As we approach the halfway mark of 2024, it’s time to start looking ahead to the phenomenal new books that will be hitting shelves over the rest of the year!

We’ve put together a small sample of anticipated releases that you should keep an eye out for with new books from the likes of Rainbow Rowell, Stephen Graham Jones, Casey McQuiston, Ransom Riggs, Jodi Picoult, Sally Rooney, Richard Osman, Sabaa Tahir, Courtney Gould, Darby Kane, and so many more, plus even some debuts you should definitely have on your radar!

Read on to discover just a few of our picks and keep an eye out for when we round up further upcoming releases for the YA, Fantasy & Sci-Fi, Romance, Fiction, and Middle Grade genres.

Let us know in the comments below if you’re looking forward to any of them or if you have other recommendations!

JULY 2024

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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Get ready for a new series that brings readers deeper into the lush, romantic, and puzzle-filled world of the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games series (over 3 million copies sold!), set a year after we last saw Avery and the Hawthornes.

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell

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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eleanor & Park and Attachments comes Slow Dance—a bright, beaming power ballad of a novel about a love so true it refuses to be forgotten.

It’s Elementary by Elise Bryant

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A fast-paced, completely delightful new mystery about what happens when parents get a little too involved in their kids’ schools, from NAACP Image Award nominee Elise Bryant.

The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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A young woman wins the role of a lifetime in a film about a legendary heroine — but the real drama is behind the scenes in this sumptuous historical epic from the author of Mexican Gothic.

The Haters by Robyn Harding

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The bestselling author of The Party and The Drowning Woman returns with a twisted tale of fame, obsession, and the dark recesses of social media.

The Blackbird Oracle by Deborah Harkness

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Diana Bishop journeys to the darkest places within herself—and her family history—in the highly anticipated fifth novel of the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling All Souls series.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

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A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.

The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez

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Two broken hearts decide that the best way to get over their first loves is with a no-strings-attached relationship in this spicy and charming debut romance.

Our Wicked Histories by Amy Goldsmith

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A teen girl’s attempt to make amends with her former friend group takes a sinister turn during a weekend getaway at an ancestral Irish estate in this atmospheric, literary horror from the author of Those We Drown.

The Night Ends With Fire by K. X. Song

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Infused with magic and romance, this sweeping fantasy adventure inspired by the legend of Mulan follows a young woman determined to choose her own destiny—even if that means going against everyone she loves.

The Hollywood Assistant by May Cobb

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Offered a dream job in Hollywood with a famous director and his actress wife, an insecure woman becomes their personal assistant where their secrets and lies place her in the crosshairs of a murder investigation.

I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones

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From New York Times bestselling horror writer Stephen Graham Jones comes a classic slasher story with a twist—perfect for fans of Riley Sager and Grady Hendrix.

AUGUST 2024

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

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In #1 New York Times bestselling author Casey McQuiston’s latest romantic comedy, two bisexual exes accidentally book the same European food and wine tour and challenge each other to a hookup competition to prove they’re over each other—except they’re definitely not.

You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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When cracks start forming in an influencer’s curated life, she finds out that jealousy is just as viral as a video in this riveting suspense novel by bestselling author Jesse Q. Sutanto.

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

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From the bestselling author of the Truly Devious books, Maureen Johnson, comes a new stand-alone YA about a teen who uncovers a mystery while working as a tour guide on an island and must solve it before history repeats itself.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer

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White Lotus meets Kevin Wilson in this whip-smart social satire about a man who finds himself trapped on an island resort after the sun literally explodes, and suddenly must choose whether to save himself from the chaos, or help fellow guests make it off the island alive…

Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer

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A tender, laugh-out-loud debut romance about a woman who ends up in over her head after a little white lie . . .

Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown

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When a young woman is found dead on her college campus, her sister doesn’t believe it was an accident—and her search for answers leads her closer to home than she ever would have imagined in this thrilling debut novel from an exciting new talent.

The Girl With No Reflection by Keshe Chow

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A young woman chosen as the crown prince’s bride must travel to the royal palace to meet her new husband—but her world is shaken when she discovers the dark truth the royal family has been hiding for centuries—in this lush fantasy debut perfect for fans of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night and Violet Made of Thorns.

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ava Reid comes a reimagining of Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare’s most famous villainess, giving her a voice, a past, and a power that transforms the story men have written for her.

