About The Breakup Artists: Adriana Mather, New York Times bestselling author of How to Hang a Witch, brings her signature wit, wild imagination, and all the feels to her new YA novel, The Breakup Artists—perfect for fans of Jennifer E. Smith’s The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight.

Who doesn’t love a good meet-cute to swoon over or giggle about? Just in case you’re not familiar with this endearing term, a meet-cute is a playful, amusing moment when two characters meet and sparks fly! As someone who just crafted one for The Breakup Artists (number 3 on this list!), I can vouch that they do in fact lead to sigh-worthy romantic journeys. These memorable first encounters will melt your heart like ice-cream on a hot summer’s day!

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

To say it went badly is an understatement. Dimple and Rishi’s first encounter is a classic case of miscommunication. Their parents have decided to arrange a marriage for them, and while Rishi is all for it, Dimple is not, but that’s partly because she didn’t know anything about it. So when Rishi refers to her as his future wife, you can’t blame her for throwing her drink at him!

Love and Luck by Jenna Evans Welch

What is more romantic than a tackle? Well for Rowan, every little. He sees Addie tackle her older brother in a parking lot in Ireland and is immediately smitten. Sure, it’s a wee bit complicated considering Rowan is actually Addie’s brother’s friend. But he’s also attractive with an Irish accent, and drawn to her spunk and determination. Besides, he seems to understand her in a way very few people do.

The Breakup Artists by Adriana Mather

August has been secretly hired to break up Ella from her awful boyfriend. He devises a plan to bump into her at her fav coffee shop, but his timing is all wrong and at the exact moment he takes the top off his coffee, her elbow swings around, leading to a coffee-soaked Ella and a horrified August. Besides her never wanting to see to him again, August has another problem, he kinda really enjoys her. Maybe too much? Which is the last thing that can happen, not only because she’s his newest case, but because everything he’s told her so far has been a lie, including his name.

Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo

Catherine “Lucky” Nam is a huge K-pop star who just performed in Hong Kong for her many adoring fans and is now trying to fall asleep in her fancy hotel. A not so great mix of sleep and anxiety medication and a deep desire for a hamburger, has her in the lobby in her slippers moments later where she runs into Jack Lim—a gifted photographer and tabloid paparazzo. What could possibly go right? Maybe everything?

Meet-Cute Diary by Emery Lee

Noah Ramirez has a super popular blog, the Meet Cute Diary, a collection of trans happily-ever-afters. There’s just one problem—all the stories are fake. When a troll exposes the blog as fiction, Noah’s world unravels. Then in comes Drew, who agrees to fake-date Noah to convince everyone that the stories are true and save the Diary. But when Noah’s feelings grow, he realizes that dating in real life isn’t the same as finding love on the page.

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi

The first time Sana asked out a girl (Rachel) it was such a disaster that she never did it again. Meanwhile, Rachel was furious because she thought Sana was trying to prank her by asking her on a date. Now Rachel is an aspiring director and when it comes time for Rachel to cast her senior project, she knows without a doubt that there is no one more perfect for the lead than Sana. They have to try to get past their failed meet cute and make something beautiful together in this enemies-to-lovers romance.

I Love So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn

Fashion-obsessed Kimi takes an impromptu trip to Japan and meets a handsome local, Akira. Only he’s dressed as a costumed mochi mascot! Costume aside, he’s actually a med student, and the best part is he helps her rediscover her passion for creating clothes—and maybe something more.

The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

Gia’s prom plans go awry when her boyfriend dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom. Desperate and frustrated she recruits a random stranger (who is just waiting to pick up his sister), Hayden, as her fake date. The task is simple: two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. But could fake feelings turn real?

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

In the real world, Eliza is shy, awkward, and friendless. However, Eliza is also the anonymous creator of a hugely popular online comic. Wallace is its biggest fan. Online, Eliza flirts with Wallace. But when he transfers to her school, he doesn’t know who Eliza is in real life and they have the opportunity and the challenge of meeting all over again!

Meet Cute: Some People Are Destined to Meet

And last, but never least, a collection of diverse short stories by some amazing YA authors who have a love for hilarious and heart-thumping meet-cutes that will certainly make you smile and sigh!

These charming and unforgettable meet-cutes remind us that love can be found in the most unexpected and comical of circumstances. So, the next time you’re strolling through the park, swapping phones with a stranger, or even battling your professional rival, keep an open mind—you might just stumble upon your very own hilarious love story!

The post 10 Hilarious and Swoony Meet-Cutes In YA Novels appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The YA genre is not holding back when it comes to 2022’s upcoming book releases! Between the months of January and June, readers are going to be delighted as to what they can get their hands on with books from favourite authors, to those making their debut!

From stories of love, magic, and mystery, to retellings, anthologies, and sequels, you will surely find several new reads to add to your TBR and we apologies in advance for adding to it!

Looking for more releases? Check out our Most Anticipated 2022 Releases and our Must-Have 2022 Queer Releases.

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

JANUARY

When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A bighearted novel about falling in love, making a mess, and learning to let go, When You Get the Chance is the next effervescent novel from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of the Reese Witherspoon YA Book Club pick You Have a Match.

Hopepunk by Preston Norton
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A heartfelt and funny new novel about forgiveness and redemption, and about how hope is the ultimate act of rebellion, perfect for fans of John Green and Becky Albertalli.

The Red Palace by June Hur
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June Hur, critically acclaimed author of The Silence of Bones and The Forest of Stolen Girls, returns with The Red Palace—a third evocative, atmospheric historical mystery perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Kerri Maniscalco.

