Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Dana L. Davis‘ Fake Famous, which is out November 7th.

Red Morgan is fresh out of high school. With signature red curls and a remarkable singing voice, the bubbly teenager is a devoted daughter and big sister. The world should be her oyster. But Red already knows exactly where her future lies: the family farm in Orange City, Iowa.

Zay-Zay Waters is at the top of her game. The Brooklyn-born singer has it all―talent, fame, even a smokin’ hot boyfriend. But life in the limelight isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And when a video of Red singing in the mud―looking and sounding exactly like Zay-Zay herself―goes viral, the pop star begins to hatch a plan.

Red is the key to Zay-Zay’s scheme. With much-needed money on the line, Red agrees to step into Zay-Zay’s famous shoes for one week. But when planned appearances start to go off script, Red may be in over her head. Can she really pull it off?

One

Dear Universe. Show me something good. That’s pretty much what I say every morning. I’m not totally convinced the Universe is listening. Or, since the Universe speaks so many different languages, maybe today when I said good, the Universe thought I said, I’d like to be almost knocked unconscious by a metal hog feeder.

“See this bump?” I take a step forward, neck extended so the purple bruise on my forehead is on full display. “Outside the chicken coop? Becky attacked me during morning chores! I bumped my head running from her. Have a heart. Don’t be like Becky.”

Her lips curl into a snarl. Dang, that must’ve pissed her off.

“I mean, I wasn’t . . . calling you a chicken.”

She pulls her arm back, and suddenly a plastic bottle is soaring at me. I make an attempt to duck, but—BLAM!—it strikes dead center on my forehead, right on the same spot from earlier this morning!

“Ow.” I cover my throbbing bruise with the palm of my hand.

“Maybe you should wear a helmet in the morning,” Loren calls out from the top bunk of the bed we share, her long fuzzy ponytail flopping from side to side as she stares down at me with a sad shake of her head. “And you know Daeshya doesn’t speak English, right?”

“Oh, she understands me.” I reach into the crib to pick up the bundle of fat, slobbers, and soggy diaper that is our ten-month-old sister, Daeshya. She feels as heavy as one of our plastic grain bags stuffed to the brim with field corn. “Don’t you, Dae-Dae?”

Daeshya’s chubby fingers grab a handful of my messy, kinky curls. “Wed!”

“It’s Red. Rrrr. Red.” I peel her fingers open and bop her on the nose.

“Why is she sleeping in here, anyway?” Loren yawns, pulling her Stranger Things comforter under her chin with one hand and sliding on her thick square-framed glasses with the other. “You guys woke me up like seventeen times last night.”

“Helping Mom. You should try it sometime!” I hurl the baby bottle in Loren’s direction, but it ricochets off the wood of the bunk and lands on our dusty wool area rug with a thud.

Loren snorts. “Hope you’re not signing up for sports at your new college.”

“I meant to do that.” I reach to grab the bottle. “I’m gonna make sure our brothers are up and moving. Stuff your face with a Pop-Tart or a Cheerio and meet me behind the south barn. Manure drop-off in twenty minutes.”

“Why do we always get stuck with poop?” Loren whines. “Shouldn’t we be making needlepoint coasters, weaving spools of thread onto looms, mashing potatoes for shepherd’s pie?”

“We are not the cast of Anne of Green Gables.” I reposition Daeshya higher on my hip. “Also, what’s poop to you is actually—”

“Disgusting?”

“No, I was gonna say fodder for a healthy crop of oats.”

Loren groans. “Do you always have to sound like such a farmer?”

“I am a farmer. You are too. Now hurry up and get dressed.”

I move into the hallway just as my eleven-year-old brother, Elijah, stumbles out of his bedroom in a tank top, shorts, sunglasses, and a Minecraft backpack slung over his shoulder. His brown skin shines under the hallway lights.

“Elijah, why is your skin . . . shiny?”

“I’m wearing suntan lotion.” He rubs his tired eyes with one hand while the other fiddles with his phone.

“Please tell me you’re joking.”

“I tried to talk him out of dressing like he’s going to a pool party, Red.” Jaxson’s moving down the hall now. The reclaimed floorboards of our old, rustic farmhouse creak and moan underneath him. Thankfully Jax is dressed appropriately for a day out in the fields—in jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. His coiffed dreads are pulled into a ponytail and somehow maneuvered through the opening of a straw hat, so his hair flails out in all directions on top of his head. “But he said he wanted to get a tan because ‘Black people can tan too.’”

Elijah nods like, yeah, that’s exactly what he said. “What? They can.”

Jax turns to me. “By the way, best sister in the world. I need a favor.” He rubs his hands together. “You know my friend Chris, right?”

I switch Daeshya from one hip to the other. “Is that the guy with one green eyebrow or the one who barks at people in the hallway at school?”

“Green eyebrow.” Jax leans on my shoulder, and his Axe body spray burns my nose. No idea why he thinks he should drown himself in it before detasseling corn, but . . . whatever. “He’s working at Wacky Waters all summer. He said he can get me a job there as a lifeguard.”

I nod. “But you can’t swim.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Jax asks. “It’s the kids’ section. Two feet of water.”

“You’re a farmer, not a lifeguard,” I point out. “Mom and Dad will say no.”

“That’s why I need you to ask them for me.” He grins, exposing a mouthful of silver braces. “They like you better than the rest of us. For real.”

