Get ready to look forward to some great fiction book releases in 2026! We’ve rounded up just a few fiction books releasing between January and June from thrillers and historical fiction, to stories of friendship and family, and more. With new releases from Jennifer Niven, Simone St. James, Claire Heywood, Catriona Ward, CG Drews, Natalie Haynes, Megan Lally, Xochitl Gonzalez, Emma Straub, Kylie Lee Baker, Nick Cutter, Catherine Adel West, Jennifer Saint, Rob Hart, and more, plus debut novels, you’ll be sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list!

Be sure to check out our other 2026 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, Romance, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, and Young Adult lists!

JANUARY 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Funny, big-hearted, and deeply moving, Meet the Newmans is a rich family story about the dual lives we lead. Because even when our lives aren’t televised weekly, we all have a behind-the-scenes.

Is This A Cry For Help? by Emily Austin

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A luminous new novel following a librarian who comes back to work after a mental breakdown only to confront book-banning crusaders in an empowering story of grief, love, and the power of libraries.

Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Based on the long-buried history of the American Plan, this powerful and shockingly timely story of resistance and resilience exposes the real government program designed to regulate women’s bodies and sexuality throughout the first half of the 20th century.

Dandelion Is Dead by Rosie Storey

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
With sparkling wit and aching tenderness, debut author Rosie Storey gives us a modern love story about the courage it takes to live again after loss and finding hope in the most unexpected places.

Skylark by Paula McLain

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife weaves a mesmerizing tale of Paris above and below—where a woman’s quest for artistic freedom in 1664 intertwines with a doctor’s dangerous mission during the German occupation in the 1940s, revealing a story of courage and resistance that transcends time.

You’ll Never Forget Me by Isha Raya

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In this captivating cat-and-mouse thriller, a struggling actress is only just beginning to enjoy the life sheʼs always wanted after inadvertently killing her rival—but now she must contend with the woman who threatens to take it all away.

Burn Down Master’s House by Clay Cane

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Inspired by long-buried true stories of enslaved people who dared to fight back, this powerful novel offers a searing portrayal of resistance. 

The Midnight Carousel by Fiza Saeed McLynn

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The Night Circus meets Water for Elephants in this enchanting, darkly glittering story of grief, obsession, revenge, and enduring love.

The Briars by Sarah Crouch

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The USA TODAY bestselling author of Middletide returns with a lush and atmospheric novel of suspense following a young woman whose job as a game warden puts her in the path of a murderer in a small town eager to protect its own.

Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Fleabag meets Big Swiss in this bold debut about a charismatic misfit who livestreams her life for seven days and nights to raise money to save her comatose sister—a poignant and darkly funny exploration of grief, forgiveness, and redemption.

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Simone St. James, the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel, returns with her scariest, most shocking novel yet in this pulse-pounding story about siblings who return to the house they fled 18 years before, called back by the ghost of their long-missing brother and his haunting request: Come home.

The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the two-time Emmy Award–winning producer and host of the Black and Published podcast comes a sweeping multi-generational epic following seven generations of Dupree women as they navigate love, loss, and the unyielding ties of family in the tradition of Homegoing and The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois.

FEBRUARY 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

The Exes by Leodora Darlington

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Who hasn’t wanted to murder an ex—figuratively, at least? In this explosive debut thriller, a woman’s seemingly perfect romantic life is on the verge of collapse as she uncovers a hidden history surfacing dark secrets that have deadly consequences.

A Crown of Stars by Shana Abe

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A sumptuously vivid and poignant account of the Lusitania’s fateful last days, drawn from the true story of an extraordinary young actress who survived the unthinkable—for fans of Marie Benedict, Louis Bayard, Fiona Davis, Kate Quinn, and HBO’s The Gilded Age.

The Wandering Queen by Claire Heywood

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An epic and fiercely imaginative retelling of the story of queen Dido, the legendary founder of Carthage, from the author of the national bestseller Daughters of Sparta.

Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From acclaimed author Terah Shelton Harris comes a poignant story of survival and redemption that questions what it means to stop existing and start living.

The Fourth Princess by Janie Chang

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the internationally bestselling author of The Porcelain Moon comes a haunting Gothic novel set in 1911 China. Two young women living in a crumbling, once-grand Shanghai mansion face danger as secrets of their pasts come to light, even as the mansion’s own secret threatens the present.

Out of the Loop by Katie Siegel

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The Seven Year Slip meets Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers in this wholly original time loop mystery.

Superfan by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree Jenny Tinghui Zhang, a novel about a pop idol and his superfan, whose stories shockingly collide

The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
When the last fare of the night turns up dead in her backseat, a Sri Lankan American taxi driver works off the clock to clear her name in this mystery novel by debut author Yosha Gunasekera.

Adrift by Will Dean

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A high-tension thriller about a family’s descent into darkness that is perfect for fans of Dennis Lehane and Lisa Jewell.

A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by MK Oliver

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A whip-smart and darkly funny crime novel—perfect for fans of My Sister, the Serial Killer and The Maid—that follows a wife and mother with a deadly secret that she must suppress if she wants to maintain her picture-perfect façade.

Bad Asians by Lillian Li

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the acclaimed author of Number One Chinese Restaurant comes an affecting novel about an unforgettable group of friends trying to make their way in the world without losing themselves, or one another.

Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Nowhere Burning is a harrowing tale of survival that places the dark fairy tale of Peter Pan and the ruthless dangers of Lord of the Flies into the unforgiving maw of the Colorado Rockies.

MARCH 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

No Friend To This House by Natalie Haynes

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
No Friend to This House is an extraordinary reimagining of the myth of Medea from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Stone Blind, Natalie Haynes.

Wretch by Eric LaRocca

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From rising horror star and award-winning author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke comes a nightmarish, haunting, tech-Gothic thrill ride about sorrow, memory, and the unabashed complexity of love as a transgressive act.

You Did Nothing Wrong by C.G. Drews

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Domestic suspense meets haunted house horror in this adult debut from the New York Times bestselling author of Don’t Let the Forest In.

Strangers In The Villa by Robyn Harding

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the international bestselling author of The Drowning Woman, a psychological thriller about a couple rocked by infidelity who moves to a villa in Spain’s Costa Brava to rebuild their relationship, only to welcome a pair of visitors who have no intention of leaving.  

How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Two sisters face the real consequences of a fake marriage scheme in an emotional yet hilarious novel about immigration, healing, and family from USA Today bestselling author Sonali Dev.

Bloom by Robbie Couch

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the New York Times bestselling author of If I See You Again Tomorrow comes a delightful and heartwarming novel about family, love, grief, and one precocious houseplant, that reminds us of the beauty of living a life in full Bloom.

Dig by J. H. Markert

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
J. H. Markert returns with a surreal horror novel, perfect for fans of Graveyard Shift and What Moves the Dead.

This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Best friends Benny and Joy like to say they’ve been saving each other’s lives since the moment they met. Until the day Joy disappears and Benny is suspected of murder . . .

Turn Off the Light by Jacquie Walter

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Two women living centuries apart are bound by the same dark secret in this haunting novel that “upends everything you think you know about ghost stories” (Jennifer McMahon, author of The Winter People).

