About When Dealing With Dragons: Bonding with dragons gave humans magic to craft metal—now, two school rivals have to work together to protect a priceless secret, all while fighting their growing attraction to each other, from Dana Swift, author of Cast in Firelight. Releases June 30th 2026.

Want to know a universal truth? Before every writer is a writer, we are readers. For me in particular, I’ve went from reader to bookseller to book buyer and event planner, writing along the way. So, I’ve recommended a book or two in my time (maybe even a few hundred).

Nerd Daily is one of my absolute favorite book outlets so when they asked for a list of my reader recommendations for this summer, I happily put my bookseller cap back on. Because what’s easier than talking about my own book, WHEN DEALING WITH DRAGONS, hitting shelves June 30^th from Wednesday Books? Talking about other books, of course!

Three Young Adult 2026 SUMMER releases I’ve read and adored:

CURSED EVER AFTER by Andy C. Naranjo

Okay, I’m biased with this first one, like really biased. But that doesn’t stop CURSED EVER AFTER being one of my favorite stories.

For a time, it felt like fantasy wasn’t allowed to be funny anymore and Andy said hold my witch’s hat and let me break that curse upon young adult literature with this one! This book is funny, heartfelt, diverse, and seeped in fairytale whimsy.

Even better on June 30^th Andy C. Naranjo and I will be hosting our joint launch event at BookPeople at 6:30pm CT. So, if you’re in or near Austin, Texas come see two friends who just so happened to luck out that our books come out the same day!

ROLLS AND RIVALRY by Kristy Boyce

I’m a huge Kristy Boyce fan and have been since we debuted together in 2021. I especially love her Gaming and Romance series! When I learned her new one starred a color guard captain I was sold because well, I was a color guard captain in high school.

This third installment in the series might even be my new favorite of Kristy’s because all the band references, the childhood friends turned rivals, and her sparkling dialogue? Nothing is more perfect for summer! I read it in one day!

OF FLAME AND FURY and OF VENOM AND VENGEANCE by Mikayla Bridge

The moment I read OF FLAME AND FURY last summer I was hooked! Phoenix racing, fake-dating, and a critique on capitalism wrapped up in one of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen!

Therefore, you can imagine my excitement for the companion novel, OF VENOM AND VENGEANCE. Set in the same world this book follows two new protagonists, who you can expect to give you the most delicious romance.

Three Young Adult 2026 releases I haven’t read yet, but can’t wait for:

FIRE TO THE STARS by Morgan J. Watchorn

If you’re into dragons, then may I suggest dragon shifters? Because I can’t wait for this YA debut from Morgan J. Watchorn.

Written in dual points of view (my favorite) this is a story about two teens from opposing worlds forced to form an alliance. The cover is stunning too!

IMMORTAL GAME by Allison Saft

Do I know how to play chess? No. Will that stop me from reading the next Allison Saft release? Never! Add in Fae and deals and the lyrical whimsy I know this will have and I’m beyond sold.

This book is the next one on TBR because I’ve somehow been chosen for the honor to be Allison’s conversation partner for her Austin, Texas tour stop.

Link here to RSVP now if you would like to watch and join me fangirling over Allison Saft.

ALL WE HUNGER FOR by Anna Mercier

A magical baking competition with a side of brewing rebellion? Excuse me, Anna! What a concept!

It reminds me a little of WHEN DEALING WITH DRAGONS in that it’s a cozy premise bundled with high stakes and guarded secrets. I’m all for books with that combination. So excited for this debut that is out now!!!

Looking for something like WHEN DEALING WITH DRAGONS in a different age category?

Middle Grade: KINDRED DRAGONS by Sarah Mensinga

Sarah has crafted the perfect pitch for a book, as if it was written for me––Anne of Green Gables meets Dragons.

I don’t know if I need to say more than that, but this graphic novel is beautifully illustrated (also done by Sarah because she is amazing and talented and wonderful) and the story is heartfelt, with a magic system anchored in the bonds between people and dragons like WHEN DEALING WITH DRAGONS!

Also, I gave this graphic novel to my cousin’s seven-year-old daughter and have heard back that she loved it and thus I have received the brownie points for years to come because it’s the first in a series!

Adult: STRANGE FAMILIARS by Keshe Chow

If you want more magical veterinarian and rivals-to-lovers content, but for the adult audience, look no further than STRANGE FAMILIARS.

It’s set at a magical college with cute animal familiars. Nothing can be more perfect, except oh, it also has a delicious spicy romance too! Perfection!