“Jax, stop.” I roll my eyes. “Mom and Dad like their children all the same.”

Elijah and Jaxson exchange looks, then burst into laughter.

“Good one, Red.” Jaxson slaps his knee. “Only you can make me laugh this early in the morning.”

“Sis, I swear.” Elijah lays a hand on my shoulder. “You got major jokes.”

I shake him off. “Whatever. You guys suck. And not to make you feel worse than you already should, but if I happen to see Green Eyebrow at Wacky Waters today, I’ll say hi.” I slide my phone out of the back pocket of my jeans and show Elijah and Jaxson a text from my best friend, Melissa. They both lean forward to read.

Wacky Waters today!!! Can’t wait to see yoooou!

“What?!” Elijah screeches.

Jax shakes his head. “See? The clear favorite!”

“Mom and Dad have nothing to do with this.” I laugh. “My a cappella class is celebrating. We graduated. Most of us are off to college. We deserve a day of fun. Now move. Get to detasseling, detasselers.” I stick out my hand. “‘Go Farmers’ on three. One . . . two . . .”

“I swear, man.” Elijah pushes my hand away. “Humans have invented Wi-Fi, but nobody thought to invent a machine that detassels corn?” He moves off, muttering under his breath.

Jaxson trails behind, muttering as well.

I watch them go. “Should we tell them there is a machine that detassels corn?”

Daeshya blows a spit bubble.

“Good point. Don’t tell.”

I continue, then push open the bathroom door at the end of the hallway to find Mom. She’s already dressed for a day of work at our store, running bathwater and tossing plastic toys into our claw-foot tub. The floor still has the same green and pink tiles from when this house was built in the 1940s. Though Mom calls the colors avocado and rose and says we kids should be thankful we live in such a historically decorated home, I think historically decorated is just a phrase she made up.

“Special delivery,” I sing, adding fancy runs to the end of my made-up song. “Deliveeery. Eeee. Oooooh yeah.”

Daeshya squeals, kicking her little legs and extending her hands with glee, nearly jumping into Mom’s outstretched arms.

“Hi, my little ball of sunshine.” Mom hugs and kisses Daeshya. “And geez, Red . . .” She glances up at me. “You sound good. Make me a playlist of you singing.”

“Oh staaahp it, Ma.” I pretend to flip my hair over my shoulder. “And when would I have time to make a playlist? After I empty the compost buckets, open the coop, water the plants, candle the eggs, take care of the chicks, wash the pigs, and clean out the barn . . . it’s time for school.”

“You do way too much around here.” Mom groans.

“Wish I could do more.” I lean up against the wall and sigh. “You and Dad are the ones who do too much around here.”

Mom snaps her fingers. “Hey, here’s an idea. Let’s go see Zay-Zay Waters, live. Wouldn’t that be fun? A break from all this hard work?”

“Last time I checked, tickets to a Zay-Zay Waters concert were like five hundred dollars. At least for the seats where you can actually see her.”

“Oh.” Mom frowns. “How much are the tickets where you can’t see her?”

“Free.” I whip out my phone, tap the YouTube icon, and find a clip from an episode of Oh, So You Think You Can Sing Live? Zay-Zay sometimes sits in as a guest judge. “Check this out.”

Zay demonstrates a complicated part of a song to a young singer. Her long blue nails tap out the rhythm while she sings.

Mom studies the screen. “I know you think I’m way off when I say it, but I swear you two look alike.”

“Mom, bye!” I laugh. “She has waist-length black hair. I have curly red hair. She has millions of dollars. I have ten cents. She’s uptown; I’m down on the farm. She also has a smoking-hot boyfriend, and I . . . do not.”

“Who cares about all of that? You have similar bone structure. And the skin tone is a perfect match. Besides,” she goes on, “that’s not even Zay-Zay’s hair!”

“But that’s definitely her boyfriend.” I sigh dreamily. “Koi Kalawai‘a and Zay-Zay Waters. They’re perfect. Relationship goals.”

“Nineteen-year-old-millionaire love is the new goal?” Mom laughs as she sets Daeshya gently into the tub. The kid plops right into the water without Mom taking off her diaper. “By the way, how’d Dae sleep?”

She woke up fourteen times.

Threw a bottle at my head fifteen times.

Ripped curtains off the wall.

Stuck her finger in a light socket. I thought she was dead.

“’Twas a peaceful night,” I lie. “I think she only woke up . . . once? Maybe? And at sunrise, she hugged me and gave me a kiss.”

Mom beams. “How come she always behaves so well with you?”

“I have the magic touch?” I change the subject, since lying makes my elbows itch. I scratch at them. “Oh yeah. Eli has on shorts, a tank top, and suntan lotion, and is headed out to detassel corn, and Jax wants to be a lifeguard this summer at Wacky Waters.”

“Eli will be burnt up and eaten alive by mosquitos.” Mom digs Dae’s wet diaper out of the tub. “And Jax is a farmer, not a lifeguard. He can’t even swim.”

“I tried to tell him.” I wave at Dae. “I’m off to help Dad with the manure delivery. Bye, Dae. Stay sweet.” You little terror.

She picks up a plastic bath toy and is about to toss it at my head, but I quickly duck into the hallway.

