A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen

A sweet and tender young adult (YA) contemporary romance set in Vietnam brimming with sapphic love, family, and street food.

A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang by Lee Onhwa 

A lush, compelling cozy novel with an adorable cat and delicious treats set at a magical bakery.

A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic by J. Penner 

A whimsical, vibrant cozy fantasy with magical creatures, a gripping bake-off, and found family.

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle 

An addictive and lush story of hunger, food, love, ghosts, desire, and loss set in the New York City culinary scene, perfect for fans of Hadestown.

Bread is Love written by Pooja Makhijani; illustrated by Lavanya Naidu 

A beautiful, sweet, and heartwarming children’s book of bread, family, and joy.

Celestial Banquet by Roselle Lim

A captivating, immersive YA fantasy with a cutthroat cooking competition, Chinese and Southeast Asian folklore, and vivid food descriptions that explores food’s connection to culture and the ones we love.

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee 

A cute, uplifting YA romcom with a mooncake-making competition, fake-dating romance, and the sweetest corgi.

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England 

A comforting, sweeping cozy fantasy filled with farmers market trips, magical baked goods, a ghost granny, and a tender romance.

Gwei the Hungry Ghost written by Emeline Lee; illustrated by Basia Tran

A stunning, lush, and vivid children’s book with Chinese folklore, food, friendship, and community set during the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Hangry Hearts by Jennifer Chen 

A tender and tasty YA romcom inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, brimming with banter, Asian food, family, love, and trips to the Pasadena Farmers Market.

Knife Skills for Beginners by Orlando Murrin

A riveting and sharp cozy whodunit set in London with cinematic cooking scenes and a propulsive murder mystery.

Legendary Frybread Drive-In edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith 

A beautiful, welcoming collection of interconnected stories with Native pride, frybread, laughter, belonging, and love.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree 

A charming, calming cozy fantasy set in a coffee shop with sapphic love, pastries, fantastical creatures, and, of course, coffee.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

A sharp, witty, and empowering historical fiction novel filled with wit, chemistry, and cooking set in the 1960s.

Like Wafers in Honey by Leah Eskin

A sweeping, atmospheric, and witty debut following two timelines filled with vivid historical details, recipes, and family.

Nacho Boyfriend by Gigi Blume 

A funny and swoony romcom with tender family dynamics, delicious Mexican food, and a delightful fake-dating romance.

Salt and Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho 

A swoon-worthy and sweet YA romance set in Brazil that blends the family feud and enemies-to-lovers romance of Romeo & Juliet with delicious baking scenes.

Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst 

A sea-swept, lyrical, and adventurous cozy fantasy brimming with sentient plants, peach pie, yearning, and the perfect dose of danger.

Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate by Marisa Churchill 

A spellbinding and scrumptious YA debut with immersive baking scenes, exhilarating culinary challenges, and heartwarming friendship, perfect for readers transitioning from middle-grade to YA reads.

The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz 

An adorable, charming, and immersive children’s book with baked goods and the cutest tiny dragon.

The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Magic and Murder by Kiri Callaghan 

An enchanting and gripping cozy fantasy with a thrilling murder mystery, sapphic love, tea, mythology, and sweet treats.

The Leaving Room by Amber McBride

A sweeping, emotional YA novel-in-verse with an achingly beautiful sapphic romance, family recipes, and a twisty plot.

The Lone Wolf Café by Sydney Wilder

A welcoming and magical cozy fantasy with baking, tea, witches, and werewolves, perfect for autumnal reading and Halloween.

The Other Moctezuma Girls by Sofia Robleda 

A cinematic, lyrical historical novel set in sixteenth-century Mexico with adventure, sisterhood, and pre-Hispanic food.

The Road of Bones by Demi Winters 

An adventurous, fierce fantasy infused with Norse mythology, action, food, and a pinch of spice.

The Subtle Art of Folding Space by John Chu 

A creative and propulsive sci-fi novel filled with physics, dim sum, and family.

From charming children’s books to heartfelt YA romcoms to gripping adult murder mysteries, there’s a little something for every foodie here. These books serve up delicious food descriptions alongside their captivating characters, cinematic settings, and propulsive plots. Happy reading!

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Tales You Can Taste: 26 Fiction Book Recommendations for Foodies appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

And They Were Roommates by Page Powars

Touching, thoughtful, and incredibly fun, And They Were Roommates is a delightful YA light academia romance.