Sweetbitter Song by Rosie Hewlett

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Perfect for fans of The Song of Achilles and from the award-winning author of The Witch of Colchis comes a profoundly moving story of two women on the shores of Ithaca, in the shadows of a legendary war, who must face their own battle – one of sisterhood, survival, and a forbidden love that could destroy them both.

What We Did To Survive by Megan Lally

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A vacation in paradise turns deadly when four teens’ sailing charter hits stormy seas in this propulsive new thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Megan Lally!

Finlay Donovan Crosses The Line by Elle Cosimano

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From New York Times bestseller Elle Cosimano comes Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line—the highly anticipated next installment in the beloved Finlay Donovan series.

APRIL 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
New York Times bestselling author Xochitl Gonzalez delivers a captivating story about a young woman whose life becomes ensnared in her glamorous neighbor’s secret past

A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas DiDomizio

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The Guncle meets Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies in this fun, twisty mystery following a spoiled nepo baby forced to work at a struggling summer camp who stumbles into a real-life murder mystery he has no choice but to solve.

We Would Never Tell by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A high-glamour, high-stakes thriller trailing three ambitious women as they navigate Hollywood’s secrets, sins, and scandals during 12 days at the Cannes Film Festival. 

American Fantasy by Emma Straub

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From New York Times bestselling author of This Time Tomorrow, an irresistible story about what happens when your teenage fantasy comes true after you’re already an adult.

The Girls Trip by Ally Condie

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the author of Reese’s Book Club Pick and instant USA Today bestseller The Unwedding, a novel of suspense and friendship about three friends who decide to disappear from their lives for a few days while on a trip to a national park—only to have one of them vanish.

The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Fans of Agatha Christie’s locked-room mysteries and modern tales like Knives Out will fall for The Ending Writes Itself, which masterfully blends classic mystery elements with genre-bending tropes. Crafted with razor-sharp wit and a meta twist, this satirical take on the publishing world ensures readers will hang on every word, right up to its breathtaking finale.

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Come along with the Book Witch in this magical and inspiring love letter to reading from the USA Today bestselling author of The Wishing Game.

The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From Marcus Kliewer, a new “titan of the macabre and unsettling” (Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author), comes a supernatural horror about a young woman who accepts a caretaking job from Craigslist, only to discover the position has consequences far greater—and more dangerous—than she ever could have imagined.

Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In this lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds.

The Island Club by Nicola Harrison

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Set against the sun-drenched beaches of Balboa Island, with its prim and proper 1950s facade, The Island Club is a story of love, loneliness and the lies we tell ourselves―and what can be gained when the truth is finally revealed.

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A nearly divorced trophy wife enrolls in culinary school to win back her husband, only to find a fresh start in the unlikeliest of places in this new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.

Go Gentle by Maria Semple

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The New York Times bestselling author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette returns to form in her most exuberant and life-affirming novel yet with the story of one woman’s cheerful determination to live a life of the mind only to have the heart force its way in.

MAY 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A bookseller must escape the infamously haunted library that holds her darkest secrets, but with a murderer in her tour group, escaping alive is not as simple as it seems, in this twisty locked-room thriller from bestselling author of You Are Fatally Invited.

The Dorians by Nick Cutter

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The all-new novel of terror from “one of the hottest horror authors on the planet” (Paste) and writer of the #HorrorBookTok sensation The Troop!

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
How far would you go to rescue your child? A mother races against the clock—and finds herself on the wrong side of the law—in a desperate fight to save her teenage daughter in this pulse-pounding thriller.

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The Calamity Club will make you laugh, cry, and cheer—an epic testament to underestimated women who know that calamity can be the spark of new beginnings. This is Kathryn Stockett at her most confident, heartfelt, and hilarious—the triumphant return of one of the most beloved storytellers of our time.

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Twisty, high-concept, and emotionally charged, this novel is an utterly compelling story of the hunt for a serial killer. But it’s also a heartfelt―and heartrending―novel about fate, innocence lost, and two souls who find that sometimes being broken is the only way for the light to get in. 

The Young Will Remember by Eve J. Chung

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A sweeping novel about a correspondent trapped behind enemy lines during the Korean War, and the women who help her find her way home, from the national bestselling author of Daughters of Shandong.

Villain by Natalie Zina Walschots

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The Boys meets Assistant to the Villain in the electrifying, sharp, violent, and hilarious sequel to the highly acclaimed novel, Hench. Filled with a queer and neurodiverse cast, Villain asks the question: what happens when a diabolically brilliant henchperson looks back at their already storied career and thinks, I can be so much worse.

The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the New York Times–bestselling author of Ghosted and The Love of My Life comes an unmissable emotional thriller: an up-all-night, page-turning love story with a very dark secret at its heart.

Homebound by Portia Elan

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Five interlocking lives. One beloved story. A dazzling adventure across centuries and continents in search of the things that hold us together.

Lady X by Molly Fader

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The search for a notorious vigilante exposes the secrets among three generations of women in this propulsive novel of female resistance and rage, sweeping from contemporary L.A. to gritty 1970s New York.

The Hope Keeper by Heather Webb

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Set in Jazz Age D.C., the story of possession and obsession, and the ever-looming curse of the legendary Hope Diamond, comes to life as the socialites scheme and the jewels glitter in the evening light. 

The Players Club by Rachel Mills

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
For fans of Lessons in Chemistry and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, a bold, big concept debut about a secret club of women who risk everything to ask the question: If you could be anyone…who would you dare to become?

JUNE 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

Tell Your Friends by Lauren Wilson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A former child star and an envious fan collide in this cat-and-mouse psychological thriller about obsession, self-invention, and the dark side of internet fame.

There’s Only One Sin In Hollywood by Rasheed Newson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A cinematic, razor-sharp novel following a backlot fixer’s daring investigation into the suspicious death of a closeted Black actor within the glamorous world of Hollywood, from the bestselling author of My Government Means to Kill Me.

A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A gripping novel about two trailblazing women on opposite sides of the law—a prosecutor and a madam—who team up to bring down notorious mob boss Lucky Luciano in 1930s New York, from the New York Times bestselling authors of the million-copy bestseller The Personal Librarian.

Strangers Behind Closed Doors by Catherine Adel West

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A twisty thriller about a woman who vanishes from a luxury hotel, and the detective who believes the case is tied to the unsolved disappearances of other Black women in the city.

The Break-Up Retreat by Camilla Sten

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An undercover journalist goes to expose an exclusive psychological wellness clinic where women go to recover from heartbreak, with dire consequences, in this creepy thriller from The Bachelorette Party author Camilla Sten.

A Fortune of Sand by Ruta Sepetys

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The daughter of an automotive magnate escapes to an artistic retreat that holds more secrets—and more intrigue—than she could have ever imagined, in this Prohibition-era novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Salt to the Sea.

Girl’s Girl by Sonia Feldman

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From a dazzling new talent, a sensual and spellbinding novel about one summer that shatters the balance between three best friends, forcing them to confront the line between friendship and desire.

This Immortal Heart by Jennifer Saint

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The epic, captivating tale of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who must reconcile her mind and heart when she is drawn against all odds to Ares, the god of war, from the internationally bestselling author of Ariadne and Hera.

Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A gripping blend of historical fiction and Southern gothic psychological horror, Our Sister’s Keeper is a fierce exploration of Black sisterhood, rage, and resistance.