#

The sun is blazing, though it’s early morning. Tiny beads of sweat form at my brow as I move around the corner of the farmhouse toward the south barn, where the manure drop-off is happening, my leather boots kicking up dust along the way. Soon, the peaceful quiet of this place will be replaced with a flurry of activity. I can almost hear the kids screaming with glee, smell the many food carts we’ll have on the property, and inhale the thrill in the air as pretty much all of Orange City, Iowa, makes its way to the Morgan Family Farm for the three-day event that is the annual Summer Strawberry Festival.

Up ahead, I see a man in a flannel shirt, Levi’s, and mud-splattered rubber boots leaning against a dump truck near the fence of the barn. I rush to him. “Hiya.” I extend a hand. “Hope you haven’t been waiting long.”

“What else do you hope?” He pushes off the rear bumper of the truck and sort of scowls at me. “I got a delivery for Ellis Morgan. Been calling his phone. No answer.”

I see the fresh pile of manure dumped near the fence.

“I can sign for it,” I say.

He glares at me, as if a girl signing for two hundred pounds of manure seems . . . off to him. “You work here or somethin’?”

“If you don’t get paid, can you really call it work?” When I take the clipboard out of his hands, I notice Loren moving toward us, holding her phone, staring at the screen like she’s watching something brand new and exciting. I scribble my signature on the line. “There. All good.”

“Is that what you think?” He picks at his teeth and runs a hand through greasy hair that’s possibly blond under the thick layers of grime. “I got two more deliveries today. Gon’ be late for both now, thanks to y’all.”

He snatches back the clipboard, grunts, and climbs into his truck. Before I have a chance to sarcastically tell him to have a nice day, he’s driving off. I move to where Loren now sits on our wooden fence, her leather boots dangling off the side as she watches a clip from Oh, So You Think You Can Sing Live?

“C’mon, sis. Put that away. The sooner we get started, the sooner we get done.”

“One sec.” The light from Loren’s phone reflects in her glasses as she stares like she’s stuck in a trance. “Oh my gosh!” she gasps. “He got the platinum buzzer. He’s going to New York City! Look!”

I peer over her shoulder. Sure enough, silver confetti rains down on the boy as he jumps up and down.

I dig my gloves out of the pocket of my jeans. “Let’s grab shovels from the barn and start mixing the soil into the manure before Dad gets here.”

Loren’s eyes are glued to her phone. “He’s about to start crying. I can feel it. I love when they cry.”

“You have five seconds to put that thing away.” I climb onto the fence and stand slowly, lining up my boots on the thin wooden plank like I’m standing on a tightrope. “One . . . two . . . three . . .” I stomp, holding out my arms to keep my balance.

“Hey!” Loren grips the fence with one hand so she doesn’t fall. “What’s your problem?”

“Four . . . four and a half . . . four and three-quarters.” I stomp again. Harder.

“Stop counting! I’m not Daeshya.” Loren slides off the fence and lands with a thud. “And you look like Black Dorothy up there. Hey, be careful. Or a tornado is gonna blow you off to Oz.”

“I’m down for that.” I start singing. “Somewheeeeeere over the raiin-bow.”

Loren positions her phone in my direction as I sing. “I’m recording this, Mariah Scary.”

“Waaaay up hiiigh.” I jut out my hip and hold my hand exactly the way Zay-Zay Waters does when she really goes in.

“I know you’re only joking, but you sound sooo good.” Loren pulls at her fuzzy ponytail with her free hand, looking up at me like I’m something special. “I wish I could sing like you.” She points. “But be careful, sis. The fence is broken in that sp—”

Her warning is one second too late. The portion of the fence gives way, my foot slips, and I fall. And honestly, I never thought falling in slow motion was a real thing outside of movie magic. Until this very moment. I fall ever so slowly, and after what feels like minutes instead of seconds, where I’m contemplating the meaning of life—SPLAT—I’m splayed out in the pile of freshly dumped manure, staring up at the sky.

“Oh. My. Ga,” Loren whispers.

When I turn to look at her, I can hear the manure squish underneath me. Ewww. We stare at one another in total silence. Her, with her eyes stretched as wide as I’ve ever seen them stretch, and me, with my eyes burning from the stench of manure in my lashes. In spite of her jaw-dropped gaze, she’s actually still holding up her phone, recording me. For reasons beyond my understanding, I decide to be a good sport and . . . keep on singing.

“Somewhere over the rainbow, smells real bad.” I force myself onto my feet so the manure goes squish, squish beneath my boots. I strike Zay-Zay Waters’s popular pose with my hip jutted out. “There’s some stuff that I landed in. Oops, wish I never haaad.”

Loren howls, bending over in a fit of hysterical laughter. “Screaming!”

“I’m Zay-Zay Waters, ya’ heard me.” I imitate Zay-Zay’s super-strong Brooklyn accent. “Comin’ to you live from the Morgan Family Farm in Orange City, Iowa.” I shake off a clump of manure. “Lemme know if you think you can sing live!!”

“What on earth?”

We turn to see Dad.

“What the heck are y’all doin’?” He yanks off his old, worn Iowa Hawkeyes baseball cap and pulls on the strands of his short fro. The light-brown skin on his face twists to form a disgusted scowl.

Uh-oh.

Loren lowers her phone. “Red . . . fell.”

“I did.” I clumsily climb my way out of the pile and make a pitiful attempt to shake some off, but it’s sorta stuck to me like glue. “Sorry.”

