Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Danielle Valentine’s The Dead Husband Cookbook, which is out August 5th 2025.

When infamous chef, restauranter, and television personality Maria Capello’s husband died, the media circus was intense…and quick to cast the blame. Whispers claimed Maria murdered her husband to build her culinary empire on his bones, and that there was an all-too-grisly reason his body was never recovered. Yet for the past few decades, the Capello family maintained their stoney silence—until now.

Thea Woods has no idea why she was chosen to work with Maria on her sure-to-be-infamous memoir, but she doesn’t question her luck. Spirited away to the Capello’s rustic upstate farm, she’s soon embroiled in the mystery—and cut off from the rest of the world. It should be the job of a lifetime, but something’s not quite right with the close-knit clan, and Damien Capello isn’t the only one to go mysteriously missing over the years. As the true story of Maria’s past unfolds and the stench of rot hidden behind the kind coastal grandmother veneer rises, Thea finds herself trapped…and desperately afraid.

Because there are reasons why Damien’s body was never found…and why, in over thirty years, Maria Capello has never revealed the secret ingredient in her most famous recipe.

Someone was cooking. I smelled it the second I walked into our building, a rich and heady scent of meat and onions and garlic simmering together in a pot. My mouth filled with saliva, and for a moment, I forgot all about my wet shoes, the throbbing pain in my shoulder, my weighted- down tote bag and screaming toddler.

Maybe it’s Jacob, I thought, hopeful. Maybe my husband had stepped away from work early for once, picked up one of my old cookbooks, and decided to make dinner. Stranger things have happened.

Ruthie’s voice cut through my thoughts. “MOMMY, MOMMY, MOMMY, MOMMY!” She was always either screaming at the top of her lungs or speaking in a such a low mumble that I had to ask her several times to “please talk just a little louder, honey.”

“Ruthie, Ruthie, Ruthie!” I said in my normal tone, hoping she’d take the hint. The entryway door slammed shut behind us, and I paused, taking a moment to adjust all the things I was carrying: the Hanes Press tote swollen with books; the still-open, drenched umbrella; the reusable grocery bag filled with overpriced bodega staples (toilet paper, milk, the carton of blueberries that currently com-posed 90 percent of Ruthie’s diet); and, of course, Ruthie herself.

“Mommy, did you see the jamrock?” She was trying to say shamrock. It was a week or so before St. Patrick’s Day, and our neighbor had one taped to her front door.

“I did see the shamrock. It’s very pretty.” I was starting to lose the feeling in my right arm. “Do you think you could try walking for a little while, sweetie?”

Ruthie responded by wrapping her arms tighter around my neck and wailing directly into my ear. She’d insisted on being carried half-way through our walk home. She hadn’t liked the wet ground, and she’d wanted to be closer to the umbrella. I couldn’t blame her. I also hated walking around Brooklyn in the rain. But we were inside now, facing four floors of stairs, and I was not an athletic person. My sole experience with working out consisted of a weight-lifting class I’d taken in my late twenties, the optimistically named “Couch to Barbell.” It had promised to turn me into a weightlifter in just three sessions a week for twelve weeks. We hadn’t even started with real weights. We’d started with a broom handle, which the instructor explained was for learning proper weight-lifting form and not building muscle.

I made it to the fourth session before pulling something in my shoulder. From lifting a broom handle. I’d been so embarrassed I never went back, which had meant forfeiting the $195 fee I’d paid in advance, a fortune back when I was on an assistant editor salary. I still felt a twinge of regret whenever I thought of it.

From somewhere within my tote, a sharp chime sounded. It was the specific tone I’d programmed for when my boss emailed— a short, clear, efficient-sounding chirp, like the sound of an old- fashioned metal call bell sitting on a hotel’s reception desk. Whenever I heard it, I imagined Cassandra Hanes placing a single, elegantly manicured finger on a bell, eyebrows raised as she waited for me to give her my full attention. I used to hear that sound multiple times an hour as Cassandra emailed an inside joke or shot me a question about some high-profile project or checked to see if I wanted to grab lunch or a drink. Now, the sound shot a quick jolt of nerves up my spine. Lately, any email Cassandra had for me wasn’t good.

The smell of food grew stronger as I hauled Ruthie up the stairs. It coated the insides of my nostrils so that each time I inhaled it was even more intoxicating. It was earthy mushrooms and rosemary, the sharp tang of mustard, all of it tempered with the honeyed sweetness of caramelized onions. Heavenly.

“Mommy, what’s that smell?” Ruthie asked.

“Someone’s cooking dinner. It smells like a roast.”

Ruthie screwed up her face. “Eww. It’s yucky.”

“Yucky?” I laughed, amused that Ruthie’s palate hadn’t yet caught up to complex tastes and textures and scents.

But as I climbed further, I started to notice it, too. There was something beneath the heavy smell of the meat, something cloying. It reminded me of dying flowers, of fruit going soft in the basket we kept in the corner of our kitchen, and I found myself making the same face Ruthie had, even trying to breathe through my mouth.

Whoever was cooking had done a lot with the mushrooms and onions, but beneath that wonderful smell was something else, something too sweet. The meat they were cooking had gone bad.

It didn’t smell like food anymore. It smelled like rot. Like the decay of dying things.

“This is why you couldn’t come down and help us?” I asked Jacob when Ruthie and I had finally stumbled into our apartment. He was in workout clothes, his forehead red and shiny with sweat.

“I was in the middle of a set,” he explained, breathless. He was panting, face flushed. “I just did ten reps. That’s a personal best.”

I could tell he wanted me to congratulate him, but I didn’t have it in me. Our apartment was a fourth floor walk-up. Standard, for a place in Brooklyn in our budget. Not a big deal when you’re in your twenties; hell when you have a kid, groceries, and a tote bag filled with books to carry.