Three Hitmen and a Baby by Rob Hart

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Welcome back to Assassins Anonymous, where family is everything and danger lurks around every corner.

Pool House by Mary H.K. Choi

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Bestselling young adult author Mary H.K. Choi debuts a brilliantly observed adult novel about mothers, daughters and the complexity of family set against the backdrop of Hollywood.

The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An ambitious young woman insinuates herself into a tight-knit social set, shaking up friendships and marriages in a small seaside town.

What 2026 fiction book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Fiction Book Releases To Check Out In 2026 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Ally Condie’s The Only Girl In Town, which is out September 19th.

For July Fielding, nothing has been the same since that summer before senior year.

Once , she had Alex to be her loyal best friend, the one who always had her back. She had Sydney, who pushed her during every cross country run, and who sometimes seemed to know July better than she knew herself. And she had Sam. Sam, who told her she was everything and left her breathless with his touch.

Now , July is alone. Every single person in her small town of Lithia has disappeared. No family. No Alex or Sydney. No Sam. July’s only chance at unraveling the mystery of their disappearance is a series of objects, each a reminder of the people she loved most. And a mysterious GET TH3M BACK.

A searingly candid reckoning with both love and loneliness, #1 bestselling author Ally Condie’s The Only Girl in Town perfectly distills the messy, beautiful realities of growing up, growing apart, and the courageous act of self-discovery.

1. NOW

I am walking back from the water when it happens. I am looking down at my hands in the late-summer sun. It is the time of day when afternoon slides into dusk. I am looking at them, thinking, these are my hands, that is so strange.

My hands are my hands. Like in kindergarten when you have to practice writing your name over and over again until it looks so weird. You start to wonder, Is this really my name? This can’t be my name. Like a straggle of string unraveled from a sweater, a trail made by a snake in the mud.

I am thinking that and then
I feel the world
empty around me.
Cicadas stop screaming.
Cars stop humming along the road past the edge of the wood.
My phone, which had been buzzing buzzing buzzing in my pocket, goes silent. When I pull it out, it’s cold and
dead. When I turn it on, there is no signal.
In the distance, the water splashes over the spillway, but no one calls or cries out.
I know before I know
that everyone is gone.

2. NOW

Just your mind, my brain says. Just your mind playing tricks on you. Everyone’s not gone. The world’s not empty. That’s impossible. Get in the car. Go home. Everything will be fine.

I’ve made it through the woods and I’m standing where we leave our cars when we go to the jump. Parked under a heavy-branched tree is my beat-up old Subaru. Silver. Long scratch on the driver’s side door and an old, peeling KEEP LITHIA GREEN bumper sticker on the back.

But there is no sense of coming and leaving. No engines turning off or on, no crunch of footsteps in the gravel of the parking area, no people calling out to one another in greeting or farewell.

I unlock the car and get in and lock it.

The car is hot and muggy inside, an empty Gatorade bottle rattling around in the front seat where Sam or Sydney or Alex or Ella or Jack used to sit.

I hear my friends laughing. I see Sam turn his head to look at me, the lights from the dashboard illuminating his face. The air rushes in through the windows and it smells of summer rain.

I turn away from the memories and put my hands on the steering wheel. Then my forehead against it.

Breathe, I say.

Just your mind.

3. NOW

I send a message to everyone in my contacts. The message says:
Hello?
I wait.
Nothing, no one writes back.

4. NOW

Not a single other car on the road.
No one out with their dog
walking across the yard with a plate of cookies for their neighbor
pushing a lawnmower into the garage
talking at the mailbox
the curb
the little park at the end of the road.
No kids playing in the yard
or runners on the street
or teenagers walking together in knots on the sidewalks.
Not a soul along the wide grassy areas by the college dorms.

5. NOW

I drive, slowly, down the street.

There is no screen-blue light seeping through windows. Nobody playing in their yards. No snick-hiss of backyard sprinklers, no smell of burgers grilled for dinner in the air.

I get out of the car and go up the sidewalk to my house.
My heart tick-tocks with hope.
Someone has to be there.
They can’t all
be gone.

6. NOW

The dishes sit on the table, clean. The chairs are tucked in nice And neat.

My brother, Jack, would never leave his that way. He’s always on his way to a baseball game or a night out with friends or a morning practice and so his chairs are left askew, his sentences are half-finished, his life is in medias res all the time.

“Hey?” I call out. “Mom? Dad? Jack?”

I check all the rooms, the closets, under all the beds, in the backyard, the side yard, the front yard.

It’s like they haven’t been here for a long time.
But they were just here.
Weren’t they?
I look down at my phone.
Still nothing.
From anyone.

7.

Therapist: You should make a list.
July: Of what?
Therapist: Of ways to calm yourself. To settle the weather pattern in your head.
July: I don’t—
July:
Therapist: You don’t what?
July: See how that’s going to help.
Therapist: You don’t have to do it now. That can be your homework, okay? Bring it with you next time.

8. NOW

Think.

In the event of a disaster, our neighborhood’s designated meeting place is supposed to be the high school. Maybe that’s where everyone went, and they just forgot me.

Back when we were little, my parents did that to Jack once; they forgot him at a picnic table in Hopkins Glen State Park. We turned the car around, my dad on the phone to 911 and my mom crying. When we got back to the park, Jack was exactly where we’d left him, except surrounded by people and eating a piece of chocolate cake with buttercream frosting from someone’s birthday party that they’d been celebrating at a nearby table.

Both my parents’ cars are in the garage.

Maybe they walked, I tell myself.

My car waits out front. When I turn it on, the radio is nothing but static.

9. NOW

The parking lot at Lithia High School is empty. Every door is locked. I tried them all. Front doors, back doors, gym doors, doors I’ve never noticed before. I peer in through the windows: vacant rooms. I circle back to the front of the building again, to the marquee out on the main lawn.

This is where we always met for our cross-country training runs. In the summer mornings, after school when classes started up again.

Technically, the cross-country teams have Fridays off in the summers. But the runners who really want to be good, they come anyway.

We do this long run called the Fall Creek Run on Fridays. Eight miles. It’s a monster. You start here at the high school, and then you run up a huge hill, through the gorge. Then out past the farms, up another hill, circle back and come down past the Howell University horse pastures, and then down Fall Creek Road. About a mile before we get back to the high school, we cut through the wildflower preserve to the pond above the spillway on Fall Creek.

And that’s where we jump.

Someone on the girls’ team started the tradition years ago. Then the guys joined in. College kids do it, too, but not early in the morning like us. One of them died at the jump a few years ago. You can see the white cross his friends made for him when you’re coming along the path. He was drunk.

Other people have died there, but not everyone gets a cross.

We’re like the opposite of drunk when we jump. We’ve been running for miles by the time we’re leaping from the cliffs into the water just above the spillway. Once you make the jump on one of the Fall Creek Fridays, you’re part of the team. It’s our rite of passage.

It feels so good. The water is so cold. Then we get back out and run the last mile back to school. Right back here.

Lithia High doesn’t have enough money for one of those electric marquees like other schools have. We’ve got an ancient sign with plastic letters that the student government officers have to change by hand whenever it’s time for a new announcement or event. On the coldest, worst days, when we were out there freezing, trying to get those damn letters up on the board without dropping them, we cursed the cheapness of the school district, the fact that we’d ever signed up for this in the first place, the whole thing.