A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire by Sarah Hawley

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Ben Rosewood never meant to be bound to a vampire succubus, especially one as sexy-yet-terrifying as Eleanora Bettencourt-Devereux, but he has to admit there are some fang-tastic perks….

The Volcano Daughters by Gina María Balibrera

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A saucy, searingly original debut about two sisters raised in the shadow of El Salvador’s brutal dictator, El Gran Pendejo, and their flight from genocide, which takes them from Hollywood to Paris to cannery row, each followed by a chorus of furies, the ghosts of their murdered friends, who aren’t yet done telling their stories.

Sunderworld, Vol. I: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry by Ransom Riggs

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Visionary storyteller Ransom Riggs weaves the familiar with the peculiar in a stunning loss, triumph, friendship and magic, reminding readers everywhere that true heroes are made, not born—and that when you’re never the chosen one, sometimes you have to choose yourself. 

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

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From the New York Times bestselling co-author of Mad Honey comes an “inspiring” (Elle) novel about two women, centuries apart—one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays—who are both forced to hide behind another name.

SEPTEMBER 2024

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft

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A sharp-tongued folklorist must pair up with her academic rival to solve their mentor’s murder in this lush and enthralling sapphic fantasy romance from the New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic.

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

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For two grieving brothers and the people they love, this is a new interlude―a period of desire, despair, and possibility; a chance to find out how much one life might hold inside itself without breaking.

An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson

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A student will find that the hardest lessons sometimes come from outside the classroom in this stunning dark academia novel from the acclaimed author of The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger.

Us in Ruins by Rachel Moore

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With a blend of humour, magic, and love, Rachel Moore crafts another stand-alone adventure rom-com full of double- and triple-crosses, hilarious shenanigans, and frustration-fuelled banter, where the best treasure is true love.

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

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Combining the heart and humour of The Thursday Murder Club with a puzzling international mystery, welcome to the blockbusting new series from the biggest new fiction author of the decade, Richard Osman.

The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel

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A Hitchcock fanatic with an agenda invites old friends for a weekend stay at his secluded themed hotel in this fiendishly clever, suspenseful new novel from the international bestselling author of Darling Rose Gold.

Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma

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The Cruel Prince meets Ninth House in this dangerously romantic dark academia fantasy, where a lost heiress must infiltrate an arcane society and live with the vampire she suspects killed her family and kidnapped her sister.

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop

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A candid and captivating memoir from award-winning and beloved actress Kelly Bishop, spanning her six decades in show business from Broadway to Hollywood with A Chorus Line, Dirty Dancing, Gilmore Girls, and much more.

The Lovers by Rebekah Faubion

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A second chance at love is in the cards for two women working a stylish California wedding in this charming debut romance.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune

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Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a story of resistance, lovingly told, about the daunting experience of fighting for the life you want to live and doing the work to keep it.

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

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Filled with wonder and wild adventure, this is a story of hope and the life-changing power of a new beginning.

How to Hide in Plain Sight by Emma Noyes

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The unbreakable bonds of family and love are explored in this brilliant and tender story from the author of Guy’s Girl.

OCTOBER 2024

The Puzzle Box by Danielle Trussoni

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Two sisters. A lost imperial treasure. The world’s greatest puzzle master has twenty-four hours to solve the most dangerous mystery of his life . . . or die trying.

This Cursed House by Del Sandeen

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In this Southern gothic horror debut, a young Black woman abandons her life in 1960s Chicago for a position with a mysterious family in New Orleans, only to discover the dark truth. They’re under a curse, and they think she can break it.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch

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Red, White & Royal Blue meets The Nightmare Before Christmas in a sexy, quirky rom-com where the golden-hearted Prince of Christmas falls for the totally off-limits Prince of Halloween.

Heir by Sabaa Tahir

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Beloved storyteller Sabaa Tahir interweaves the lives of three young people as they grapple with power, treachery, love, and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed, on a journey that may cost them their lives—and their hearts. Literally.

Swordcrossed by Freya Marske

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The cozy, low stakes of Legends & Lattes meets the scorching bodyguard fantasy of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s From Blood and Ash in this enemies-to-lovers romance where, yes, the swords do cross.

