Heat Wave by T.J. Klune
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Nick, Seth, Gibby, and Jazz are back in action bringing justice, protection, and disaster energy to the people of Nova City. An unexpected hero returns to Nova City and crash lands into Nick’s home, upturning his life, his family, and his understanding of what it means to be a hero in the explosive finale of the thrilling and hilarious Extraordinaries trilogy.

Youngblood by Sasha Laurens
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For fans of Vampire Diaries and dark academia, two queer teen bloodsuckers at an elite vampire-only boarding school must go up against all of Vampirdom when they uncover a frightening conspiracy on campus.

The Comedienne’s Guide to Pride by Hayli Thomson
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The Comedienne’s Guide to Pride is a queer coming of age story with biting humor about a young lesbian striving to win a spot on SNL. Taylor Parker isn’t out yet, but she’s keeping an even bigger secret: she entered a sketch contest where the grand prize is an internship at SNL.

The Witchery by S. Isabelle
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Haelsford, Florida, is a hellmouth. Or at least, that’s what Logan, a new witch struggling to control her powers, thinks when she arrives at Mesmortes Coven Academy. She is immediately taken under the wing of the infamous Red Three: Iris, a deathwitch, who wants nothing more than to break the town’s curse; Thalia, the talented greenwitch, on the run from her religious family and a past that still haunts her; and Jailah, one of the most extraordinary witches at the academy whose thirst for power may lead her down a dark path.

In the Event of Love by Courtney Kae
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Offering a steamy, queer spin on the feel-good tropes of a Hallmark movie, this sweet, funny #OwnVoices rom-com is perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Alexandria Bellefleur!

Husband Material by Alexis Hall
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In Boyfriend Material, Luc and Oliver met, pretended to fall in love, fell in love for real, dealt with heartbreak and disappointment and family and friends…and somehow figured out a way to make it work. Now it seems like everyone around them is getting married, and Luc’s feeling the social pressure to propose. But it’ll take more than four weddings, a funeral, and a bowl full of special curry to get these two from I don’t know what I’m doing to I do.

The Feeling of Falling in Love by Mason Deaver
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From the bestselling author of I Wish You All the Best, comes a new kind of love story, about the bad decisions we sometimes make… and the people who help get us back on the right path.

This Is Why They Hate Us by Aaron H. Aceves
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This fun, irreverent summer romp is Netflix’s Never Have I Ever meets What If It’s Us about a high school senior determined to get over his unrequited feelings for his best friend by getting under someone else.

Aces Wild by Amanda DeWitt
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Six of Crows goes to Las Vegas in debut author Amanda DeWitt’s suspenseful casino heist, starring an entire crew of asexual teens.

Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna Marie McLemore
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Three teens chase their own version of the American Dream during the Roaring 20s in this YA remix of The Great Gatsby. 

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
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Welcome to The Sunbearer Trials, where teen semidioses compete in a series of challenges with the highest of stakes, in this electric new Mexican-inspired fantasy from Aiden Thomas, the New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys.

Fraternity by Andy Mientus
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A queer, dark academia YA story about a mysterious boarding school, a brotherhood that must stay in the shadows, and an ancient evil that could tear it all apart. 

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.

Hazel Hill is Gonna Win This One by Maggie Horne
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A funny, feminist, and queer contemporary middle grade debut that follows twelve-year-old loner Hazel Hill, who, after one of her classmates is harassed online, devises a plan to catch the school’s golden boy in the act.

Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen
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A delicious story from a new voice in suspense, Lev AC Rosen’s Lavender House is Knives Out with a queer historical twist.

The First To Die at The End by Adam Silvera
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In this prequel to They Both Die at the End, #1 New York Times bestselling author Adam Silvera tells the story of new star-crossed lovers facing down Death-Cast’s first day. It’s the night before Death-Cast goes live, and there’s one question on everyone’s mind: Can Death-Cast actually predict when someone will die, or is it just an elaborate hoax?

You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky
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An “effervescent” (Rachel Lynn Solomon) Christmas LGBTQIA+ New Adult RomCom, perfect for fans of Schitt’s Creek and Red White & Royal Blue.