Into The Midnight Void by Mara Fitzgerald
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Fans of Holly Black and Kendare Blake will obsess over the conclusion to this deliciously dark YA fantasy duology!

Serendipity, edited by Marissa Meyer
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From stories of first love, unrequited love, love that surprises, love that’s been there all along, 10 of the brightest and award-winning authors writing YA have taken on some of your favourite romantic tropes, embracing them and turning them on their heads. Readers will fall for this collection of stories that celebrate love at its most humorous, inclusive, heart-expanding, and serendipitous. Contributors include Elise Bryant, Elizabeth Eulberg, Leah Johnson, Anna-Marie McLemore, Marissa Meyer, Sandhya Menon, Julie Murphy, Caleb Roehrig, Sarah Winifred Searle, and Abigail Hing Wen.

Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker
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Kathryn Barker’s Waking Romeo is a spectacularly genre-bending retelling of Romeo & Juliet asking the big questions about true love, fate, and time travel

Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long
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Meg Long’s Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a captivating debut about survival, found family, and the bond between a girl and a wolf that delivers a fresh twist on classic survival stories and frontier myths.

Salaam, with Love by Sara Sharaf Beg
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This heartfelt and humorous YA contemporary follows Dua, who spends the month of Ramadan making unexpected discoveries about family, faith, and first love.

Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds
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Prepare yourself for something unlike anything: A smash-up of art and text for teens that viscerally captures what it is to be Black. In America. Right Now. Written by #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jason Reynolds.

The Kindred by Alechia Dow
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To save a galactic kingdom from revolution, Kindred mind-pairings were created to ensure each and every person would be seen and heard, no matter how rich or poor…

Medusa by Jessie Burton
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A dazzling, feminist retelling of Greek myth from the internationally bestselling author of The Miniaturist, stunningly illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill.

Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
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A gothic tale full of mystery and romance about a willful female surgeon, a resurrection man who sells bodies for a living, and the buried secrets they must uncover together.

FEBRUARY

And We Rise by Erica Martin
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A powerful, impactful, eye-opening journey that explores through the Civil Rights Movement in 1950s-1960s America in spare and evocative verse, with historical photos interspersed throughout.

Lulu and Milagro’s Search for Clarity by Angela Velez
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Booksmart meets Never Have I Ever in this Latinx road trip adventure—a big-hearted, voice-driven YA about two sisters who couldn’t be more different, but become begrudging partners on their school’s cross-country college trip—from debut author Angela Velez.

Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe
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Extasia by Claire Legrand
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From New York Times bestselling author Claire LeGrand comes a new, bone-chilling YA horror novel about a girl who joins a coven to root out a vicious evil that’s stalking her village. Perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Grace Year.

All the Right Reasons by Bethany Mangle
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The Bachelor meets Gilmore Girls in this laugh-out-loud young adult romance about a girl who joins her mother on a reality dating show for single parents—only to fall for a contestant’s son.

League of Liars by Astrid Scholte
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In this fantasy thriller, four teens charged with murder and the illegal use of magic band together to devise the ultimate jailbreak. Perfect for fans of Six of Crows and How to Get Away with Murder.

You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen
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In this compelling and thought-provoking debut novel, after a terrorist attack rocks the country and anti-Islamic sentiment stirs, three Black Muslim girls create a space where they can shatter assumptions and share truths.

Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian
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A spellbinding story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown. Immerse yourself in the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series.

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher
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A heartbreaking novel about finding your first love and what happens when it’s over too soon. Ashley Schumacher’s Full Flight is about how first love shapes us—even after it’s gone. 

Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon
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For fans of Sandhya Menon and Adam Silvera, a prom-night romantic-comedy romp about a Sikh teen’s search for love and identity

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len
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The sweeping romance of Passenger meets the dark fantasy edge of This Savage Song in this stunning contemporary fantasy debut from Vanessa Len, where the line between monster and hero is razor thin.

These Deadly Games by Diana Urban
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Author of All Your Twisted Secrets, Diana Urban’s explosive sophomore novel, These Deadly Games, will keep you riveted until the final twist is revealed.

MARCH

The One True Me and You by Remi K. England
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A big-hearted, joyful romance and a love letter to all things geek, Remi K. England’s The One True Me and You is a *witness me* celebration of standing up for, and being, yourself.

Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta
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This Pride & Prejudice retelling brings New York Times bestselling Sayantani DasGupta’s trademark wit and insight to her bright and funny YA debut!

A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee
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From New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist, Traci Chee, comes a Japanese-influenced fantasy brimming with demons, adventure, and plans gone awry.

This Golden State by Marit Weisenberg
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Marit Weisenberg’s This Golden State follows a family on the run, a restless teenage daughter hungry for the truth, and the simple DNA test that threatens their carefully crafted world

Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram
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A smart, sexy YA novel about a boy band star, his first breakup, his first rebound, and what it means to be queer in the public eye, from award-winning author Adib Khorram.

Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
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A ragtag band of misfits gets swept up in Holy Land politics in Travelers Along the Way by Aminah Mae Safi, a thrilling YA remix of the classic legend of Robin Hood.

Message Not Found by Dante Medema
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An emotionally complex portrayal of secrets, loss, and grief from Dante Medema, Indies Introduce author of the Indie Next Pick title The Truth Project. 

