Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Debuts of 2025

On January 22, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn List3 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official topic for this week involved listing your Bookish Goals for 2026, which while interesting, is something I don’t think I can contribute to. Instead, for this week I am going to continue listing some of my favourite books of 2025 (make sure to check out my previous lists that highlighted my favourite sequels, audiobooks, pre-2025 novels, new-to-me-authors in 2025 and overall favourite books of 2025), by examining my favourite debuts released in 2025.

2025 was an awesome year for debuts as there were an excellent array of new authors releasing some impressive and entertaining first novels. I always love checking out new authors when they produce their first book or dive into a whole new genre, and I was blown away with some of the debut talent on display this year. As such, I am glad that I can highlight some of the absolute best of these releases in this Top Ten list.

To be eligible for this list, the book had to be a 2025 release that was either the author’s first novel ever, or a novel that was substantially different from an author’s previous work (their debut in the genre). I ended up reading quite a few good debuts in 2025, which allowed me to pull together a full list of 10 books. I am pretty happy with the results, and I feel that this list captures my favourite debuts of the year and highlights them accordingly. So, let us see what made the cut.

Top Ten List:

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

The first debut I want to highlight on this list is the very fun crime fiction novel, Best Offer Wins. An impressive debut book from Marsia Kashino, Best Offer Wins follows an obsessed character, who after having her heart broken by the housing market too many times, vows to do whatever she needs to get her dream house. A wonderfully over-the-top and addictive read, Best Offer Wins was an amazing first outing from Kashino and one I had so much fun reading.

Warhammer 40,000: The Remnant Blade by Mike Vincent

Warhammer fiction is always a franchise that has a lot of new authors making their big debut, and this was particularly true in 2025 with some awesome first-time books from talented debuting authors. One of my favourites was The Remnant Blade by Mike Vincent, which was one of my favourite Warhammer 40,000 books of last year. Following a small band of terrifying Night Lords Chaos Space Marines as they bring fear and death to all their enemies, The Remnant Blade was an extremely epic novel, and I was very impressed by Mike Vincent, who showed himself to be a new Warhammer author to watch.

Seven Recipes for Revolution by Ryan Rose

One of the more compelling fantasy novels of 2025 was the outstanding debut Seven Recipes for Revolution. A great first outing from Ryan Rose, Seven Recipes for Revolution saw a lowly nobody rise to become an acclaimed and powerful chef in a society based around magical food that grants deadly abilities. Loaded with twists, clever action and a ton of outrageous cookery, Seven Recipes for Revolution was an outstanding read, and I’m already excited to read the sequel coming out later this year.

The Reunion by Bronwyn Rivers

I always love reading some awesome debut Australian fiction, and one of the best examples from last year was The Reunion by Bronwyn Rivers. Set in the Blue Mountains, The Reunion follows a group of former friends who find themselves forced to remember the tragic events the drove them apart years before. A slick and compelling debut that grabs your attention quickly, The Reunion was an excellent crime fiction read that makes full use of its Australian bush setting.

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

The next book on this list was one of my favourite novels of 2025, with The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson. A complex and highly addictive novel, The Raven Scholar was Hodgson’s debut in the fantasy genre (having previously written historical crime), and boy was it something special. Set around several skilled competitors as they attempt to win a tournament to become king, The Raven Scholar forced them also contend with murder, betrayal and a deadly conspiracy. An exceptional novel that I just could not put down, The Raven Scholar was an exceptional read, and it was so impressive how well Hodgson adapted to a new and very different genre.

An Ethical Guide to Murder by Jenny Morris

Jenny Morris presented one of the more unique crime fiction debuts of 2025, with the thought-provoking novel An Ethical Guide to Murder. Following a damaged protagonist who develops the ability to transfer life between people, An Ethical Guide to Murder soon goes to a dark place as the protagonist becomes a deadly vigilante. Clever and deeply intense, this was a great debut for an excellent author.

Gunnawah by Ronni Salt

One of the more unique Australian novels of 2025 was the amazing debut from Ronni Salt, Gunnawah. Set in small-town Australian during the turbulent 1970s, Gunnawah tells its own unique story set around the backdrop of historical drug wars and corruption. An excellent novel and an outstanding debut.