Because it is always easier to talk, sell, and promote other books I deeply appreciate everyone, especially, Nerd Daily, for promoting WHEN DEALING WITH DRAGONS! I wrote this book for dragon lovers and kids who want to see protagonists who win through kindness. A few elements in the book I incorporated because of my bookselling background include:

• It can be read as a standalone. Though a companion novel is coming in summer 2027 for those who fall in love with the world.
• It fits firmly in the young adult category, with some reviewers even saying they see it as a bridge book between middle grade and young adult.
• It’s warm and heartfelt but doesn’t avoid high stakes and hard topics that make people think long after the last page.

I really hope you enjoy the story! Thank you!

The post Six Young Adult Books Perfect for Summer 2026 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

As expected from a New Yorker, the first thing I’m going to mention about myself is that I’m a born-and raised New Yorker. I grew up in a fourth-floor walkup apartment in Washington Heights, went to high school in the Bronx, and went to college in Southern California. I speak four languages (all of them badly) and I lived abroad for about four years. I moved back home for a while before leaving NYC because it was too cold. Now I live in Austin where it’s too hot. But my dogs are happy and that’s all that matters.

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

In fourth grade, I was given an assignment to write a short story about what the future might look like in 20X0 (it was so long ago I can’t remember the year). It was supposed to be typed and printed but I didn’t have a computer, so I asked my mom’s boss’s kid to type for me since I had no idea how. I went on to regale her with a tale about a really cool, thinly-veiled self-insert who had pink rollerskates and was well liked by everyone. When I finished yapping, the boss’s kid acted real impressed and told me I was good at telling stories. As I am very fond of attention and praise, it was a done deal after that. Been writing ever since.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Shoebag by Marijane Meaker (showing my age here)
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Two Princesses of Bamarre by queen of fairytales, Gail Carson Levine
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Your debut novel, Cursed Ever After, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Idiots forced to work together.

What can readers expect?

An absolutely unserious time with the vibes of Shrek and The Princess Bride.

Where did the inspiration for Cursed Ever After come from?

Probably from unexplored trauma growing up, but the fun answer is: I was on a writing retreat and jokingly told my friends, “What if I write Shrek with Latinos?” I wrote the first chapter, read it aloud, and was bullied into writing more. A month later, I had the first draft.

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

I loved writing Risa and Javi’s interactions. I’m a sucker for idiots who don’t know how to express their true feelings and resort to humor when handling hard moments. Watching the character growth as they learn to open up, let their guard down, get hurt, and come out stronger on the other side is just such a fascinating thing to read and write. It also lets me explore my own issues with emotional vulnerability without paying for therapy (don’t worry, I also pay for therapy).

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

It was the first book I wrote as an adult—and I had absolutely no idea or concept about how much harder the revision process is when dealing with So. Many. Words. In school, I was pretty good at writing clean drafts of papers and projects that hardly ever changed after revision, except my final 80-page thesis that really should have warned me of what the future would hold. After writing Cursed Ever After, I was forced to acknowledge that maybe I wasn’t the literary genius I thought myself to be growing up.

I’m now much better at revisions—and even taking feedback!—but I’m still delusional enough to think my first drafts are basically the next Great American Novel. Until I reread my work and realize maybe I’m just a girl with two little braincells struggling to create logical thought. And I think that’s beautiful.

This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

I am not a young, fresh-eyed debutante; I’m a grizzly veteran who spent years in the query trenches, then another few years trying to sell a book to a publisher. It’s been a long, arduous road. I mean, I wrote this book while in a fever-state in January 2020! But I do think the long runway actually helped me manage my expectations around my “publishing journey.” I try my best not to place any value on external validation because at the end of the day, all of it is made up and the points don’t matter!

What’s next for you?

There’s a book on the horizon in 2027. It’s kind of really different from Cursed Ever After but readers can still expect to find my bread-and-butter of idiots-working-together.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

I have read so many great books this year! Off the top of my head, I’m gonna say Mirrorwoven by Bori Cser, which comes out in August here in the US; An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole; You’re Dead to Me, Reed Walker by Gwenyth Reitz; and When Dealing with Dragons by Dana Swift. I’ve also got some on my TBR that I’m hoping to start asap: Ungodly Chaos by Selma Soren; Heart’s Gambit by JD Myall; Midnight on the Celestial by Julia Alexandra; Into the Burning Deep by Jenna Voris; and Spellwright by Heather Kassner. There’s more to add but I just can’t choose please don’t make me I know I did this to myself.

Will you be picking up Cursed Ever After? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Andy C. Naranjo, Author of ‘Cursed Ever After’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.