Throne of Secrets by Kerri Maniscalco

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Two rivals torn apart by a dark memory reunite on a deadly hunt—and in an irresistibly twisted fairy tale—in the next steamy standalone fantasy romance from New York Times bestselling sensation Kerri Maniscalco.

Don’t Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews

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As alluring as it is unsettling, award-winning author CG Drews’ debut YA psychological horror will leave readers breathless and hesitant to venture deeper into the woods.

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak

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From the bestselling author of Hidden Pictures comes a breathtaking work of suspense about a father trying to save his daughter from a life-altering decision that will put everything he loves on the line.

Fledgling: The Keeper’s Records of Revolution by S. K. Ali

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The first book in a gripping duology from acclaimed author S.K. Ali introduces a fractured world on the brink of either enlightenment or war.

A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney

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A warm, spellbinding tale about a witch and the secrets her coven has been keeping from her, with echoes of the classic Hades and Persephone story, in the tradition of Practical Magic and Witch of Wild Things.

I’ll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong

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From New York Times Bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes a spellbinding new tale of supernatural horror involving a haunted-house, seances, lost loved ones, and a sinister spirit out for blood…

The Book of Witching by CJ Cooke

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A mother must fight for her daughter’s life in this fierce and haunting tale of witchcraft and revenge from the author of A Haunting in the Arctic.

NOVEMBER 2024

The Author’s Guide To Murder by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White

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Agatha Christie meets Murder, She Wrote in this witty locked room mystery and literary satire by New York Times bestselling team of novelists: Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White.

Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez

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Where the Library Hides is Isabel Ibañez’s stunning conclusion to the story that started in What the River Knows. A lush immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, and a rivals-to-lovers romance like no other!

Games Untold By Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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Romance, luxury, and secrets abound in this thrilling new collection that takes readers deeper into the world of the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games series.

Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens

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From the New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year, a hilarious love story about a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker.

Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch

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In this one-of-a-kind mystery with heart and humour, a hilariously grumpy pony must save the only human he’s ever loved after discovering she stands accused of a murder he knows she didn’t commit.

The Estate by Sarah Jost

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For fans of The Cloisters and The Cartographers comes a gripping speculative suspense that follows one woman with the ability to enter the dimension of art, who finds herself trapped in a French estate as the pawn in a rich man’s game…

The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea

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Two very indoor people rough it on a remote island after getting swept up in an archaeologist’s hunt for a famed jewel in this dazzling new adventure rom-com by Kerry Rea, author of Lucy on the Wild Side.

I Am the Dark That Answers When You Call by Jamison Shea

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Jamison Shea’s sharp and unflinching voice will bring readers to terrifying new heights in this vicious sequel to the “relentlessly gory and almost euphoric in its embrace of the horrific” (NPR) I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me.

The Empty Place by Olivia A Cole

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A powerful and imaginative story about a girl fighting to find her way back home from a mind-bending land of the lost.

The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson

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From NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Mary E. Pearson comes a thrilling romantic fantasy full of dangerous fae, dark secrets, and addictive romance

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent

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New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, Songbird and the Heart of Stone, where A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Dante’s Inferno, in an epic fantasy romance of love and treachery between mortals and gods.

An Insignificant Case by Phillip Margolin

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A new standalone legal thriller from the international bestselling author of GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.

DECEMBER 2024

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

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An enchanting novel about a witch who has a second chance to get her magical powers—and her life—back on track, from the national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

What the Wife Knew by Darby Kane

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Darby Kane, author of the #1 international bestseller Pretty Little Wife, returns with another twisty domestic thriller about a wife wondering who tried to kill her husband twice before finally succeeding… because that was supposed to be her job. 

Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao

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Zetian must balance dangerous politics with a new quest for vengeance in the sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Iron Widow, a blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction.

What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould

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Yellowjackets meets Girl, Interrupted when a group of troubled teens in a wilderness therapy program find themselves stranded in a forest full of monsters eager to take their place.

Alter Ego by Alex Segura

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Alex Segura, LA Times Book Prize–winning author of Secret Identity, returns with a clever and escapist mystery set in the world of comic books. In the present day, a comics legend is given the chance to revive a beloved but forgotten character. But at what price?>

A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon

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Two hearts circle each other in the eye of the storm in this highly-anticipated follow-up to The Hurricane Wars—prepare for more enemies-to-lovers romance, magical adventures, and political schemes in this Southeast Asian-inspired world.