Warhammer 40,000: Final Deployment by R. S. Wilt

The other Warhammer 40,000 debut of 2025 that I want to highlight on this list is Final Deployment by R. S. Wilt. Following a small band of elite soldiers as they attempt to stop a planet-wide rebellion, Final Deployment was an exceptional action novel, especially as the protagonists soon find themselves outmatched by three deadly opponents. An ultra-awesome read from start to finish, Final Deployment was so damn good, and I will be grabbing more Warhammer 40,000 novels from Wilt going forward.

Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon

This next entry on the list features a great thriller that was written by two interesting authors. While leading thriller author Harlan Coben is not a new contributor to the crime fiction genre, it was the first book he wrote with actress Reese Witherspoon. Serving as both the debut novel from this great pair, as well as Reese Witherspoon’s very first book, Gone Before Goodbye was an easy inclusion on this list, especially as it featured a fun and intense thriller narrative. It will be interesting to see if these two write together again, and I personally would also be keen for Witherspoon to write her own solo book.

Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge

The final book on this list was the excellent young adult fantasy novel, Of Flame and Fury. The debut of Australian author Mikayla Bridge, Of Flame and Fury was a great read, that featured an entertaining enemies-to-lovers narrative set around racing giant phoenixes. Initially appearing to be typical young adult fantasy fare, Bridge produces a very complex narrative in Of Flame and Fury that really impressed me, especially when it comes to the book’s big twist. I ended up having an absolute blast with Of Flame and Fury, and it is a very worthy book to end this list on.

Well, that is the end of this list. As you can, there were some incredible debut novels that came out this year and I had a blast getting through all of them. Each of the above debuts are really worth checking out, and I had an amazing time exploring these talented authors’ first forays into fiction. I am excited to see what these authors produce next, and I have a feeling that quite a few are going to become major names in their genres. I am also excited to see what amazing debuts come out in 2026, and I am currently enjoying my first debut from this year with A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by M. K. Oliver. Make sure to check back this time next year to see what debuts from 2026 are the best from this year.

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

On January 18, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller1 Comment

Publisher: Doubleday (Trade Paperback – 2 December 2025)

Series: Standalone/Book One

Length: 275 pages

Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

First-time author Marisa Kashino provides one of the more entertaining and devious debuts of 2025, with the wonderfully twisted and deeply addictive novel Best Offer Wins.

Plot Synopsis:

How far would you go to get the perfect home?

There was a time when Margo thought she knew. But that was before a soul-destroying eighteen months of house-hunting hell.

Now she’s not sure. Her life, her marriage, her family, her career are dangerously out of control and all she needs is a new home to get them all back on track.

So when the ideal house comes up, desperate measures are called for. A little online stalking. Some sneaky surveillance of the property in question. Befriending the owner. All reasonable enough, right?

But soon it’s clear that nothing is off limits, because when your best offer might not win, then you just need to do what it takes…

Best Offer Wins was an outstanding and captivating debut novel that dives into a very relatable topic in the most insane way possible. Perfectly encapsulating the dark side of desire and desperation, Best Offer Wins was an impressive first outing from Kashino, who crafted an excellent thriller narrative that is both twisted and hilarious in equal measure.

I loved the crazy crime fiction story that Kashino envisioned for Best Offer Wins, which keeps pushing its delightfully deranged protagonist over the edge and dragging the reader along. The book starts off quick and fast with a great introduction to main character Margo, and you are soon drawn into her desperate desire to break into Washington D. C.’s housing market. Finding the perfect house, Margo attempts to ingratiate herself with its current owners, only to face backlash and humiliation when her scheme is revealed. Still desperate to obtain the house, Margo takes her obsession to the new level and soon embarks on a campaign to find dirt on the current owners and force them to sell to her.

Kashino paints a fantastic picture of the protagonist’s overwhelming obsession at this point of the book, as her need to have the house and the perfect life it represents pushes her to take greater risks to get what she wants. You honestly don’t know just how far Margo will go, as she manipulates, lies and even resorts to blackmail to get what she wants. Things continue to further devolve as, after finding out some damaging truths, she decides to go all in to get her way, which has devastating results for everyone around her. I loved how this final third of Best Offer Wins comes together in a way which is so fantastically over-the-top and crazy. While I did see the shape of Best Offer Wins’ big twist in advance, getting there is so damn fun, as is the full extent of the protagonist’s plot. I really loved how well Kashino wrapped her compelling book up, especially as she leaves the book on an excellent dark note, and readers will come away very satisfied and entertained by the entire outrageous narrative.