Oh, and an umbrella. I also had an umbrella.

I glowered at Jacob as he refocused his attention on the pull-up bar hanging from the kitchen doorway. My husband was tall and slender with lean, ropy muscles, dark, wiry hair, and a long nose. The first time we met, he’d reminded me of a dog, a majestic Irish setter loping around some verdant green field, a hunting dog with a job to do, places to see, things to sniff out. It was an association that has only grown stronger the longer I’ve known him.

A podcast droned from the speaker in the kitchen. Something about World War II. Jacob was the only person I knew who worked out while listening to history podcasts.

“If you really needed help, you should have said.” Jacob spoke loudly so I could hear him over the podcast hosts, who were now discussing something called Operation Pedestal. “I didn’t realize you were carrying so much.”

The text I’d sent had literally read, Please come help me I don’t think I can carry all this up, but I was too distracted to point that out, trying to get Ruthie to take off her shoes and coat while she twirled in a lackadaisical circle in the middle of our entryway, singing three words of that song from Frozen, the only lyrics she knew: “I can’t any-more!” They weren’t the right words, but she didn’t know that.

“Ruthie, c’mon,” I said. “Let’s get you out of your wet outside clothes.”

“Mommy, I’m Elsa. I’m dancing.” I finished pulling off her jacket and she darted into the apartment like a puppy finally released from her leash.

I collapsed against the wall. The effort of the climb and the jacket and all of the things clambering for my attention was too much. My bones were tired.

I looked up at Jacob without moving my head from the wall. “Something was going on at the office when I left. Final bids, I think.”

“Bids for the top- secret…Beyoncé memoir?” Jacob grunted, hauling his chin up to the pull- up bar.

I considered it, then shook my head. “I don’t think they would’ve been able to keep a celebrity that big under wraps. Someone would’ve let something slip.” Not to me, of course. Talking to me was still verboten. I hadn’t heard a word about the submission that’d come in Monday, but I’ve been at Hanes long enough to note the signs: the closed-door meetings with the heads of every department, Cassandra hanging around more than usual, shades drawn over the glass walls of her office, assistants hovering at the printers, waiting for pages to spit out so they could secret them away before anyone’s greedy eyes fell on the words. Most editors read on their computers, but Cassandra insisted on ink and paper. She said reading was as much a tactile experience as a mental one. I used to wonder if she huffed printer ink when she was alone in her office. I really did.

And then there’d been the assistants in the bathroom who hadn’t realized I was squatting in one of the stalls, their hushed whispers bouncing off the tiled walls, “Have you read The Dead Husband Cookbook yet?” and “No, have you?”

The Dead Husband Cookbook. It was a fake name, obviously, and didn’t necessarily refer to an actual cookbook. Once upon a time, Cassandra and I would have come up with it together, making a joke of some throwaway line or image in the proposal, laughing until we were breathless. I felt an ache now, remembering. Had she called another editor in to her office to help her come up with this one? A new mentee to replace the one who’d failed her so miserably? The thought turned my stomach. I blinked, hard, to keep tears from forming.

Jacob looked like he was going to say something else, then decided against it and went back to the pull-up bar. “Ruthie’s school called. Did you send in tuition this month?”

I went back to unpacking the bodega groceries. “Not yet.”

“You want me to do it?”

“No,” I said a bit too sharply. Then, adjusting my tone, “It’s fine. I’ll do it.”

Watching him at the bar, I felt my teeth grit together. He’d gotten off before six for once, and instead of starting dinner or putting the dishes away, he’d used the time to work out. But it wasn’t worth the fight, so I did my best to push the annoyance aside. I scanned my shelves of cookbooks, trying to come up with an idea for dinner. The smell of the hallway meat, though rotten, had inspired me to cook.

I pulled The Italian Family Table down from a shelf. My go-to cookbook since forever. It was hopelessly dated, a faded photograph of the famous chef Maria Capello standing in a Tuscan- style kitchen, all rustic wood and terra- cotta floors, Maria wielding a rolling pin like a weapon. It was by far the most tattered and worn of all my cookbooks. It had been my mother’s originally, but I’d taken it with me when I moved away for college, reasoning that it was only fair. Maria had spent more time raising me than my mother had, after all. And I’d never even met her.

The book automatically fell open to a recipe near the middle, manicotti stuffed with braised meat and besciamella, my favorite since I was little. I could still remember making it on Sunday nights during a brief, disastrous year where I’d tried to get my mother to play- act like the two of us were a real family. Dragging a dining room chair across the kitchen so I could stir the meat on the back burner, watching cheese bubble and brown through the dirty glass of the oven. I owed my mother a call, actually. She’d tried to get me over lunch, but I’d let it go to voicemail. The longer I put her off, the worse the call was going to be.

I scanned the ingredients list, though I knew it by heart. I had pasta and pork, and I even had a jar of Capello besciamella sauce, Maria’s brand, which was inevitably better than anything I made regardless of how closely I followed the recipe.

“How do you feel about manicotti?” I asked Jacob.

“You know that dish is the reason I married you,” he said.

He meant it as a joke and I smiled dutifully. But it hit different today. Maybe it was just that I used to know I contributed more to the world than a meal I’d made following someone else’s recipe. Now, I wasn’t so sure.

It wasn’t until much later in the evening, when the manicotti had been made and eaten, when Ruthie was in her favorite pajamas— the Hanna Anderson footie ones covered in lemons, so old we’d had to cut the feet off when she outgrew them— and I was brushing my teeth for bed, thinking about how I’d avoided calling my mother yet again and I really needed to just get it over with, that I remembered I’d gotten an email from Cassandra.