Roland Rogers Isn’t Dead Yet by Samantha Allen

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It’s the gig of a lifetime for this ghostwriter, except there’s a the client, a closeted A-list actor finally ready to come out in his memoir, is an actual ghost.

The Shutouts by Gabrielle Korn

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A brilliant queer dystopian novel from the author of Yours for the Taking, following a cast of characters on the margins of a strange and exclusive new society.

The Close-up by Pip Drysdale

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A struggling author discovers the dark side of fame when a stalker begins reenacting violent events from her thriller in this electrifying and twisty new novel.

A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya

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A fledgling vampire and a headstrong vampire huntress must work together–against their better judgment—to rid the world of monsters in this irresistible romantic fantasy.

The Party by Natasha Preston

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Set against the backdrop of a sprawling English estate, Natasha Preston’s latest thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat until the party’s over…

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt by Chelsea Iversen

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A young woman channels the magic of the lush, fantastical plants that adorn her crumbling estate in The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt, a darkly enchanting novel for fans of The Magician’s Daughter and Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. ​

What books are you looking forward to releasing in the second half of 2024? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Get Your Hands On These Anticipated July To December 2024 Book Releases 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.

Hi, Jennifer! Welcome back! How has the past two years been since we last spoke?

The past two years have been a whirlwind! I ended up leaving my (much-loved!) day job as a psychology and writing professor to focus on writing full-time, and that’s really allowed me to push myself creatively. Over this same period, it has also been incredible to get to get back out there and see readers in person. I am pretty continually awed and humbled by the passion and creativity that YA readers bring to the books that they love.

The Brothers Hawthorne sees you return to the world of your bestselling Inheritance Games trilogy and it’s out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Puzzles. Mystery. Luxury. THAT ENDING.

What can readers expect from this new standalone?

The Brothers Hawthorne is the most complex book I’ve ever written. It follows two of the major characters from the Inheritance Games series, brothers Jameson and Grayson Hawthorne, through sprawling, puzzle-filled mysteries on opposite sides of the globe. Jameson’s half of the story involves an elite, aristocratic, and highly secret gambling club that has been operating in London since the Regency period, while Grayson’s involves his paternal half-sisters and some of the major secrets from the original Inheritance Games trilogy. There’s also a third part of the story that takes place in the past, where readers will get to see billionaire Tobias Hawthorne alive on the page first time, as we see the old man formed his grandsons into the men they are today.

Was there anything in particular that ‘sparked’ you to further delve into the Hawthornes?

After I finished writing The Final Gambit (book three in the Inheritance Games series), I very much felt like the protagonist—heiress Avery Grambs—had gotten a full and complete character arc. The trilogy was her origin story, and it ends with her taking the reins as one of the youngest and most powerful billionaires in the world. But when it came to the two brothers involved in a love triangle with Avery, I felt very much like they were still mid-arc. Avery is the person who set them off on those arcs, but it’s up to those boys themselves to finish them, facing down the ghosts of their past and exploring the true legacy their billionaire grandfather left them. So a huge part of the impetus for writing these books was to allow Jameson and Grayson the space to do that.

At the same time, one of the things that always fascinated me the most about the four Hawthorne brothers is that they all have different fathers. Grayson’s father played a big role in book two of the trilogy, The Hawthorne Legacy, but I felt like there was a lot of story left to tell there, and Jameson was the one brother whose father we never actually got to meet during the course of the trilogy. When I got the idea to continue the story by exploring the paternal halves of their family trees, it just felt right!

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

There are four new characters in this book that I absolutely loved writing. Two of them are Grayson’s half-sisters: one is a hilarious, irrepressible ray of human sunshine (which makes her pretty much the anti-Grayson) and the other one is pretty much the female Grayson, which let me explore the ways that many of his traits—things like power and dominance and confidence and control—are treated totally differently when a woman displays those traits than when a man does. Then on Jameson’s side of the story, there are quite a few new characters, but two in particular who are favorites of mine. I can’t say much about either of them without including spoilers, but I will say that one of them is a teenager who is just as magnetic, mysterious, brilliant, and dangerous as the Hawthorne brothers were to Avery back in the very first book.