A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson
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From the author of Sing Me Forgotten comes a lush new fantasy novel with an art-based magic system, romance, and murder…

Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen
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For fans of Jenny Han and Jane Austen, a rom-com that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt about the unexpected consequences of one teen’s quest to help her friends find love, from the author of A Taste for Love.

Cinder & Glass by Melissa de la Cruz
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Blockbuster author Melissa de la Cruz’s YA retelling of Cinderella, set in 17th Century Versailles.

The Book of Living Secrets by Madeleine Roux
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Perfect for fans of The Hazel Wood, this genre-bending page-turner from New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Roux follows two girls who transport themselves into the world of their favorite book only to encounter the sinister alternate reality that awaits them. 

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
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A romantic YA fantasy perfect for fans of Erin A. Craig and Margaret Rogerson, about two people who find themselves competing for glory – and each other’s hearts – in a magical fox hunt.

APRIL

Year on Fire by Julie Buxbaum
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What secrets will people keep—or reveal—to protect those they love? This novel, set against the frightening backdrop of an encroaching fire season, sparks reflection about friendship, the allure of romantic love, and loyalty to family.

This Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke
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The Fountains of Silence meets Spinning Silver in this rollicking tale set amid the 1956 Hungarian revolution in post-WWII Communist Budapest from Sydney Taylor Honor winner Katherine Locke.

Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf
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They Wish They Were Us meets The Queen’s Gambit in the world of competitive Scrabble when a teen girl is forced to investigate the mysterious death of her best friend a year after the fact when her Instagram comes back to life with cryptic posts and messages.

K-Pop Revolution by Stephan Lee
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She thought that debuting in a K-Pop band was the finish line, but it was only the beginning. Because now it’s not only her company judging her—it’s the entire world. If K-Pop Confidential was about finding your voice, K-pop Revolution is about finding the courage to stand by your beliefs, even when powerful forces are trying to shame and silence you.

My Dearest Darkest by Kayla Cottingham
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Wilder Girls meets The Craft in this Sapphic horror debut that asks: what price would you be willing to pay to achieve your deepest desires?

Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer
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Sarah Dessen meets Adam Silvera in the debut YA romance everyone is talking about!

Very Bad People by Kit Frick
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In this dark academia young adult thriller for fans of The Female of the Species and People Like Us, a teen girl’s search for answers about her mother’s mysterious death leads to a powerful secret society at her new boarding school—and a dangerous game of revenge that will leave her forever changed.

My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by Sajni Patel
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A fresh, witty rom-com romp set against the backdrop of a high-profile music competition and a riotous Indian wedding.

Flirting With Fate by J.C. Cervantes
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Jane the Virgin meets The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in New York Times bestselling author J.C. Cervantes’s charming, romantic YA debut.

This May End Badly by Samantha Markum
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When a high stakes boarding school prank war leads to a fake dating scheme, two teens must decide if they are ready to take the ultimate risk — falling in love.

The Genesis Wars by Akemi Dawn Bowman
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Black Mirror meets Marie Lu’s Warcross in Nami’s continuing adventures as she fights to free her friends in this high-stakes sequel to The Infinity Courts by award-winning author Akemi Dawn Bowman.

All the Best Liars by Amelia Kahaney
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Amelia Kahaney’s All the Best Liars is a dark, modern psychological thriller and coming-of-age story about obsession, manipulation, and the intensity of those first friendships that take hold of you and never let go

MAY

See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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From the author of Today Tonight Tomorrow comes a magical romance in the vein of Groundhog Day about a girl forced to relive her disastrous first day of college—only to discover that her nemesis is stuck in the time loop with her.

Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez
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An ancient city plagued by dragons. A flamenco dancer determined to save her ancestral home. A dragon hunter refusing to teach her his ways. They don’t want each other, but they need each other, and without him her world will burn.

Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino
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Salem’s Lot meets The Darkest Part of the Forest in this horror-fantasy retelling of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market.”

A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan
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New from the author of Counting Down with You comes a sparkling YA romance about an aspiring screenwriter who falls for the indie film star who goes undercover at her school.

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
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Who killed Brooke Donovan? It’s the biggest mystery of the summer, and everyone in Castle Cove thinks it’s the wrong guy. Fans of One of Us Is Lying and Riverdale can’t miss this page-turning who-done-it that’s sure to be the next must read Young Adult thriller!

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson
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In this complex and emotionally resonant novel about a Métis girl living on the Canadian prairies, debut author Jen Ferguson serves up a powerful story about rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a person—and the sweetness that can still live alongside the bitterest truth.

Destination Unknown by Bill Konigsberg
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From Stonewall Award winner Bill Konigsberg, a remarkable, funny, sexy, heartbreaking story of two teen boys finding each other in New York City at the height of the AIDS epidemic.

Murder for the Modern Girl by Kendall Kulper
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Gatsby-era glamour, a swoon-worthy love story, and an indomitable heroine dazzle in this romp that captures the extravagance of the Roaring Twenties and the dangers of vigilante justice.

Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle
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Hitch meets The Sun Is Also a Star in this witty and romantic teen novel about a self-professed teen love doctor with a popular radio segment who believes he can get a girl who hates all things romance to fall in love with him in only three dates.

Once Upon a K-Prom by Kat Cho
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What would you do if the world’s biggest K-pop star asked you to prom? Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sandhya Menon, this hilarious and heartfelt novel brings the glamour and drama of the K-pop world straight to high school.

