Where to Start with Debbie Rigaud
If you are diving into Debbie Rigaud’s stories for the first time, your absolute best starting point is Truly Madly Royally (2019). Inspired by the real-life royal romance of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, this sparkling young adult rom-com follows Zora Emerson, a Haitian-American teen navigating a prestigious summer program who unexpectedly falls for a European prince. It perfectly showcases Rigaud's signature writing style: fast-paced dialogue, sweet romance, and a thoughtful exploration of identity and privilege.
For readers who prefer a contemporary coming-of-age story with zero fantasy elements but plenty of humor, Simone Breaks All the Rules (2021) is another fantastic entry point. It focuses on a high school senior determined to rebel against her strict Haitian immigrant parents by creating a senior-year bucket list.
The Core Young Adult Standalones
Debbie Rigaud has built her YA reputation on stand-alone contemporary novels that celebrate Haitian-American culture, family dynamics, and young love. While they do not share characters or take place in a shared universe, reading them in publication order lets you see her progression as a writer:
- Perfect Shot (2009): Rigaud's debut full-length novel, featuring London Abrams as she enters a modeling contest to get closer to her crush while balancing her passion for volleyball.
- Truly Madly Royally (2019): A royal romance exploring class, ambition, and cultural expectations.
- Simone Breaks All the Rules (2021): A hilarious and touching look at cultural expectations, friendship, and first love.
- A Girl’s Guide to Love & Magic (2022): A romantic comedy infused with magical realism. Set during the West Indian American Day Carnival in Brooklyn, it follows Cicely as she discovers her family's magical legacy and Haitian vodou traditions.
Crucial Caveat: The "Romantic Comedies" Publisher Line
Some database lists associate Debbie Rigaud with a long list of book titles under "The Romantic Comedies" (such as Royally Jacked or How Not to Spend Your Senior Year). It is important to know that this was a multi-author, open-ended paperback line published by Simon Pulse. Rigaud only wrote a single book for this line—her 2009 novel Perfect Shot. The other titles in that line were penned by different authors, so you do not need to seek them out to complete Rigaud’s bibliography.
The Hope Series (Co-authored with Alyssa Milano)
For middle-grade readers, Rigaud collaborated with actress and activist Alyssa Milano on the Hope series. This series features Hope Roberts, a biracial girl who uses science, teamwork, and determination to make a difference in her school and community. Because these books follow Hope’s progression through middle school, they should be read in chronological/publication order:
- Project Middle School (2019)
- Project Animal Rescue (2020)
- Project Class President (2020)
- Project Go Green (2021)
The Best Wishes Series (Co-authored with Sarah Mlynowski)
The Best Wishes series is a multi-author magical fantasy project created by Sarah Mlynowski, where a magical bracelet is mailed from girl to girl to help them solve their life dilemmas. Debbie Rigaud co-authored the second installment of this series:
- Best Wishes Book 2: The Sister Switch (2023) - Co-written by Sarah Mlynowski and Debbie Rigaud, this novel follows two sisters who swap bodies to see what it is like in the other's shoes.
While this book is part of a larger series, the protagonist and setting change with each volume, meaning The Sister Switch can easily be read as a standalone story.
Early Work and Picture Books
For completionist readers, there are a couple of other entries in Rigaud's catalog to look out for:
- "Double Act" in the Hallway Diaries Anthology (2007): Rigaud's very first published YA work was this novella focusing on Mia Chambers, a smart girl trying to fit in at a prestigious prep school while remaining true to her old neighborhood.
- Sebastian, the Littlest Food Critic (2024): Rigaud’s first picture book, illustrated by Rachel Más Davidson, which tells a humorous story about a picky eater discovering the joy of dining with family.