This Is Our Place by Vitor Martins
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Three teens — in three different decades — navigate life, love, and family in Vitor Martins’ heartfelt new novel that spans generations. Perfect for fans of Tales from the City and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda.

The Ones We Burn by Rebecca Mix
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Love and duty collide in this richly imagined, atmospheric young adult debut about a witch whose dark powers put her at the center of a brewing war between the only family she’s ever known and the enemy who makes her question everything.

We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds
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Family secrets, a swoon-worthy romance, and a slow-burn mystery collide in We Deserve Monuments, a YA debut from Jas Hammonds that explores how racial violence can ripple down through generations.

Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake
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An interior designer who is never without the perfect plan learns to renovate her love life without one in this new romantic comedy by Ashley Herring Blake, author of Delilah Green Doesn’t Care.

Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales
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A girl enters a reality dating competition to get revenge on her cheating, royal-adjacent ex-boyfriend, and ends up falling for another girl on the show—in fact, the girl he cheated on her with.

Wicked Little Things by Justin Arnold
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Silver in the Mist by Emily Victoria
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Eight years ago, everything changed for Devlin: Her country was attacked. Her father was killed. And her mother became the Whisperer of Aris, the head of the spies, retreating into her position away from everyone… even her daughter.

A Million to One by Adiba Jaigirdar
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Adiba Jaigirdar, author of one of Time‘s Best YA books of all time, gives Titanic an Ocean’s 8 makeover in this nail-biting heist set onboard the infamous ship.

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

The post You Need These Upcoming 2022 Queer Book Releases To End The Year appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

To say that Destination Unknown completely caught me by surprise would be a crass understatement. I don’t know what I was expecting from this novel, but goddamn, did it deliver! Destination Unknown had me hooked from its very first sentence and didn’t even let me go after finishing it. I don’t want to talk about the plot too much because I feel like the best thing you can do is read this book without knowing where it’s headed, so let me gush about everything else instead.

What drew me into Destination Unknown was the vivid characters Konigsberg creates. Much of what drives this story is the crass juxtaposition between Micah and CJ. On the one hand, we have Micah who is closeted for a multitude of reasons that could all be condensed to stigma—Micah fears AIDS, fears the reactions from his parents, fears being part of a community that has received nothing but backlash from everyone else. Then we have CJ, who is as out as you can be—he’s not afraid to be himself, act and dress the way he likes no matter what others say and he’s also not one to be shamed for his sex-positive mindset. To watch these two boys who grew up in the same world and yet didn’t fall in love with each other is spellbinding. Every interaction, every prejudice, every point of contention between them was impossible to look away from—my eyes were glued to the pages. In part, I think, this was because I related to both characters and understood where they were coming from— Micah has valid reasons for being scared and holding back and CJ has even more for spending the time he has on this earth being exactly who he wants to be, no matter what others try to tell him. Yet their connection is so genuine that you can’t help but feel angry, sad, happy, ecstatic and terrified for both of them throughout the novel.

The way Konigsberg reflects on the AIDS crisis in this novel is also incredibly powerful. Granted, I can’t speak for its representation since I—well, I wasn’t around back then—but the way Konigsberg manages to transport you to that time period and describe the AIDS crisis in both an educational and emotional way is incredible. I’ve read quite a few novels that thematise this time period but never have I felt so…connected to the lingering fear and, in turn, the overarching theme of love being love than while reading Destination Unknown. This book somehow manages to show both what people must have gone through back then—especially queer men—while also showing the power of love, community and acceptance and how, yes, we need a cure, but we also need to drop prejudice surrounding this illness. This is very much a story that emphasizes the importance of having a good support system, of educating yourself on topics such as safe sex and HIV and most of all, not forgetting that kindness and contact shouldn’t be taken away the second someone gets sick.

Honestly, I can’t recommend this book enough—there’s really no way to put into words how much I not only learned but gained emotionally from Destination Unknown thanks to its emphasis on community and support but I wish this was a novel that kids had to read in school, if only to show them the inherent and indestructible power of kindness.