Brewed with Love by Shelly Page 

Sweet, cozy, and mysterious, Brewed with Love is a thrilling YA fantasy with witches, an immersive small-town setting, and a tender romance.

By Any Other Name by Erin Cotter

Blending the history of 1500s London with swoon-worthy romantic tension, By Any Other Name is an unforgettable YA historical fiction novel.

Call Forth a Fox by Markelle Grabo

With faerie curses and a cozy fairytale atmosphere, Call Forth a Fox beautifully retells the Brothers’ Grimm’s “Snow White and Rose Red.”

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Spellbinding and powerful, Cemetery Boys is a simultaneously heart-wrenching and heartwarming YA contemporary fantasy with mythology, ghosts, and brujx set during Día de Los Muertos. 

Coming Out Perfect by Richard Mercado

Uplifting, hopeful, and funny, Coming Out Perfect is a beautiful YA graphic novel of familial expectations, fitting in, queer community, and coming out.

Daughter of the Bone Forest by Jasmine Skye

Set in a queer-normative world with a sentient forest, a magic school, shapeshifting, witches, and romance, Daughter of the Bone Forest is a sweeping YA fantasy.

Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban

Witty, comforting, and swoony, Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend is a Victorian romance with hijinks, matchmaking, and love.

Exquisite Things by Abdi Nazemian 

Empowering, thought-provoking, and romantic, Exquisite Things is a propulsive YA historical fantasy of art, storytelling, immortality, resistance, community, grief, belonging, and, ultimately, hope.

Furious by Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos 

Wildly entertaining and achingly beautiful, Furious is a swoon-worthy YA contemporary romance that’s perfect for fans of Fast & Furious.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher 

Swoony, hilarious, and riveting, Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a heartwarming medieval romcom filled with found family, love, and witty banter galore.

Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews 

With a bloodthirsty garden, gritty botanical horror, and lingering love story, Hazelthorn is an enrapturing YA gothic.

Just Between Us by Adeline Kon

Romantic, fierce, and heartwarming, Just Between Us is an unputdownable YA graphic novel with figure skating, romance, and stunning imagery.

Moss’d in Space by Rebecca Thorne

Quirky, vibrant, and wonderfully mossy, Moss’d in Space is a creative and hilarious cozy sci-fi novel.

Queen of Faces by Petra Lord

Set in a dystopian society with a dark academia atmosphere, body-swapping, assassins, and magic, Queen of Faces is a sharp and lyrical YA fantasy.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston 

Laugh-out-loud funny with found family and forbidden romance, Red, White & Royal Blue is a cinematic and irresistible contemporary romance.

Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell 

Monstrous and splendidly strange, Someone You Can Build a Nest In is a quirky, vicious, and surprisingly cozy fantasy.

Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy

Brimming with wit, whimsy, romance, and magical creatures, Sorcery and Small Magics is an enchanting cozy fantasy.

Soul of a Gentleman Witch by David Ferraro

Sweeping and threaded with magic, Soul of a Gentleman Witch is an addictive YA cozy fantasy that’s perfect for fans of Howl’s Moving Castle and The Girl Who Drank the Moon.

Tenderly, I am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone

With a breathtaking romance, lyrical prose, and an eerie atmosphere, Tenderly, I am Devoured is a magical YA fantasy.

The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton 

Brimming with friends-to-lovers yearning, Fae, and a riveting heist, The Absinthe Underground is a captivating YA fantasy perfect for fans of Moulin Rouge! and The Cruel Prince.

The Entanglement of Rival Wizards by Sara Raasch

Funny, vibrant, and magical, The Entanglement of Rival Wizards is an addictive fantasy romcom with academic rivals-to-lovers tension.

The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray by Christine Calella 

With a maritime adventure, a beautiful sibling bond, and a compelling cast, The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray is a gritty, emotional, and exhilarating YA fantasy.

The House of Now and Then by Edward Underhill 

Heartfelt and hopeful, The House of Now and Then is a sweeping summer romance with an undertone of magic set in Cape Cod.

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland 

With witches, a dark academia atmosphere, demons, and a murder mystery, The Invocations is a gripping and haunting YA thriller.

The Last Best Quest Ever by F.T. Lukens

Magical, adventurous, and hilarious, The Last Best Quest Ever is a delightful YA fantasy romp with found family and fantastical creatures.

The Leaving Room by Amber McBride 

Spellbinding and achingly beautiful, The Leaving Room is a tender YA novel-in-verse brimming with emotion, memories, family recipes, love, and hope.

