Hi, Adam! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Well, hello! I’m what I refer to as a “sunny goth”—I live in SoCal, wear hot pink, and am very bubbly…but I usually talk about horror, monsters, dark fairy tales, death, depression, and suffering. I just moved to the desert, which I think encapsulates that same energy of always bright but full of scary things. I write horror and romance, and whenever I write one genre, I sprinkle in a dash of the other to balance things out. That pretty much reflects how I see the world: hilarious, dangerous, lovely, insufferable, but all in all worth fighting for.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I was a movie kid, so my storytelling love started there—probably my earliest love was Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre, these darkly comedic 80’s films retelling old fairy tales. Shelley Duvall—if you don’t know her, she’s the mom in The Shining—is another sunny goth. She introduced each film with her bright tone and sunken eyes with “Hello, I’m Shelley Duvall” and then set up what we were about to see, kind of like a sweet, magical Twilight Zone. Every time I write a new book, I start with an author’s note setting up what you’re about to read, hoping to capture her same mix of delightful doom.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Blood Justice by Terry J. Benton-Walker

Your latest novel, Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts, is out July 16^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Wishes, Depression, Summer, Scottish, Thorns

What can readers expect?

Verbal fireworks between two very angry boys who want jump each other’s bones, but they can’t because they hate each other too much thanks to their baggage as ex-best friends—one of whom ran off with the other’s boyfriend. Now they’re both single again and working at the same bed and breakfast in the country. The B&B belongs to the family of Grant, the heartbroken one, who is fighting to save the old place from bankruptcy. But he can’t do it without the help of the gardener, Ben, the man stealer. Can Grant and Ben stop fighting long enough to save the B&B…and maybe steal a kiss or two? You gotta buy the book to get all the juicy details!

Where did the inspiration for Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts come from?

Like Shelley Duvall, I’m remixing an old fairy tale for this one—Beauty and the Beast! Cursed Boys is the tale as old as time told from the Beast’s point of view. Except the Beast curse is depression, and there’s no Belle, it’s a Beast meets Beast love story.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

What I wanted to do with Cursed Boys is follow the guy in the romcom who gets chucked so the main couple can have their happily ever after. I was curious what would happen if someone’s happily ever after was the start of your nightmare. So really, chapter one was exciting because I’m starting right in the middle of a devastated Grant trying to be happy for his ex’s new fairy tale love life, but secretly, he has to pull his shattered self together again.

You write both horror and romance. What draws you to each genre and how do you shift between writing the two?

Horror and Romance aren’t different planets. All my characters live in the same world, they’re just dealing with different circumstances. They all feel like their situations are life and death—it’s just that for my horror characters, it’s literal, and my romance characters are just being drama queens. Romance is all about tension. Will he like me? Is he queer? Will this work out? Am I deluded? It’s pure suspense. It speaks to the horror lover in me. And as for my love of horror, it’s just cool. It lets me play out my worst anxieties and conquer them. It’s exquisite therapy.

What’s next for you?

A romance and a horror, naturally! With the romance, I want to play around with doomed lovers, instead of the Happily Ever After. Not like they die, but…we know upfront that their time together will be terribly short. As for my horror, I’m finally departing real-world horror (and teen horror) and embracing monsters. Speaking of embracing monsters, these adult monsters will be dangerously sexy, with some of the most fraught relationships I’ve ever written. I kind of want to hurry up and get Cursed Boys in people’s hands so I can write my cursed men.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?

YA horror anthology, The White Guy Dies First, drops the same day as Cursed Boys, and it’s a killer! My bestie Terry J. Benton-Walker edits 13 stories (and wrote one!) that explores 13 different horror subgenres from a dozen authors of color. The only caveat Terry gave them is that the first character killed had to be a white guy—and the body had to disappear. It’s incredibly addictive!

