produced, with each book surrounding police officers. It’s safe to say, Bailey has always had a love of writing spicy novels with a rough male lead.
The Love That Split The World by Emily Henry
Publish Date -2th January 2016
Emily Henry is one of the most notable names, tackling themes of grief and healing within her romance novels. With her new release - Great Big Beautiful Life - it may be time to look back at where this phenomenal writer started. The Love That Split The World is described as a YA romance, similar to her most recent novels, but many have described her debut as especially heart-breaking to read. The main difference that may excite you is the introduction of magic inside her debut, which intrigued me beyond belief. It’s no doubt that her writing is unlike any other, but the sprinkle of magic within her debut just adds an extra spark that I, personally, adored while reading it.
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
Publish Date -11th June 2019
The Night We Met and Say You’ll Remember Me have amassed endless love and permanent stans of Abby Jimenez’s writing, and her debut novel carried a lot of the same weight. This rom-com novel is a definite read for those that love her work, and works similar. In my opinion, this novel is not as polished as her later books, but that is to be expected and didn’t take me out of my experience reading this.
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Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros
Publish Date -10th February 2014
The Empyrean series is well-known, and many readers favourite book series ever, but Yarros didn’t start off with such success. Her first novel, Full Measures, is part of a military romance series. With a 4.14 Goodreads rating, it was well‑received, but nothing compared to the phenomenon she’d later create with the Empyrean series. Still, it’s a fascinating look at her early voice and the themes she’s always gravitated toward.
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