“Go on and hose off behind the barn, Red.” Dad steps back, like he’s afraid I might get manure on him. “Then shower inside before you get some sort of incurable bacterial infection.” He turns to Loren. “I’m gonna hose down the greenhouse and come back to help.” He moves off, his heavy leather boots kicking up dust as he mutters and mumbles to himself. When he disappears around the corner of the hayfield, I turn to Loren.

“That went well.”

“If by well you mean . . . smell.” Loren pushes her glasses back onto her nose. “Then yes. I agree.”

I extend my arms, which are covered in manure. “Is it weird that I have the sudden, overwhelming urge to give you a long hug and never let go?”

“Don’t you dare touch me!” She stumbles back. “Go hose off and shower, like Dad said! Hurry, before the stench of you makes me drop dead.”

“Fine. But you better delete that video.”

“You kidding?” She stares down at her phone. “Black Dorothy never sounded so good. I’m gonna edit this and save it for forever.”

I extend my arms again. “I’mma hug you. Tight.”

She recoils. “Fine! I’ll delete it!”

“You better!” As I take off toward where we keep the hose behind the barn, a clump of manure slides down my back. I wonder if I’m the first human to fall from a fence into a pile of manure. With the way the Universe works . . . probably not.

The post Read The First Chapter From ‘Fake Famous’ by Dana L. Davis appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Jerzie Jhames has done everything in her power to land a lead role in Broadway, and with Roman and Jewel, a Romeo and Juliet inspired hip-hopera, she has the opportunity to do just that. The cast is diverse and features lots of interesting twists on the original play. However, she’s beat out on the lead role by superstar R&B singer Cinny, and cast as an understudy. At rehearsals she begins falling for Cinny’s co-star Zeppelin Reid, which is a terrible idea, considering Cinny seems to be going after him as well. When a video of Jerzie and Zeppelin singing together goes viral and the public starts weighing in, it spells a world of trouble for Jerzie. She’s going to find out very quickly that while the price of fame can be costly, family, love, and friendship are priceless.

If I’m being completely honest here, the beginning was a little rocky for me. I felt like I was thrust into a cacophonous world and needed to find my bearings, much like Jerzie is trying to quell her nerves on the way to her audition. Jerzie is quite a likeable young person in my opinion, she’s quirky, but has studied hard and is confident (mostly) in her abilities, that her feelings of disappointment are palpable when Cinny is announced as the lead. I also loved the relationship she had with her Aunt Karla. It was a genuine connection with a family member. Honestly, her whole family dynamic was really sweet and supportive, which I enjoyed seeing. Her parents, brother, and friends are behind her even when she’s doing things she’s not supposed to. They do their best to guide her, but aren’t afraid to set her down and let her know what the deal is.

As with many retellings, I often find myself falling into the trap of comparing the two stories. I didn’t feel myself doing that as much with this story, and I loved that I could point out elements within Roman and Jewel that were similar to Romeo and Juliet, but also appreciate the diversion from the source material. Dana L. Davis certainly made this story her own, and I loved that. While the story still centres around young people doing some foolish things, I feel like Dana L. Davis gave them a little more common sense, which I appreciated. After all, while teens can be impulsive, they can also make some pretty solid choices.

This is probably going to sound ridiculous coming from me (because you all know I love romance) but I could have gone without the love triangle sub plot. I felt like it was a pretty loosely explored part of the story, and while if it had been fleshed out could have had some serious potential for even more drama, I think the conflict that wound up developing with Cinny within the musical and on a professional level took centre stage. That one had more collateral damage and I think really was what pulled me into the story more completely than anything else. Of course, Jerzie and Zeppelin were adorable, and I loved the inclusion of Italian into the story.

While this story is about a Broadway musical and centred around the play, I honestly wished I had more of this. Aside from musical references and some minimal stage production words, I felt that this needed to be more fleshed out. While the bare bones of this might make it more appealing to a reader that doesn’t know anything about Broadway or about how musicals work, it didn’t work for me. In my own personal opinion, I don’t feel like this added anything to the story, other than an occasional “oh I love that musical/song”.

Overall, Roman and Jewel was quite an enjoyable way to spend my first evening of the year, and I’m excited to see it published and out on the shelves. My personal rating is a 7/10, and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next! If you’ve been looking for a fun and quick Romeo and Juliet retelling, this should definitely be on your list!

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

Will you be picking up Roman and Jewel? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

If Romeo and Juliet got the Hamilton treatment…who would play the leads? This vividly funny, honest, and charming romantic novel by Dana L. Davis is the story of a girl who thinks she has what it takes…and the world thinks so, too.

Jerzie Jhames will do anything to land the lead role in Broadway’s hottest new show, Roman and Jewel, a Romeo and Juliet inspired hip-hopera featuring a diverse cast and modern twists on the play. But her hopes are crushed when she learns mega-star Cinny won the lead…and Jerzie is her understudy.

Falling for male lead Zeppelin Reid is a terrible idea–especially once Jerzie learns Cinny wants him for herself. Star-crossed love always ends badly. But when a video of Jerzie and Zepp practicing goes viral and the entire world weighs in on who should play Jewel, Jerzie learns that while the price of fame is high, friendship, family, and love are priceless.

The post Review: Roman and Jewel by Dana L. Davis appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

You Have a Match by Emma Lord
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the beloved author of Tweet Cute comes Emma Lord’s You Have a Match, a YA novel of family, friendship, romance and sisterhood…

Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The first book in an epic, heart-pounding fantasy duology about two royal heirs betrothed to be married, but whose loyalties are torn, and a ruthless enemy who threatens their world, perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Hafsah Faizal, and Renée Ahdieh.

Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A novel-in-verse about a young girl coming-of-age and stepping out of the shadow of her former best friend. Perfect for readers of Elizabeth Acevedo and Nikki Grimes.

When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From debut author Pamela Harris comes a timely, gripping teen novel about a boy who must take up the search for his sister when she goes missing from a neighbourhood where black girls’ disappearances are too often overlooked. Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Tiffany D. Jackson.

Wench by Maxine Kaplan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A funny, fiercely feminist YA epic fantasy—following the adventures of a tavern wench.

A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

As two kingdoms come closer to conflict, loyalties are tested, love is threatened, and an old enemy resurfaces who could destroy them all, in this stunning conclusion to bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer’s Cursebreaker series.

Roman and Jewel by Dana L. Davis
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

If Romeo and Juliet got the Hamilton treatment…who would play the leads? This vividly funny, honest, and charming romantic novel by Dana L. Davis is the story of a girl who thinks she has what it takes…and the world thinks so, too.

Lore by Alexandra Bracken
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Darkest Minds comes a sweepingly ambitious, high-octane tale of power, destiny, love and redemption.

The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A slick, twisty YA page-turner about the daughter of a con artist who is taken hostage in a bank heist.

Don’t Tell a Soul by Kirsten Miller
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Stay up all night with this modern day Rebecca! Perfect for fans of Truly Devious—a haunting story about a new girl in an old town filled with dark secrets . . . that might just kill her.

Every Single Lie by Rachel Vincent
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this gripping YA novel about social media bullying and half-truths, one girl’s discovery of a dead baby in her high school locker room rocks an entire community. 

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

International phenomenon Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give in this searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood.

What January 2021 YA releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post January 2021 YA Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Prepare yourselves because this list of 2021 young adult book releases will see you adding several to your TBR! With new releases from favourites, such as Kristin Cashore, Neal Shusterman, Cassandra Clare, and Julie Murphy, as well as debuts from the likes of Ellie Eaton, Angeline Boulley, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, and many more! Plus, the YA genre is absolutely delivering with gorgeous covers!

Want more 2021 book releases? Check out our list of Most Anticipated releases, Fantasy and Sci-Fi releases, Queer releases, and Queer SFF releases.

Read on to discover our January to June 2021 releases and tell us what you’re looking forward to in the comments below!

JANUARY

Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A historical YA novel that takes place during the Greenwood Massacre of 1921, in an area of Tulsa, OK, known as the Black Wall Street.

The Divines by Ellie Eaton
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

With the emotional power of Normal People and the reflective haze of The Girls, a compulsively readable literary debut set in a secluded boarding school, exploring the intoxicating, destructive relationships between teenage girls. 

Roman and Jewel by Dana L. Davis
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

If Romeo and Juliet got the Hamilton treatment…who would play the leads? This vividly funny, honest, and charming romantic novel by Dana L. Davis is the story of a girl who thinks she has what it takes…and the world thinks so, too.

You Have a Match by Emma Lord
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the beloved author of Tweet Cute comes Emma Lord’s You Have a Match, a YA novel of family, friendship, romance and sisterhood…

Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The first book in an epic, heart-pounding fantasy duology about two royal heirs betrothed to be married, but whose loyalties are torn, and a ruthless enemy who threatens their world, perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Hafsah Faizal, and Renée Ahdieh.

Winterkeep (Graceling Realm #4) by Kristin Cashore
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The highly anticipated next book in the New York Times bestselling, award-winning Graceling Realm series, which has sold 1.3 million copies.

Crown of Bones by A.K. Wilder
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For fans of epic fantasies and sweeping adventures, this ensemble cast will immerse you in a world of unique magic, breathtaking action and unforgettable characters.

Glimpsed by G. F. Miller
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Perfect for fans of Geekerella and Jenn Bennett, this charming, sparkly rom-com follows a wish-granting teen forced to question if she’s really doing good—and if she has the power to make her own dreams come true.

FEBRUARY

What Big Teeth by Rose Szabo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Rose Szabo’s thrilling debut is a dark and thrilling novel about a teen girl who returns home to her strange, wild family after years of estrangement, perfect for fans of Wilder Girls. 

The Girl from Shadow Springs by Ellie Cypher
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Revenant meets True Grit with a magical twist in this thrilling and atmospheric debut fantasy about two teens who must brave a frozen wasteland and the foes within it to save their loved ones and uncover a deadly secret.

Of Silver and Shadow by Jennifer Gruenke
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Ren Kolins is a silver wielder—a dangerous thing to be in the kingdom of Erdis, where magic has been outlawed for a century. But when a wealthy rebel leader discovers her secret, he offers her a fortune to join his revolution. The caveat: she won’t see a single coin until they overthrow the King.

A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When Dimple Met Rishi meets Ugly Delicious in this funny, smart romantic comedy, in which two Vietnamese-American teens fall in love and must navigate their newfound relationship amid their families’ age-old feud about their competing, neighbouring restaurants.

As Far as You’ll Take Me by Phil Stamper
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The author of The Gravity of Us crafts another heartfelt coming-of-age story about finding the people who become your home–perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli.

Game Changer by Neal Shusterman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This high-concept novel from the National Book Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author of the Arc of a Scythe series tackles the most urgent themes of our time, making this a must-buy for readers who are starting to ask big questions about their own role in the universe.