Something foul took root in my stomach as I fumbled for my phone, opened the email, and read. I’d known this email was coming, but the words were still like a punch to the gut. Tears pricked infuriatingly at my eyes. I felt like I needed to sit down.

The email read simply: My office, first thing tomorrow morning.

Which was, of course, the exact email you got before you were informed that you were being let go.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘The Dead Husband Cookbook’ by Danielle Valentine appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Danielle Valentine’s Two Sides To Every Murder, which is out now.

Most people’s births aren’t immortalized in a police report—but Olivia was born during the infamous Camp Lost Lake murders. Seventeen years later, Olivia’s life looks pretty perfect . . . until she discovers the man she calls dad is not her biological father. Now she wants answers about her bloodline, and the only place she knows to look is Camp Lost Lake.

Most people don’t spend their formative years on the run with an alleged murderer—but Reagan did. In the court of public opinion, her mom was found guilty of the deaths at Camp Lost Lake, and both of them have been in hiding ever since. But Reagan believes in her mother’s innocence and is determined to clear her name.

Luckily for Olivia and Reagan, Camp Lost Lake is finally reopening, providing the perfect opportunity to find answers. But someone else is dead set on keeping the past hidden, even if it means committing murder.

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The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Two Sides to Every Murder’ by Danielle Valentine appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Instead of braving the winter weather that awaits you outdoors, we highly recommended pressing play on The Tortured Poets Department and indulging in some cosy reading time with an escapist YA novel. Grab your fluffiest blanket, light a candle and put the kettle on. Reading time is about to begin.

But wait – there’s one thing you need to sort out first. The book, of course. If you’re not sure what to read, fear not. We’ve compiled this handy list matching YA new releases to Taylor Swift songs, to guarantee you end up with a book you love.

What To Read Based On Your Favourite Taylor Swift Song

‘Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me’

If you love ‘Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me’ from The Tortured Poets Department, then you should 100% read Of Jade and Dragons (out 18 June in the US and 25 June in Australia) by Amber Chen. The book follows the protagonist Aihui Ying, whose world is torn apart after her father is killed by a masked assassin.

Her father had been a member of the prestigious Engineers Guild, a group she dreams of joining. Unfortunately for Ying, though, women aren’t allowed (what are those engineers afraid of?).

Thoroughly tired of being overlooked, Ying disguises herself as a boy to infiltrate the Engineer’s Guild, where she can get revenge for her father’s death.

‘Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me’ is a song about sending a message – and about the fear of power that someone might hold. The song is a commentary on the treatment of women in society, which also appears in the book, in the Guild’s fear of allowing women to join. (Really, why would they be afraid of Ying?)

The investigation of her father’s death even falls on Ying because no one believes her when she insists something more – and far darker – is going on. It all sounds suspicious, right? And, yes, there is obviously something more to his death than a mere ‘accident’. It’s fast-paced, fun and features a protagonist as strong as Taylor Swift herself.

‘Don’t Blame Me’

Love ‘Don’t Blame Me’ from reputation? If so, your next read should be The Girl with No Reflection (Out 6 August) by Keshe Chow.

Like Of Jade and Dragons, this book also coincidentally follows a protagonist named Ying.

In The Girl with No Reflection, Ying Yue is selected to be the crown prince’s bride. A believer in true love, she hopes that her future with the prince will be one of romance and passion. Yet upon her arrival at the palace, she quickly realises that her husband is cold and mean.

Left alone in her room, Ying soon discovers a secret, parallel world, accessible through the palace mirrors. In the mirror universe, everything is better. It becomes a place to escape to, and soon she falls in love with the Mirror Prince (this world’s version of her husband-to-be). But not everything is as it seems . . . darkness lurks in this world too. Ying was chosen as the prince’s bride for a reason, but it’s not the reason she thinks.

Eerily wicked, horror-like and delightfully twisty – these words perfectly summarise the book, but also explain ‘Don’t Blame Me’, which literally includes the lyrics, ‘Love made me crazy’. Falling in love with the Mirror Prince will be the downfall of Ying’s world, but she can’t help it!  

‘Cold as You’

If you have a soft spot for Taylor’s first, self-titled album, Taylor Swift, then your next read should be The Bad Ones (out 2 July) by Melissa Albert. The song comparison for this one is ‘Cold as You’, which is an anthem for everyone who has ever felt left out before.

In The Bad Ones, the book’s protagonist, Nora, constantly feels left out, in the dark and downright sad as she tries to piece together what has happened to her missing best friend.

One night, four people go missing – and Nora’s bestie, Becca, is one of them. As Nora starts to learn about what’s happened, she discovers dark events in her high school’s history. With a string of coded messages that Becca left for her, Nora uncovers the story of another missing girl thirty years previously.

The clues also bring light to a sinister urban legend: a goddess figure, who played an eerie role in Nora and Becca’s own childhood games.  

‘Death by a Thousand Cuts’

There’s no denying that ‘Death by a Thousand Cuts’ has heartbreaking lyrics. If that kind of sadness speaks to you artistically, odds are you’ll enjoy reading Everything We Never Said (out 11 June) by Sloan Harlow.

Greif and guilt – a powerful combo! This book is chock-full of both, as readers follow Ella, whose best friend Hayley died in a car crash that Ella herself was responsible for. Of course, Ella feels awful about the role she played in her friend’s death. Seeking comfort, she turns to Hayley’s boyfriend Sawyer (bad news!), and Hayley’s journal.

Reading through the journal, Ella discovers that she knows nothing about who Hayley and Sawyer really are. BETRAYAL!

‘Death by a Thousand Cuts’ is a painful song about betrayal and dying from small, repeated wounds. In the book, Ella ends up confused about what happened in the car and how Sawyer might have been involved in Hayley’s death – talk about a nightmare! It really would feel like a slow death to realise that everything you thought you knew about your best friend turned out to be a lie.