The last time I noticed, the marquee said HAVE A GOOD SUMM3R, the way it had for weeks. There was only one E, so the student body officers always ended up having to use 3s instead.

But now, those words are gone.
Instead, a date.
8/31.
My heart is tick-tocking harder than ever.
Who did this?
My hands begin to shake.
Who put this up?
How long has it been here?
Did it happen before
or after
everyone disappeared?

10. WAYS TO BE OKAY

• Watch a show that makes you laugh.
• Make something.
• Help someone.
• Create a playlist.
• Hot chocolate.
• Warm baths.
• Pet your cat. Or your dog.
• Walk barefoot in the grass.
• Go for a long drive on a long road and listen to music. A really good song, an angry one or a sad one or a good beat one, one that matches the rhythm of what you’re feeling inside and brings it outside, so you can hear and scream and sing. Songs like that are like a handhold on a slick wall, something you can hold on to with all your might for as long as it lasts.
• Wrap up in a blanket and lie on the floor and tell yourself, “I don’t have to do anything. I don’t have to go anywhere. I don’t have to be anyone. I am just a person in a blanket on the floor.”

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘The Only Girl in Town’ by Ally Condie appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Move over, Ariel, because these 24 YA Little Mermaid retellings are about to make a splash! Tell-all sea witch origin stories, dark fairy tales laced with siren calls, and summer lovin’ romances on the sand—these books about mermaids will have you belting out Sebastian’s iconic line, “Darling, it’s better down where it’s wetter” in no time. So, grab your trusty dinglehopper and get ready to bring a whole new meaning to “Under the Sea.”

So why should I read YA Little Mermaid Retellings? We totally get it. You’ve been singing along to Disney’s 1989 animated film for as long as you can remember. You’re afraid these reimaginings might not live up to your childhood nostalgia or, worse, they’ll tarnish the magic of the original story. But fear not because we’ve got four reasons that will ease your worries and leave you yearning to be “Part of Your World.”

1. The Original Little Mermaid Is Actually a Story About Queer Love
Ever wondered who wrote the original Little Mermaid? The truth will surprise you. It wasn’t the Grimm Brothers, as you might expect. Nope, it was none other than the visionary Danish wordsmith himself, Hans Christian Andersen.

But what’s more, some history buffs have uncovered evidence that Andersen may have actually been queer. Yes, it’s true! A series of letters exchanged between the Danish author and the son of his professional benefactor gives rise to a tantalizing theory; could The Little Mermaid be a tragic metaphor for his forbidden gay love? Talk about making waves!

2. The Original Little Mermaid Story Ending is Junk
Curious about what happens at the end of the OG Little Mermaid? Hold on to your seashells because it’s no Disney “happily ever after.” Instead of sealing the deal with her prince charming, the mermaid ends up yeeting herself overboard and turning into sea foam. Can we get a refund?

It’s a good thing YA Little Mermaid retellings have got our backs. These modern adaptations are all about ditching the depressing foam party and giving our beloved Ariel the ending she truly deserves.

3. Go Beyond The Disney Movie
Let’s face it: With the Disney live-action movie now in the world and the extraordinary talent of Halle Bailey now gracing our screens, we’ve caught a serious case of mermaid fever.

If you’re anything like us here at The Nerd Daily, then you’re scrambling for more deep-sea adventures alongside Ariel, Prince Eric, Sebastian, and Flounder. Forget the predictable two-hour movie; these mermaid books turn the 90s classic completely on its head and give us so much more than nostalgia.

4. The Perfect Beach Read for Summer
Picture this: You’re chilling by the pool, the sun kissing your skin, with a delicious, fruity drink in hand. Life is good, right? Well, almost. There’s one crucial item missing from this Instagram-worthy scene: the perfect beach read!

But no worries, my fellow mermaid enthusiasts, because we’ve got just the thing for you: YA Little Mermaid retellings. These books will transport you to sun-soaked beaches, dazzling ocean depths, and mythical underwater realms that scream summertime vibes. Seriously, all you need now is a real-life mermaid tail!

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning
If you’re looking for an atmospheric reimagining of The Little Mermaid, then the search is over. In this Ursula origin story, dive into the haunting depths of a young sea witch’s transformation, tangled friendships, and a dark enchantment that is destined to change the fate of an entire kingdom.

The Surface Breaks by Louise O’Neill
The Handmaid’s Tale meets The Little Mermaid in this razor-sharp feminist fairy tale retelling that punches the patriarchy right where it hurts. Laced with the darkest of undercurrents, The Surface Breaks is about blistering rage, brutal misogyny, and one young mermaid who dreams of freedom.

To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
Swashbuckling pirates, murderous Sirens, and a high-stakes quest to save the world—what more do you need?
In this dark Little Mermaid retelling written by the author of Into the Crooked Place, a deadly siren princess and a ruthless pirate prince must work together to save everything they hold dear. Combine that with the enemies-to-lovers trope, and you’ve got an irresistible YA fantasy romance on your hands.

Part of Your World by Liz Braswell
What if Ariel had never defeated Ursula? In this Little Mermaid sequel, enter a parallel universe where King Triton is out of the picture and Ariel reigns as the majestic queen of Atlantica. But now our favourite redhead faces an impossible task: she must find a way to save Prince Eric and reverse the curse that binds her to the sea.

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen
Are you utterly desperate for a diverse YA Little Mermaid book? Then look no further than this West African-inspired fairy tale reimagining. Simi is a devoted Mami Wata, a mermaid entrusted with guiding the souls of those lost at sea. However, when a living boy is cast overboard, Simi finds herself entangled in a perilous journey where vengeful gods, ancient decrees, and shadowy forces converge.

Poor Unfortunate Soul by Serena Valentino
With over 18,000 ratings on Goodreads, it’s safe to say that Poor Unfortunate Soul is the ultimate Ursula fanfic. To put things simply, Serena Valentino has written a twisted villain origin story that will have you crying, “Spells, Ursula, please!” We guarantee you’ll never look at the infamous sea witch the same way again.

Prince of Song and Sea by Linsey Miller
Were you crushing hard on Prince Eric as a kid? No worries, you weren’t alone. For anyone who’s ever wanted a book from Prince Eric’s POV (what the heck was he thinking when he saw Ariel’s ridiculous sail dress?!), then this YA Little Mermaid retelling written by the author of The Game and Belle Révolte is for you.

Against the Tide by J. Elle
Inspired by Disney’s live-action reimagining of The Little Mermaid and written by the bestselling author of the Wings of Ebony series, Against the Tide is the fairy tale prequel you never knew you needed. Full of messy family dynamics, black girl magic, and unexplained kidnappings, this mermaid story takes you to Ariel’s grotto and beyond.

Kitsune by Nicolette Andrews
Ever imagined Ariel as a Japanese fox spirit? No? We hadn’t either, but now we don’t have to because that’s exactly what this Japanese-inspired YA book is all about. So if you love to binge-watch anime, adore Julie Kagawa’s The Shadow of the Fox, or have a visit to Japan on your bucket list, then Kitsune is sure to make a splash in your TBR pile.