All Signs Point to Yes, edited by G. Haron Davis, Cam Montgomery, and Adrianne White
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A YA anthology of love stories for each of the star signs that will showcase multicultural characters and celebrate the myriad facets of love, from meet-cutes to the lesser-explored love expressed by aromantic people, featuring 13 bestselling and award-winning multicultural authors.

A Cruel and Fated Light by Ashley Shuttleworth
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Half-fae Arlo becomes entangled in the courtly intrigue at the Seelie Summer palace as danger for ironborns mounts in this gripping sequel to A Dark and Hollow Star that’s The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones.

JUNE

Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert
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Secrets. Lies. Super-bad choices. Witchcraft. This is Our Crooked Hearts, a darkly gripping contemporary fantasy from Melissa Albert, the New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood

The Song That Moves the Sun by Anna Bright
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This sweeping YA fantasy romance full of star-crossed love, complex female friendship, and astrological magic is perfect for fans of Laini Taylor, Alexandra Bracken, and V.E. Schwab. From the acclaimed author of The Beholder.

This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede
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Emily Thiede’s exciting fantasy debut, This Vicious Grace, will keep readers turning the pages until the devastating conclusion and leave them primed for more!

Blade Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
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In the sequel to Victoria Aveyard’s instant #1 New York Times bestselling Realm Breaker, a divided world must rally, an unstoppable enemy must be defeated, and the fate of the world rests on a blade’s edge.

This Place Is Still Beautiful by XiXi Tian
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A sweeping debut novel about first love, complicated family dynamics, and the pernicious legacy of racism. Perfect for fans of Tahereh Mafi, Jandy Nelson, and Emily X.R. Pan, with crossover appeal for readers of Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half and Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You.

Valiant Ladies by Melissa Grey
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Two teen vigilantes set off on an action-packed investigation to expose corruption and deliver justice in Valiant Ladies, Melissa Grey’s YA historical fiction novel inspired by real seventeenth century Latinx teenagers known as the Valiant Ladies of Potosí.

Rise of the Vicious Princess by C.J. Redwine
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The first in a YA political fantasy duology about a fierce princess determined to bring lasting peace to her kingdom regardless of the cost to her heart —from C.J. Redwine, the author of the Defiance series and the New York Times bestselling Ravenspire series. Perfect for fans of These Violent Delights, And I Darken, and Ash Princess.

Stealing Infinity by Alyson Noel
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The Dream Runners by Shveta Thakrar
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Go Hunt Me by Kelly deVos
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For Dracula lovers and fans of Diana Urban’s All Your Twisted Secrets, this spine-tingling thriller follows seven horror buffs as their dream trip to a remote Romanian castle turns into a nightmare when they begin to be killed one by one.

Game of Strength and Storm by Rachel Menard
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Game of Strength and Storm is a YA gender-bent Hercules retelling. Teenagers of Olympia Gen and Castor race to be the first to complete six nearly impossible challenges to obtain their greatest desire. Only one will win. The other walks away with nothing—if she walks away at all.

Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

I Killed Zoe Spanos meets The Cheerleaders in this haunting mystery about an island town with a history of unsolved deaths—and a girl desperate to uncover the mystery behind it all.

What 2022 YA book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 72 Upcoming YA Book Releases To Add To Your TBR appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

In the Remixed Classics series, authors from diverse backgrounds take different literary classics from centuries past and reinterpret them through their own unique cultural lens. This collection will serve YA readers as both a series of fun, engaging reads as well as a subversive overall look at what our society has deemed “classic” — works that are overwhelmingly cishet, white, and male.

The first three books include A Clash of Steel by C.B. Lee (a Treasure Island remix), So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow (a Little Women remix), and Travelers Along The Way by Aminah Mae Safi (a Robin Hood remix). Read on to discover the series teaser trailer as well as the synopsis for these titles! You can also learn more on the Remixed Classics website where there’s also a special pre-order campaign!

A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee (on sale 9/7/21)

1826. The sun is setting on the golden age of piracy, and the legendary Dragon Fleet, the scourge of the South China Sea, is no more. Its ruthless leader, a woman known only as the Head of the Dragon, is now only a story, like the ones Xiang has grown up with all her life. She desperately wants to prove her worth, especially to her mother, a shrewd businesswoman who never seems to have enough time for Xiang. Her father is also only a story, dead at sea before Xiang was born. Her single memento of him is a pendant she always wears, a simple but plain piece of gold jewelry.

But the pendant’s true nature is revealed when a mysterious girl named Anh steals it, only to return it to Xiang in exchange for her help in decoding the tiny map scroll hidden inside. The revelation that Xiang’s father sailed with the Dragon Fleet and tucked away this secret changes everything. Rumor has it that the legendary Head of the Dragon had one last treasure—the plunder of a thousand ports—that for decades has only been a myth, a fool’s journey.

Xiang is convinced this map could lead to the fabled treasure. Captivated with the thrill of adventure, she joins Anh and her motley crew off in pursuit of the island. But the girls soon find that the sea—and especially those who sail it—are far more dangerous than the legends led them to believe.

So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow (on sale 9/7/21)

North Carolina, 1863. As the American Civil War rages on, the Freedpeople’s Colony of Roanoke Island is blossoming, a haven for the recently emancipated. Black people have begun building a community of their own, a refuge from the shadow of the “old life.” It is where the March family has finally been able to safely put down roots with four young daughters:

Meg, a teacher who longs to find love and start a family of her own.

Jo, a writer whose words are too powerful to be contained.

Beth, a talented seamstress searching for a higher purpose.