‘no body, no crime’

If ‘no body, no crime’ is your Swiftie tune of choice, then don’t go past Eleanor Jones Can’t Keep a Secret (out 2 July). Following the events of the previous book in this series, Eleanor Jones is back with another murder mystery to solve.

Only, there are a few problems. The mystery is forty years old, and the only person with details is Eleanor’s elderly buddy, Nance. Unfortunately for everyone, though, Nance has severe dementia and is unable to provide any further details about the murder she witnessed.

It’s truly a ‘no body, no crime’ experience as Eleanor tries to prove that a murder did occur, but current forces want to keep things buried . . . buried! Soon enough, Eleanor finds herself in grave danger. Yikes!

‘Better Than Revenge’

Calling all Speak Now fans, if ‘Better Than Revenge’ is your song of choice, you should add Two Sides to Every Murder (out 9 July) to your TBR.

A birth immortalised in a police report, a woman on the run . . . you can just tell that this story involves revenge in some way.

Olivia was born during the infamous Camp Lost Lake Murders, in which three people were killed by a masked, bow-wielding assassin. But when she starts questioning the events surrounding her birth, things don’t add up.

Soon she meets Reagan, whose fugitive mother was convicted of the murders. Tired of a life spent running, Reagan revisits the camp to clear her name. But someone wants the past to remain buried and will kill again to stop the truth from surfacing.

‘Better Than Revenge’ really aligns with the motives of the killer, but also speaks to Reagan’s desire to get revenge on the people who allowed her mum to take the fall for something she didn’t do.

‘I Knew You Were Trouble.’

‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ when you read Hearts That Cut by Kika Hatzopoulou (out 18 June). Following the events of Threads That Bind, the book is a dark, edgy romantasy inspired by Greek mythology.

Io is a descendant of the Fates, giving her the power to read the lines of prophecy and fate. Soon, she finds herself on an investigation with a mystery to solve. Not to mention, she can feel a pull towards someone she is fated to be with. But that ‘someone’ is kind of bad news.

The connection between the book’s plot and this song is self-explanatory: ‘I Knew You Were Trouble.’!

‘mad woman’

The End Crowns All (out 23 July) by Bea Fitzgerald is highly recommended for anyone who likes the song ‘mad woman’ from the folklore album.

The book tells the story of Princess Cassandra of Troy, who is granted the power of prophecy by Apollo. But when she fails to uphold her end of the agreement, he curses her. Now, nobody believes her visions. Worse yet, they think she has gone mad.

Cassandra knows that a war is coming that will destroy Troy, and she knows that Helen of Sparta will cause it . . . but will anyone believe her?

‘mad woman’ is all about the public discourse that arises when someone is deemed ‘mad’. ‘No one likes a mad woman, what a shame she went mad . . . you made her life that.’ Poor Cassandra tries to make people believe her, but it only makes things worse!

‘Vigilante Shit’

‘Don’t get sad, get even.’: It’s not only a lyric from Taylor Swift’s song, ‘Vigilante Shit’ from the album Midnights, but it’s also a theme in Such Charming Liars (out 30 July) by Karen M. McManus.

The book is a heist mystery that brings together two characters on a collision course to disaster. All Kat’s life, it’s just been her and her mother – except for the two days twelve years ago when her mum was married, and Kat had a stepbrother named Liam.

After a swift divorce, Kat and Liam never spoke again. Before giving up crime for good, Kat’s mum has one last job at billionaire Ross Sutherland’s 80th birthday party. As luck would have it, Liam and his scammer father are at the celebration too, with their own motives.

‘Vigilante Shit’ is a cool, heist-vibed song, which talks about the power of banding together with an unlikely ally. Kat and Liam are in their own kind of vigilante mode – and though they’re both incredible liars, survival might mean telling the truth and trusting each other once and for all.

‘Bad Blood’

If ‘Bad Blood’ from 1989 is the first Taylor Swift song that comes to mind for you, then you absolutely must read The Grandest Game (out 6 August).

The first book in a new spin-off series of The Inheritance Games, the book follows seven contestants who have entered an annual competition hosted by billionaire Avery Grambs and the four infamous Hawthorne brothers.

The competition promises fame and fortune for the winner, but every player has their reason for entering. Some want power, some want money and all have secrets.

Just like Avery had to overcome bad blood with the Hawthorne brothers, the competition promises even more bad blood that will need to be settled by the players – physically, mentally and emotionally.

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

The post YA Books To Read This Winter Based On Your Favourite Taylor Swift Song appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Approaching the halfway mark of 2024, there’s no slowing down on the incredible new books hitting shelves this month! From new releases from the likes of Kalynn Bayron, Riley Sager, Tomi Adeyemi, Paul Tremblay, and so many more, there’s bound to be at least one book you’ll be adding to your TBR!

Read on to discover just a few of our picks and let us know in the comments below if you’re looking forward to any of them. 

The Stars Too Fondly by Emily Hamilton

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In her breathtaking debut—part space odyssey, part sapphic rom-com—Emily Hamilton tells a tale of galaxy-spanning friendship, improbable love, and found family.

The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle

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A dream vacation turns deadly when secrets from the past catch up to a married couple in Paris in this new edge-of-your-seat thriller from USA Today bestselling author, Kimberly Belle.

Sleep Like Death by Kalynn Bayron

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New York Times bestselling author and TikTok sensation Kalynn Bayron returns to fairytales with a lush, thrilling and original YA Snow White retelling that brings a new and exciting voice to this familiar tale. Perfect for fans of Cinderella Is Dead.