Kiss of the Selkie by Tessonja Odette
Out of all the YA Little Mermaid retellings on this list, Kiss of the Selkie is the one we’re the most excited about. Pitched as ACOTAR meets Bridgerton and The Selection, this standalone fairy tale reimagining has got enemies-to-lovers romance, The Bachelor vibes, snarky fae royals, and Scottish-inspired mythology.

Drown by Esther Dalseno
Seven emotionless princesses + a malicious witch haunted by memories + a handsome, self-mutilating prince = an eerie YA book about sirens that will keep you perched on the edge of your beach towel. A complete reinvention of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale, Drown is not your mother’s Little Mermaid bedtime story.

The Little Homo Sapiens Scientist by S.L. Huang
Rejoice, science fiction lovers! If you prefer the wonders of the future over fantasy realms, this sapphic Little Mermaid retelling written by the author of The Water Outlaws and Burning Roses should be on your radar. Enter a dystopian world teeming with whosits and whatsits galore, where a government scientist falls in love with her genetically engineered mermaid experiment and has to pay the price.

The Little Android by Marissa Meyer
Any superfans of The Lunar Chronicles out there? Then this one’s for you. Written by Marissa Meyer, this futuristic Little Mermaid novella casts our favourite redhead as a star-crossed android named Mech6.0. But when Mech6.0 saves the life of a handsome hardware engineer, her circuits start doing strange things…is this what humans call “falling in love?”

Atlantia by Ally Condie
Forget everything you thought you knew about The Little Mermaid because this YA dystopian novel from the author of Matched is about to flip the script! Sure, there aren’t any mermaids in this post-apocalyptic world, but don’t let that discourage you. Loosely inspired by the famous mermaid fairy tale, Atlantia is about a girl who must unleash her long-muted siren voice and take down a corrupt system that keeps the land and sea unfairly divided.

The Little Mermaid’s Voice: A 1912 Titanic Fairy Tale by Shonna Slayton
Hold onto your life jackets, folks! This incredible mash-up of The Little Mermaid and the legendary Titanic will have you saying, “Jack and Rose who?” Set 100 years after the events of the original Little Mermaid, this YA fairy tale sequel follows Ariel’s niece as she navigates the turbulent waves of love and tragedy aboard the ship of dreams.

The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson
Who needs knights in shining armour when you have a badass noblewoman with killer pipes? The Little Mermaid meets Robin Hood in this medieval YA reimagining where a daring heroine disguises herself as a mute servant to escape a grim fate. But when she meets the charming Lord Westley, things go from quiet to swoon-worthy.

The Mermaid by Christina Henry
From the author of Lost Boy comes a historical fairy tale about a mermaid who leaves the sea for love and later finds herself in P.T. Barnum’s American Museum as the real Fiji mermaid. However, leaving the museum may be harder than leaving the sea ever was.

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
This 2013 Odyssey Award Nominee combines mermaids, the 1800s, and ghosts for a dark Little Mermaid retelling that is anything but your stereotypical paranormal romance. It’s got creepy churchyards, a repulsive mermaid queen, a woman who drowned in a sarcophagus, and underwater doll graveyards. So if you’re in the mood for a bone-chilling summer read that will send shivers down your sunscreen-covered spine, then Monstrous Beauty is the mermaid book for you.

When Oceans Rise by Robin Alvarez
Meet Malaya, a seventeen-year-old submerged in a toxic relationship and feeling disconnected from everyone. But when she seeks solace in the sea, she gets thrown into a world of alternate timelines and Filipino mythological creatures. With a raw exploration of gaslighting and abuse, this diverse YA Little Mermaid retelling packs an emotional punch and sheds light on how one might be stripped of their power.

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler
It’s time to rock those shades, slather on the SPF, and get tangled up in this modern Little Mermaid tale. When talented singer Elyse loses her voice in a tragic accident, she finds solace in a charming Oregon beach town. But when a playboy sailor enters the scene, can Elyse confront her fears and find her voice again? Perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, this fluffy YA romance is the ultimate poolside companion.

Coral by Sara Ella
Depression, anxiety, and emotional trauma, oh my! Coral is a contemporary new twist on Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved—yet tragic—fairy tale. This powerful narrative explores mental health from multiple perspectives and questions what it means to be human in a world where humanity often seems lost.

Fathomless by Jackson Pearce
Dark fairy tale lovers, where you at? Because this twisted Little Mermaid retelling is darker than Ursula’s lipstick and full of soulless monsters to boot. Celia, a girl with an unexplained connection to the ocean, finds herself tangled in a dangerous game with the spine-chilling sirens of the deep. Dive in if you dare, but beware, because once you enter the seductive world of Pearce’s Fathomless, there’s no turning back.

The Seafarer’s Kiss by Julia Ember
A kickass lesbian Viking? Check. A gender-queer God of Lies? Check. A bisexual mermaid? Check. Beluga whales? Double check. Yup, this sapphic Little Mermaid book inspired by Norse mythology has got all you need for Pride Month.

Sea Foam and Silence by S.L. Dove Cooper
A queerplatonic Little Mermaid retelling told in verse from the perspective of an asexual Ariel? Don’t mind if I do. Follow Maris, a curious young mermaid, as she races against time to unravel the enigmatic mysteries of love. Will she find the answers she seeks, or will she become mere foam upon the waves?

Have you read any of these YA Little Mermaid Retellings? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 24 of the Best YA Little Mermaid Retellings To Read appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

March 2019 sees a few retellings hitting the shelves with Maid Marian taking over from Robin Hood in Sherwood, while Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy pen a new King Arthur story with a teenage girl being the newest reincarnation of Arthur. What else is instore for you? Brave an alien attack in Laura Pohl’s The Last 8, join a secretive boarding school in Killing November, follow the journey of a young scientist with powers in K.K. Pérez’s The Tesla Legacy, or be enchanted by dark faeries in Sarah Porter’s Never-Contented Things

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be reading of them!

Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From debut author Justin A. Reynolds comes The Opposite of Always, a razor-sharp, hilarious and heartfelt novel about the choices we make, the people we choose and the moments that make life worth reliving. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and John Green.

The Last 8 by Laura Pohl
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A high-stakes survival story about eight teenagers who outlive an alien attack—perfect for fans of The 5th Wave

Never-Contented Things by Sarah Porter
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A new YA standalone novel about dark faeries with surefire appeal by Sarah Porter, the critically-acclaimed author of Vassa in the Night and When I Cast Your Shadow. 

Girls With Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Westworld meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this start to a thrilling, subversive near future series from New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Young about a girls-only private high school that is far more than it appears to be.

Sherwood by Meagan Spooner
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Fans of Danielle Paige, Marissa Meyer, and Alex Flinn will devour New York Times bestselling author Meagan Spooner’s next fierce fairy tale-inspired story, which Illuminae author Amie Kaufman calls “a kick-ass, gender-flipped feminist retelling.”

The Quiet You Carry by Nikki Barthelmess
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Victoria Parker knew her dad’s behaviour toward her was a little unusual, but she convinced herself everything was fine—until she found herself locked out of the house at 3:00 a.m., surrounded by flashing police lights. Now, dumped into a crowded, chaotic foster home, Victoria has to tiptoe around her domineering foster mother, get through senior year at a new school, and somehow salvage her college dreams . . . all while keeping her past hidden.

Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Killing November by Adriana Mather
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Hang a Witch comes a thriller set at a secretive boarding school where students are trained to carry on family legacies that have built–and toppled–empires.

The Waking Forest by Alyssa Wees
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Pan’s Labyrinth meets The Hazel Wood in this novel about a girl with terrifying visions and a wish-granting witch whose lives collide in the most unexpected of ways.

Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc by David Elliott
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Author David Elliott explores how Joan of Arc changed the course of history and remains a figure of fascination centuries after her extraordinary life and death.

The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe by Ally Condie
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Ally Condie, the international bestselling author of the Matched trilogy, returns with an intricately crafted and emotionally gripping story of one young woman’s journey to move beyond the grief and anger that control her and find the inner strength to chart her own course.

The Tesla Legacy by K.K. Pérez
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An action-packed, young adult coming-of-age adventure, K. K. Perez’s The Tesla Legacy follows a precocious young scientist named Lucy Phelps whose fateful encounter in the Tesla Suite of the New Yorker Hotel unlocks her dormant electrical powers.

Will you be reading any of these books? Tell us in the comments below!

The post March Book Releases: YA appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

With summer fast approaching (sorry to those in the other half of the world), your mind may already be wandering far, far away to the things you’ll do and places you’ll go! But despite all the sun and brightness, the heat can sometimes be stifling and the day can be too hot. In case you just want to sit with a glass of lemonade and a good book or dream and think of summer activities and warmer weather, we’ve got you covered!

We’ve found 10 summery book covers and stories for you to enjoy this summer or to help you stay warm as you brave the winter weather!

Read on to discover some of our favourite summery reads and tell us in the comments below if there’s any others you would add!

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

This is a modern retelling of The Little Mermaid, which follows Elyse, the youngest of the golden-voiced d’Abreau sisters who was destined for a life of singing and stardom until an accident left her mute. She escaped Trinidad and Tobago and stayed in Atargatis Cove, where she spent the summer spending time preparing for the annual pirate regatta, but this year, the stakes are too high. If you love a small seaside town, summer romance, and a self-discovery story, this one is for you.

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

Shy and introverted Emily can’t wait to spend the summer with her best friend, Sloane. Except Sloane disappears without a trace and leaves behind a bucket list that Sloane would never try.  Will Emily be able to fulfil all the bucket list and find Sloane again?

A Thousand Salt Kisses by Josie Demuth
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

This is one of the most summery books I’ve ever read and it tells the story of Crystal who just moved to Starfish Island. When she almost drowns, she was saved by a merman named Llyr. As they get to know each other, a threat looms in the form of environmental destroying power plant. Crystal has to fight against the power plant to save the island, the ocean and of course, the merfolk.

One Italian Summer by Keris Stainton
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

Milly’s family always went to Italy for the summer, but after their dad’s death last year, this will be the first time they go without him. While everything still feels the same, it’s just not the same without him and not to mention the fact that their family barely hanging on together. This book can get heavy at times, but it also brings you all the fun and experience of exploring around Rome!

Boys of Summer by Jessica Brody
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

Sun + water + fun? Nothing screams summer more than this cover! Grayson, Mike and Ian are best friends since they were kids and always spend the summer together. But this year, they all been through a lot and this summer and this might be the summer their friendship ends. Will they be able to survive this summer as friends or will they became estranged?

Summerlost by Ally Condie
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

While this is darker than the rest of covers on this list, it has that nostalgic quality for biking and playing outside until the sky darkens. Summerlost tells the story of the summer after Cedar’s father and brother were killed in an accident. She returns to Iron Creek for the summer, and soon, she befriends Leo and they spend the summer surrounded by the mysteries in Iron Creek.

Summer Days and Summer Nights by Stephanie Perkins
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

This summer anthology is the sibling to My True Love Gave To Me, an anthology of 12 holiday stories. Just like its sibling, Summer Days and Summer Nights are filled with summer stories from renowned authors like Stephanie Perkins, Leigh Bardugo, Cassandra Clare, Nina LaCour, and more.

Wanderlost by Jen Malone
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

By chance, Aubree ended up substituting as her sister in leading senior citizens on a tour throughout Europe. It didn’t take long for trouble to start: she manages to lose the binder full of information needed and her phone. There’s also an unexpected guest in the tour: Sam, the son of the tour owner. This summer is going to be interesting indeed, will Aubree managed to lead the tour and keep her cover?

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

For those of you in the other half of the world, not to worry, we also got you covered! The next two books in our list set during the summer, but with cold mysteries and plot twists perfect for a cold winter. The first one is We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. This popular thriller is set during the summer in a private island, with four friends whose friendship turned toxic.

With Malice by Eileen Cook
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

With Malice is based on true crime story about Amanda Knox. Jill wakes up in a hospital room with no memories of what happened. All she remembers was she was on a school trip to Italy, and people said she had an accident during the trip. Only, it wasn’t an accident. As she returns to the states, she realizes that her best friend was murdered in the “accident” and she is the prime suspect. As the clock is ticking, Jill has to prove her innocence before everything is too late.

(P.S – The Nerd Daily may receive commissions for the links in this article, however, any earnings made are put right back into funding prizes for our followers!)

Any other summery books you would add? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Summer Lovin’ YA Books To Read appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The category that is young adult is filled with so many different types of books and genres that nowadays it can be a bit tricky to find what to read since there are so many options. However, like most things, there are certain styles and genres that create a trend.

Many trends have emerged to worldwide acclaim this century and are part of (now) adults’ teenage reading favourites, including my own. Trends peak and fade with time and interest by readers and many new ones emerge every year, so let’s go down memory lane and see the biggest trends in the last decade or so, as well as the current trends and predictions for 2018 and beyond!

The Paranormal Band: Vampires, Werewolves & Witches

It would be an understatement to say that the paranormal trend took to young adults (and adults!) by storm. It was so hugely popular especially with the fast development of social media that it began a domino effect and crossover into Hollywood as YA book to movie adaptations smashed box offices around the world. Many consider Twilight as the pivotal origin of the paranormal hype as sparkling vampires became famous. More and more successful novels and series such as Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, The Southern Vampire Mysteries (True Blood), and House of Night series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast, were consequently eaten up by readers, some adapted in movies and many remain current favourites for readers. This trend didn’t only apply to vampires but also to witches (Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia), ghosts (Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake) and werewolves (Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater).

Angels and Demons

There’s nothing more attractive to teen girls than the heavenly dream of finding the perfect boyfriend that is literally an angel or at least angel related, despite all the angst and probable family issues it brings. Angels and Demons was another huge trend, as a subcategory of the paranormal and fantasy genres. Angels were all the rage, with the building of backstories, describing those beautiful wings and the challenges of falling in love with an angel – an angel who might’ve literally fallen out of heaven and fallen for you too. Demons played their part too of course, and some might say the mixed elements of angel and demon drama in The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare and the entire Shadowhunter Chronicles it triggered is what continues to make it the most successful angel themed YA book series to date.