You said in our first interview that Xander was your favourite… Is he still?

Of the old characters, definitely! I had a lot of fun with the Xander moments in this book. I also really, really loved writing Gigi (one of Grayson’s half-siblings), who—not surprisingly—gets along really well with Xander, as they are kind of kindred spirits.

Naturally one always hopes their books will be successful, but did you ever expect this huge fanbase to be supporting the series? What’s it been like?

When The Inheritance Games came out, I was twenty-one books into a career that started when I was nineteen years old. At that point, my goal was really just to be able to keep publishing books, and I was always kind of at the point where I never knew if I would be able to keep doing that. I never dared to dream that I would spend even a single week on a bestseller list. It’s just really rare for an author whose been on the midlist for her entire career to suddenly break out. So the fact that the series has found such a huge audience absolutely blows my mind! Every week, I get at least one email from my editor that makes me reply with some version of “I never even dreamed…”

The most incredible thing for me is the fact that there is a fandom for this book. The creativity and passion of the fans is just remarkable. From fan-art and videos to the fan crafts people make and the way that groups of friends will read the books together… I am just in awe! It never stops being incredible. As a scientist whose specialty was the psychology of fandom, I’ve always believed that books are a collaboration between the author and the reader’s imagination and creativity. So seeing this happen in such a big way with my own books makes me all teary-eyed and joyful.

What’s next for you?

Right now, I am working on The Grandest Game, which is the next book set in the world of The Inheritance Games. Although it’s book five in what we are calling The Inheritance Games Saga, it’s also book one of new series within that sage and can be read alone if you haven’t read the other books. If you’ve read The Final Gambit, you can probably guess what The Grandest Game series is about, but you’ll have an even better idea of what is to come once you read The Brothers Hawthorne. For now, I will tease that there is a brand new Hawthorne-centric mystery, plus my all-time favorite “game” (full of some of my trickiest puzzles and riddles!). And the book also features some of the biggest romantic moments I’ve written, in any book, EVER.

Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

Like many readers, I’ve been obsessed with Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros lately, but I’m also equally obsessed with a YA series that similarly takes place at a dragon-riding war academy, which is the Aurelian Cycle by Rosaria Munda. The first book is called Fireborne, and I was so obsessed that I bought copies for my brother as well. For people who prefer their books without magic, I also really enjoyed Dava Shastri’s Last Day by Kirthana Ramisetti, which (like the Inheritance Games) is also about a scheming billionaire at the end of their life, and Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn, about a group of retired female assassins.

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

The post Q&A: Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Author of ‘The Brothers Hawthorne’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover just a few of our YA picks and let us know in the comments if you will be reading any of them!

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.

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.

Damned if You Do by Alex Brown
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Queer Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Filipino folklore in this horror comedy about a high school stage manager who accidentally sells her soul to a demon.

Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim
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From the New York Times bestselling author of SIX CRIMSON CRANES comes a tale of two sisters—one as beautiful as the other is monstrous—who must fight to save each other when a betrothal contest gone wrong unleashes an evil that could sever their bond forever.

Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh by Rachael Lippincott
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From the New York Times bestselling coauthor of Five Feet Apart and She Gets the Girl comes a fresh and inventive sapphic romantic comedy that’s What If It’s Us meets Bridgerton.

Face the Night by Lani Forbes
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On a harsh frontier where good and evil contend for people’s minds, a young woman must fight for her true identity in this scintillating YA fantasy from the author of the award-winning Age of the Seventh Sun trilogy.

Unnecessary Drama by Nina Kenwood
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From the award-winning author of It Sounded Better in My Head comes a deliciously entertaining enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy about two high school nemeses who end up sharing a house together their first year of college

Forgive Me Not by Jennifer Baker
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In this searing indictment of the juvenile justice system, one incarcerated teen weighs what she is willing to endure for forgiveness.

A Tall Dark Trouble by Vanessa Montalban
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Perfect for fans of Shea Ernshaw, Nina Moreno, and Elizabeth Acevedo, Vanessa Montalban’s YA debut is a dazzling Latine twist on Practical Magic that follows a family of Cuban American brujas entangled in love, magic, and murder.

Who Could Love You, Astor Price? by Amy Jane Lehan
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Set in a small Australian town and promising moments of heartache and hope, Who Could Love You, Astor Price? is the debut novel from Amy Jane Lehan.