Will you be picking up Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Adam Sass, Author of ‘Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Your TBR better watch out because there are so many spectacular YA books hitting shelves over the next few months! With new releases from Amie Kaufman, Lexi Ryan, Karen M. McManus, Maureen Johnson, Sarah Henning, Lynn Painter, Danielle Paige, Kalyn Josephson, and Courtney Gould, along with a few debut novels, there’s something for every reader to pick up and enjoy between July and December!

Read on to discover just a few of our picks and also be sure to check out our Most Anticipated and Swoonworthy Romance lists for more releases!

JULY 2024

The Heart of the World by Amie Kaufman

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Magic and sacrifice will collide as lovers and gods, enemies and allies vie for the fate of the world in this heart-pounding sequel to THE ISLES OF THE GODS, which Stephanie Garber called “deliciously diabolical and full of heart.” (Now publishes in September 2024)

Our Wicked Histories by Amy Goldsmith

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A teen girl’s attempt to make amends with her former friend group takes a sinister turn during a weekend getaway at an ancestral Irish estate in this atmospheric, literary horror from the author of Those We Drown.

Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts by Adam Sass

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A swoony contemporary romance from Adam Sass following a boy who is cursed to doom any romantic relationship—and the summer that changes everything.

A Darker Mischief by Derek Milman

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The Honeys meets The Secret History in a work of dark academia like no other — a boarding school thriller about a queer teen from Mississippi who finds himself swept into a world of old money, privilege, and the secret society at the heart of it all.

A Magic Fierce and Bright by Hemant Nayak

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A young technomancer teams up with a handsome thief to save her sister in this propulsive, magic-filled young adult fantasy that is perfect for fans of Gearbreakers and Iron Widow.

The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington

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A group of friends fight to choose their own fates in this trope-savvy, self-referential young adult thriller from the acclaimed author of Their Vicious Games, about a demonic force that acts according to horror movie rules in the spirit of the Scream movies.

Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan

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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lexi Ryan comes a romantic fantasy in which a human princess armed with death’s kiss and a fae shifter on the run become unlikely allies when a mission to assassinate an evil king collides with a fatal prophecy.

Ready or Not by Andi Porretta

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An anxious teen hopes that a summer of adventure and offbeat dares will keep her friend group together after graduation in this luminous coming-of-age graphic novel with the feel-good vibes of Booksmart and Morgan Matson’s Since You’ve Been Gone.

Such Charming Liars by Karen M. McManus

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The newest mystery from the author One of Us Is Lying, the Queen of thrillers, Karen M. McManus! When mother-daughter grifters set out on their final job, the heist gets deadly and dangerously personal.

Break to You by Neal Shusterman, Debra Young and Michelle Knowlden

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Bestselling author of Scythe and Challenger Deep Neal Shusterman, here with coauthors Debra Young and Michelle Knowlden, tells an intense yet tender story of two teens, trapped in impossible circumstances and unjust systems, willing to risk everything for love—no matter the consequences.

So Witches We Became by Jill Baguchinsky

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A queer, feminist spin on Stephen King’s The Mist, this ode to female-rage is a perfect pick for fans of She Is a Haunting, and a reminder that if “boys will be boys”, girls will fight back.

Hearts Overboard by Becky Dean

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Set sail with this banter-filled rivals-to-lovers romance between a STEM-loving girl and a jock guy that will fill you with wanderlust…and have you rooting for love in the great outdoors!

AUGUST 2024

Ami by S. Jae-Jones

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Filled with adventure, romance and a race against time, Guardians of Dawn: Ami is the next book in the richly imagined Guardians of Dawn series.

The Dark We Know by Wen-yi Lee

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From Gillian Flynn Books, a lyrical young adult horror by debut author Wen-yi Lee that’s perfect for fans of She Is a Haunting, Stephen King’s IT, and The Haunting of Hill House.

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

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From the bestselling author of the Truly Devious books, Maureen Johnson, comes a new stand-alone YA about a teen who uncovers a mystery while working as a tour guide on an island and must solve it before history repeats itself.

This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings

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The first book in a decadent fantasy duology set in Jazz Age Harlem, where at night the dance halls come to life―and death waits in the dark.