The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World by J.R. Dawson

Set in modern-day Chicago and threaded with Greek mythology, The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World is a poignant and touching urban fantasy perfect for fans of Hadestown.

The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson

Infused with horror, art, and romance, The Macabre is an adventurous and inventive contemporary fantasy.

The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska

 With adventure, magic, and rivals-to-lovers tension, The Midnight Girls is a cinematic and whimsical YA fantasy.

With Fire in Their Blood by Kat Delacorte

Set in Italy with witches, a love square, and warring mafia clans, With Fire in Their Blood is a romantic and thrilling YA paranormal romance.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White 

Vicious, sharp, and brilliantly unsettling, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a YA historical fantasy set in London, 1883.

This Must Be the Place by Kelly Quindlen 

Welcoming, emotional, and tender, This Must Be the Place is a captivating YA contemporary novel with found family set in small-town Alabama.

This Raging Sea by De Elizabeth

Sea-soaked, haunting, and lush, This Raging Sea is a YA dark fantasy with romance, eldritch secrets, horror, witches, and time travel.

Time After Time by Mikki Daughtry 

Vivid and romantic, Time After Time is a breathtaking YA romance following two love stories set one hundred years apart.

Vile Lady Villains by Danai Christopoulou 

Sharp, lyrical, and twisty, Vile Lady Villains is a fierce and creative fantasy threaded with Greek mythology and Shakespeare.

We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune 

Heavy yet full of life, We Burned So Bright is a heart-wrenching but unexpectedly comforting fantasy of humans at the end of the world facing love, loss, and life itself.

What Wakes the Bells by Elle Tesch

Twisty, immersive, and magical, What Wakes the Bells is a gripping YA fantasy with a gothic atmosphere inspired by a Prague legend. 

From heartwarming found families to swoon-worthy romances to laugh-out-loud banter, these stories bring extra queer joy, community, and love to the Pride Month celebration. Happy reading, and Happy Pride Month!

The post 38 LGBTQIA+ Books to Add to Your Pride Month TBR appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

About Under a Carnivore Sky: Sixteen-year-old Lili is tasked with hunting the monster that’s slowly killing her dad—and every adult in town. Desperate, she teams up with a boy from town to uncover the secrets in the carnivorous swamp that keeps them all trapped. But what they find changes everything she thought she knew about the town, her father, the monster—and even herself.  The story takes place over the length of a hot summer and is perfect for anyone who wants to read botanical fantasy with a splash of horror. Released May 12th 2026.

Nothing says summer quite like a reading list full ghosts, monsters, and magic. My favorite fantasy and horror stories are the ones that inspire us to see the world a little differently—and novels in verse do that best. There’s something about poetry that delightfully demands a shift in perspective. Here are five speculative YA novels in verse to add a little magic and mayhem to your summer reading list.

The Leaving Room by Amber McBride

A finalist for the 2025 National Book Awards for Young People’s Literature, The Leaving Room is about young love, grief, and the stories we tell ourselves. The novel follows the story of Gospel, a Keeper of a Leaving Room, where all young people pass through when they die. Gospel’s job is to help those souls move on. But when an unexpected door opens and Melodee arrives, she starts to wonder if maybe Keepers can fall in love. Put this book on your list if you want to be swept away by gorgeous poetry—and inspiring love.

I Am the Swarm by Hayley Chewins

Every woman in Nell’s family has a different kind of magic. Her mom wakes up a different age every day. When her older sister bleeds, magic flows out of her body. But Nell’s magic feels more like a curse. Every time she has an intense emotion, insects appear. Imagine wasps that appear with her rage, moths with disappointment, and ladybugs with joy. As it gets harder and harder to suppress her emotions, Nell has to decide how far she’s willing to go to bury her feelings and keep the bugs at bay. Add this book to your summer reading for deep emotion and breath-taking magic.

The Ghosts of Rose Hill by RM Romero

Soon after Ilana is sent to live with her aunt in Prague, she discovers a forgotten Jewish cemetery—haunted by a kind ghost named Benjamin. As Ilana works to restore his gravestone, he shows her the hidden side of the city, where ghosts roam and magic lurks. But when she meets a dangerous man with no shadow, she decides to do whatever it takes to save Benjamin—who she loves—even if it means she might never see him again. The Ghosts of Rose Hill is a perfect summer read if you’re looking for rich setting, deep history, and tender-hearted ghosts.