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager

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In the latest jaw-dropping thriller from New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager, a man must contend with the long-ago disappearance of his childhood best friend—and the dark secrets lurking just beyond the safe confines of his picture-perfect neighborhood.

Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi

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Tomi Adeyemi’s #1 New York Times-bestselling Legacy of Orïsha series comes to an earth-shaking conclusion.

The Wren In The Holly Library by K.A. Linde

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Set in an alternate day New York filled with monsters, The Wren in the Holly Library is a dark, spicy romantasy loosely inspired by Beauty and the Beast — perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab and Leigh Bardugo.

Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland

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After the Jacobson siblings win a life-changing fortune in the lottery, they assume their messy lives will transform into sleek, storybook perfection—but they couldn’t be more wrong in the new laugh-out-loud novel from beloved author Elyssa Friedland.

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

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A chilling twist on the “cursed film” genre from the bestselling author of The Pallbearers Club and The Cabin at the End of the World.

Two Sides To Every Murder by Danielle Valentine

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From the author of How to Survive Your Murder comes a propulsive thriller about two teens who return to the site of the famous murder case that sealed their fates.

The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson

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A professional baseball player and his heckler prove that true love is worth going to bat for in the next swoony romance by USA Today bestselling author Alicia Thompson.

The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei

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From the acclaimed author of The Deep Sky comes a thrilling anti-colonial space heist to save an alien civilization.

The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim

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In this sly and dazzling contemporary fantasy, the most notorious nine-tailed fox in Korea pairs up with a trickster god–turned–detective to track down a wrathful demon . . . before it can destroy the mortal world.

Anna Bright Is Hiding Something by Susie Orman Schnall

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The Dropout meets Inventing Anna in this cinematic and page-turning summer read! A ripped-from-the-headlines story set in the glossy offices of Silicon Valley startups and NYC new media, Anna Bright Is Hiding Something explores our fascination with female founders breaking barriers—and sometimes behaving badly in the process.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

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A bold, laugh-out-loud funny, and heartwarming story about one young woman’s attempt to navigate adulthood, new motherhood, and her meager bank account in our increasingly online world—from the PEN/Faulkner finalist and critically acclaimed author of The Knockout Queen.

Director’s Cut by Carlyn Greenwald

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Oscar-winning Valeria Sullivan finds herself trapped in a battle of wits with a sexy professor, but can she keep her cool when things heat up in and out of the classroom?

Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart

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In this clever, surprising, page-turner, the world’s most lethal assassin gives up the violent life only to find himself under siege by mysterious assailants. It’s a kill-or-be-killed situation, but the first option is off the table. What’s a reformed hit man to do?

What June 2024 book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 16 New Book Releases To Pick Up In June 2024 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover just a few of our picks and let us know if you’ll be checking any of them out!

Guardians of the Dawn: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones
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Sailor Moon meets Cinder in Guardians of Dawn: Zhara, the start of a new, richly imagined fantasy series from S. Jae-Jones, the New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong.

Accidentally in Love by Danielle Jackson
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A delightful rom-com where grumpy-meets-sunshine collides with enemies-to-lovers in this perfect summer novel, written for fans of Kate Stayman-London, Olivia Dade, and Denise Williams.

The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
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Inspired by a classic of martial arts literature, S. L. Huang’s The Water Outlaws are bandits of devastating ruthlessness, unseemly femininity, dangerous philosophies, and ungovernable gender who are ready to make history—or tear it apart.

Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb Roehrig
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In the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon. Queer star-crossed love amid a centuries-old feud takes center stage in this Romeo & Juliet remix that knows sometimes, the best way is to make it gay.

The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard
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From award-winning, internationally bestselling crime writer Catherine Ryan Howard comes The Trap: an unsettling mystery inspired by a series of still-unsolved disappearances in Ireland in the 90s, wherein one young woman risks everything to catch a faceless killer.

House of Odysseus by Claire North
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This “powerful, fresh, and unflinching” reimagining from the award-winning author of the Penelope trilogy breathes life into ancient myth and gives voice to the women who stand defiant in a world ruled by ruthless men (Jennifer Saint).

Night of the Living Queers: 13 Tales of Terror Delight
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Night of the Living Queers is a YA horror anthology that explores a night when anything is possible, exclusively featuring queer authors of color putting fresh spins on classic horror tropes and tales.

Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova
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A modern tale of unexpectedly falling in love and finding your voice, Kiss the Girl is the highly anticipated third installment in the acclaimed and best-selling Meant to Be collection.

The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter
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The New York Times bestselling YA author of the beloved Gallagher Girls series bursts onto the adult scene with a fast-paced, hilarious road trip rom-com about a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the identical twin sister of a rogue spy… and must team up with a rugged, grumpy operative to stay alive.

More Perfect by Temi Oh
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A reimagining of the Greek myth of Eurydice and Orpheus, for fans of Becky Chambers and William Gibson by Alex Award–winning author Temi Oh.

Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine
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The Push meets The Silent Patient in a gripping thriller that follows a woman convinced a sinister figure is going to great lengths to make sure her pregnancy never happens—while the men in her life refuse to believe a word she says.

With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson
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She has a to-do list a mile long and falling for her coworker isn’t on it–yet somehow he’s become her top priority in this romantic comedy from the national bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers.

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

The post August 2023 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hello second half of 2023 and hello to all the incredible upcoming book releases we can look forward to!

In this round up, we take a look at some of the most exciting titles to be released between the months of July and December with releases from the likes of Rachel Lynn Solomon, Temi Oh, Chuck Wendig, VE Schwab, Cassandra Clare, Rebecca Yarros, Christina Henry, and many more, along with delightful debuts from new authors you should keep on your radar!

Read on to discover just a few of our favourite July to December 2023 releases and tell us in the comments if you’re looking forward to any of them! Looking for our January to June releases? Check them out here.