A Banh Mi for Two by Trinity Nguyen

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In this sweet sapphic romance about two foodies in love, Vivi meets Lan while studying abroad in Vietnam and they spend the semester unraveling their families’ histories―and eating all the street food in Sài Gòn.

Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay

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From the author of the National Book Award finalist Patron Saints of Nothing comes an emotionally charged, moving novel about four generations of Filipino American boys grappling with identity, masculinity, and their fraught father-son relationships.

The Empire Wars by Akana Phenix

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The Empire Wars is a powerful new YA fantasy in which magic may be a young woman’s only hope for survival.

Wisteria by Adalyn Grace

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#1 New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace delivers a sensational conclusion to the deathly and decadent Belladonna trilogy, with dramatic twists and a seductive new romance that will set readers’ hearts ablaze.

Come Out, Come Out by Natalie C. Parker

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A spine-tingling LGBTQIA+ YA horror about queer teens who accidentally invoke a twisted spirit who promises help but delivers something sinister.

Silent Sister by Megan Davidhizar

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The must-read suspense novel of the summer about a mysterious sister’s disappearance, her biggest betrayal and a deadly truth screaming to come out.  

Practical Rules for Cursed Witches by Kayla Cottingham

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From the New York Times bestselling author of My Dearest Darkest comes a sapphic fantasy adventure about a teen witch who must complete her magical training by breaking a powerful family’s curse. But her own affliction—to never find true love—gets in the way when she falls for the girl she’s trying to save.

Under The Surface by Diana Urban

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An epic survival-thriller about four teens who get lost in the Paris catacombs for days—a gripping and propulsive story of love, danger, betrayal, and hope… even when all seems lost.

SEPTEMBER 2024

Payal Mehta’s Romance Revenge Plot by Preeti Chhibber

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This laugh-out-loud debut romance introduces perfectly imperfect Payal Mehta, whose plan to get her long-time crush to finally notice her is destined for success, but only if she ignores her budding feelings for her archnemesis…

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White

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A queer Appalachian thriller that pulls no punches—following a trans autistic teen who’s drawn into the generational struggle between the rural poor and those who exploit them.

The Lies We Conjure by Sarah Henning

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Knives Out meets The Inheritance Games with magic in this standalone supernatural thriller by Sarah Henning: thirteen witches, a locked-room murder, and two non-magical sisters trapped in a deadly whodunit.

The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig

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From the astonishing mind of Erin A. Craig comes the breathtaking fairy tale retelling readers have been waiting for— what does a life well-lived mean, and how do we justify the impossible choices we make for the ones we love?

Everything Glittered by Robin Talley

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In this queer historical thriller from a New York Times bestselling author, society girls try to find a murderer in a city filled with secrets and stunted by shame. Perfect for fans of Last Night at the Telegraph Club.

When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao

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From the New York Times bestselling author Dustin Thao, We Are Okay meets Wandavision in this novel about loss, and learning to let go.

The Monstrous Kind by Lydia Gregovic

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An atmospheric, haunting, romantasy inspired by Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, set in a Regency England about two sisters fighting to hold on to their manor while deadly monsters prowl along its perimeters—perfect for fans of House of Salt and Sorrows and Anatomy: A Love Story.

The Hysterical Girls of St. Bernadette’s by Hanna Alkaf

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An all-girls school is struck with mysterious cases of screaming hysteria in this chilling dark academia thriller haunted by a deeply buried history clawing to the light.

Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter

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In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling Better than the Movies, Wes and Liz struggle to balance their feelings for each other with the growing pains of being a college student.

To The Bone by Alena Bruzas

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This moving and tragic love story is also a starkly honest look at Colonial America, set during the “Starving Time” in Jamestown.

Spells To Forget Us by Aislinn Brophy

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A witch and a non-magical girl get stuck in an endless cycle of meet-cutes and breakups in this heart-stopping romantic young adult fantasy.