Amy, a dancer eager to explore life outside her family’s home.

As the four March sisters come into their own as independent young women, they will face first love, health struggles, heartbreak, and new horizons. But they will face it all together in this warm and powerful YA remix of the classic novel Little Women, by national bestselling author Bethany C. Morrow.

Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi (on sale 3/1/2022)

Jerusalem, 1192. The Third Crusade rages on. Rahma al-Hud loyally followed her elder sister Zeena into the war over the Holy Land, but now that the Faranji invaders have gotten reinforcements from Richard the Lionheart, all she wants to do is get herself and her sister home alive.

But Zeena, a soldier of honor at heart, refuses to give up the fight while Jerusalem remains in danger of falling back into the hands of the false Queen Isabella. And so, Rahma has no choice but to take on one final mission with her sister.

On their journey to Jerusalem, Rahma and Zeena come across a motley collection of fellow travelers—including a kind-hearted Mongolian warrior, an eccentric Andalusian scientist, a frustratingly handsome spy with a connection to Rahma’s childhood, and an unfortunate English chaplain abandoned behind enemy lines. The teens all find solace, purpose, and camaraderie—as well as a healthy bit of mischief—in one another’s company.

But their travels soon bring them into the orbit of Queen Isabella herself, whose plans to re-seize power in Jerusalem would only guarantee further war and strife in the Holy Land for years to come. And so it falls to the merry band of misfits to use every scrap of cunning and wit (and not a small amount of thievery) to foil the usurper queen and perhaps finally restore peace to the land.

The post Discover The ‘Remixed Classics’ Series Teaser Trailer! appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if any catch your eye!

Beyond the Ruby Veil by Mara Fitzgerald
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A dark, queer YA fantasy that’s perfect for fans of the Three Dark Crowns series and Wicked Saints. After Emanuela Ragno kills the one person in Occhia who can create water, she must find a way to save her city from dying of thirst. 

This Is All Your Fault by Aminah Mae Safi
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Set over the course of one day, Aminah Mae Safi’s This Is All Your Fault is a smart and voice-driven YA novel that follows three young women determined to save their indie bookstore.

Come On In by Adi Alsaid
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This exceptional and powerful anthology explores the joys, heartbreaks and triumphs of immigration, with stories by bestselling and beloved YA authors who are themselves immigrants and the children of immigrants.

Hush by Dylan Farrow
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Graceling meets Red Queen in this exciting debut novel by an electrifying new voice.

Among the Beasts & Briars by Ashley Poston
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Ashley Poston, acclaimed author of Heart of Iron, returns with a dark, lush fairy tale–inspired fantasy for fans of Sara Raasch and Susan Dennard.

Swamp Thing: Twin Branches by Maggie Stiefvater and Morgan Beem
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater (the Raven Cycle series) and artist Morgan Beem unearth the primal power of memory and how it twists the bond between two brothers.

The Puppetmaster’s Apprentice by Lisa DeSelm
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Pinocchio meets Frankenstein in this dark fairy tale retelling where a young girl is commissioned to build an assassin for a dark-hearted tyrant.

Something Happened To Ali Greenleaf by Hayley Krischer
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Perfect for fans of Rory Power and Laurie Halse Anderson, this sharp, emotional debut follows two girls as they navigate tumultuous relationships, the effects of trauma, and what empowerment means to them.

Daughters of Jubilation by Kara Lee Corthron
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From the award-winning author of The Truth of Right Now comes a stunning, grounded fantasy in the vein of Dread Nation that follows a black teen as she finds her place among a family of women gifted with magical abilities.

Poisoned by Jennifer Donnelly
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From Jennifer Donnelly, author of the acclaimed New York Times bestseller Stepsister, comes a fairytale retelling that’ll forever change the way you think about strength, power, and the real meaning of “happily ever after.”

Everything I Thought I Knew by Shannon Takaoka
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A teenage girl wonders if she’s inherited more than just a heart from her donor in this compulsively readable debut. 

You Know I’m No Good by Jessie Ann Foley
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This razor-sharp novel from Printz Honor winner and Morris Award finalist Jessie Ann Foley will appeal to fans of Rory Power and Mindy McGinnis.

What October YA releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post October 2020 Book Releases: YA appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

In this Q&A, we get to chat with her about her novel, writing process, and the influence visual pieces have on her literary production. We also dive down a little deeper into the mind of her three new fantastic characters!

Congratulations on your new upcoming novel, This is All Your Fault! To begin with, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Thank you so much! I’m Aminah Mae Safi and I’m the author of the This Is All Your Fault, Tell Me How You Really Feel, Not the Girls You’re Looking For, and the short story, “Be Cool, For Once,” in the anthology Fresh Ink.

There’s a Fast and Furious reference in every one of my pieces of published fiction. They’re like Pokémon. Try and catch them all.

If you were to create a playlist that described This is All Your Fault, which three songs would you include?

Funny enough, I have a playlist, here. This Is All Your Fault is my summertime book so I wanted the playlist to feel very summer, very Classic Americana.

But if I had to pick three songs off of it:

“Gives You Hell” by the All American Rejects. I know so much of the music of my youth is deeply uncool now, but I think all three of my girls— Imogen, Daniella, and Rinn— find that core inside of themselves. The need to scream that they’re going to give someone else hell at the top of their lungs. And frankly, I’m proud of them for that.

“This is The Day” by The The. Because that’s the iconic background music to the scene at the end of Empire Records when they dance along the rooftop and I couldn’t not have that song on the playlist.