JULY

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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A ghostwriter and a struggling actor help each other on the page and in the bedroom in this steamy romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Talk.

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong
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Inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, Immortal Longings is a fiery collision of power plays, spilled blood, and romance amidst a set of deadly games.

Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates
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From bestselling author Darcy Coates comes Dead of Winter, a remote cabin in the snowy wilderness thriller that will teach you to trust no one. There are eight strangers. One killer. Nowhere left to run.

Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino
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Jenny Han meets CODA in this big-hearted YA debut about first love and Deaf pride at a summer camp.

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle
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A searing and earnest horror debut about the demons the queer community faces in America, the price of keeping secrets, and finding the courage to burn it all down.

Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto
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Gideon the Ninth meets the Game of Thrones White Walkers in this dark young adult fantasy about a disgraced ghost-fighting warrior who must journey into a haunted wasteland to rescue a kidnapped prince.

Light Bringer by Pierce Brown
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Darrow returns as Pierce Brown’s New York Times bestselling Red Rising series continues in the thrilling sequel to Dark Age.

The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey
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Four women come together to save the summer camp that changed their lives and rediscover themselves in the process in this moving new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Veil and the Peachtree Bluff series.

Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson
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An exhilarating and expansive new novel about fathers and sons, faith and friendship from Caleb Azumah Nelson, the no.1 bestselling, award-winning author of Open Water.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
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From New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center comes Hello, Stranger, a novel about finding love, confronting a haunting past, and figuring out what, and who, really matters…

The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons
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From the USA Today bestselling author of The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett comes a heartwarming story of found family, love, and making connections through books set against the bombing of London during WWII.

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem
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A fugitive queen strikes a bargain with her greatest enemy that could resurrect her scorched kingdom or leave it in ashes forever in this unmissable Egyptian-inspired epic fantasy debut. 

AUGUST

Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt
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A teen girl looking for the truth about her missing mother forms a reluctant alliance with her former best friend…in exchange for hiding him from his cult-leading family.

I’m Not Done With You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutanto
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Some friends–and friendships–are worth killing for in this dark, twisty suspense novel by national bestselling author Jesse Q. Sutanto.

The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
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Inspired by a classic of martial arts literature, S. L. Huang’s The Water Outlaws are bandits of devastating ruthlessness, unseemly femininity, dangerous philosophies, and ungovernable gender who are ready to make history—or tear it apart.

Accidentally in Love by Danielle Jackson
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A delightful rom-com where grumpy-meets-sunshine collides with enemies-to-lovers in this perfect summer novel, written for fans of Kate Stayman-London, Olivia Dade, and Denise Williams.

Guardians of the Dawn: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones
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Sailor Moon meets Cinder in Guardians of Dawn: Zhara, the start of a new, richly imagined fantasy series from S. Jae-Jones, the New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong.

The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The New York Times bestselling YA author of the beloved Gallagher Girls series bursts onto the adult scene with a fast-paced, hilarious road trip rom-com about a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the identical twin sister of a rogue spy… and must team up with a rugged, grumpy operative to stay alive.

More Perfect by Temi Oh
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A reimagining of the Greek myth of Eurydice and Orpheus, for fans of Becky Chambers and William Gibson by Alex Award–winning author Temi Oh.

Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine
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The Push meets The Silent Patient in a gripping thriller that follows a woman convinced a sinister figure is going to great lengths to make sure her pregnancy never happens—while the men in her life refuse to believe a word she says.

Actually Super by Adi Alsaid
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A globetrotting novel that takes a determined teen from Japan to Australia and to Argentina and Mexico on a quest to prove that humanity is more good than bad from the author of Let’s Get Lost and Before Takeoff.

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman
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From the beloved New York Times bestselling author of The Marriage of Opposites and the Practical Magic series comes an enchanting novel about love, heartbreak, self-discovery, and the enduring magic of books.

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
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From USA Today bestselling author T. Kingfisher, Thornhedge is the tale of a kind-hearted, toad-shaped heroine, a gentle knight, and a mission gone completely sideways.

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
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Lisa Jewell returns with a scintillating new psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast.

SEPTEMBER

This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin
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Fake dating gets a magical twist in this enchanting queer romantic comedy where a witch worries that the real feelings brewing between her and her crush were sparked by an accidental love potion, and the only way out of the disastrous spell is a healthy dose of the truth–drink up, witches.

The Fragile Threads of Power by V. E. Schwab
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V. E. Schwab, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, opens another door to a new fantasy series set in the dazzling world of Shades of Magic.

Dreambound by Dan Frey
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In this thrilling contemporary fantasy novel, a father must uncover the secret magical underbelly of Los Angeles to find his daughter, who has seemingly disappeared into the fictional universe of her favorite fantasy series.

The September House by Carissa Orlando
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A woman is determined to stay in her dream home even after it becomes a haunted nightmare in this compulsively readable, twisty, and layered debut novel.

The Salvation Gambit by Emily Skrutskie
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A hotheaded hacker must outwit the AI at the heart of a rogue warship–turned–penal colony if she and her crew of con women want to escape with their lives in this electrifying sci-fi thriller from the acclaimed author of Bonds of Brass.

Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig
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A small town is transformed by dark magic when a strange tree begins bearing magical apples in this new masterpiece of horror from the bestselling author of Wanderers and The Book of Accidents.

The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie
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A spellbinding YA fantasy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathryn Purdie, where fairy tales come to life with dark, deadly twists.

The Long Game by Elena Armas
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A disgraced soccer exec reluctantly enlists the help of a retired soccer star in coaching a children’s team in this smalltown love story in the vein of Ted Lasso and It Happened One Summer —from the New York Times bestselling author of The Spanish Love Deception.