Faeries Never Lie, Edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker

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Faeries Never Lie, the next young adult collection in the Untold Legends series edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker, is filled with fourteen short stories to revel in, that center faeries of varying genders and cultures!

OCTOBER 2024

Tangleroot by Kalela Williams

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In this debut novel, chosen by booksellers as an Indies Introduce selection, a girl must face hard truths about blood and family, history and mystery.

Inheritance of Scars by Crystal Seitz

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House of Roots and Ruin meets The Darkest Part of the Forest in this gorgeous dark fantasy debut steeped in Norse mythology that follows a teen who accidentally awakens an imprisoned draugr and must follow him into a deadly magical forest to rescue her grandmother.

Spell of the Sinister by Danielle Paige

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In New York Times bestselling author Danielle Paige’s wickedly fresh take on beloved tales, the fairy godmothers make the rules. Be careful what you wish for . . .

Make My Wish Come True by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick

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‘Tis the season for holiday hijinks in the newest sapphic rom-com about a rising star and a small town girl going on twelve fake holidates from the New York Times bestselling authors of She Gets the Girl, Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick!

The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones

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Dive into a lush, standalone fantasy, set in the same world as The Drowned Woods and The Bone Houses, about a deadly competition—perfect for fans of Holly Black and Erin A. Craig.

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now by Jason Reynolds

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#1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds tackles it—you know…it—from the guy’s perspective in this unfiltered and undeniably sweet stream of consciousness story of a teen boy about to experience a huge first.

Eleven Houses by Colleen Oakes

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Midnight Mass meets The Vampire Diaries in this epic romantic tale of a mysterious island and the houses who have stood for centuries to guard against the dreaded nightmare of beings waiting to strike from the ocean’s depths.

For She Is Wrath by Emily Varga

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A sweeping, Pakistani romantic fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, where one girl seeks revenge against those who betrayed her—including the boy she used to love.

The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew

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Serpent & Dove meets Arcane in this dystopian romance debut that follows a cunning memory merchant who deals a little extra happiness on the side and the handsome rookie officer on her tail!

Fledgling: The Keeper’s Records of Revolution by S. K. Ali

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The first book in a gripping duology from acclaimed author S.K. Ali introduces a fractured world on the brink of either enlightenment or war.

Inferno’s Heir by Tiffany Wang

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Fearing for her life, an outcast princess joins the rebellion against her own kingdom and family. . . but when playing with fire, someone always gets burned. 

The Debutantes by Olivia Worley

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Jessica Goodman meets The Agathas in this taut, twisty YA thriller set in the glittering world of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, where secrets–and bodies–never stay buried.

NOVEMBER 2024

Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis

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The new Gambit takes Ross and her crew into the intoxicating casinos of Monte Carlo and across treacherous snow-covered slopes in Antarctica as Ross competes against Devroe in a fight for her life. Loyalties will be tested, backs stabbed, hearts broken. May the best thief win.

Darkly by Marisha Pessl

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A seemingly ordinary high school student. A mysterious summer internship. And a legendary game designer, now dead, leaving a dark legacy. The New York Times bestselling author of Night Film spins a twisted web in this masterful YA psychological thriller.

I Am the Dark That Answers When You Call by Jamison Shea

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Jamison Shea’s sharp and unflinching voice will bring readers to terrifying new heights in this vicious sequel to the “relentlessly gory and almost euphoric in its embrace of the horrific” (NPR) I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me.

The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard

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The forest is more dangerous than ever in this highly-anticipated, pulse-pounding, and swoon-worthy conclusion to the bestselling Luminaries trilogy.

Rani Choudhury Must Die by Adiba Jaigirdar

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In this sapphic dual POV Young Adult romance by Adiba Jaigirdar, Meghna and Rani (ex-best-friends-turned-rivals) realize they’re dating the same guy, so they team up to beat and expose him at a big science competition!

When Mimi Went Missing by Suja Sukumar

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The splintered relationship between two Indian American cousins is at the center of this dark, twisty YA mystery—perfect for fans of Tiffany D. Jackson, Karen McManus, and Angeline Boulley.

