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Top 5 Tuesday

Top 5 new authors

3 November 2020 / 26 Comments

Happy Tuesday bookworms!! Welcome to today’s Top 5 Tuesday!! This week’s topic is top 5 new authors. Whether they are new to you, or debut authors, this is all about the authors that you discovered in 2020.

Also, welcome to November: the months where I hopefully do more than just post Top 5 Tuesday posts… *cough* Let’s not talk about October any more… (except for my haul and wrap-up posts… ok, let’s talk about October some.)

Top 5 Tuesday is back!! If you missed the November topics post, please click here!! Top 5 Tuesday was created by Shanah @ Bionic Book Worm, and is now being hosted here.

top 5 new authors

Beth O’Leary

The Flatshare by Beth O'LearyI got sent a review copy of The Switch this year, and I loved it SO much, that I went out and bought a copy of The Flatshare. The Flatshare was O’Leary’s debut novel back in 2019, and they are both extraordinary books. They are both standalone adult contemporary novels. And they are so wholesome it is unbelievable (no smut)! O’Leary is definitely an auto-buy author for me now.

Beth O'Leary is standing in front of a bookshelf. She is wearing a green top.Beth O’Leary is a Sunday Times bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than 30 languages. She wrote her debut novel, The Flatshare, on her train journey to and from her job at a children’s publisher. She now lives in the Hampshire countryside and writes full time.

L. C. Rosen

Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) by L. C. Rosen In much the same way that I discovered O’Leary, I also discovered Rosen. Penguin RandomHouse in Australia sent me a review copy of Camp, which I LOVED. I loved it so much I went out and bought Rosen’s debut queer YA novel, Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts). You can assume from my gushing review that I loved it just as much. I believe Rosen has written in other genres and age categories, but I haven’t read any of those. His YA books will be auto-buy for me now.

L C Rosen. He is standing in an empty room, but there are pink and purple lights colouring him.

Lev Rosen is the author of books for all ages. Two for adults: All Men of Genius and Depth. Two middle-grade books: Woundabout (illustrated by his brother, Ellis Rosen), and The Memory Wall. And two young adult novels: Jack of Hearts (and other parts) and Camp. His books have been translated into different languages and sold around the world, nominated for awards and featured on many best of the year lists. Lev is originally from lower Manhattan and now lives in even lower Manhattan, right at the edge, with his husband and very small cat.

Nina Kenwood

It Sounded Better in my Head by Nina Kenwood

I know, I know!! I have been putting off my review of this book for so long that I’m genuinely embarrassed now. But, it also gives me an excuse to do a reread, so it’s not all bad news. Nina Kenwood’s debut novel, It Sounded Better in my Head came out in 2019, but I only got around to it in March. It will 100% make my top 10 books of this year, and I cannot wait to read more from this Aussie author.

Nina Kenwood is standing in front of a background of leaves. She is wearing a black cardigan over a black and white striped top.Nina Kenwood is a writer based in Melbourne. She won the 2018 Text Prize for her young adult novel It Sounded Better In My Head, which was published in Australia by Text Publishing in August 2019 and in the US by Flatiron Books in April 2020. Nina has worked in books and publishing for over ten years, and currently works at an independent bookshop.

Abigail Hing Wen

Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen

Loveboat, Taipei is one of my favourite contemporary books that I read earlier this year. It’s fun and dramatic and I just really enjoyed it. The story also gave me insight into what it can be like growing up as an immigrant family. How you can feel divided between the countries that your parents are from, and the country that you are born in. But also how you honour the traditions of your family while finding yourself.

Abigail Hing Wen is standing in front of a wooden panel with one arm resting on it. She is wearing a pink and blue dress.Abigail was born in West Virginia to a family of immigrants: Her mother (林麗鳳) is from the Philippines and her father (邢永瑞) from Indonesia, and her grandparents emigrated to those countries from Fujian and Shandong provinces in China. Abigail grew up in Ohio and graduated from Harvard University and Columbia Law School. She also earned her Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She attended the actual Loveboat program in Taipei as a young adult. In her spare time, she enjoys long walks with her husband and two boys, and hanging out with friends and over 100 family members in the Bay Area. She loves music and dances to it when no one is watching.

Sabaa Tahir

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

I am pretty much the last person in the world to read An Ember in the Ashes. Yes, I was so late to the party I wasn’t sure there was even a point in me turning up – but honestly, I’m glad I did. Reading this book was  so much fun that I cannot wait for the conclusion to come out in December. I might even do a reread before I get to it. Anyway, I am on the Tahir train and I am looking forward to reading many more amazing books from the author.

Sabaa Tahir is standing in front of a tree that is blurred in the background. She has long black hair and is wearing a black top.Sabaa Tahir is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of An Ember in the Ashes and its sequels, A Torch Against the Night, and A Reaper at the Gates. She grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s eighteen-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash, and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks, and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.

Please don’t forget to link to one of my posts (not my home page), and I will link back to all of your posts as soon as I can!! (Because I know it’s Tuesday here, but it’s probably still Monday elsewhere…)

PARTICIPANTS

Wonderwall
The Punk Theory
Ketutar Writing
A Fictional Bookworm
Evelyn Reads
Hail and Well Read
DB’s Guide to the Galaxy
Beware of the Reader
Diagnosis Bookworm
The Book Connection
Strange Storyteller
Kira Jeanette

Who are your top 5 new authors?

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