About A Risky Game: The sequel to the USA Today bestseller! The Inheritance Games and One of Us is Lying for middle grade — beloved author Alyson Gerber’s new series is an unforgettable mystery featuring a secret society, a mysterious island, and dangerous family secrets.

I grew up in the shadow of the most influential New England boarding school. For most of my childhood, I believed that just beyond the entrance to the ivy towers everything was magic. Later, I had the chance to attend boarding school. While I didn’t always fit into this intriguing world with my undiagnosed ADHD and penchant for questioning the rules, the opportunity to attend and the experiences I had were life changing. I wanted to capture the fantastical aspects of a small New England private school in a relatable mystery-adventure for kids. And I was in a unique position to write both the insider and outsider perspective.

The Liars Society and the sequel—The Liars Society: A Risky Game—which will be in stores April 1, features a group of five kids at the prestigious Boston School. They are invited to play a high-stakes game. If they win, they’ll be selected to join the oldest, most powerful secret society in the world―and they’ll be Boston royalty forever. If they lose . . . well, they better not lose, because they all have life-ruining secrets that they will do anything to protect. 

While you wait for April 1 and the official launch of The Liars Society: A Risky Game, here is a list of iconic preppy reads to hold you over!

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

A few years after the Westing Game made me a reader—I was an angsty prep school teenager assigned to read the Catcher in the Rye. At the very first mention of phonies by Holden Caulfield, I was hooked. So much so that my daughter’s middle name is an ode to this book. To soak in all aspects of the boarding school experience, this story is a must.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

I’ve never been more excited, than when I first heard one of my publishers call The Liars Society—The Secret History for middle grade. I am still honored by the comparison. While the clever misfits in The Secret History are attending a New England college, and it’s an inverted detective story, this is the book that put modern, dark academia on the map in a big way. It’s a layered, psychological thriller that will leave you wanting to wear tweed and read the classics.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

E. Lockhart’s smart, twisty writing will pull you in and you’ll never want to leave Beechwood Island, just off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. Luckily, We Were Liars, which centers around the Sinclair family and the summers spent on their private island, also has an incredible prequel—Family of Liars. And the TV show is coming soon. This clever, cunning story will make you even more curious about what these prep school kids are like the rest of the year.

The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

The Cousins is one of my all-time favorite dark family mysteries. Told from the perspective of three cousins, who barely know each other, this is a smart thriller about family, inheritance, deception, and lies. Gull Cove Island is the perfect New England summer getaway and the Story family’s legacy is as iconic as it gets.

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

There is nothing more iconic than the setting of A Separate Peace. Devon is a traditional, all boys boarding school, based on Phillips Academy Exeter during WWII. Phineas and Gene will do whatever it takes to be the best in both academics and athletics, and the internal hierarchies of the elite world are on full display.

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Winter is the best season for staying inside and curling up with a good book. I believe winter is the time when I get most of my reading done and if you’re anything like me, then you’re in need of some recommendations! It doesn’t matter if you see it as a great time for tackling some of the most intimidating books on your shelf or for getting lost in magical fairy-tale-like worlds – this list has a bit of everything and will surely satisfy your bookish needs!

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
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This book follows Lina who is displaced to a Siberian work camp during World War II. It’s a story that underlines the human strength – specifically, the power of hope and kindness. It focuses on what Lithuanians had to endure during the Soviet Occupation, a subject that I’ve never seen discussed until this book. Sepetys’ writing is almost haunting and you will hang on every word of hers.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
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If you’re looking for a winter-y book to match the cold outside, look no further! This one is inspired by Russian folk-lore and it’s set in the Russian wilderness where winter lasts most of the year. Everything is so atmospheric and magic is a big part of it which will surely remind you of reading fairy-tales and getting lost in far-away realms.

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
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Besides being very fitting for the season, this book tells the story of Louise le Blanc and Reid Diggory – the first being a witch and the latter being a Chasseur, a witch-hunter. Through some fateful events, they are forced into a marriage which generates some of the funniest and most tension-charged parts of the book. It’s a great take on the enemies-to-lovers trope and the witches make everything so bad-ass.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
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Winter is a great time for hibernation and if you ever thought about sleeping an entire year away, you might want to check out this book! The narrator decides that all she wants to do with her life at the moment is to sleep in order to not have to think about the wreck her life is. As she goes through this experiment, we get to see more about what brought her in this position from the death of her parents to her unhealthy relationships and friendships. If you have no problem reading about unlikable heroines and you’re a fan of dark humour, then this one is for you!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
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If you love reading books that will emotionally wreck you during this period, The Book Thief is narrated by Death itself and even the peculiar narrator ends up feeling sorry for the characters in the end – I think that’s pretty telling. A huge emphasis on books and the power of words will surely draw the readers in as well. I’ve read this book four years ago, yet there are times even now when I still think about Liesel’s story… so moving and beautiful.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
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If classics are your cup of tea, then you might want to check out this drama-filled tale about a woman who’s unsatisfied with her marriage and the consequences of her adultery. It has the specific grandeur of Russian classics, dealing with various social and political themes – it might seem intimidating, but it’s easier to read than most Russian classics.