Midnights With You by Clare Osongco

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Fans of Susan Lee and Dustin Thao will be enchanted by this soulful YA romance about how we love, how we heal, and how we find the strength to go on.

Our Deadly Designs by Kalyn Josephson

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The Shadows Between Us meets The Scorpio Races in the epic conclusion to NYT bestselling Kalyn Josephson’s This Dark Descent, called “a fierce and darkly magical thrill ride” by acclaimed author Ava Reid.

Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart

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Jessa has been raised to be the “perfect girl”, but things go south. A killer looking for the perfect girl has targeted Jessa, and she’ll have to reject everything she’s been taught if she wants to keep herself―and her friends―alive until sunrise.

If You Can Hear This by Faith Gardner

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The twisty, intricate mystery of I Killed Zoe Spanos meets the whip-smart sleuthing of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder in the newest novel from acclaimed author Faith Gardner, in which a club of misfits must come together to solve a dangerous mystery—and learn to lean on each other all the while.

Dead Girls Don’t Dream by Nino Cipri

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There are rules for Voynich Woods: Always carry a whistle. Never go alone. Always come home before dark. And if anyone calls your name, don’t answer. Because everyone who wanders from the path is never seen again.

Flopping in a Winter Wonderland by Jason June

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Sparks are flying in Winter Wonderland this Christmas in this LGBTQ+ young adult rom-com from Jason June, New York Times bestselling author of Out of the Blue, Jay’s Gay Agenda, and Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball!

DECEMBER 2024

A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya

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A fledgling vampire and a headstrong vampire huntress must work together–against their better judgment–to rid the world of monsters in this irresistible romantic fantasy.

Dust by Alison Stine

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In this haunting, speculative coming-of-age novel about finding your place in an unforgiving environment, a partially deaf teen questions everything she knows about family, love, and her future.

Keep It in the Dark by Justin Arnold

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In this unashamedly queer, supernatural romance, Justin Arnold, author of Wicked Little Things, challenges the institutions that have sidelined queer love to the shadows, and brings it into the light.

We Are the Beasts by Gigi Griffis

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Deaths and disappearances pile up as a mysterious beast stalks the French countryside and two girls seize an unlikely opportunity that just might save them all—or serve them up on a platter.

What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould

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Yellowjackets meets Girl, Interrupted when a group of troubled teens in a wilderness therapy program find themselves stranded in a forest full of monsters eager to take their place.

You’re Dead to Me by Amy Christine Parker

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Gossip Girl meets Happy Death Day in this YA horror novel following high school outcast and anonymous social media gossip Ruby, who comes face-to-face with her own ghost dressed in a blood-splattered prom dress. With less than a week until the dance, Ruby must unmask her killer—or die trying.

What YA books are you looking forward to hitting shelves between July and December? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 66 YA Books Hitting Bookshelves Between July and December 2024 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Adam Sass caught me utterly off guard with just how funny this book was. It was exactly the type of meta, knowing horror comedy as seen in the Scream universe, but also the dark comedy that comes from staring into the void and the void looking back. The dialogue sparkled and shone, fizzing with energy and life. Right from the start, I recognised the several queer stereotypes embodied by these characters and their respective horror ‘types’ as well. Sass sends that high school cliqueness and the in-fighting within the LGBTQ+ community, but through a loving lens. This is definitely a case of laughing with rather than at. Of course, this deft characterisation and set-up allows you to fall in love with characters, just to have the rug pulled from under your feet as the horror begins. This is a looming dread over the course of the book, with death marking the group from very early on. You get the sense of the walls closing in on you, as the killer grows bolder and bolder.

Make no mistake, this is a book unafraid to go into the gory details. It is true horror – full of blood and guts. The deaths are creative and their sequences are spine-chilling. Sass keeps the pacing at a quick speed, not allowing you to draw too many breaths. However, there is still time given for characters to develop and grow, which I adored. In particular, the tangled dynamic between Dearie and Cole is one that I fell in love with.