Hekate: The Witch by Nikita Gill

Hekate: The Witch is a retelling of the Greek myth of Hekate—the goddess of witchcraft and necromancy. Fleeing danger, young Hekate is taken to the Underworld to be raised by Hades. She grows up alone in the land of the dead, searching for a place to belong. But when she finally finds her powers and becomes the Goddess of the legend, the other gods and goddesses are terrified of her. When war breaks out, threatening everything and everyone, she’s the only one who can stop it. Add this to your reading list if you love retellings and settings where things can be both terrible and beautiful.

Doe by Rebecca Barrow

Doe is a horror novel in verse that comes out in just a few weeks, on June 23^rd. The novel follows Maris, who will do anything to keep her position as captain of her high school’s cheer team. While sleeping, she encounters a terrible beast in the shape of a massive deer. Doe promises a way to beat her rival and keep her spot as captain. But for Maris to win, someone will have to die. Read Doe this summer if you love supernatural horror that will linger long after you finish the book. 

The post Reimagining The World With Five Fiercely Creative Novels In Verse appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Amber! Welcome back! How has the past year been since we last spoke?

Hello, thank you for having me (again)! It has been good, but busy writing!

Your latest novel, The Leaving Room, is out October 14^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Oh, this is hard!

What happens after—haunting & sparse.

What can readers expect?

Readers will enter The Leaving Room, the room all young people must phase through when they pass away. Gospel is the Keeper of this room and she makes sure that the children who enter her domain feel safe, loved and are well fed. The only problem is the room has started to glitch and form cracks at the seams! Then suddenly a door appears the Keeper named Melodee arrives.

Also, the story takes place over 4 minutes; which is a hint!

Where did the inspiration for The Leaving Room come from?

I was inspired by a near death experience that my dad had when I was in college. His description of this place that felt very safe played an enormous part in crafting The Leaving Room.

On a much more heart aching note, around the time the idea for this book was born there was a shooting at the college I taught at and 3 young men were killed. I was grappling with the idea that young souls feel too filled with life to suddenly pass.

So, writing this was also a type of therapy for me.

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

I adore Maple, the five-year-old who enters The Leaving Room first. She is sassy, funny and loving. It was challenging to pin down the voice of such a young child in verse, but in the end, I was really proud of it!

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

This was the first deadline I was worried about missing!

I knew I wanted to write the book in verse, but I found the brevity of verse for the first time while writing The Leaving Room. I wanted to say so much, but that’s not what verse is about. In the end I really leaned into using the five senses—especially smell, instead of over describing throughout the novel.

What do you hope readers make take away from The Leaving Room?

I hope they witness that love and kindness can be medicines that can amplify all others. This includes, romantic and platonic love.

I also hope they can have more open conversations about death, grief and what it all might mean.

Your debut novel published in 2021 and The Leaving Room marks your fifth published novel! What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned as a writer over the past few years?

Keep your eyes on your own paper! Read every single day and trust your readers.

What’s next for you?

My debut picture book, Magick Hoodoo Child, comes out in January 2026! I am also working on some adult things in verse (because adults deserve novels in verse too)!

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

(S)KIN by Ibi Zoboi was one of my best reads of the year!  Also coming out in October, The Witches of Honeysuckle House, by Liz Parker is brilliant!

Will you be picking up The Leaving Room? Have you already? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Amber McBride, Author of ‘The Leaving Room’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Amber! Welcome back! How have the past almost two years been since we last spoke?

Hi, I hope you have been well! I’ve been busy writing, teaching and keeping bees!

Your latest novel, Onyx & Beyond, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Love to infinity & beyond.

What can readers expect?

A story with a lot of heart that emphasises the importance of family. Onyx & Beyond is a novel in verse about a boy named Onyx (X for short) whose mother has early onset dementia. The story is told from the perspective of Onyx who is a dreamer and loves space. I think readers can expect to both live in the imagination of Onyx and in his reality which is at times very difficult.

Where did the inspiration for Onyx & Beyond come from?

My Grandmother has dementia and during the pandemic my dad said to me, I call my mom three times a day, every day, but she won’t remember if I call her or not. I call her because I love her. I really thought about how difficult it must be for him and his siblings, navigating this new reality and the spark for Onyx & Beyond started. Originally my dad was supposed to co-write it with me, but we quickly discovered her enjoyed storytelling more.

What was it like working with your dad on this story?