I have to say that I was really impressed with Kashino’s writing ability in Best Offer Wins, considering that this was her very first book. The author debuted a crisp and engaging style in this novel, expertly utilising the first-person perspective of her slowly deteriorating protagonist to fully tell her tale. The author cleverly makes obsession and desperation the central themes for Best Offer Wins, which works as they are so relatable to the reader through the housing market aspect of the novel. I’m sure I’m not the only reader that struggled with house hunting in recent years, and while I personally never resorted to murder or blackmail (I can’t speak for my wife/editor though), the feelings of despair and loss that accompanied missing out on a house your heart is set on were very understandable. Utilising the emotions behind this real-world issue in the plot and then turning it into a fast-paced and relentlessly entertaining novel that keeps you constantly on the edge of your seat thanks to perfectly escalating series of events really showcased Kashino’s excellent writing talent, and the resulting narrative was something very special. I can think of a better way to highlight just how well written this book is than to reveal that I read it in one solid reading session, as there was honestly not a single moment when I wanted to put Best Offer Wins down.

I can’t move away from discussing how good Best Offer Wins was without mentioning the main character, Margo, who was simultaneously one of the most entertaining and most despicable protagonists of 2025. Starting off as a seemingly normal figure whose early unusual quirks and behaviours can be explained away by her depression over the housing market, you soon begin to realise that Margo really isn’t a good person. Not only does she quickly start pushing the boundaries of social norms when it comes to getting her dream house, but thanks to her narration of events you realise how little she thinks of the people around her. Her casual self-discussion about how she manipulates her husband and the clear distain she has for the other people in her life is very off-putting, and even some intriguing insights into her troubled childhood that explain her obsessions really don’t raise too much sympathy for the reader. Despite this, there is never a single moment where you consider turning away from Margo’s story, mainly because of just how entertaining she is, and due to how far she is willing to take things, uncaring of the impact it has on those around her. Margo’s story is essentially a slow-motion trainwreck, and you really can’t turn away as she goes further and further to get the house she wants. However, as you near the end of the book you begin to realise just how calculating and targeted the protagonist truly is, as Margo soon gets everything she wants in a particularly diabolic manner. I had such a brilliant time following Margo in this novel, and Kashino did an amazing job writing an outstanding story around this complex and twisted protagonist.

Overall, I felt that Best Offer Wins was a particularly incredible debut thriller from Marisa Kashino, who delivered something particularly special here. Combining a twisted narrative with a topic a lot of people are going to have strong feelings about; Best Offer Wins was a highly entertaining and powerful read from start to finish. Compelling, clever, and very deranged, Best Offer Wins hooked me so damn fast, and I cannot recommend this novel enough.

WWW Wednesday – 7 January 2026

On January 10, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

On the Edge by Kate Horan (Trade Paperback)

This week I started to read the intriguing new Australian crime fiction novel, On the Edge by Kate Hora, next. Set in smalltown Australia, On the Edge follows a damaged protagonist who returns to her old hometown, years after her best friend was murdered. I’ve made a fair bit of progress with On the Edge so far, and it is proving to be an excellent and compelling read. I’m hoping to finish On the Edge off in the next few days and I cannot wait to see how it turns out.

Warhammer 40,000: Vagabond Squadron by Robbie MacNiven (Audiobook)

I was still in a Warhammer 40,000 mood this week, so I decided to check out the late 2025 release, Vagabond Squadron. The new book from impressive Warhammer author Robbie MacNiven (whose previous novel Oaths of Damnation I deeply enjoyed), Vagabond Squadron is an exciting read that follows an elite squadron of transport pilots who are forced through hell in the grimdark battlegrounds of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. I have been powering through the audiobook version of Vagabond Squadron this week and I’m hoping to finish it off very soon.

What did you recently finish reading?