A Recipe for a Utopia with a Dash of Science Fiction

Dystopian and science fiction was another massively successful trend that created many book to movie adaptations and loyal fandoms worldwide. The concept of different worlds and societies in the future gone wrong was fresh and thought-provoking for young adults. It sparked discussion on themes of identity, society, class, politics, power and different versions of reality in a unique way. It even had teenagers taking personality tests for which faction you’d be in (Divergent by Veronica Roth). The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is the obvious game-changing novel that began this trend with many more that preceded it like Matched by Ally Condie adding to the fuel.

Fantastic Female Fronted High Fantasy

Any current YA reader would have heard of Sarah J Maas at least once, since her Throne of Glass series was among the great number of amazing female fronted high fantasy series to influence YA books in the last few years. These fantasy books are packed with action, intricate world-building, a bit of romance here and there, and a wide cast of characters to choose your favourite from. The protagonists aren’t delicate ladies either but are strong women who won’t back down or give up the fight and inspire other young women everywhere. Not only do these high fantasy books create an addiction for more but they have also popularised sub-genres of faeries, assassins and dragons which are all current trends of today. These high fantasy books had so much imagination to offer and are still cult favourites in the YA high fantasy genre since they brought so much to love. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder brought gorgeous magic, An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir and Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard brought spies in disguise and Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo brought the most badass villain who likes to wear black. It is no wonder that this started a trend and is still successful to this day.

Retold Again and Again

Retellings have also become a trend in the last few years, with many more reaching beyond the usual Grimm Brothers fairy tales. While books based on these tales like Cinder by Marissa Meyer and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas, inspired by Cinderella and Beauty & The Beast respectively, are still extremely popular, there has been a great turnaround for alternatives. A unique and well-loved series by Rick Riordan is of course Percy Jackson & The Olympians series, which is based on Greek mythology. Other alternative inspiring retellings are The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh, a retelling of the Arabian Nights and Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff which is a retelling of Japanese mythology. These books have become quite popular and trending with readers because the innovation of having the same story retold in a different and new way that is fresh and well executed is very appealing. Let’s hope this trend doesn’t die out too fast and continues its minor reign within YA fantasy books.

The Diversity Movement

Diversity has become a huge issue with readers and within the publishing community as more people demanded and expressed their need for equal and widespread representations. Race, sexuality, disabilities and gender themes have been some of the issues young adults have been craving to read in YA Fiction so they can relate what they’re reading to who they are and their everyday lives. The huge push by readers for more diversity has been a slow and successful ongoing trend that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon and sure has gotten some incredible diverse novels out there for us to enjoy.

YA Trend Predictions for 2018

So, these are some of the trends that have occurred in the last decade, but what about what’s happening now? Currently many of the trends below are predicted to make it big and rise in popularity. The success of certain novels in these genres in the last year shows how future books in those same categories can truly boom.

Thrillers & Whodunnits

Novels like One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus and Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco in the last year has shown how powerful and addictive thrillers and mysteries can be, and this genre really seems like it’s about to take off especially because of the second rise in popularity of the book to TV adaptation of 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher.

2018 Book Recommendations:

• All of This is True by Lygia Day Penaflor
  Four teenagers obsessed with a novel called Undertow make a plan to befriend its author Fatima Ro, and they can’t believe their luck when she lets them into her life. Until they are shocked to discover that Fatima’s latest book unveils all their secrets and revelations with devastating effects.
• The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas
  After the multiple consecutive deaths of cheerleaders, Sunnybrook High disbands its cheer squad. Yet 5 years later it seems that there is more to it and something is still going on as Monica, the sister of the last cheerleader killed, unravels secrets and suspicious activity. Some people in Sunnybrook may be hiding more than they’re willing to admit, and even though there are no more cheerleaders, it doesn’t mean everyone is safe.

Hi-Tech Worlds & Games

With the massive fandoms and widespread love for gaming, social media and new technology in this era, it makes sense that young adults would embrace these high tech sci-fi books that show the potential technology may have one day in the future. The thought of spaceships and virtual reality gaming The Illuminae Files by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman and Warcross by Marie Lu have brought in the last year are pretty mind-blowing and interesting to read about. It seems logical that this YA genre and its themes will remain consistent in 2018.

2018 Book Recommendations:

• The Leveller by Julia Durango
  Nixy Bauer is a bounty hunter with the task of taking kids back to their parents in the real world from their virtual reality gaming world. However when the game’s rich developper loses track of his own kid, Nixy has the biggest challenge of her life finding him especially when it seems that he wasn’t trying to hide but is being held captive against his will within the game.
• Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston
  A space action-packed Anastasia retelling, this fun sci-fi novel depicts a girl named Ana, who was found aboard a pod with no recollection of her past. Desperate to help fix the android named D09 who was aboard with her, she tries to find the coordinates to the lost ship that may hold all her answers. Until a spoiled Ironblood boy beats her to it, yet events unfold that have them both running for their lives, marked as fugitives, and not everyone wants to capture them alive.

Shock! Horror!

Horror has always be a favourite genre for many people in fiction, however for young adult fiction it can be quite rare. Not all young people tend to want to be scared, however this genre might just be on the rise. With the popularity of Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco (Sequel to Stalking Jack the Ripper) and recent release The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert, many more older young adults may lean more towards this direction.

2018 Book Recommendations:

• Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman
  The sequel to the its predecessor Scythe, Thunderhead follows the adventures, deadly tasks and dilemmas its protagonists must endure following the last event of Scythe. Scythe introduces a dystopia far in the future where humans are no longer affected by age, disease or war. Now scythes are the only ones who can and will end life to manage the world’s constant growing population. Rowan and Citra are two teenagers unwillingly chosen to apprentice for a Scythe. They must master the art of killing yet they must also understand learning the consequences of failing to take a life, as it may take their own.
• Contagion by Erin Bowman
  An urgent SOS is sent from a distant planet. A small crew is dispatched for search and rescue yet what they find is something best left uncovered as they try to piece together who or what decimated a whole operation on this planet.

For Realz

As mentioned above, the explosion of diversity in YA literature has created so many more representations and opportunities of expression. The diversity movement has also helped create another subgenre of Realistic Fiction. This genre is basically fiction that describes real life issues of today, more serious points of discussion everyone should be exposed to regardless of what format they’re influenced by including books. This subgenre is great and it seems like a major theme in 2018 for YA contemporaries and fantasies as well. There’s hope that more novels with themes such as mental illness, race, lgbtqia+, the effect of terrorism as well as teen depression and suicide are well read by teens to engage in discussion about important social and life issues we may all face.

2018 Book Recommendations:

• Not if I Save You First by Ally Carter
  Maddie’s best friend Logan is the President’s son, while her dad is a secret service agent. Unfortunately, life gets in the way and forces her to be dragged to the middle of nowhere in Alaska where she gets not word from Logan. Then he shows up, 6 years later, and an assailant gets in the way of Maddie killing him herself and she really wants to.
• The Place Between Breaths by An Na
  Grace is in a race against time and she doesn’t even know it. When her mother flees in fear of hurting their family due to the schizophrenia she’s been struggling with for years, her dad’s schizophrenia research continues in full force. Grace does her part by interning there, and they find what might be a breakthrough, but Grace starts to unravel and starts to question what’s real and what isn’t. Is her discovery real or a side effect of schizophrenia taking hold?

