Show some love to debut authors this year! Sites like Debutiful make a point of showcasing debut authors; if you're looking for your next read, considering checking out Debutiful's lists!

For the spirit of the challenge, focus on authors who only have one published book out—this doesn't include zines and chapbooks. That is, if an author has more than one book out, reading their debut would not count toward this challenge.

If an author has another book under contract/set to release after 2026, that author's debut would count toward this challenge. Books do not have to be released in 2026 to count toward the challenge total. Less than rule following, this challenge is meant to encourage readers to discover new authors.