Also, I loved the way Sass transformed the tropey backdrop of the serial killer gone dormant that previously terrorised the community. There is a fantastic through thread around true crime narratives, particularly through a documentary that features heavily in the book. You get the sense of a community trying to build itself back up, only to have the horrors of the past seemingly re-emerge. With the specific targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, it makes a bold statement about the demonisation and targeting of the community – speaking far too closely to current day sentiment.

I also really enjoyed the way Sass blends in insightful social commentary. There is a keenly focused spotlight on loneliness and the way romantic relationships are seen as pinnacles of success. Of course, this is not any way to define a life. You miss the joy found beyond those relationships and the person themselves, happy within themselves. Also, the way people try to deflect death from their path is fascinating. Sass intersects this with the depiction of LGBTQ+ relationships, internalised homophobia and the rising wave of hate crimes against marginalised communities, is nothing short of heart-wrenching.

Sass ensures to adequately warn readers, with a comprehensive trigger warning list at the start of the book. I also appreciated the author’s letter talking about the way race impacts the story, particularly in terms of dealing with police, harassment and injustice. This is included at the beginning, allowing readers to prepare themselves. There is also a sensitive portrayal of abusive relationships at the core of this book. It shapes key journeys within the narrative and is a sickening look at gaslighting, emotional manipulation and the way abusers can make you destroy your self-worth.

Your Lonely Nights Are Over balances heavy societal topics with dashes of camp horror, truly terrifying sequences, and characterisation that truly sings. Adam Sass is an author to watch and I truly recommend him as an emerging scream monarch of YA horror.

Your Lonely Nights Are Over is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 12th.

Will you be picking up Your Lonely Nights Are Over? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Scream meets Clueless in this YA horror from Adam Sass in which two gay teen BFFs find their friendship tested when a serial killer starts targeting their school’s Queer Club.

Dearie and Cole are inseparable, unlikeable, and (in bad luck for them) totally unbelievable.

From the day they met, Dearie and Cole have been two against the world. But whenever something bad happens at Stone Grove High School, they get blamed. Why? They’re beautiful, flirtatious, dangerously clever queen bees, and they’re always ready to call out their fellow students. But they’ve never faced a bigger threat than surviving senior year, when Mr. Sandman, a famous, never-caught serial killer emerges from a long retirement—and his hunting ground is their school Queer Club.

As evidence and bodies begin piling up and suspicion points at Dearie and Cole, they will need to do whatever it takes to unmask the real killer before they and the rest of Queer Club are taken down. But they’re not getting away from the killer without a fight.

Along the way, they must confront dark truths hidden beneath the surface of their small desert community. When the world is stacked against them and every flop they know is a suspect, can Dearie and Cole stop Mr. Sandman’s rampage? Or will their lonely nights soon be over . . .

The post Review: Your Lonely Nights Are Over by Adam Sass appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you’re looking forward to any!

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White
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New York Times bestselling author Andrew Joseph White returns with the transgressive gothic horror of our time! A blood-soaked and nauseating triumph that cuts like a scalpel and reads like your darkest nightmare.

This Dark Descent by Kalyn Josephson
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The Shadows Between Us meets Six of Crows in this spellbinding new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, and pulse-pounding action, where the eldest daughter of a renowned family on the verge of ruin joins forces with a mysterious, rogue enchanter and a handsome, ambitious heir to win a deadly race.

Foul Heart Huntsman by Chloe Gong
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends comes the second book in the captivating Foul Lady Fortune duology following an immortal assassin in 1930s Shanghai as she races to save her country and her love.

Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline
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This queer YA reimagining of The Secret Garden subverts the cishet and white status quo of the original in a tale of family secrets wonderful and horrifying.

Monstrous by Jessica Lewis
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Forced to spend her summer in her aunt’s strange small town, a teen girl discovers dark secrets hidden in the woods. From the author of Bad Witch Burning comes another pulse-pounding novel perfect for fans of Supernatural and Lovecraft Country.