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young
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Vikings are always relevant, but I think this book would be great to cosy with in the colder nights of February. Eelyn is caught by a rival clan and all she wants is to go back home up until she understands that the Riki aren’t all that different from her people. This leads her to a journey to unite the clans in order to face a mutual enemy. This book has very beautiful family dynamics and a slow-burn romance that you will root for.

Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough
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If you’re interested in the forgotten women of history and art, then this tale that’s focused on the life of Artemisia Gentileschi will be great for you! It deals with sexual assault and shows how Artemisia fought back after being raped by her mentor. I liked the way other powerful women were integrated in this book as well, how the author chose to bind Gentileschi’s trauma to theirs and show why they might have appeared in Artemisia’s paintings. It’s an emotional and empowering novel-in-verse that I’ll never stop recommending.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Secret History tells the story of a group of pretentious students and it’s a classic for the dark academia genre. The characters are so flawed yet fascinating to read about and the plot-lines will keep you on the edge trying to figure out what will happen to the protagonists. Donna Tartt’s writing is mysterious and the book’s atmosphere is almost eerie. If you like books that deal with messed up kids and murder, then this one will definitely be your next favourite!

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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I wish I could read this book again for the very first time because that’s how glorious it is. Evelyn Hugo is definitely someone I look up to because of how strong and resilient she is. How she never lets men tell her what to do, how focused she is on her career and on protecting her loved ones. She’s fierce and manages to shine so brightly through this book. Besides how amazing the protagonist is, I loved the cinematic aspects and how well crafted the story is, all the secondary characters are fleshed out and this book is absolutely brilliant!

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

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Many authors’ journeys into success are marked by their debut novels and often, first books are the best. For the 2019 Nerd Daily Reading Challenge prompt, a debut novel, I compiled a list of six debut novels. These books are certainly not recent, but they are books that have been long published but still loved as the best books by their authors.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

One of my favourite books ever and the first book published by the Pulitzer Prize winner Donna Tartt, The Secret History tells the story of six students of Greek Classics, under the professor Julian Morrow. The protagonist is one of the students, Richard Papen, who is sucked into the lives of the other students in the class. The story is a whirlwind of mystery and has unprecedented plots and ending.

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

Helene Wecker’s debut novel, The Golem and the Jinni is a tale of the unlikely connection between Chava, a golem, and Ahmad, a jinni, and their journey. The story is phenomenal in the way it joins the roots of Yiddish and Middle Eastern literature, and creates an epic tale of romance between two completely different creatures.

Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson

Before I Go to Sleep is an unforgettable first novel of mystery and suspense. The main character, Christine, wakes up with no memory of the last two decades. The man next to her says that he is Ben, her husband from before the accident. But Christine slowly becomes unsure and tries to recombine the memories of her past, and we ask the question: Is the sweet Ben really who he claims to be?

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

This exceptional book had to be on this list. Thirteen Reasons Why follows the aftermath of the suicide of the teenager, Hannah Baker, who before her death, records thirteen tapes for thirteen people in her life who she claims are the ‘thirteen reasons why’ she killed herself. The story starts with Clay Jensen receiving the cassette tapes and starting to listen to them. Read Thirteen Reasons Why, if you haven’t already, and if you want to read about modern day issues like suicides and rapes among young people.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

In 1991, Diana Gabaldon published her first book, Outlander, the first in the series of the same name. The book is about Claire Randall, former war nurse, who goes on a second honeymoon with her husband after returning from the war, in 1945, to rekindle their relationship. Whilst on the journey, she steps into an ancient circle that marks the British Isles, taking her two hundred years back to a Scotland torn by war. Outlander has also been adapted as a television show that piloted in 2014.

The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

The first book by Paula Hawkins, The Girl on the Train, published in 2015, blew the charts by selling nearly 20 million copies in just a year. The story is a psychological thriller, from the perspectives of three women, Rachel, Anna and Megan. Rachel is an alcoholic reeling from the divorce form her husband Tom. She idealises a couple she notices and thinks have a good life, christening them “Jess and Jason.” Megan is the person Rachel dubs Jess. She has a troubled past and a dark secret. Anna is Tom’s new wife, boasting that Tom chose her over Rachel. But over time, the three women’s stories become intertwined uncharacteristically.