I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea
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Tilly in Technicolor by Mazey Eddings
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Tilly in Technicolor is Mazey Eddings’s sparkling YA debut about two neurodivergent teens who form a connection over the course of a summer.

My Father, The Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang
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A poignant coming-of-age story told in two alternating voices: a California teenager railing against the Vietnamese culture, juxtaposed with her father as an eleven-year-old boat person on a harrowing and traumatic refugee journey from Vietnam to the United States.

Rook by William Ritter
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This standalone adventure set in the world of the  New York Times  bestselling Jackaby series brims with humor, heart, and—of course—a hefty dose of supernatural mayhem.

The Boy You Always Wanted by Michelle Quach
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From Not Here to Be Liked author Michelle Quach comes a smartly funny, heartfelt story told in dual POV about a young woman roping in her childhood crush to act as an honorary male heir to fulfill her grandfather’s dying wish. A story about first love, familial duties, and finding yourself—perfect for fans of Emiko Jean and Loan Le.

The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
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Four brothers. Two missions. One explosive read. Jennifer Lynn Barnes returns to the world of her #1 bestselling Inheritance Games trilogy, and the stakes have never been higher.  

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

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

We had the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer Lynn Barnes about The Hawthorne Legacy, which is the sequel to The Inheritance Games, along with writing, what’s next for her, and more!

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

I’m a psychology professor by day and a writer by night. The Hawthorne Legacy is novel number twenty-two for me. I wrote my first published novel when I was nineteen and haven’t stopped since. On the academic side of things, my area of research is the psychology of fiction, the imagination, and fandom.

When did you first discover your love for writing?

There was a brief period of time when I was five that I wanted to be a veterinarian, but from first grade on, I always wanted to be a writer. I finished my first “practice novel” (which will never see the light of day!) when I was a senior in high school.

Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!

First book: I was a late reader. I was really good at memorization as a kid, so instead of learning to sound out words, I just memorized them and had no idea what to do when I came to a word that I didn’t already know. I learned to read during winter break of first grade, when our next door neighbour gave me a copy of the book she used to learn to read herself, many years earlier. It was of the See Spot Run variety and very old—but somehow, knowing that it was the book that had taught a grown-up in my life to read helped me finally make the connection, and a few weeks later, I was reading chapter books.

Book that made me want to become an author: I’ve always wanted to become an author, so I can’t think of any one book that started that obsession, but I do remember that knowing that The Outsiders had been written by a teenager from Oklahoma (and someone I knew, at that!) was very formative for me.

The last book I can’t stop thinking about: I have recently become obsessed with Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series. I’ve read all twenty books in the past couple of months.

The Hawthorne Legacy releases on September 7^th 2021 and it is the follow-up to The Inheritance Games as well as the second installment in the series! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Billionaire. Puzzle. Mystery. Swoony boys.

For those who haven’t read The Inheritance Games, what might await readers?

The Inheritance Games series is the story of an eccentric, puzzle-obsessed billionaire who dies and leaves his entire fortune to a teenage girl who has no idea who he is. In order to find out why he chose her, the protagonist must team up with the billionaire’s four grandsons to solve his final puzzle.

Each book in the series gives you a solution to the puzzle, but with deceased billionaire Tobias Hawthorne, nothing is ever as simple as a single answer would make you believe. As the series progresses, you discover more and more Hawthorne family secrets that let you see that much more of the big picture.

And for those who have, what can they expect in The Hawthorne Legacy?

All of the major mystery-related questions that you have at the end of book one are answered in book two! But you may discover a few new questions, too.

Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing the sequel and how you were able to overcome them?

One of the hardest things about writing The Hawthorne Legacy was that I kept bumping up against the limitations of telling the story in Avery’s first-person perspective. The books have a large cast, all of whom have complicated relationships with one another, and the plot of book two is bigger and more sprawling than the first, so it was a real challenge to do justice to all of the subplots, relationships, and reveals when I could only show the world through Avery’s eyes. My initial plan for the book involved spreading out to 5 different points-of-view. I wrote the first draft that way, but ultimately, that ended up taking the focus off of Avery too much, so I then had to revise to keep all of the same plot beats but told solely through Avery’s perspective.