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino (Trade Paperback)

I managed to finish off the debut novel from Marisa Kashino, Best Offer Wins, this week. A very fun and entertaining thriller about obsession and desperation in the current housing market, Best Offer Wins was an outstanding novel, and one I had such an amazing time getting through.

Warhammer 40,000: Demolisher by Andy Clark (Audiobook)

I also finished off Warhammer 40,000 novel Demolisher by Andy Clark this week. The sequel to Steel Tread, Demolisher was another outstanding Warhammer 40,000 novel filled with great characters, desperate situations and some amazing tank battles. An epic book I’m hoping to review soon.

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Trespassers by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

While I have several awesome books to read at the moment, including some great early 2026 releases, the next book I’m intending to read is the late 2025 young adult thriller The Trespassers. This new thriller from Jennifer Lynn Alvarez is an amazing sounding novel that will follow a group of teens as they try to cover up the events of a deadly party in the Alaskan wilderness. I have been looking forward to reading The Trespassers for a while, especially after deeply enjoying Alvarez’s previous young adult thrillers, Lies Like Wildfire and Friends Like These, and I am sure this is going to be another gripping novel.

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

WWW Wednesday – 31 December 2025

On January 1, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino (Trade Paperback)

I just started reading the unique thriller Best Offer Wins. The debut novel from Marisa Kashino, Best Offer Wins is a fantastic book that shows just how far desperate people are willing to go to get their perfect house. I have only made a little progress on Best Offer Wins so far, but I am enjoying its fun style and interesting story. I am actually hoping to read through most of Best Offer Wins today, and I cannot wait to see how it turns out.

Warhammer 40,000: Demolisher by Andy Clark (Audiobook)

I am still going with the new Warhammer 40,000 novel Demolisher by Andy Clark. The sequel to Clark’s amazing novel Steel Tread, Demolisher once again follows the damaged crew of the tank Steel Tread as they attempt to survive the crazy, grimdark battlefields of the future. I didn’t get as much time to listen to Demolisher this week as I had hoped, but I’m making some good progress on it and should finish it off soon. I cannot wait to see how this hectic read fully unfolds, and this proving to be a very good Warhammer 40,000 novel.

What did you recently finish reading?

Circle of Days by Ken Follett (Hardcover)

I managed to power through and finish off the new Ken Follett book, Circle of Days this week. An excellent historical fiction novel set during the construction of Stonehenge, Circle of Days was a very compelling read with an outstanding story behind it. A highly recommended read that I had a ton of fun with.

What do you think you’ll read next?

On the Edge by Kate Horan

I hoping to read the intriguing new Australian novel, On the Edge by Kate Hora, next. Set in smalltown Australia, On the Edge looks to be a compelling piece of crime fiction and I cannot wait to see how it turns out.

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

WWW Wednesday – 24 December 2025

On December 27, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Circle of Days by Ken Follett (Hardcover)

I managed to start reading the new Ken Follett book, Circle of Days this week. An excellent historical fiction novel set during the construction of Stonehenge, Circle of Days has been on my to-read list for a while. I haven’t made too much progress with Circle of Days yet, but I’m quite enjoying the compelling story. I’m hoping to power through this book over the next few days and I’m very keen to see how its full narrative unfolds.

Warhammer 40,000: Demolisher by Andy Clark (Audiobook)

I also dove back into Warhammer 40,000 fiction this week with the recently released Demolisher by Andy Clark. The sequel to Clark’s amazing novel Steel Tread, Demolisher once again follows the damaged crew of the tank Steel Tread as they attempt to survive the crazy, grimdark battlefields of the future. I’ve already made a bit of progress with Demolisher this week and I’m hoping to finish it off in the next day or so, especially as I’m enjoying the compelling narrative of war, intrigue and dangerous personal conflicts.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Blackfire Blade by James Logan (Trade Paperback)

I managed to power through the compelling fantasy novel The Blackfire Blade by James Logan this week. The sequel to Logan’s excellent debut, The Silverblood Promise, The Blackfire Blade was a very exciting and captivating read and I’m very glad I got the chance to read it. Review to hopefully follow soon.