A poignant story about what it was like to come of age during the AIDS epidemic in 1980s New York City, Destination Unknown is at times funny, ecstatic, gut-wrenching, devastating, life-affirming and most of all, a timely reminder that while love might not cure all ills, it certainly is the best thing we humans do.

Destination Unknown is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 6th 2022.

Will you be picking up Destination Unknown? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

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.

The first thing I noticed about C.J. Gorman was his plexiglass bra.

So begins Destination Unknown — it’s 1987 in New York City, and Micah is at a dance club, trying to pretend he’s more out and outgoing than he really is. C.J. isn’t just out — he’s complete out there, and Micah can’t help but be both attracted to and afraid of someone who travels so loudly and proudly through the night.

A connection occurs. Is it friendship? Romance? Is C.J. the one with all the answers… or does Micah bring more to the relationship that it first seems? As their lives become more and more entangled in the AIDS epidemic that’s laying waste to their community, and the AIDS activism that will ultimately bring a strong voice to their demands, whatever Micah and C.J. have between them will be tested, strained, pushed, and pulled — but it will also be a lifeline in a time of death, a bond that will determine the course of their futures.

In Destination Unknown, Bill Konigsberg returns to a time he knew well as a teenager to tell a story of identity, connection, community, and survival.

The post #ReadWithPride: Destination Unknown by Bill Konigsberg 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
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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
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Go Hunt Me by Kelly deVos
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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.

Being such an influence on his scalp health, we had no other option but to chat with him about the novel, to unravel every little detail about such an astounding piece of literature!

We ask about his influences, his writing process, and, of course, the best ways to approach a difficult topic, such as suicide is. He says he “hopes the book winds up being worth the baldness” and we are more than sure it definitely is.

Congratulations on your new novel, Bill. Could you start by telling us a little bit about yourself?

Thank you, and sure! I guess I’d say I’m a writer who cares deeply about being authentic. That when I started writing books, it was exceedingly important to me to write books that told the truth about being gay, and that every time I start a book, the question is always, “Who am I, and what is it that I have to say?” The Bridge is a departure in that instead of focusing on LGBTQIA+ issues, I set out to write a book that spoke the truth about chronic depression, of which I suffer, and suicidal ideation, which has be a struggle multiple times in my life. It’s funny, because I seem to have this idea that I’m supposed to express the deepest truths about myself in my novels, and I’m not sure that’s something that other human beings find to be an important or compelling goal.

If you could describe The Bridge with just three adjectives, which ones would they be?

Real. Gut-wrenching. Hopeful.

Who are your main influences when writing? And were you inspired by any other literary work or piece of media when writing The Bridge?

My biggest writing influences are Toni Morrison, Armistead Maupin, and David B. Feinberg. Morrison because she is/was a powerful truth teller who can make me shiver with a sentence. Maupin because of the heart he puts into his books. And Feinberg, a writer who died during the early days of the AIDS epidemic, because he was able to see the savagely funny in the tragic, and that he was able to make me laugh and cry simultaneously without being the least bit maudlin.

I was very aware of 13 Reasons Why, the book and TV show, while writing this book. I liked that book and show, but I didn’t think they were good conversation starters about suicide. I don’t think the author meant for them to be. I really wanted to write something that could be a book of record on the subject, something that could be an important part of a national or even international discussion about mental health and suicide.

In The Bridge, Aaron and Tillie don’t make a life-changing decision; they make four. Why did you decide to give your story four different outcomes? And how did you plan the novel out?

I felt that covering all the possible outcomes up on that bridge was the only way to expose the lie that my brain tells me when I’m depressed, one that I understand many other people hear from their brains, too: that it wouldn’t matter if I was no longer here. It’s a very dangerous lie, and what I wanted to show was what happens when each character gives in to that lie, and what might happen when they don’t. I wanted to show not just what happens to the people closest to them, but also people they don’t even know and who don’t know them, which is why I wrote the part about when they both decide to jump.

Loneliness, family ties, shattered expectations, forgiveness, self-acceptance, and the steep path towards recovery are some of the main topics that follow Aaron and Tillie’s story and revolve around the broader topic of suicide and depression. If you could have paid more attention to any of those recurrent topics, which one would it be and why?