Love Is a Revolution by Renée Watson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Rene Watson comes a new YA–a love story about not only a romantic relationship but how a girl finds herself and falls in love with who she really is. 

Love Is for Losers by Wibke Brueggemann
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This is a laugh-out-loud exploration of sexuality, family, female friendship, grief, and community. With the heart and hilarity of Netflix’s critically-acclaimed Sex Education, Wibke Brueggemann’s sex positive debut is required reading for Generation Z teens. Think of this as Bridget Jones’ Diary, if it were written by Bridget’s daughter.

MARCH

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When children go missing, people want answers. When children go missing in the small coastal town of Astoria, people look to Wendy for answers. 

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Debut author Angeline Boulley crafts a groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen who must root out the corruption in her community, for readers of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange. 

The Stolen Kingdom by Jillian Boehme
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Nothing is quite as it seems in this thrilling YA fantasy adventure by Jillian Boehme, The Stolen Kingdom!

Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Cast into a well at birth for being one of the magical few who can manipulate memories when people sing, she was saved by Cyril, the opera house’s owner. Since that day, he has given her sanctuary from the murderous world outside. All he asks in return is that she use her power to keep ticket sales high—and that she stay out of sight. For if anyone discovers she survived, Isda and Cyril would pay with their lives.

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The wolves are circling and a young king will face his greatest challenge in the explosive finale of the instant #1 New York Times-bestselling King of Scars Duology.

The Bright and the Pale by Jessica Rubinkowski
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Debut author Jessica Rubinkowski delivers the thrilling first book in an epic Russian folklore–inspired fantasy duology filled with page-turning romance, tragedy, magic, and monsters. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sara Raasch!

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Shadowhunters must catch a killer in Edwardian London in this dangerous and romantic sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling novel Chain of Gold, from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare. 

American Betiya by Anuradha D. Rajurkar
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Fans of Sandhya Menon, Erika Sanchez and Jandy Nelson will identify with this powerful story of a young artist grappling with first love, family boundaries, and the complications of a cross-cultural relationship.

APRIL

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From bestselling author Lynette Noni comes a dark, thrilling YA fantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, and Sabaa Tahir.

The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New York Times–bestselling author Goldy Moldavsky delivers a deliciously twisty YA thriller that’s Scream meets Karen McManus about a mysterious club with an obsession for horror.

In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A young prince must rely on a mysterious stranger to save him when he is kidnapped during his coming-of-age tour in this swoony adventure that is The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Pirates of the Caribbean.

Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

As sweet as a macaron from Laduree, with writing as crisp as a freshly baked baguette, this romantic novel set in Paris about an American ballerina and a charming French boy is parfait for fans of American Royals and Netflix’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

I’m Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter meets Emergency Contact in this stunning story of first love, familial expectations, the power of food, and finding where you belong.

What Beauty There Is by Cory Anderson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An exhilarating, emotionally powerful and superbly written thriller that’s Winter’s Bone meets The Road.

My Epic Spring Break-Up by Kristin Rockaway
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A fun and upbeat paperback original romance about a girl who finds a cheat sheet for love.

Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses by Kristen O’Neal
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Teen Wolf meets Emergency Contact in this sharply observed, hilarious, and heartwarming debut young adult novel about friendship and the hairy side of chronic illness. 

MAY

The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

One of the most twisty, surprising, engaging page-turner YAs you’ll read this year—We Were Liars with sci-fi scope, Lost with a satisfying resolution.

Baby & Solo by Lisabeth Posthuma
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Joel’s new job at the video store is just what the therapist ordered. But what happens if the first true friend he’s made in years finds out about What Was Wrong With Him?

Sixteen Scandals by Sophie Jordan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this irreverent regency romp by New York Times best-selling author Sophie Jordan, newly minted sixteen-year-old Primrose Ainsworth finds herself on a wayward birthday adventure through London with a mysterious hero—perfect for fans of My Lady Jane.

Pumpkin by Julie Murphy
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Return to the beloved world of Julie Murphy’s #1 New York Times bestselling Dumplin’—now a popular Netflix feature film starring Jennifer Aniston—in this fabulously joyful, final companion novel about drag, prom, and embracing your inner Queen.

Off the Record by Camryn Garrett
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The behind-the-scenes access of Almost Famous meets the searing revelations of #metoo in this story of a teen journalist who uncovers the scandal of the decade.

Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Crazy Rich Asians meets The Princess Diaries in this irresistible story about Izumi, a Japanese-American girl who discovers her senior year of high school that she’s really a princess of Japan.

Counting Down with You by Tashie Bhuiyan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this sparkling and romantic YA debut, a reserved Bangladeshi teenager has twenty-eight days to make the biggest decision of her life after agreeing to fake date her school’s resident bad boy.

Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Nina LaCour, this queer coming-of-age story from the author of The Falling in Love Montage is wry, multilayered, and unflinchingly honest.

JUNE

Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly deVos
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Shaun of the Dead meets Dumplin’ in this bitingly funny YA thriller about a kickass group of teens battling a ravenous group of zombies.

Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A reinterpretation of the classic Greek myth of Daphne and Apollo, Daughter of Sparta by debut author Claire Andrews turns the traditionally male-dominated mythology we know into a heart-pounding and empowering female-led adventure.

The Ghosts We Keep by Mason Deaver
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli, this book will rip your heart out before showing you how to heal from tragedy and celebrate life in the process.