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

I really love writing all of the characters in this series, but one of my favorite things in book two was getting to explore the relationships between the four Hawthorne brothers a bit more. At the start of book one, the brothers’ relationships are fractured, but their grandfather’s final puzzle throws them together once more. In book two, some—though not all—of those fractures have healed, so I got to delve into how tight-knit these four were once upon a time—and come up with all kinds of absolutely bananas Hawthorne family traditions that the Hawthorne boys came up with, growing up as the presumptive heirs of one of the world’s biggest fortunes.

Can we have a little tease for the third installment, which is currently titled The Final Gambit!?

In The Inheritance Games, Avery learns that she will inherit Tobias Hawthorne’s billions only if she lives in Hawthorne House (his sprawling, secret passage filled mansion) for a year. The first two books take place in the weeks directly after the will is read. Book three jumps forward in time, as the clock is ticking down toward the one-year mark when Avery finally gets the money.

What’s next for you?

Right now, I’m revising The Final Gambit. After that, I will turn my attention back to a project that I actually wrote before The Final Gambit but haven’t revised yet. That book will be due out in 2023, and it is very much in the vein of The Inheritance Games. I can’t reveal the premise yet, but it also involves billionaires, family secrets, a larger-than-life mystery, and one of my favorite tropes of all time!

Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

For mystery-thriller lovers, I am really loving the series that started with A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and continued with Good Girl, Bad Blood. Beyond that, I’ve also recently read and enjoyed The Gilded Ones and Six Crimson Cranes, both of which are YA fantasy.

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

The post Q&A: Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Author of ‘The Hawthorne Legacy’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Miss Meteor by Tehlor Kay Mejia and Anna-Marie McLemore
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Witty and heartfelt with characters that leap off the page, Miss Meteor is acclaimed authors Anna-Marie McLemore and Tehlor Kay Mejia’s first book together.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
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A Cinderella story with deadly stakes and thrilling twists, perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying and Knives Out.

These Vengeful Hearts by Katherine Laurin
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A thrilling novel about a secret society and the dangers that lie in wait for anyone brave enough to join—perfect for fans of Karen M. McManus, Kara Thomas, and Maureen Johnson.

Charming as a Verb by Ben Philippe
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From the award-winning author of The Field Guide to the North American Teenager comes a whip-smart and layered romantic comedy. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Jenny Han. 
(Note: Charming As A Verb has now been pushed back to October 13th 2020)

Not Your #LoveStory by Sonia Hartl
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#PlaneBae meets Gilmore Girls in this hilarious and heartfelt story about the addictiveness of Internet fame and the harsh realities of going viral.

Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker
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In this delicious new collection, you’ll find stories about lurking vampires of social media, rebellious vampires hungry for more than just blood, eager vampires coming out―and going out for their first kill―and other bold, breathtaking, dangerous, dreamy, eerie, iconic, powerful creatures of the night.

Fable by Adrienne Young
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Filled with all of the action, emotion, and lyrical writing that brought readers to Sky in the Deep, New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Young returns with Fable, the first book in this new captivating duology.

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
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Award-winning author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another riveting, ripped-from-the-headlines mystery that exposes horrific secrets hiding behind the limelight and embraces the power of a young woman’s voice.

The Scapegracers by Hannah Abigail Clarke
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An outcast teenage lesbian witch finds her coven hidden amongst the popular girls in her school, and performs some seriously badass magic in the process.

Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds
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Justin A. Reynolds, author of Opposite of Always, delivers another smart, funny, and powerful stand-alone YA contemporary novel, with a speculative twist in which Jamal’s best friend is brought back to life after a freak accident . . . but they only have a short time together before he will die again.

Shine by Jessica Jung
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Crazy Rich Asians meets Gossip Girl by way of Jenny Han in this knock-out debut about a Korean American teen who is thrust into the competitive, technicolor world of K-pop, from Jessica Jung, K-pop legend and former lead singer of one of the most influential K-pop girl groups of all time, Girls Generation.

Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour
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Nina LaCour delivers another emotional knockout with Watch Over Me, the eagerly anticipated follow-up to the Printz Award-winning We Are Okay.