Great question! If I could turn back time, I think perhaps I would have focused more on self-acceptance because it’s so important. As a nearly fifty-year-old person, I am sometimes amazed at how little the exterior stuff matters if and when I don’t love or accept myself. That has to be where it starts, and while I did focus there, I think even more focus might be useful.

Of course, suicide, suicidal thoughts, and depression are delicate topics to write about, especially when you have suffered from them yourself. What would be your advice for someone who wants to write about these topics and raise awareness about them?

My advice would be to take care of yourself! To have a plan for getting help, because it’s pretty hard to write about these issues while staying above them. I had to go pretty deep in while writing this book, and it was sometimes challenging, at the end of a writing day, to pull myself out. For that reason, I had plans in place, people who I knew I could talk to if necessary. Beyond that, I’d just say it’s important to sit in the feelings. It can be hard to commit to feeling those feelings, but that’s what writers do. We sit in the chair and feel what our characters feel, even when it’s unpleasant.

Suicide and mental illnesses tend to be either heavily romanticised in media or approached in such a way that leave people suffering from them feeling guilty. Where you worried about unconsciously leaning into these two approaches? How did you work around them?

I really started leaning heavily away from those, so I guess I’d say it was never far from my mind. I wanted this to be a book that pulled no punches, that was as real as I could be about mental illness and suicide, and there is simply nothing sexy or romantic about either. I guess because I was feeling so avoidant of them, I didn’t really notice working around them? Not sure if that makes sense, but it never came up.

On a hopeful note, where do you see Aaron and Tillie in 20 years?

Hmm… Tillie will be working with kids, especially kids who struggle with being bullied online or kids who struggle to speak up for themselves. No doubt. She will be a very powerful woman. Aaron will probably be a bit like me: someone who still struggles with wanting people to love and admire him. As such, his life will be up and down. He will have battled depression and prevailed many times, and he will lead with his heart. But because he has not mastered self-acceptance, he will still have dark times. Wow. Heavy answer, no?

And on a less serious note, if Aaron and Tillie could each recommend a book, which ones would they be?

The Bridge. Kidding! Aaron would recommend the new book K-pop Confidential by Stephan Lee, because it touches on his desire to be a famous musical idol. Tillie would recommend Faith: Taking Flight by Julie Murphy, which is about a kick-ass, plus-sized superhero.

Finally, what are your plans for the future? Are you working on any other novel at the moment?

I’m currently working on my next novel, Destination Unknown, which is about two boys who meet in 1987 in New York City, with the AIDS epidemic as the backdrop. That’s when and where I grew up, so I’m finally trying to write the story of what that was like.

Will you be picking up The Bridge? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Bill Konigsberg, Author of ‘The Bridge’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

When a person decides to end their life, there are only two possibilities: to go through with it or not. But that is not the case for the protagonists of The Bridge, Aaron and Tillie: they can both jump from the George Washington bridge, one of them can decide to jump while the other doesn’t, or both can decide to not jump…

Published on September 1^st, The Bridge is Bill Konigsberg’s latest novel. His new work revolves around how suicide affects every aspect of not only one’s existence, but also that of others. Talking about suicide usually involves people wondering what could have been done different and how would a person’s death affect the people around them. Bill Konigsberg does exactly that, but taking it a step further. He offers the reader all the possible outcomes of Aaron’s and Tillie’s decision to jump (or not) by making use of alternative timelines. But fear not, despite the apparent repetitiveness of the premise, never does the novel read as monotonous. On the contrary, it becomes increasingly gripping as one version of reality closes and the next one starts.

Divided into four main sections and making use of an omniscient narrator, The Bridge explores every single unanswered possibility when facing such a desperate turning point in someone’s life. The Bridge has a raw, hard start, as the novel begins with the three harshest outcomes: Part A follows Aaron and Tillie’s family and acquaintances after she jumps; part B is the opposite as it is Aaron who jumps. Finally, part C shows how life goes on (with difficulty) after they both jump, showing how the what-ifs and the should-haves remain in time years after their death, to the point where even the people who were meant to meet Aaron and Tillie feel their absence.  However, part D is a complete turn in the opposite direction. It is an ode to life, where neither of them jump and Aaron and Tillie find solace on each other.