The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan
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The first adventure in the Mirror Realm Cycle, a Spanish Inquisition-era fantasy trilogy inspired by Jewish folklore, with echoes of Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden.

Mermaids Never Drown: Tales to Dive For
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14 Young Adult short stories from bestselling and award-winning authors make a splash in Mermaids Never Drown – the second collection in the Untold Legends series edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker – exploring mermaids like we’ve never seen them before!

Fly With Me by Andie Burke
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A sparkling and steamy opposites-attract romance, Fly with Me by Andie Burke is filled with sharp banter and that sweet, swooping feeling of finding “the one” when and where you least expect it.

Champion of Fate by Kendare Blake
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake is back with an epic duology starter that follows a young woman training to join a fabled order as she attempts to lead a hero to his critical first victory. A must-read for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Victoria Aveyard.

OCTOBER

Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callender
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The National Book Award-winning author of  Felix Ever After  delivers a beautifully tender story of two grumpy/sunshine, fake-dating actors navigating their love story both on and offscreen—perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Alexis Hall.

Making It So: A Memoir by Patrick Stewart
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A revealing portrait of an artist whose astonishing life—from his humble beginnings in Yorkshire, England, to the heights of Hollywood and worldwide acclaim—proves a story as exuberant, definitive, and enduring as the author himself

Unholy Terrors by Lyndall Clipstone
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Midnight Is The Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead
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From the critically acclaimed author of In My Dreams I Hold A Knife and The Last Housewife comes a gothic Southern thriller about a killer haunting a small Louisiana town, where two outcasts—the preacher’s daughter and the boy from the wrong side of the tracks—hold the key to uncovering the truth.

Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco
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The adult debut of #1 New York Times bestselling author Kerri Maniscalco, Throne of the Fallen is a seductive new standalone novel set within her fan-favorite Kingdom of the Wicked world, perfect for readers of fantasy, romance, and mystery alike.

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare
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Two outcasts find themselves caught in a web of forbidden love, dangerous magic, and dark secrets that could change the world forever in the start of a riveting epic fantasy series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Shadowhunter Chronicles.

Wildfire by Hannah Grace
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The latest in the TikTok sensation and deliciously “swoonworthy” (Elena Armas, New York Times bestselling author) Maple Hills series follows two summer camp counselors who reconnect after a sizzling one-night stand.

The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker
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New from the author of The Keeper of Night comes a YA fantasy duology set in an alternate Tang Dynasty China, where a poor biracial girl with the ability to raise the dead gets caught up in the dangerous political games of the royal family.

The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey
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Bestselling authors Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey have teamed up to deliver a dark new story with magic, monsters, and mayhem, perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman and Joe Hill.

Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros
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Frankenstein meets Inglourious Basterds in this stunning Jewish historical horror novel from the award-winning author of The City Beautiful.

The Intern by Michele Campbell
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A young Harvard law student falls under the spell of a charismatic judge in this timely and thrilling novel about class, ambition, family and murder.

Juniper’s Christmas by Eoin Colfer
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From acclaimed, mega-bestselling author Eoin Colfer comes a Christmas classic-in-the-making–a beautifully illustrated novel about an eleven-year-old girl’s wild adventure to find her mother, protect a public park, and save Christmas.

NOVEMBER

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
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In this clever and swoonworthy YA debut from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, life’s moving pieces bring rival chess players together in a match for the heart.

Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper
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Amara’s journey has taken her far; from a slave in Pompeii’s wolf den to a high-powered courtesan in Rome… though her story is not over yet. While Amara plays for power in Rome’s imperial palace, those dearest to her remain in Pompeii. But it is AD 79, and mighty Mount Vesuvius is about to make itself known…

Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry
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A sharp-edged, supremely twisty thriller about three women who find themselves trapped inside stories they know aren’t their own, from the author of Alice and Near the Bone.

The Future by Naomi Alderman
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From the award-winning, bestselling author of The Power comes a white-knuckle tour de force and dazzling exploration of the world we have made and where we are going.

Sun of Blood and Ruin by Mariely Lares – Publication has now changed to February 20, 2024
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Rumor has it on the streets of sixteenth-century New Spain, there’s a new vigilante in town serving justice. This reimagining of Zorro–featuring a heroic warrior sorceress–weaves Mesoamerican mythology and Mexican history two decades after the Spanish conquest into a swashbuckling, historical debut fantasy with magic, intrigue, treachery, and romance.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
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Murtagh by Christopher Paolini
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Master storyteller and internationally bestselling author Christopher Paolini returns to the World of Eragon in this stunning epic fantasy set a year after the events of the Inheritance Cycle. Join Dragon Rider—and fan favorite—Murtagh and his dragon as they confront a perilous new enemy!

Didn’t See That Coming by Jesse Q. Sutanto
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A hilariously fresh and romantic send-up to You’ve Got Mail about a gamer girl with a secret identity and the online bestie she’s never met IRL until she unwittingly transfers to his school, from the bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties, The Obsession, and Well, That Was Unexpected.

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
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The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in What the River Knows, Isabel Ibañez’s lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt and filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng
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Yellowjackets meets She Is a Haunting in this debut speculative thriller that follows a disgraced teen idol who comes face-to-face with the demons of her past in a glittering, cutthroat K-pop competition.

The Fascination by Essie Fox
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The estranged grandson of a wealthy collector of human curiosities becomes fascinated with teenaged twin sisters, leading them into a web of dark obsessions. A dazzlingly dark gothic novel from the bestselling author of  The Somnambulist.

Emmett by L. C. Rosen
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A modern-day gay YA Emma, with the spikey social critique of Austen plus the lush over-the-top romance of Bridgerton.

