Some years I find this list easier to craft than others. This year I sort of struggled because I’m not sure how to choose the ten authors I talk about here. Some of these authors are ones where I’ve already devoured so many of their books, you’d never know it’s the first year I’ve read from them. But some of them, I’ve read a book and I just have a really good feeling about them. I’ve read from 83 new to me authors this year, so I certainly have many to choose from!
Grace Callaway
I’ve read five books from Grace Callaway this year after having been introduced to her via Mel, who was inspired to read her thanks to Funmi. Both of these women are people you should absolutely be following for the best of recommendations. Anyway, I’ve really enjoyed Callaway’s writing, her pacing, her plots! Everything about reading from her has been a delight, to the point that even when I don’t really love the book, I still have such a good time reading it, I just keep going. There’s a really good chance I read her again by the end of the year, but if not, know that she is firmly in my rotation going forward.
Lyla Sage
Lyla Sage has so far released three books in her Rebel Blue Ranch series and I’ve read and five starred all three. I’m obsessed. She’s this year’s Elsie Silver for me, an author that I will follow wherever she goes.
Melissa K. Roehrich
The Lady of Darkness series has become an obsession this year and I’ve got one book to go, but I don’t want it to finish so I’m just sort of putting it off, though I really need to stop. Especially since Roehrich is writing a spin off series, so it’s not like it’s actually going to end forever! Anyway, I swear I will finish the series soon. Really.
Penn Cole
Speaking of fantasy romance series I’ve fallen in love with this year, let’s talk about Kindred’s Curse. I’m in love with this series, okay? Like, I love it so much. But I have been procrastinating on reading book three, Heat of the Everflame until we know more about when Burn of the Everflame is coming out. But it probably won’t be long before I just give in and devour book three too. I can’t wait to find out what happens after the way Glow ended! Also, Penn Cole just seems so supportive of other authors on Threads and I think she’s so sweet.
Tarah Dewitt
Okay, so technically, I’ve only read Savor It despite the fact that I have Funny Feelings and The Co-Op to read. But there was something about Savor It that has me quite confident I’m truly going to fall in love with Dewitt and her characters over and over again, so I’m looking forward to finally picking up more books from her shortly!
Kate Quinn
A historical fiction author landing a spot on this list is honestly a surprise for me, but the way I fell in love with The Alice Network means that I am now so, so excited to dig into more of Quinn’s backlist. I did also read The Phoenix Crown by Quinn and Janie Chang, which was good but I didn’t fall in love with it in quite the same way I did The Alice Network. Like, to explain, I would walk into work and tell my legal assistant about everything that happened in The Alice Network since I told her about it the day before. I was consumed by that book. It was incredible.
AE Valdez
It always feels a little risky putting an author on this list where I’ve only read one book from them, but the way I felt about All I’ve Wanted All I’ve Needed means that I definitely think AE Valdez is going to be an author I leave in rotation for me year over year. Especially since I’m already dying to continue into the next books in the series All I’ve Wanted sets off.
Alexis Menard
I cannot wait for Alexis L. Menard to continue writing more books in the world she kicked off with House of Bane and Blood, which I loved so very much. Apparently she also has another duet that I can read while I wait for the next installment in Order and Chaos, so I’ll probably head off to do that shortly…
Natasha Bishop
I just learned that Natasha Bishop has a whole other trilogy for me to be reading right now and that she got traditionally published for Only for the Week! So now I need to pick up a physical copy of the book when I’m next in a bookstore. I’m so excited for her. Anyway, I loved Only for the Week and am now really excited to go back and read her slightly older trilogy.
Regina Black
Listen, I have no real understanding of what Regina Black’s next book is about, but I know I’ll be reading it because the mess of The Art of Scandal had me absolutely hooked and I cannot wait to see what she does next.
Closing Thoughts
I read from a lot of really excellent new to me authors this year and I will definitely be reading from many more again than just the ten I listed here. I want to continue in the Amari and the Night Brothers series by B.B. Alston for example, I’m loving Ava Hunter’s cowboy romance series for another… I could keep going. There are very few authors that I read this year that I don’t think I would ever pick up another book from. In fact, in looking at the list that I have, I’m not sure there are any that I would swear off permanently! So that’s exciting. What new to you authors did you discover and fall in love ith this year?
xx
firewhiskeyreader 