“Wuthering Heights” by Kate Bush, because even though she’s British and ethereal— the song was written by Bush when she was a nineteen and she caught a film version of Wuthering Heights playing on BBC. Teen girls taking inspiration from literature and making their own statement and art out of it is for sure the This Is All Your Fault

This is All Your Fault is centered around the Wild Nights Bookstore and Emporium closing, which is quite a sad premise. However, the novel and the development of Daniella, Rinn and Imogen has an immensely hopeful and celebrating tone. Why did you decide to create such a contrast? And why pair it with such an ominous time measuring device as a countdown?

The countdown was particularly fun, I’m sorry to say. I think in fiction when you have that ticking clock, there’s a sense of immediacy that is irresistible as a creator. Perhaps that’s my love of action movies permeating my world building. I love that about big action sequences. Why not pull that device into something that should be more classically contemporary and subdued? Our world feels that big, even if the timebomb that’s about to go off is metaphorical. It always feels that big to me, at least.

I wrote this book in the wake of the 2016 election. It feels so far away now but we’re still living through so many of its repercussions. And I was thinking about how sad I was— how despondent so many of us were— and what to do with that sadness and that anger and that rage.

I knew that things would not be okay. That people’s lives and livelihoods would be on the line as a result of that election.

I wanted to tell a story about what happens when there are sad and impossible things happening beyond our control. How do we decide to be okay? How do we get through, even when they are not?

Those were the questions I was asking myself. What does it mean to lose and to lose big— and then find the thing— call it strength, courage, optimism, hope, determination, whatever you need to— to keep going?

The future is built by people who believe they can change it. And I think on some level, I was trying to find that for myself. The knowledge that I don’t control outcomes, but I do control getting up every day and doing what I can with the task in front of me and the skills that I’ve got.

This is All Your Fault deals with almost every aspect on the reading community! Why did you decide to offer such a wide vision of the current situation of literature outside the written word itself? 

I guess I couldn’t imagine the state of literature without all of the worlds outside of the written word itself.

The world of literature has existed I think for as long as there has been print culture. These used to belong to aristocratic salons and to members of the intelligentsia only. But now we have booklovers finding each other through so many forums. Booktube is one. Bookstagram another. GoodReads. Comments sections. Blogs, way back when. We have endless tools for discovery and discussion at our fingertips.

The paratext is just as alive as the text itself at this point.

But also indie bookstores themselves. They are the great hubs of books and the great champions of so many books that don’t ever make it on to any lists. And I love that they’re there, finding the right book for the right person.

Finding ways to celebrate those communities and the ways in which so many booklovers have been able to leverage what they do into opening the doors and making more room at the table for people is heartening.

Like many authors, I started out as a booklover and a reader myself. So all of those books and poems and authors that I’ve listed throughout were also ways of celebrating all of the different kinds of reading and readers. On my father’s side I’m Arab and I inherited a love of poets and his love of nonfiction. My mothers loves classic love stories. I think I wanted to be able to celebrate all of these kinds of readers, without talking down to one or the other. I cut my teeth on old mystery novels that I should not have been reading (Hello Rebecca and Death on the Nile when I was nine years old).

I wanted to also celebrate the fact that a love of reading is almost always passed down to us. Not just from parents and guardians but educators and librarians and the people in independent bookstores who see a strange little girl (ahem, me) and hand her The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler just knowing that she’ll love it (spoiler: I still do).

Both Tell Me How You Really Feel and This is All Your Fault are inspired by pieces of visual media—Gilmore Girls and Empire Records. How do you structure your writing process around these influences?

I’m not sure if I structure my process around them so much as I am a great watcher and re-watcher of movies and TV shows that I love. I learned so much about story in general from movies and re-watching them. Not just when they’re perfect, but also when they could have been great but fell short of the mark.

How would I have changed the story? What would I have done differently?

I think I’m always asking myself these questions. I think stories are rarely original, but the way we tell them and the way we see the world— that is a way that I can tell a story that no one else can. And also, the way you can tell a story that no one else can.

And as a great lover of Empire Records I realized that the thing I would change first would be to center the story on the three girls. I was re-watching the film and realized that the POV characters are actually the three boys and the manager Joe. I hadn’t noticed somehow. I’d always, in my mind, thought the story was about the girls.

And so I set out to do just that. To tell a stories with the girls at the center. The boys, pardon the film pun, on the side.

Curiously, “this is all your fault” is a sentence that appears in both of your latest novels. Was that intentional or just pure coincidence?

The first one— in Tell Me How You Really Feel— probably was a coincidence. But I’m sure that was unconsciously echoing in my mind as I was working through This Is All Your Fault.

But I put the line in TIAYF because it felt important. I think we want to blame people before we want to find a solution to the problem. Not that accountability and making sure those in charge are held accountable aren’t important. Because they are.

And throughout the novel, the question keeps being asked— whose fault is this?

Why is the bookstore closing down? Could anything have been done to stop it? Is it Eli’s fault for making the mistake in the first place? Daniella’s for not tattling? Rinn’s for not doing more promo? Jo for not telling them sooner? Imogen for acting like she doesn’t care when she does?

Does any of them blaming each other or blaming themselves solve the problem?

If you’re getting the sense that I just like to ask myself questions as I write, you’d be correct. But I like untidy problems. I don’t want easy answers. And that’s why the line and the title and all these characters running through this space was such a delight for me to write.