DECEMBER

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura
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Rival archaeologists must team up on a secret Aztec expedition, or it could leave their careers—and hearts—in ruins.

The Ruined by Renée Ahdieh
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The stunning conclusion to the instant New York Times bestselling quartet that began with The Beautiful.

A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford
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From bestselling author and TikTok sensation A.K. Mulford comes the first riveting, enchanting book in the all-new Golden Court romantasy trilogy–A River of Golden Bones begins a journey of self-discovery, romance, and adventure for a young heir as she/they comes out of hiding to save her sister from a malicious, powerful sorceress and her dangerous sleeping curse.

Perfect Little Lives: A Novel by Amber and Danielle Brown
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Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnson
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Perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven, Abigail Johnson draws a searing and lyrical portrait of grief, forgiveness, and the kind of love that blooms in the aftermath.

Second Chances in New Port Stephen by T.J. Alexander
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A trans man returns to his Florida hometown for Christmas after his career goes up in flames, only to cross paths with his high school ex in this charming rom-com about family and second chances from the author of the “delectable” (Time) Chef’s Kiss.

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson
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Two wolf shifters agree to be fake mates but unexpectedly find something real in this steamy paranormal romantic comedy by Lana Ferguson.

The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale by Virginia Kantra
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A woman learns to follow her own road in this heartwarming novel inspired by The Wizard of Oz by New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra.

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

The post Get Your Hands On These Anticipated July To December 2023 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

A year later, Alice is bitter and traumatised with her life in tatters and no goal other than seeing Owen sentenced to prison. The blurb mentions her encounter with a Sidney Prescott doppelganger on the day of Owen’s trial and it’s safe to say that you will not predict her real identity nor understand the role she has to play until the author pulls the curtain off that reveal. There is a large amount of suspension of disbelief required as the Sidney aspect is outrageously on-the-nose; I almost feel it would’ve been better not to have included her because her presence is so distracting, but the character is vital to Alice’s arc as she miraculously finds herself in the past on the day her sister died. Now she has the chance to save her sister from Owen—it’s almost too good to be true, but Sidney cautioned her that he was innocent…despite witnessing him kill Claire with her own eyes, could there be more to the truth than Alice realises?

Beyond any time travel quirks and slasher shenanigans, the real key to the success of Happy Death Day and similarly themed horror-comedy movie The Final Girls was the emotional journey of its heroines as they struggle to deal with their grief and loss after the loss of a loved one. How To Survive Your Murder utilises its own fantastical trappings to elevate the plot beyond a by-the-numbers slasher, but at its core is a very believable and emotionally resonant arc about a girl in pain because she blames herself for leaving her sister to be killed. Even though there was no way possible she could have known that Claire would die that night, Alice regrets not being at her side, and this rings very true for most people that have experienced loss. What would we change if we had the benefit of foresight? Don’t we all regret not having made the effort to spend more time with loved ones before they passed? Aren’t there last words we would change if we’d known at the time it would be the final time we spoke to them?

As genre-savvy fans will be aware, changing one event in the past inevitably opens up a new can of worms; Alice saves her sister, but now there’s a killer on the loose and she knows other people will die unless she intervenes.  Her desperate efforts to thwart the killer she’s absolutely certain must be Owen becomes bogged down in confusion and suspense as she starts to uncover details she never knew about before and the spiralling changes to the timeline throw her off-kilter. For readers, this will be an absolute blast to read – the author expertly leads us down the garden path right along with Alice, showering us with red herrings as bodies start to drop. I very confidently predicted the killer about five times before giving up when proven wrong yet again, but that’s all part of the fun!

The ending will be controversial as the rug is pulled from under the reader’s feet right in the last couple pages. If you’ve enjoyed the journey, it will only be a minor frustration, but I can see some people throwing their book or e-reader at the wall once they finish the story. Your mileage will vary depending on how you react to unresolved endings—this one is perfectly set up for a sequel, however the book is listed as a standalone. Unless the pleading screams of the audience move Danielle Valentine to put us out of our misery, it appears the reader’s imagination will have to suffice regarding what happens next. I have to applaud her audacity as it ensures this book will live rent-free in my head for years to come!

Slasher fans will relish sinking their teeth into How To Survive Your Murder, an engrossing, heart-pounding story with many call-backs to fan-favourite moments in horror and fun deconstructions of popular clichés through a genre-savvy heroine. Its thought-provoking central plot of going back in time to prevent a murder and dealing with the frantic bloody aftermath is effortlessly engaging, suspenseful and memorable. With a strong focus on the bond between sisters that brings sincerity and poignancy elevating the stakes beyond a typical slashfest, this is well-worth adding to your TBR.

How To Survive Your Murder is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of August 30th 2022.

Will you be picking up How To Survive Your Murder? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Alice Lawrence is the sole witness in her sister’s murder trial.

And in the year since Claire’s death, Alice’s life has completely fallen apart. Her parents have gotten divorced, she’s moved into an apartment that smells like bologna, and she is being forced to face her sister’s killer and a courtroom full of people who doubt what she saw in the corn maze a year prior.

Claire was an all-American girl, beautiful and bubbly, and a theater star. Alice was a nerd who dreamed of becoming a forensic pathologist and would rather stay at home to watch her favorite horror movies than party. Despite their differences, they were bonded by sisterhood and were each other’s best friends.

Until Claire was taken away from her.

On the first day of the murder trial, as Alice prepares to give her testimony, she is knocked out by a Sidney Prescott look-alike in the courthouse bathroom. When she wakes up, it is Halloween morning a year earlier, the same day Claire was murdered. Alice has until midnight to save her sister and find the real killer before he claims another victim.

The post Review: How To Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine appeared first on The Nerd Daily.