Sisters of the Snake by Sasha Nanua and Sarena Nanua
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Deadly magic, hidden temples, and dark prophecies: Sisters of the Snake is an action-packed, immersive fantasy that will thrill fans of The Crown’s Game and The Tiger at Midnight. 

Simone Breaks All the Rules by Debbie Rigaud
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Late bloomers unite! This fresh and funny #ownvoices novel from rising star Debbie Rigaud is perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Booksmart.

A Season of Sinister Dreams by Tracy Banghart
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Furyborn meets A Curse So Dark and Lonely in this courtly feminist fantasy from Grace and Fury author Tracy Banghart.

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Gossip Girl meets Get Out in Ace of Spades, a YA contemporary thriller by debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé about two students, Devon & Chiamaka, and their struggles against an anonymous bully. 

We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A wedding harpist disillusioned with love and a hopeless romantic cater-waiter flirt and fight their way through a summer of weddings in this effervescent romantic comedy from the acclaimed author of Today Tonight Tomorrow.

What YA books are you looking forward to releasing between January and June 2021? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 2021 YA Book Releases You Need To Have On Your TBR appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

In Dana L. Davis’s The Voice In My Head, our main character, Indigo, and her family go on a road trip and the story will take the reader on a journey too with it filled with plenty of emotion. Not 70 pages in, you may find yourself already crying and laughing over a beautifully written story whose characters will stay with you forever.

Indigo was unique and smart and every member of the Phillips family were great, plus Pastor Jed of course! The contrasting and intriguing characters really sparked the story, which saw the dialogue and storylines between every character were authentic and it’s easy to get attached to the characters.

The author blends in not only humour, love, and wit into the story, but she also deals with important issues such as suicide and euthanasia. The relationship between the two sisters, Indigo and Violet, was so special, although it would have been great to see more of prior to Violet being diagnosed with a terminal illness through the usage of flashbacks. Indigo’s growth throughout the novel and how her perspective on the world changed was great character development.

Lyrical, honest, and perfectly paced, Dana’s writing will suck you in and won’t let you go. For me, when I started reading, I read for nearly an hour and lost track of the time as I was completely engrossed in the book. Throughout the day, my mind kept wandering back to the book. It was also intriguing to see the creative approach Dana weaved when it came to God and the Phillips family and this shouldn’t deter you if you’re not religious.

If you’re wary of romance, never fear! This book is full of love and heart, but our main character, Indigo, doesn’t have a love interest.

The Voice in My Head is the story of a family dealing with a tragedy, but it is also a story about living. This moving tale teaches us to treasure our short lives and take the opportunities presented to us! There is a lot to take away from this book and I devoured the entire book in a single day, which is something I rarely do. The Voice in My Head is a bittersweet and beautiful coming-of-age novel and I would recommend it to anyone who loves contemporary young adult fiction.

The Voice In My Head is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Have you read The Voice In My Head? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

From the author of Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now comes an unforgettable novel about facing the impossible, dealing with family chaos—and making sense of everything you are.

For Indigo Phillips, life has always been her and her identical twin—Violet. The perfectly dressed, gentle, popular sister. But now Violet is terminally ill and, in a few hours, plans to die on her own terms via medically assisted suicide. Even though she and Violet have drifted apart lately, Indigo doesn’t know how to face life without the only person who really understands her. Until suddenly she hears a mysterious voice claiming to be God, insisting that if she takes Violet to a remote rock formation in the Arizona desert, her sister will live.

Indigo is sure she’s losing it. But Violet agrees to go—if their incredibly dysfunctional family accompanies them on their trek from Seattle to Arizona. Indigo can barely be in the same zip code as her distant mother and controlling big sister, much less keep the peace on a road trip. Speaking her mind is the only way she can deal. But between facing senseless mishaps and strange lodgings, and meeting even stranger folks along the way, Indigo will learn shocking things about those she thought she knew too well. When a sequence of wrenching secrets detonates, Indigo must figure out how to come to terms with her sister, her family…and the voice in her head.

The post Review: The Voice In My Head by Dana L. Davis appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

From Victoria Aveyard’s final instalment in the Red Queen series, to new books by popular YA authors Jay Kristoff, Julie Murphy, Sarah J Maas and Rick Riordan! Then there’s a new novel from the king of horror, Stephen King! If you’re after a little fantasy, try Raymond E. Feist’s King of Ashes, or perhaps if sci-fi is more your speed, Claire North’s 84K will be perfect for you.

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

War Storm by Victoria Aveyard
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

In the epic conclusion to Victoria Aveyard’s stunning Red Queen series, Mare must embrace her fate and summon all her power… for all will be tested, but not all will survive. War is coming, and all Mare has fought for hangs in the balance. Will victory be enough to topple the Silver kingdoms? Or will the little lightning girl be forever silenced?

LIFEL1K3 by Jay Kristoff
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

Eve isn’t looking for secrets. The robot gladiator she spent six months working on is a wreck and now she’s discovered she can destroy electronics with the power of her mind, and the puritanical Brotherhood are building a coffin her size. But when Eve discovers the ruins of an android boy named Ezekiel, her entire world comes crashing down. With her best friend Lemon Fresh and her robotic conscience, Cricket, in tow, she and Ezekiel will trek across deserts of irradiated glass, infiltrate towering megacities and scour the graveyard of humanity’s greatest folly to save the ones Eve loves, and learn the dark secrets of her past.