Priceless and a privilege. My dad is a storyteller so spending hours listening to him and hearing new stories that I had not heard before was a highlight. It was like getting the childhood folklore of Mario McBride!

Also, it was fun trying to get the voice of Onyx just right with his help. I love that telling this story took me outside my comfort zone, gave my dad an outlet for his pain and raises awareness about the almost 10 million people diagnosed each year worldwide with dementia.

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

I loved writing the more direct adaptations of my dad’s real life experiences. I don’t want to give too much away, but I loved the independence my dad had as a middle schooler in the 1970’s. It was a very different world.

With Onyx & Beyond exploring early on-set dementia can you tell us a bit about how you approached this within your writing?

I just tried to write what was true. The early warning signs—the tiny things my dad and his siblings noticed before my grandmothers diagnoses. Things like mixing up day and night, forgetting directions or mealtimes.

Everyone’s experience with dementia is different and unique, so I wanted to try to stay true to Onyx’s experience.

What’s next for you?

I have another YA coming out in 2025 and a picture book in 2026! And some other things…

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

I really enjoyed the book Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic by Jamar J. Perry and Something Like Right by H.D Hunter!

Will you be picking up Onyx & Beyond? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Amber McBride, Author of ‘Onyx & Beyond’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Begin Again by Emma Lord
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Filled with a friend group that feels like family, an empowering journey of finding your own way, and a Just Kiss Already! romance, Emma Lord’s Begin Again is an unforgettable YA novel of love and starting again.

City of Nightmares by Rebecca Schaeffer
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Gotham meets Strange the Dreamer in this thrilling young adult fantasy about a cowardly girl who finds herself at the center of a criminal syndicate conspiracy, in a city where crooked politicians and sinister cults reign and dreaming means waking up as your worst nightmare.

The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim
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To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before meets Pride and Prejudice in this delightful and heartfelt rom-com about a Bangladeshi American teen whose meddling mother arranges a match to secure their family’s financial security—just as she’s falling in love with someone else.

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis
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The Davenports delivers a totally escapist, swoon-worthy romance while offering a glimpse into a period of African American history often overlooked.

A Ruinous Fate by Kaylie Smith
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A Ruinous Fate series will take readers’ imaginations to new heights on an adventure of dark secrets, witches, and forbidden magic.  

Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman
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Twin sisters, both on the run, but different as day and night. One, a professional rogue, searches for a fabled treasure; the other, a changeling, searches for the truth behind her origins, trying to find a place to fit in with the realm of fae who made her and the humans who shun her.

The Buried and the Bound by Rochelle Hassan
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A contemporary fantasy YA debut from Rochelle Hassan about monsters, magic, and wicked fae, perfect for fans of The Darkest Part of the Forest and The Hazel Wood.

Friday I’m in Love Camryn Garrett
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It’s too late for a Sweet Sixteen, but what if Mahalia had a coming-out party? A love letter to romantic comedies, sweet sixteen blowouts, Black joy, and queer pride.

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amélie Wen Zhao
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In a fallen kingdom, one girl carries the key to discovering the secrets of her nation’s past—and unleashing the demons that sleep at its heart. An epic fantasy series inspired by the mythology and folklore of ancient China.

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black
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Return to the opulent world of Elfhame, filled with intrigue, betrayal, and dangerous desires, with this first book of a captivating new duology from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black. 

We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride
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They Both Die at the End meets The Bell Jar in this haunting, beautiful young adult novel-in-verse about clinical depression and healing from trauma, from National Book Award Finalist Amber McBride.

Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling by Elise Bryant
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From the NAACP Image Award–nominated author of Happily Ever Afters comes a dual POV rom-com about Reggie and Delilah, who fall in love through missed connections and chance meetings on holidays over the course of a year. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Jenny Han, with crossover appeal for readers of Jasmine Guillory and Talia Hibbert romances.

Going Dark by Melissa de la Cruz
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In this ripped-from-the-headlines Gone Girl meets A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz weaves a white-knuckle YA thriller about a beautiful young influencer who vanishes after going on vacation with her boyfriend.

As You Walk on by Julian Winters
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The Breakfast Club meets Can’t Hardly Wait with an unforgettable ensemble cast in another swoony YA contemporary from award-winning author Julian Winters!

Brighter Than the Moon by David Valdes
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Lauded writer David Valdes offers a heartfelt, clever, and thought-provoking story about how we figure out who we want to be–online and IRL–for fans of David Levithan and Adam Silvera.

