I haven’t joined in with That Artsy Reader Girl’s Top Ten Tuesday for an awfully long time, but I thought this week’s topic was really fun. Every now and then, I make more of a concerted effort to read books by new-to-me authors – and it often pays off brilliantly. In the past, discovering a new author I loved would send me off to read their entire backlist. Nowadays, it’s likely to send me off to buy their entire backlist, and it’s a matter of chance if and when I actually get to the others.
Some new-to-me authors are on my Top 10 of 2025 list anyway, so they’ll definitely make an appearance…
- Susanna Tamaro – Follow Your Heart was so beautiful, and captured a voice so perfectly, that I’m excited to read more. Particularly if others are also translated by Avril Bardoni.
- Douglas Bruton – I adored Blue Postcards, and I wasn’t entirely sure how that would translate into a book that wasn’t told in vignettes, since I have a particular fondness for that format. As the previous post shows, I needn’t have worried. He is definitely an author I’ll be tracking down everything by.
- Bernice Rubens – The Five-Year Sentence was just outside my Top 10 for the year, but she’s the author I’ve followed up on most. I now have five or six of her novels on my shelves, and need to make sure I actually read something else by her this year.
- Paul Auster – obviously I knew the name, but had assumed he wouldn’t be for me. Which, sorry to say, is usually my assumption for the Big White Men of American Literature. But I humbly admit I am wrong.
- Vincenzo Latronico – I’m putting him here, because I loved Perfection, but… I will also say that Perfection felt like a unique, ambitious gem. I am less certain than other authors on this list that it would translate to his other books.
- Gabrielle Zevin – a little after everyone else, I loved Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow – and it is the sort of compelling storytelling that I would very happily follow to another book.
- Preston Sprinkle – as well as having an amazing name, Sprinkle is my new favourite theologian / Christian writer. I read quite a few of his last year, and his compassion and wisdom are inspiring.
- Harry Trevaldwyn – I started The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King thinking that it would be a memoir, but it was actually very, very funny YA. Not my usual cup of tea, but would definitely read another.
- Sally Carson – like a lot of us, I was pretty blown away by the prescient Crooked Cross. I’m glad to say the first sequel is being published by Persephone Books this year.
- Verity Bardgate – I read a couple of her sharp, dark, funny, strange novels last year – Tit for Tat and No Mama No. When I’m in the mood for something excoriating, I’ll definitely revisit her.
Excellent twist on the usual end of the year lists. I tried to get the permissions for Verity Bargate’s No Mama No, but her executors have visions of large royalties. Maybe Penguin could satisfy them.
Ah yes, we talked about that somewhere else – we also considered, but the title made us decide against. Sounds like we couldn’t have afforded it anyway!
Hadn’t heard of Paul Auster, but glad you liked him!
The New York Trilogy is brilliant!
I haven’t read anything on your list but have Perfection waiting and will add Blue Postcards; I know what you mean about the big white men so very glad that your look outside the box was such a success, I’ll add him to my list of authors to try as well!
I think it would be hard not to love Blue Postcards. And yes, sometimes the canon is onto something, it turns out :D
Woman in Blue is my favourite Douglas Bruton book so far, but I did also like Blue Postcards. I had dismissed Paul Auster as probably not for me as well, but will reconsider!
I remember your enthusiastic review – will definitely be keeping an eye out before too long.
Now I’m curious about Follow Your Heart .
It is beautiful!
The Crooked Cross! I think I read they are bringing out the sequel?
You might have read that in this very blog post :D
Douglas Bruton was a wonderful discovery for me in 2025 too. I also fell in love with Edith Wharton’s writing. I don’t know why it took me so long! Like you, I too decided to try Paul Auster last year. I loved The Invention of Solitude and I have just bought a copy of the New York Trilogy following your endorsement.
I am intrigued by Preston Sprinkle’s work. I had not heard of the name until I read this post but it looks as if he has written some fascinating books. Have you reviewed any? I don’t remember seeing any posts about him.
My ‘new to me’ author for 2026 is William Maxwell. Again, I don’t know why I waited so long but I am looking forward to making up for lost time.
Sarah, William Maxwell was my top new-to-me author last year. I hope you enjoy his novels as much as I have. My favorite so far is They Came Like Swallows.
They Came Like Swallows is the Maxwell I m hoping to read next too. I read in the introduction to So Long See You Tomorrow that it is a kind of companion novel to that. I have also read The Chateau this year which was exquisite too. Great to find someone else who has come to Maxwell late but not too late!
I have read a couple Whartons and not been particularly interested in them – thought they were fine, but didn’t grab me. Which should I try??
I haven’t written about Preston Sprinkle here, partly because he is quite niche for this audience, but People To Be Loved and Scandalous Grace are the stand-outs for me.
Maxwell is wonderful! I’ve read him intermittently over the years, and I’m actually currently reading The Chateau. I have to be in the right mood for him, but when I am, he is perfect.
I’ve read Summer, Ethan Frome (inspired by my reading Karen Swallow Prior’s On Reading Well) and I have just finished the Reef by Wharton, which was absolutely wonderful. It may still not be for you but try a short one and see how you go! Consider it payback for all the titles you add to my tbr!
I think I am now addicted to Maxwell! So long, see you tomorrow was my intro drug and I read The Chateau (a lovely surprise Christmas gift from a bookish friend) earlier this month. It is quite so slow so you do have to be in the right mood but, when you are it is exquisite.
Thanks for the pointers for Sprinkle.
Verity Bardgate’s books sound so fun! I hope you find many more amazing authors this year 😊
If you’d like to visit, here’s my TTT: https://thebooklorefairyreads.wordpress.com/2026/01/26/top-ten-tuesday-bookish-discoveries-i-made-in-2025/
Thank you!
I read Gabrielle Zevin and Harry Trevaldwyn is still on my TBR!
My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2026/01/27/top-ten-tuesday-2025-releases-i-did-read-in-2025/
He is SUCH a hoot. I listened to the audiobook and it was brilliantly performed.
I think the only one of these I’ve read was Paul Auster, which IIRC I also liked more than I’d expected! Good list.
thanks Nicky!
I was actually very disappoinbted by your #6.
I need to try Paul Auster !
My post: https://wordsandpeace.com/2026/01/27/top-ten-2025-bookish-discoveries/
AH shame – maybe it’s because I went in with relatively low expectations.
I’m glad you found new authors to enjoy. Thanks for sharing your #TTT
thanks!
I also adored Tomorrow x3 but I’ve not had great luck with Zevin since, sadly – thought Young Jane Young was a bit meh and I’ve been warned off The Storied Life of AJ Fikry.
Ohhh interesting, and sad. The Storied Life looked interesting to me, but I have seen quite a few lukewarm takes.
Bruton and Auster were hits for me last year too!
Better late than never, for me and Auster!
Oh what a good idea for end of year list must do one next year
It was a fun way to look back!
Preston Sprinkle! A name almost too good to be true. I’ll have to check him out, always appreciate some wisdom and compassion.
I laughed out loud about your Big White Men of American Literature. I haven’t read Auster for the same reason…. but maybe you have persuaded me? My list is here: https://theparteveryoneskips.com/posts/20260201-ttt-new-authors-in-2025/
I’ve got another Zevin to read on my TBR but I’m worried it can’t be as good as Tomorrow x 3 so have been putting it off!