Your Lonely Nights Are Over by Adam Sass
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Scream meets Clueless in this YA horror from Adam Sass in which two gay teen BFFs find their friendship tested when a serial killer starts targeting their school’s Queer Club.

A Prayer For Vengeance by Leanne Schwartz
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An orphan out to find the truth within a warped religion turns his poetry into prayer―a prayer that awakens a cursed girl hungry for revenge.

The Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore
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Funny, moving, and heart-achingly real, this romantic romp and paranormal romcom debut—through a haunted library with trapdoors, ghosts, and memories—is full of great love that triumphs over even death, perfect for fans of Ninth House and Cemetery Boys.

For Girls Who Walk Through Fire by Kim DeRose
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The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin
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A dark and thrilling vampire romance set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Serpent & Dove series.

If I Have to Be Haunted by Miranda Sun
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Cemetery Boys meets Legendborn in this thrillingly romantic, irresistibly fun YA contemporary fantasy debut following a teenage Chinese American ghost speaker who (reluctantly) makes a deal to raise her nemesis from the dead.

When a Brown Girl Flees by Aamna Qureshi
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In this searing contemporary YA novel from new voice Aamna Qureshi, a Muslim teen runs away from home only to find herself on a breathtaking journey of healing, self-love, and hope.​

Nightbreaker by Coco Ma
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Fifteen years ago, The Vanishing thrust Manhattan into darkness, forever changing the City That Never Sleeps. By day, resilient New Yorkers have adapted, clinging to the vestiges of their cosmopolitan lives. By night—well, you never go out at night unless you have a death wish.

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
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Bestselling author Ava Reidmakes her YA debut in this dark academic fantasy perfect for fans of Melissa Albert and Elana K. Arnold.

How to Find a Missing Girl by Victoria Wlosok
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For fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Veronica Mars, this whip-smart thriller follows a sapphic detective agency as they seek the truth behind a growing trail of missing girls in small-town Louisiana. 

Mermaids Never Drown: Tales to Dive For
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14 Young Adult short stories from bestselling and award-winning authors make a splash in Mermaids Never Drown – the second collection in the Untold Legends series edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker – exploring mermaids like we’ve never seen them before!

A Hundred Vicious Turns by Lee Paige O’Brien
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The heir to an arcane bloodline must outwit their ambitious rival to stop a ruthless magical adversary in Lee Paige O’Brien’s A Hundred Vicious Turns, a YA fantasy debut—first in The Broken Tower series—perfect for fans of A Lesson in Vengeance and Hell Followed With Us.

All the Fighting Parts by Hannah V. Sawyerr
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In the vein of Grown and The Poet X, Hannah V. Sawyerr’s All the Fighting Parts is a searing and defiant young adult novel in verse about reclaiming agency after a sexual assault within the church community.

Everyone’s Thinking It by Aleema Omotoni
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Mean Girls meets Dear White People in this big-hearted, sharp-witted UK boarding school story about family, friendship, and belonging—with a propulsive mystery at its heart.

A British Girl’s Guide to Hurricanes and Heartbreak by Laura Taylor Namey
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In this highly anticipated companion to the New York Times bestseller and Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club YA Pick A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, Flora Maxwell heads to Miami to find a path for her future…and finds her heart along the way.

The Society For Soulless Girls by Laura Steven
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A sapphic enemies-to-lovers retelling of Jekyll & Hyde, this dark academia thriller follows two roommates who must solve an infamous cold case of serial murders on their campus after an arcane ritual gone wrong prompts another death.

There’s No Way I’d Die First by Lisa Springer
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A spine-tingling contemporary horror-comedy novel that follows a scary-movie buff as she hosts an elaborate Halloween bash but soon finds the festivities upended when she and her guests are forced to test their survival skills in a deadly game, from debut author Lisa Springer.