Relationships that begin from an enemy starting point and develop into a beautiful friendship and/or romance are usually present in your novels, but why do you think these types of dynamics are so satisfying to read?

Man, can I blame Shakespeare and Much Ado About Nothing?

I think enemies to friendship or romance is so satisfying because the opposite of love (platonic love or romantic love or familial love or any kind really) is not hate. It’s apathy. (and, as an aside, it’s apathy and self-absorption that allows for the worst of us as humans, à la Hanna Arendt and the Banality of Evil).

I think that there’s something satisfying in knowing that people are capable of change. That the things that irritate us about someone are also the things we could grow to admire in them. So I took three girls who, by all outward appearance, could not be more different and could not have more friction in their interactions.

And the fun part about telling stories is this— I got to take them and give them a common goal. And just in that one act, in putting them suddenly on the same side and the same team, they found their respect and their admiration and their love for one another.

Of the three main characters in This is All Your Fault, who was the easiest to write? And the hardest? Who do you identify the most with?

They were all hard, honestly, in their different ways. I gave Daniella my impulsivity and moments of my ADHD. Her rage is really my own. I gave Imogen that bone deep sadness I felt as I was depressed but kept trying to get on with it. The need to ask for help but not knowing how to even begin to ask for what I needed help with. And Rinn got my anxiety, that urge— to know, to list, to understand, and to help. She’s earnest and cares deeply and for so long that part of myself felt like a weakness rather than a strength.

So they were all difficult for me, because on some level, I felt exposed by each of them. I fought and wrestled to get the truth out of each of them, for it was really getting the truth out of myself.

The only thing I will say is that Daniella’s poetry I actually stole from an old file of my own high school poetry. Please be kind about that, for fifteen-year-old me really thought that sonnet was between myself and Mrs. George. She’d just about scream if she knew I would go on and put it in a published novel. Sorry, past self.

Imogen already recommends a couple of amazing books and authors throughout This is All Your Fault, but could you recommend a book according to each of the girls’ (and Eli’s and AJ’s) personalities, so that our readers can pick a book according to their favorite character?

Oh, wow! Let’s see. Daniella would tell you to read Mary Robinson, a thoroughly wild and bright Romantic, as the best of the Romantic poets often are. She thinks you should find more women poets, particularly in the classical and historical genres, in general— they’ve been there the whole time.

Rinn thinks that you should read a really great love story. She’s extremely partial to Their Eyes Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston because it’s a self-love story and those are the best kind of all.

Imogen thinks you should read The Odyssey as translated by Emily Wilson so that you can understand the difference a translator makes. She thinks you should read Impostures by al-Hariri once you’ve realized that. And then maybe you should read Eva Luna by Isabel Allende.

Eli thinks you should read Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta as long as you’ve already read The Lord of the Rings.

Obviously, AJ thinks you should read Strong Poison by Dorothy Sayers.

To conclude, could you give us a little hint at your future plans? What are you working on at the moment?

I am working on a re-telling of Robin Hood for the Classics Remixed series from Feiwel and Friends! The first book will be a re-telling of Treasure Island, out in last 2021 and mine should be releasing in winter of 2022. I’m so excited to get my hands on all of the books this series and I’m so thrilled to get to write a historical novel. Stay tuned!

Will you be picking up This Is All Your Fault? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Aminah Mae Safi, Author of ‘This Is All Your Fault’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Aminah Mae Safi is finally back with an exciting new hit after her phenomenal novel, Tell Me How You Really Feel. This Is All Your Fault is set to be released on October 13th and, in broad terms, it could be considered the bookworm version of the 1995 movie, Empire Records. How could we ask for more?

Following the staff of Wild Nights Bookstore and Emporium over the course of a day, This Is All Your Fault is a refreshing exploration of the world of literature outside of the pages of a book. Through the portrayal of the many different types of reading experiences —from the world of booktube and learning to love reading from your parents, to being the one to produce pieces of writing— Aminah Mae Safi is able to show how literature is not limited to the mere act of reading; it is a way of living.

Small, independent bookstores are a place of community, where booklovers are bound together, even if their differences are abysmal. Such is the case of our three main characters. This Is All Your Fault is also an ode to the reading community, to novels and poetry, to people with nothing in common joining forces for the greater good. And it is magical. Despite the premise of the of the book being a bittersweet one —as the plot is driven by the bookstore closing— the story doesn’t read as such. Above all, This Is All Your Fault is a celebration of literature and books and the importance of keeping bookstores alive.

While the bookstore staff is made up of five employees and Jo, their manager, we mostly get to see what is happening through the alternating perspectives of three of them: Rinn, Daniella, and Imogen. Eli and AJ, the two other employees, barely have any presence in the story, but that doesn’t make them any less interesting. In fact, it would have been lovely to know a little bit more about them, as they are barely there for the most part of the narration. Our three protagonists, however, take the spotlight by storm, with their charming, rich and complex personalities.

In line with the literary theme, the moral of This is All Your Fault is also to not judge a book by its cover. Rinn, Daniella, and Imogen could not be more different…or so they think. Imogen always keeps her walls up and has a nickname at the ready for each person she meets. Rinn, Little Miss Perfect, is all sunshine and smiles, while Daniella, The Self-Appointed Coolest Girl in the World, is snarky and standoffish. But, in the matter of the single day they have to join forces and save Wild Nights, they begin to realise no one truly resembles the mask they wear in front of others. One should never make assumptions of people they know little about. The happiest person can be the one who struggles the most, the most solitary person can be the best at caring for others, and the most popular person can be the loneliest.