With immensely significant moments of self-reflection on the part of the two main characters, the heart-wrenching grief their families have to go through, the moving interactions between Aaron and Tillie and their parents, and the incredibly unrelenting, witty, sarcastic humour of the protagonists, The Bridge is definitely a rollercoaster of emotions. Despite the seriousness of the topic and the heartbreaking reality of it, Bill Konigsberg is able to create the perfect balance of light and darkness. All of these nuanced interactions, give an outstanding liveliness to the characters, to whom the reader has no option but to get irremediably attached. Also, showing how every person is interconnected and surrounded by love, even if their brain mistakenly makes them believe they are lonely, Konigsberg also pays especial attention to the importance of paternal support. Parents tend to be overlooked in YA; they are absent and careless, but Aaron and his dad’s relationship is the most beautiful portrayal of unconditional and endless love. Aaron’s dad is always there, ready to support his son and help him get through his depression. Such is also the case of Tillie’s mother, but while their bond solidifies throughout the novel as Tillie learns to trust her, Aaron and his dad’s is strong from the very beginning.

Linked to these relationships, Konigsberg focuses too in the need of speaking out and letting people around us help. Their parents’ support is key to their recovery, but so are the connections outside their families. This is especially poignant when comparing the sections that follow Aaron’s and Tillie’s recovery on their own, and the section where they both decide not to jump and become friends. When they have each other, someone who understands and is willing to stand by their side no matter what, their journey eases. At the same time, that contrast highlights how every single person counts: by saving your own life, you might also be saving others.

It is imperative to finish this review by applauding the utmost care with which Konigsberg offers support to people who might be going through depression and having suicidal thoughts. At no given point does The Bridge romanticise the two, and he is always gentle, never relying on guilt to urge people to seek for help. It offers a realistic and unadulterated view of these mental health issues, as well as of the process of getting better, which is no bed of roses. What is more, Aaron and Tillie represent two approaches to therapy. Aaron is blindly hopeful, to the point where—aided by his medication—he believes he can be cured in a day or two. While Tillie is blindly hopeless and thinks therapy is pointless. Neither Aaron nor Tillie get better immediately nor do they find their perfect form of therapy in the first try, and that is the hardest pill to swallow, but also the most comforting truth for those who might be going through recovery themselves when reading the novel.

To conclude, The Bridge has no apparent real closure, but four open endings. The real outcome of the story is left for the reader to decide. However, the clever organisation of the novel, which leaves the only completely positive outcome for last, effectively transmits a message of utter, blinding hope. The Bridge is a wake-up call, a sign not to jump, and an open letter to every single person who might have thought about committing suicide to let them know that they are not alone. Being a survivor of suicide and depression himself, Konigsberg words are a balm to the soul. The Bridge is an attempt to show the world that things do get better, that you and the people around you lose more than your life if you decide to jump, and also that even if recovery is one heck of a steep path, it is a journey worth taking.

The Bridge is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up The Bridge? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Two teenagers, strangers to each other, have decided to jump from the same bridge at the same time. But what results is far from straightforward in this absorbing, honest lifesaver from acclaimed author Bill Konigsberg.

Aaron and Tillie don’t know each other, but they are both feeling suicidal, and arrive at the George Washington Bridge at the same time, intending to jump. Aaron is a gay misfit struggling with depression and loneliness. Tillie isn’t sure what her problem is — only that she will never be good enough.

On the bridge, there are four things that could happen:

Aaron jumps and Tillie doesn’t.

Tillie jumps and Aaron doesn’t.

They both jump.

Neither of them jumps.

Or maybe all four things happen, in this astonishing and insightful novel from Bill Konigsberg.

The post Review: The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hello and welcome to round two of our Pride-themed book recommendations! This time around, we’re on two the second letter in the acronym: G for Gay! Find below a wonderful mix of books and there’s something there for everyone! Whether you’d like to read something tasteful and try some classic poetry or you’d rather disappear into some heartwarming and tension-filled graphic novels, no worries, we got you covered!