Are there any memorable debut novels that you would recommend? Tell us in the comments below!

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Are you looking for new books to read in 2018? Or looking for a reading challenge? Well in case you missed it, join the The Nerd Daily’s 2018 Reading Challenge! It has 52 prompts to guide you to read one book per week, or to just read outside your comfort zone. To help you decide, we decided to put up some book recommendations for you. This recommendations consist of mixed audiences, from middle grade to adult and to different genres!

Read on to discover a few books to help you with some of our challenges!

1. Under 200 Pages: Novellas are great pick for this category or Tor short stories. I highly recommend The Night Cyclist and The Pauper Prince and the Eucalyptus Djinn!
2. New York Times Bestseller: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas has generated a lot of buzz last year and it debuted on New York Times Bestseller list! Plus it’s being adapted into a film!
3. Author Starting With T: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien is a classic or if you’ve read that, try the other fantastic books by Tolkien.
4. 2018 Film Adaptation: The adaptation of Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli is scheduled to be released in March 2018, so go read it before (or after) the movie comes out!
5. Older Than 20 Years: If you haven’t started the Harry Potter series, this year is the right time! This year will mark 20 years since the release of Chamber of Secrets, the second book in the series, and the 21st of Sorcerer’s Stone, the first book. Two birds with one stone right?

6. Villain/Anti-hero: Vicious by V.E Schwab is one of my favourite books and with the main character an anti-hero, it creates a fascinating narrative around the term heroes and villains.
7. Reread a favourite: Self-explanatory prompts here, this year I want to re-read Harry Potter so any books could fit this prompt.
8. Goodreads Choice Winner: You can look for inspiration here, but I highly recommend The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. This nonfiction chronicles the origin of HeLa cells that helps founding a lot of medicine and the aftermath. The writing is very easy to read and fits everyone, so go give this book a try!
9. Written By Two Authors: Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman is one of the most hyped up books in the YA community. This book chronicles the space survival of Kady and her planet’s people from invasion and evil AI, told through journals and other things.
10. Time Travel: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon may be intimidating due to its size, but it’s pretty easy to read and the story is a page-turner!
11. Male Author: Any of Neil Gaiman’s books because he is such a fantastic writer so if you haven’t read any of his books, he’s perfect for this category. Plus I highly recommend The Graveyard Book.

12. Young Adult Novel: Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins is such a fun series, filled with witty banter, cotillion, and a lot of ass-kicking.
13. A Number In The Title: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo follows a band of anti-heroes consisting of 6 thieves and convicts trying to pull off an impossible heist.
14. Start A New Series: Any series you want to start but never do? This prompt is the perfect motivation for you! I personally want to start Poison Study series by Maria V. Snyder.
15. An Autobiography: The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher is perfect for anyone whether they love Star Wars or not.
16. Short Stories: Anthologies have been gaining traction recently with a lot of authors releasing some sort of anthologies. One of the most well-known is My True Love Gave to Me, which is a Christmas anthology, or its summer counterpart, Summer Days and Summer Nights.

17. Recommended By Family: My family is not a huge reader, so it’s hard to get a recommendation from them. But my sister highly recommended The School of Good and Evil series by Soman Chainani, which is a middle grade book sets in a school that trains its pupil to become either heroes or villains.
18. A Red Cover: Scythe by Neil Shusterman is another series I want to start this year and it has gained a lot of hype. This book tells the story of a modern-day grim reaper working for the government to keep the population under control.
19. Set In The Past: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco follows the Jack the Ripper murder with our heroine Audrey as she breaks social constraints and try to solve the mystery of Jack the Ripper.
20. A Book You Never Finished: I picked up Heidi by Johanna Spyri, but after a few pages never continue reading it. Another self-explanatory prompt, all you need to do is try to find a book you put on hold or DNF before!
21. Sci-Fi: Sci-fi is not a genre I reach for often, but a lot of people like The Martian by Andy Weir and it also has been adapted to movie, so it seems like an appropriate read.

22. Three Word Title: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng is unusual and captivating, and the title definitely makes sense after you finish the book and find yourself blown away by it!
23. Recommended By Us: Take a look at literature of the world articles, including Jamaica which highlights authors and characters from Jamaica.
24. About Family: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan is filled with crazy antics of the Singapore richest, but at the heart of the book, it’s about family relationships between Rachel and her mother, as well as the Young clan.
25. Female Author: The Secret History by Donna Tartt has been praised at how atmospheric and fascinating the characters are.
26. Bought During A Holiday: I don’t know about you, but I always bought a lot of books during the holiday season due to the abundance of book sales happening. One of the books I bought was A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi.

Any recommendations you like the sound of? Tell us in the comments below!

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