We all know and love the enemies-to-lovers trope, but here Aminah Mae Safi gifts us with its rarest and probably most heartwarming version: enemies-to-friends. It is beautiful to follow how close the three girls become and how much they grow in a matter of a few hours. Despite coming from diverse cultural backgrounds and having gone through different life experiences, the three girls don’t hesitate for a second to leave their differences aside to work together to fulfil their common goal. You will have to pick up this breathtaking novel to know whether they get to save the bookstore or not, but rest assured that their lasting friendship is a guarantee.

Aminah Mae Safi also takes a brilliant opportunity to thoughtfully tackle some relevant topics that more often than not also influence the reading community, such as white privilege, the importance of celebrating diversity in literature, raising awareness on mental health issues, or denouncing sexism and abuse of power. All of these result in the addition of a supplementary layer of meaningfulness to a novel that is already full of meaning because This Is All Your Fault teaches a valuable lesson: things don’t always have to go as planned to be okay.

Last, but not least, like Wild Nights, This Is All Your Fault is a bookstore in itself. Get ready and keep your Goodreads app open at all times, because after finishing this novel, you will have an entire TBR list to enjoy. Not only is each chapter named after famous poetic lines, but the characters themselves offer book recommendations not only to their clients, but also to the reader throughout the novel. From classic authors like Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, or Sylvia Plath, to contemporary authors like Madeline Miller, Rabih Alameddine, or Ira Mukhoty, Aminah Mae Safi lends her voice to a great variety of present and past authors.

This Is All Your Fault is a compulsory read for every single person that considers themselves a bookworm! You will become entangled with the literary world Aminah Mae Safi has to offer and rejoice in the world of literature in its broadest scope while enjoying this delightful narration. Celebrate with Rinn, Daniella, and Imogen the beauty of unexpected friendships and the community of readers that bookstores and social media have built, and become a part of Wild Nights Bookstore and Emporium.

This Is All Your Fault is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of October 13th 2020.

Will you be picking up This Is All Your Fault? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Set over the course of one day, this smart and voice-driven YA novel follows three young women determined to save their indie bookstore.
Rinn Olivera is finally going to tell her longtime crush AJ that she’s in love with him.

Daniella Korres writes poetry for her own account, but nobody knows it’s her.

Imogen Azar is just trying to make it through the day.

When Rinn, Daniella, and Imogen clock into work at Wild Nights Bookstore on the first day of summer, they’re expecting the hours to drift by the way they always do. Instead, they have to deal with the news that the bookstore is closing. Before the day is out, there’ll be shaved heads, a diva author, and a very large shipment of Air Jordans to contend with.

And it will take all three of them working together if they have any chance to save Wild Nights Bookstore.

The post Review: This Is All Your Fault by Aminah Mae Safi appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our June YA picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be checking any of them out!

The Beholder by Anna Bright
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Lush landscapes, dazzling romance, and captivating intrigue await in this stunning alternate historical YA debut—perfect for fans of The Selection or Caraval.

The Paper & Hearts Society by Lucy Powrie
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A brand new series from Booktuber Lucy Powrie – about what happens when you give up on trying to fit in and let your weird out! It’s time to join The Paper & Hearts Society …

Stronger Than A Bronze Dragon by Mary Fan
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With incredibly vivid world building and fast-paced storytelling, Stronger Than a Bronze Dragon is great for readers who are looking for something fresh in epic fantasy.

Like A Love Story by Abdi Nazemian
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This is a bighearted, sprawling epic about friendship and love and the revolutionary act of living life to the fullest in the face of impossible odds.

Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer
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New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer pens a new emotionally compelling story about two teens struggling in the space between right and wrong.

Before The Broken Star by Emily R. King
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A fierce young female adventurer battles time itself to claim her destiny in a sweeping new fantasy saga from the author of the Hundredth Queen series.

Emmie and the Tudor King by Natalie Murray
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One moment, Emmie is writing her high school history paper; the next, she’s sitting with a gorgeous 16th century king who vacillates from kissing her to ordering her execution. Able to travel back to her own time, but intensely drawn to King Nick and the mysterious death of his sister, Emmie finds herself solving the murder of a young princess and unraveling court secrets while trying to keep her head on her shoulders, literally.

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi
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Told in alternative viewpoints and inspired by classic romantic comedies, this engaging and edgy YA novel follows two strongwilled young women falling for each other despite themselves.

Virtually Yours by Sarvenaz Tash
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Modern love plus online anonymity is a recipe for romantic disaster in this lighthearted new romance from the author of The Geek’s Guide to Unrequited Love.

The Haunted by Danielle Vega
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From Danielle Vega, YA’s answer to Stephen King, comes a new paranormal novel about dark family secrets, deep-seated vengeance, and the horrifying truth that evil often lurks in the unlikeliest of places.

All Of Us With Wings by Michelle Ruiz Keil
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Michelle Ruiz Keil’s YA fantasy debut about love, found family, and healing is an ode to post-punk San Francisco through the eyes of a Mexican-American girl.

Better Than The Best Plan by Lauren Morrill
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Lauren Morrill’s Better Than the Best Plan is a fresh, funny, romantic YA novel about a teenage girl who finds an unexpected silver lining in her life when plans get turned upside down.

What June 2019 young adult release are you most excited for? Tell us in the comments below!

The post June 2019 Book Releases: YA appeared first on The Nerd Daily.