Cage of Dreams by Rebecca Schaeffer
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In this thrilling sequel and conclusion to the City of Nightmares duology, Ness is forced to make a twisted deal with the Nightmare Phantom—only to find herself embroiled in the explosive fallout of the agreement when a botched assassination attempt unleashes chaos into the City of Newham.

Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis
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The Inheritance Games meets Ocean’s Eleven in this cinematic heist thriller where a cutthroat competition brings together the world’s best thieves and one thief is playing for the highest stakes of all: her mother’s life.

What YA books are you looking forward to picking up this month? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 24 YA Books Releasing In September 2023 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

• You’re into whodunnit stories
• You like atmospheric and creepy writing
• You want to read a book that will actually influence your heart rate

Review:

Let me start off by saying that this was an action-packed and immersive thriller that I would bet money on that it will someday be turned into a movie. People have compared this to The Hunger Games and though I hesitate to agree with that, I do feel like the writing is one of the reasons why this would make an excellent movie.

The writing was by far my favorite part of this novel. Sass takes his time describing Connor’s hometown and the conversion camp in harrowing detail and it works so well with this story. There’s a sense of immediacy and anxiety underlying the current of the plot and at times, I had to physically put down the book because the descriptions made my heart speed up. You’re sitting on pins and needles while reading this book and even if you’re like me and guess most of the plot twists (which, by the way, has never happened before, I am epically bad at guessing correctly), the writing alone will make this an unforgettable reading experience.

I do have two caveats with the novel, though. One is the perhaps misleading foreword in which the author states that this isn’t a book about queer pain but what queer people do with that pain. This could have of course been my bad, but I was not prepared for the bleakness and the many triggers that were within this book. It’s a very sad and haunting narrative and there aren’t a lot of hopeful moments; even the ending still made my heart ache. By no means is this to say that this is a bad book, but just that if you have known triggers (physical or verbal abuse, questionable romantic entanglements, cheating, mentions of suicide and the likes) please go into this book knowing that there is a lot of harmful stuff depicted or look up the trigger warnings beforehand. Seeing as this is set at a conversion camp, these might seem obvious to people, but I confess that I was shocked by a lot of it because there was no warning beyond the queer pain remark and it haunts me still. I also really, really didn’t like that almost all of the characters who are villains (and there are many seeing as this is a novel set at a conversion camp) were closeted gays. I know what the intention behind that was, I really do, but I just thought that was unnecessary. One villain turning out to be a conversion camp counsellor because he is secretly gay and has been brainwashed would have been enough; the amount of times this happened within the novel was just…harmful.

The other caveat I have is related to the pacing. I think this might have been a bit more engaging if the entire narrative didn’t take place within a single day or two, if you count the arrival day. I always have a hard time connecting with characters in thrillers because the focus is of course more on the plot than on the personalities of the characters, but we only get a glimpse at everyone else and if this would have been drawn out more, perhaps we would have seen more interactions between everyone instead of just seeing their reactions to plot twists and more secrets. Due to that short time frame, the romance was naturally insta-lovey and not as well developed as I would have hoped, but that in part was remedied by the epilogue. Again, though, this is a personal preference and I think that lovers of YA thrillers will devour this in one sitting.

Fast-paced, overwhelming and giving the power back to the oppressed, Surrender Your Sons will compel and captivate lovers of dark thrillers and fans of murder mysteries alike!

Surrender Your Sons is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 15th 2020.

Will you be picking up Surrender Your Sons? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Connor Major’s summer break is turning into a nightmare.

His SAT scores bombed, the old man he delivers meals to died, and when he came out to his religious zealot mother, she had him kidnapped and shipped off to a secluded island. His final destination: Nightlight Ministries, a conversion therapy camp that will be his new home until he “changes.”

But Connor’s troubles are only beginning. At Nightlight, everyone has something to hide from the campers to the “converted” staff and cagey camp director, and it quickly becomes clear that no one is safe. Connor plans to escape and bring the other kidnapped teens with him. But first, he’s exposing the camp’s horrible truths for what they are— and taking this place down.

The post #ReadWithPride: Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass appeared first on The Nerd Daily.