Adult Fiction

Less by Andrew Sean Greer
A love story, a satire of the American abroad, a rumination on time and the human heart, by an author The New York Times has hailed as “inspired, lyrical,” “elegiac,” “ingenious,” as well as “too sappy by half,” Less shows a writer at the peak of his talents raising the curtain on our shared human comedy.

Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
What happens when America’s First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales?

Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski
Shifting from the intoxication of first love to the quiet melancholy of growing up and growing apart, Swimming in the Dark is a potent blend of romance, post-war politics, intrigue, and history. Lyrical and sensual, immersive and intense, Tomasz Jedrowski has crafted an indelible and thought-provoking literary debut that explores freedom and love in all its incarnations.

The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Cyril Avery is not a real Avery or at least that’s what his adoptive parents tell him. And he never will be. But if he isn’t a real Avery, then who is he?In this, Boyne’s most transcendent work to date, we are shown the story of Ireland from the 1940s to today through the eyes of one ordinary man. The Heart’s Invisible Furies is a novel to make you laugh and cry while reminding us all of the redemptive power of the human spirit. 

Young Adult Fiction

The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg

Over the course of one summer, two boys will have to face their biggest fears and decide what they’re willing to risk — to get the thing they want the most. 

Alex in Wonderland by Simon James Green

In the town of Newsands, painfully shy Alex is abandoned by his two best friends for the summer. But he unexpectedly lands a part-time job at Wonderland, a run-down amusement arcade on the seafront, where he gets to know the other teen misfits who work there. Alex starts to come out of his shell, and even starts to develop feelings for co-worker Ben… who, as Alex’s bad luck would have it, has a girlfriend. Then as debtors close in on Wonderland and mysterious, threatening notes start to appear, Alex and his new friends take it on themselves to save their declining employer. But, like everything in Wonderland, nothing is quite what it seems…

Jack of Hearts by Lev AC. Rosen

Meet Jack Rothman. He’s seventeen and loves partying, makeup and boys – sometimes all at the same time. His sex life makes him the hot topic for the high school gossip machine. But who cares? Like Jack always says, ‘it could be worse’. He doesn’t actually expect that to come true.

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

When Griffin’s first love and ex-boyfriend, Theo, dies in a drowning accident, his universe implodes. Even though Theo had moved to California for college and started seeing Jackson, Griffin never doubted Theo would come back to him when the time was right. But now, the future he’s been imagining for himself has gone far off course.

If Griffin is ever to rebuild his future, he must first confront his history, every last heartbreaking piece in the puzzle of his life.

Fantasy & Sci-Fi

Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat

Damen is a warrior hero to his people, and the rightful heir to the throne of Akielos. But when his half brother seizes power, Damen is captured, stripped of his identity, and sent to serve the prince of an enemy nation as a pleasure slave. Beautiful, manipulative, and deadly, his new master, Prince Laurent, epitomizes the worst of the court at Vere. But in the lethal political web of the Veretian court, nothing is as it seems, and when Damen finds himself caught up in a play for the throne, he must work together with Laurent to survive and save his country.

Reverie by Ryan La Sala

All Kane Montgomery knows for certain is that the police found him half-dead in the river. He can’t remember how he got there, what happened after, and why his life seems so different now. And it’s not just Kane who’s different, the world feels off, reality itself seems different.

The Last Sun by K.D. Edwards

Rune Saint John, last child of the fallen Sun Court, is hired to search for Lady Judgment’s missing son, Addam, on New Atlantis, the island city where the Atlanteans moved after ordinary humans destroyed their original home. In looking for Addam, can Rune find the truth behind his family’s death and the torments of his past?

Plays, Classic, and Poetry

The Inheritance by Matthew Lopez

You have to wonder why there isn’t a word in the English language for the fireworks that go off in your brain when you finally kiss someone you’ve wanted for years. Or for the intimacy and tenderness you feel as you hold the hand of a suffering friend.