The Outsider by Stephen King
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

An eleven-year-old boy is found in a town park, hideously assaulted and murdered. The fingerprints (and later DNA) are unmistakably those of the town’s most popular baseball coach, Terry Maitland, a man of impeccable reputation, with a wife and two daughters. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland coached, orders an immediate and public arrest. Maitland is taken to jail, his claim to innocence scorned. Maitland has a foolproof alibi, with footage to prove that he was in another city when the crime was committed. But that doesn’t save him either.

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

The Winter Solstice. In a week. I was still new enough to being High Lady that I had no idea what my formal role was to be. If we’d have a High Priestess do some odious ceremony, as lanthe had done the year before. A year. Gods, nearly a year since Rhys had called in his bargain, desperate to get me away from the poison of the Spring Court to save me from my despair. Had he been only a minute later, the Mother knew what would have happened. Where I’d now be. Snow swirled and eddied in the garden, catching in the brown fibers of the burlap covering the shrubs My mate who had worked so hard and so selflessly, all without hope that I would ever be with him We had both fought for that love, bled for it. Rhys had died for it.

84K by Claire North
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

What if your life were defined by a number? What if any crime could be committed without punishment, so long as you could afford to pay the fee assigned to that crime? Theo works in the Criminal Audit Office. He assesses each crime that crosses his desk and makes sure the correct debt to society is paid in full. But when Theo’s ex-lover Dani is killed, it’s different. This is one death he can’t let become merely an entry on a balance sheet. Because when the richest in the world are getting away with murder, sometimes the numbers just don’t add up.

The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

When five hyper-successful women agree to appear on a reality series set in New York City called Goal Diggers, the producers never expect the season will end in murder… Brett’s the fan favorite and the object of jealousy and vitriol from her cast mates; Kelly, Brett’s older sister is dismissed as a hanger-on by veteran cast and shares a shocking secret with her sister; Stephanie, the first black cast member and the oldest, is a successful bestselling author of erotic novels; Lauren, the start-up world’s darling whose drinking has gotten out of control, is Goal Diggers’ recovery narrative; and Jen, made rich and famous through her cultishly popular vegan food line plays a holistic hippie for the cameras, but is perhaps the most ruthless of them all when the cameras are off.

Puddin’ by Julie Murphy
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

It is a companion novel to Dumplin’, which follows supporting characters from the first book in the months after Willowdean’s star turn in the Clover City pageant. Millie Michalchuk has gone to fat camp every year since she was a girl, but this year she has new plans to chase her secret dream—and to kiss her crush, Callie Reyes. When circumstances bring the girls together over the course of a semester, they will surprise everyone (especially themselves) by realising they might have more in common than they ever imagined.

The Map of Salt and Stars by Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

This rich, moving, and lyrical debut novel is to Syria what The Kite Runner was to Afghanistan; the story of two girls living eight hundred years apart—a modern-day Syrian refugee seeking safety and a medieval adventurer apprenticed to a legendary mapmaker—places today’s headlines in the sweep of history, where the pain of exile and the triumph of courage echo again and again.

Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now by Dana L. Davis
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

Tiffany Sly lost her mother to cancer and now she has to leave her hometown of Chicago to live with the rich biological dad she’s never known and his four other daughters. She doesn’t fit into her new luxurious, but super-strict, home except the only thing that is bearable is the strange boy across the street, Marcus McKinney. But Tiffany has a secret. Another man claims he’s Tiffany’s real dad—and she only has seven days before he shows up to demand a paternity test and the truth comes out.

King of Ashes by Raymond E. Feist
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

The world of Garn once boasted five great kingdoms, until the King of Ithrace was defeated and every member of his family executed by another king with ambitions to rule the world. The remaining kingdoms remain on the brink of war, but rumour has it that the newborn son of the last king of Ithrace survived, taken by a secret society whose members are trained to infiltrate and spy upon the rich and powerful throughout Garn. On the island of Coaltachin, the secret domain of the Quelli Nacosti, three friends are being schooled in the deadly arts of espionage and assassination: Donte, son of one of the most powerful masters of the order; Hava, a serious girl with fighting abilities that can set any opponent on their back; and Hatu, a strange, conflicted lad in whom fury and calm war constantly, whose hair is a bright and fiery shade of red.

The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

The Trials of Apollo series continues in the third instalment, which is about the formerly glorious god Apollo, cast down to earth in punishment by Zeus, is now an awkward mortal teenager named Lester Papadopoulos. In order to regain his place on Mount Olympus, Lester must restore five Oracles that have gone dark. But he has to achieve this impossible task without having any godly powers and while being duty-bound to a confounding young daughter of Demeter named Meg.

Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

This is a love story. Mike’s love story. Mike Hayes fought his way out of a brutal childhood and into a quiet, if lonely life, before he met Verity Metcalf. V taught him about love, and in return, Mike has dedicated his life to making her happy. He’s found the perfect home, the perfect job, he’s sculpted himself into the physical ideal V has always wanted. He knows they’ll be blissfully happy together. It doesn’t matter that she hasn’t been returning his emails or phone calls. It doesn’t matter that she says she’s marrying Angus. It’s all just part of the secret game they used to play. If Mike watches V closely, he’ll see the signs. If he keeps track of her every move he’ll know just when to come to her rescue…

Check out more of this month’s book releases on our Goodreads list!

The post May Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.