This Book Kills by Ravena Guron
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There’s a murderer on the loose in an elite boarding school… But who is going to be next? This Book Kills is the deadliest YA thriller of 2023, perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen McManus.

What January YA books are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post January 2023 YA Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

We chat with Amber all about her latest release, along with writing, book recommendations, and more!

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

My name is Amber McBride and my day job is always throwing me curve balls—I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia. I also practice Hoodoo which is an African American folk magic system and I talk to trees.

When did you first discover your love for writing?

To answer this question honestly I have to emphasize that the oral tradition/storytelling, which predates the written word, is such a cornerstone of Black culture and life. I come from a family of story tellers, so I’ve told and heard stories for as long as I can remember. My mother actually got her master’s degree when I was not even in preschool yet and she was able to study because I would gather all of my toys and tell myself complex stories for hours. My first written book was called Once Upon a Unicorn, when I was in the 5^th grade. My parents bound the hand written book. I still have it!

Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!

First book I remember reading on my own was a picture book called, Mama, Would You Love Me by Barbara M. Joose. Toni Morrison, the Bluest Eye, specifically the line, So when I think of autumn, I think of somebody with hands that does not want me to die. That line which is about a mother caring for her sick child, just hit me because I saw my own mother. Morrison is an ancestor I study often. I can’t stop talking about or thinking about This Appearing House by Ally Malinenko. It’s a middle grade book about a girl name Jac and a house that appeared at the end of her street.

Your latest release, We Are All So Good at Smiling, is out January 10^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Meet me in the woods…

(which is also a name of a song on Whimsy and Faerry’s playlist)

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect, fairy tales, magic, hoodoo, tears and healing.

I have been very open throughout my life about my struggle with depression and this book dives into those struggles. Whimsy loves fairy tales but is soaked in sadness. Faerry has shadow wings that should help him soar but feels like he is sinking, they enter a haunted garden and the only way out is through.

Where did the inspiration for We Are All So Good at Smiling come from?

I have wanted to write a book about depression for a long time. Then my friend, Ally Malinenko, sent me a draft her book This Appearing House to beta read. She wrote a book about a girl who survived cancer, just like she did. Ally once said, no one ever writes about the kids who live. It made me think of all the people living with clinical depression and how we keep going, but we often only talk about mental health when there is tragedy. Unlike Me (Moth), We Are All So Good at Smiling, took well over 5 drafts before my editor even saw it then several after that. I had not planned on writing the book while going through one of the most difficult bouts of depression in my life and my inspiration at that time was, the only way out is through, I have to finish this book.

We Are All So Good at Smiling focuses on clinical depression and healing from trauma. Can you tell us a bit about how you delved into these topics?

I think the difficulty about writing about trauma and depression literally is that everyone has a different experience and different inpatient or outpatient care. This was my primary struggle when crafting this book. How do you talk about trauma, depression and healing when every single individual journey is different? How do I make the feel of the book sway towards a shared understanding?

I wanted Whimsy and Faerry to reach out from the pages and hug each person who was reading. In the end folklore, fairy tales and extended metaphor were the tools I turned to. Faerry and Whimsy enter a haunted garden with Sorrow at the center, the haunted garden being depression. The fairy tales from around the world hidden inside representing the countless unique experiences. I also used fairy tales to point out that depression can take hold in anyone, even Baba Yaga. I want talking about mental health to be normalized.

Do you have any advice for those who may have set some writing resolutions for the new year?

Stop worrying about perfection, especially in first drafts. You know how kids tell stories with such confidence off the cuff? Do that and fix it later. I am excited for your story.

What’s next for you?

I have my middle grade debut Gone Wolf, which comes out in October of 2023. Poemhood: Our Black Revival, is a YA poetry anthology featuring Black poets that I am editing with Taylor Byas and Erica Martin coming out in 2024 and my adult poetry collection, Thick With Trouble, also comes out in 2024…also perhaps maybe one other book in 2024.

I am working on a Hoodoo fantasy series.

Lastly, are there any 2023 releases our readers should look out for?

So many! Cameron Battle and the Escape Trails by Jamar J Perry, Chaos Theory by Nic Stone, I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times by Taylor Byas and The Gray by Chris Baron just to name a few.

Will you be picking up We Are All So Good at Smiling? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Amber McBride, Author of ‘We Are All So Good at Smiling’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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The post Read An Excerpt From ‘(Me) Moth’ by Amber McBride appeared first on The Nerd Daily.