A generation after the height of the AIDS crisis, what is it like to be a young gay man in New York? How many words are there now for the different kinds of pain, the different kinds of love

Everybody’s Talking about Jamie by Tom MacRae

Jamie New is sixteen and lives on a council estate in Sheffield.
Jamie doesn’t quite fit in.
Jamie is terrified about the future.
Jamie is going to be a sensation.
Supported by his brilliant, loving mum and surrounded by his friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies, and steps out of the darkness into the spotlight.
Sixteen: the edge of possibility. Time to make your dreams come true

Maurice by E.M. Forster

Maurice is heartbroken over unrequited love, which opened his heart and mind to his own sexual identity. In order to be true to himself, he goes against the grain of society’s often unspoken rules of class, wealth, and politics.

The Collected Poems of A.E. Housman

Housman’s melodic and memorable poems have been popular for over a century. He writes typically of lost love, of the brevity of happiness, of young soldiers doomed to die. Admirers have found his work elegant and resonant; detractors have thought much of it mannered and glib. But Housman speaks with two voices: the smooth texts conceal a dark sub-text. This tormented and secretive man wrote poems alive with indirect self-disclosure

Comics & Graphic Novels

Seven Days by by Venio Tachibana and Rihito Takarai

It is rumored that Touji Seryou, one of the more popular boys at school, would go out with anyone who asks him out on a Monday morning. But on this particular Monday morning, the first person he meets at the school gate is no other than Yuzuru Shino, Seryou’s senpai at the archery club. On a whim, and well-aware of Seryou’s reputation, Shino asks Seryou to go out with him. Thinking that it will be treated as a joke, they’re both guys after all, imagine Shino’s surprise when Seryou takes him up on the offer! There is a catch, though. While Seryou does go out with the first girl who asks him out on a Monday morning, the other side of the coin is – by the end of the week, he will break up with that person. In essence, Seryou is a lover with a one-week expiration date. But will Shino prove to be the exception to that rule?

Bloom by Kevin Panetta

Now that high school is over, Ari is dying to move to the big city with his ultra-hip band—if he can just persuade his dad to let him quit his job at their struggling family bakery. Though he loved working there as a kid, Ari cannot fathom a life wasting away over rising dough and hot ovens. But while interviewing candidates for his replacement, Ari meets Hector, an easygoing guy who loves baking as much as Ari wants to escape it. As they become closer over batches of bread, love is ready to bloom . . . that is, if Ari doesn’t ruin everything.

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more…?

Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare, Vol. 1 by Yuhki Kamatani

Not only is high schooler Tasuku Kaname the new kid in town, he is also terrified that he has been outed as gay. Just as he’s contemplating doing the unthinkable, Tasuku meets a mysterious woman who leads him to a group of people dealing with problems not so different from his own. In this realistic, heartfelt depiction of LGBT+ characters from different backgrounds finding their place in the world, a search for inner peace proves to be the most universal experience of all

Middle-Grade

King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender

Twelve-year-old Kingston James is sure his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly. When Khalid unexpectedly passed away, he shed what was his first skin for another to live down by the bayou in their small Louisiana town. Khalid still visits in dreams, and King must keep these secrets to himself as he watches grief transform his family.

Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle

Nate Foster has big dreams. His whole life, he’s wanted to star in a Broadway show. (Heck, he’d settle for *seeing* a Broadway show.) But how is Nate supposed to make his dreams come true when he’s stuck in Jankburg, Pennsylvania, where no one (except his best pal Libby) appreciates a good show tune? With Libby’s help, Nate plans a daring overnight escape to New York. There’s an open casting call for E.T.: The Musical, and Nate knows this could be the difference between small-town blues and big-time stardom.

Marco Impossible by Hannah Moskowitz

Best friends Stephen and Marco know a thing or two about impossible missions. It’s thanks to them that cell phone thieves at school are apprehended, lost puppies are returned, and gym uniforms are lent out to the forgetful thirteen-year-old masses.

A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil Bildner

A heartfelt and relatable novel from Phil Bildner, weaving the real history of Los Angeles Dodger and Oakland Athletic Glenn Burke–the first professional baseball player to come out as gay–into the story of a middle-school kid learning to be himself.

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

The post LGBTQ+ Alphabet Recommendations: G for Gay Fiction appeared first on The Nerd Daily.