Star Wars: Master of Evil by Adam Christopher (Audiobook)

I also managed to finish off the Star Wars audiobook, Master of Evil by Adam Christopher this week. An intriguing novel that follows the newly created Darth Vader on a journey of discovery as he tries to fully understand the dark side of the Force, Master of Evil was a fascinating read that I had a great time with. Make sure to check out my review for it here, as well as its inclusion in my recently posted list about my favourite audiobooks of 2025.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

The next book I’m hoping to read is the cool sounding thriller Best Offer Wins. The debut novel from Marisa Kashino, Best Offer Wins is a fantastic sounding book that will show just how far people are willing to go to get their perfect house. I really love the sound of Best Offer Wins, and I look forward to checking it out.

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Book Haul – 17 November 2025

On November 17, 2025 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book Haul1 Comment

I’ve had an excellent couple of weeks for books, as I was lucky enough to receive some incredible and amazing new novels from publishers and Netgalley. These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year. I cannot wait to dive into them, and I so excited to see how they all turn out.

Tyrant of Rome by Simon Scarrow

The first recently received book I want to highlight is the awesome historical fiction novel, Tyrant of Rome by Simon Scarrow. The latest entry in the always impressive Eagles of the Empire series, Tyrant of Rome brings back Scarrow’s long-running soldier protagonists as they take on the impossible task of maintaining law and order in ancient Rome. I have been looking forward to this book for a while, and I am hoping to read it next.

Star Wars: Master of Evil by Adam Christopher

I was very happy to receive a copy of the intriguing new Star Wars novel, Master of Evil by Adam Christopher. A chilling and complex sounding Star Wars novel that will follow the newly forged Darth Vader as he completes his journey from Jedi to Sith Lord, Master of Evil is going to be pretty damn amazing, and I cannot wait to check it out.

Hotel Lucky Seven by Kotaro Isaka

One of the more entertaining new novels I received is the amazing Japanese thriller, Hotel Lucky Seven by Kotaro Isaka. A follow-up to some of his previous novels, including Bullet Train and Three Assassins, Hotel Lucky Seven sees the unlucky protagonist of Bullet Train find himself trapped in hotel with several other deadly assassins. Based on the author’s previous books, Hotel Lucky Seven is going to be a ton of fun, and I cannot wait to check it out.

The Knight’s Pledge by Scott Mariani

Scott Mariani continues his Will Bowman series with the exciting novel, The Knight’s Pledge. The sequel to Mariani’s other 2025 release, The Pilgrim’s Revenge, The Knight’s Pledge will place the author’s compelling protagonist in even more danger as part of the Third Crusade. Sure to be an exciting and intense historical read, The Knight’s Pledge sounds fantastic and I’m hoping to get to it soon.

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

One of the more interesting new books I recently received was Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino. A fun debut novel from a new author, Best Offer Wins will examine just how far someone will go to win their dream house in the current housing market. Sure to be a gripping, and highly relatable read, Best Offer Wins sounds amazing and I’m planning to get to it in the next few weeks.

The Shark by Emma Styles

While I’m still mainly focused on 2025, I have received some cool 2026 novels, including The Shark by Emma Styles, an intriguing Australian thriller I only recently highlighted. Set in Western Australia, The Shark will see two teenage protagonists kidnap the person they believe are behind a series of brutal killings, resulting in mind games and uncertainty. I love the sound of this book, and I cannot wait to dive into its compelling narrative.

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

Another great 2026 novel I recently received is the fantastic and funny sounding thriller, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates. The first book from Australian author Shailee Thompson, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates will feature a deadly series of murders at a speed dating event, in fun and apparently romantic, horror novel. I love the sound of this book, and I cannot wait to dive into it.

To Cage a Wild Bird by Brooke Fast

Next, we have the excellent dystopian novel, To Cage a Wild Bird by Brooke Fast. Set in a prison where the rich hunt the inmates, To Cage a Wild Bird has a ton of potential and I’m keen to check it out.

The Crossroads by C. J. Box

The final book I want to highlight in this Book Haul post is the awesome 2026 novel, The Crossroads. The next book in C. J. Box’s long-running Joe Pickett thriller series, The Crossroads sounds like another awesome and action-packed novel that will no doubt keep me very entertained.

Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post. As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in. Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.