Under the Sea

While many mermaid novels and series have come out in the past decade such as Of Poseidon by Anna Banks, there hasn’t been a whole lotta love for them but there may be a change in the air. These book recommendations below could mean a massive turnaround for mermaid to come in the future.

2018 Book Recommendations:

• To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
  Princess Lira is a lethal siren royal, known for bringing prince’s hearts home to her collection until she’s forced to kill one of their own. As punishment, she’s made a human and has a year to bring home the heart of Prince Elian, a prince who’s siren killing hobby is peaked when a drowning woman he saves promises him the key to wiping out all sirenkind.
• Sea Witch by Sarah Henning
  Evie has become an outcast witch ever since her best friend Anna drowned, yet she’s convinced Anna survived as she meets another girl with limited time on land who resembles Anna. However, she’s got secrets of her own and Evie will try anything to keep her humanity as well as a prince’s heart with her magic until she discovers too late, the truth of the bargain she made.

Do you know any of these iconic novels and series in these older trends? What do you think of these trend predictions for 2018? Let us know in the comments!

The post YA Book Trend Report & The Trends of 2018 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The young adult genre has certainly grown substantially over the last two decades in terms of both readership, books, and sub-genres. From the crazes of paranormal and dystopian, to the growing representation of diversity being included within these novels, there has certainly been many up’s and down’s. That being said, there will always be some books and series that will stand out to readers depending on the age and year they were introduced to the genre.

We’ve found fourteen YA series from over the past two decades that certainly shows the evolution of the genre, and although some may be a little ‘cringe-worthy’ these days, they’re almost seen as a “classic” in some ways for the genre.

Read on to discover some of the YA series you should have read by now, and if you haven’t, give them a go just for curiosity’s sake and fun!

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Goodreads

This series is talked about quite frequently, but there are many that don’t appreciate or like them. However, they are incredibly captivating because of the great adventure inside! The Shatter Me series follows a 17-year-old girl who has a lethal touch. She is locked into a cell for accidentally killing someone, but when they world is crashing down she could be a weapon or a warrior. Four books have been published in this series and there are two more are on the way!

The Program series by Suzanne Young
Goodreads

The hype this series doesn’t receive is saddening! In a world where suicide is an international epidemic, there is the program, used to treat kids to not kill themselves. However, the program doesn’t just take that urge, but it also takes memories and it makes you forget. For young Sloane, along with her boyfriend James, they are running and hiding from them. This series will not let you put it down until you are finished and even though there are only six books in the series, you’ll probably be finished in a day.

Fallen series by Lauren Kate
Goodreads

A somewhat ‘classic’ YA series, Fallen follows a girl named Lucinda (Luce) Price who is sent to a new school called Sword and Cross after being accused of murdering a boy by starting a fire. This school isn’t a normal one and it’s there that she meets a boy named Daniel, but she has a feeling they have met before. This series is super engaging and it’s full of twists and turns. It has angels and will make you fall in love with them. Lauren Kate’s writing is spectacular; she has a way of pulling you in through all 4-6 books, depending if you read the extras.

Illuminae series by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Goodreads

This series is an extremely unusual kind of read with the story told from a series of emails, letters, and reports. There are three books and each follows different characters with each set of characters living in space because the planet is no longer habitable. Again, this series has such a unique of writing that really intrigues the reader and a truly epic story.

Hush Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick
Goodreads

This is another series about angels and Becca Fitzpatrick makes you fall in love with them. Nora Grey is just an average teenager making her way through high school along with Patch, an annoying boy, who always seems be where she is. Nora then finds out who Patch really is, a fallen angel, and starts to wonder about her angelic heritage. This series is a page-turning leap into the world of fallen angels that will change your views of good and bad.

Matched series by Ally Condie
Goodreads

Let’s face it, we all love a good dystopian and this series is definitely one to consider picking up! In this world there is a tightly-controlled society that chooses peoples life partners at the young age of 17. Our main character Cassia is matched to her best friend, Xander, however, she soon realises there is another. Cassia is then faced with the decision of following government rules or setting herself free. This series was all the rage when it first came out, but has died down since, however it still deserves all of the hype it received.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Goodreads

This trilogy is completely different from other YA books out there and it certainly deserves more appreciation. Karou is just a normal girl who is trying to live life, but she was raised by chimaera, who are creatures of different human and animal attributes. The chimaera she lives with demand teeth in exchange for wishes, and send Karou to fetch them, which leaves Karou to wonder about what she is doing. Laini Taylor portrays this universe extremely well and that is what makes a good book that deserves to be read.

A Series of Unfortunate Events series by Lemony Snicket
Goodreads

This series has previously been made into film and a Netflix series last year. The series follows the Baudelaire children who have just lost their parents and home in a fire, but Count Olaf is trying to take their fortune. The children are sent from guardian to guardian just trying to escape from Olaf. This series is very intriguing because of how it narrated and it has 13 books in the entire series.

Asylum series by Madeleine Roux
Goodreads

The Asylum series is a paranormal YA trilogy that needs to be read by all. Dan Crawford has gotten the chance of a lifetime to go to the school he wants, but when he gets there he, and his new friends, end up staying at Brookline Dorm, which used to be a psychiatric hospital. Throughout the story he and his friends find out what really happened at the psych ward and discover their attachments to it. This series will have you on the edge of your seat, just don’t read it in the dark!

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series by Jenny Han
Goodreads

Lara Jean Song Covey is 16 years old and she has a box that contains letters to all the boys she’s loved before and these boys don’t know she loved them. However, one night her little sister sends all the letters out creating a whirlwind for Lara Jean. This trilogy sees Lara Jean weave her way through love, heartbreak and family. This series is so heartfelt and real, which makes them a great page-turner.

Taken series by Erin Bowman
Goodreads

This dystopian series follows a government that takes boys on their eighteenth birthday, and nobody knows where they go, but you can’t run. There’s no place to run because going just over the wall is a suicide mission. Gray is almost eighteen and he needs to decide what he will do to survive. The Taken trilogy is very captivating and will cause readers to feel full of emotion.

Let the Sky Fall series by Shannon Messenger
Goodreads

Shannon Messenger is a spectacular storyteller in this fantasy series! The main character Vane Weston should’ve died in a tornado that killed his parents, but he didn’t and has no memories of what happened. However, he has dreams of a girl that isn’t human, and Vane is baffled when one day she walks by him real as can be and starts to discover the truth about himself.

The Selection series by Kiera Cass
Goodreads

This series is a little more royal than everything else on this list. It follows a competition to become the prince’s betrothed. It takes place in a world like ours where places, such as the United States, have been overthrown and renamed. This series is set up a little differently with the first three books told in a different point of view in comparison to the last two.

Shadow and Bone series by Leigh Bardugo
Goodreads

Leigh Bardugo has beautifully crafted a very intriguing world called the Grisha Verse. This trilogy is the first of this series and it is so amazing that it’s unbelievable. Alina grew up in an orphanage with her friend Mal, they were both tested to see if they were Grisha, but neither of them were. However, fast forward many years Alina thought she was normal until one day she proved she wasn’t. Many other books by Bardugo are popular, such as Six of Crows, but this series has been kind of downgraded, but shouldn’t be because it started this awesome universe.

Any other books you would add? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 14 YA Book Series You Should Have Read By Now appeared first on The Nerd Daily.