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

The post September 2020 Book Releases: YA appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the critically acclaimed author of over a dozen YA novels. She has an impressive back catalogue of literary work and an even more impressive number of degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and cognitive science; it is no surprise that her unique voice is so highly regarded in the YA contemporary field. Her newest book, The Inheritance Games, is a dark and twisted tale based loosely on the Cinderella story. Aimed at fans of One of Us is Lying, this YA thriller is full of intrigue and suspense with a multitude of mysteries and puzzles that must be solved before reaching the conclusion.

Hi Jennifer! Thanks for taking the time to sit down today. First off can you tell us a little about The Inheritance Games?

The Inheritance Games is a twisted mystery about an eccentric billionaire who dies and leaves virtually his entire fortune to a teenage girl that no one in his family has ever met. The girl has no idea who this billionaire is, let alone why he’d leave her billions. Per the terms of the will, she’s required to move into his palatial Texas mansion, where she must live for a year alongside the family whose fortune she just inherited. She soon discovers that the deceased billionaire was obsessed with puzzles, riddles, and codes, and comes to believe that she is now his final puzzle, and that following a complicated sets of clues that he has left behind will answer what is now the biggest question of her life: why her?

As a reader who may one day try to write a novel I am always so curious about the inspiration behind novels. What was the inspiration behind The Inheritance Games?

I had spent years wanting to write what I called my “puzzle house” book—a book about a sprawling mansion, filled with secret passages, with puzzles, riddles, and codes built into every detail of the house. I had come up with multiple different premises with a house like this at its core, but none of them ever quite took. Then one day, for a different project, I asked myself “How could a totally normal teenage girl suddenly become world-famous overnight?” And of all the answers I came up with, “a famous billionaire leaves a stranger his entire fortune” was my favorite, so I started brainstorming ways to weave together that premise and my puzzle house—and Avery’s move into Hawthorne House (and the mystery at the core of the book) was born.

Could you tell us a bit about your writing process? Was there anything different about writing The Inheritance Games?

My process is a little different every time. For The Inheritance Games, once I had the general premise, I started by figuring out the cast of characters, since I knew I wanted all of the Hawthornes to be a little bit larger than life. Once I had the cast, I set about developing the three mysteries at the core of the book. The big mystery was entailed in the premise: why did Tobias Hawthorne leave Avery his fortune? I knew that mystery would be solved in an almost National Treasure-esque fashion, with clues built into Hawthorne House and the surrounding estate leading to more clues, more questions, and finally answers. I also wanted two secondary mysteries, which were more character-oriented. Once I had the premise, the characters, and the three mysteries, I wrote up a brief proposal for my publisher. They bought the book, but then I had to contend with the one thing that was missing from the proposal: answers to the big mystery questions I’d posed. I took several days and brainstormed different possibilities, then selected the ones I liked most. So then I knew what mysteries the book was posing and how those turned out. I spent some time figuring out the “puzzle sequence” involved in the big mystery—what the different puzzles and clues were and how each one led to the next—and then I started writing.

Your characters are all so realistic. Do you develop them first or do you work on the plot first?

For me, premise comes first, then characters, then the details of the plot. When I’m working out characters, I like to start by figuring out the dominant archetype or trope(s) that describe each character, and then I start delving into their past or childhood to figure out how they became that person, which leads to their characters inevitably deviating from the general archetype in ways that are consistent with those backstories.

Do you relate to any of the characters in this book?

I relate to the question Avery is asking: why me? On one hand, she deeply wants to be special and to believe that Tobias Hawthorne’s reasoning in choosing her will confirm that she is, but she’s also aware that it would be literally impossible to be special enough to deserve the lucky break that she has been given.

We all love good looking, brilliant male leads and the Hawthorne brothers are so much fun. Do you have a favourite?

It feels wrong to admit this, but I do! Xander is my favorite Hawthorne, because he is the most fun to write.

There are lots of puzzles in The Inheritance Games. How good are you at puzzles in real life?

I am decent at puzzles—but much better at codes.

You sold your first five books while you were still in college. What is the best part about being an author?

My two favorite things about being an author are (1) the readers and (2) getting to know so many other authors. It’s amazing to hear that my books meant something to someone, and I personally love watching readers’ reactions to different plot twists. I always want to know what people saw coming! I anticipated loving that part of being an author, but I didn’t realize going into this career how much getting to know other authors would mean to me. I have always been a little weird. In high school, I felt like the ways that I was different felt off-putting to other people. In college, I met wonderful friends who loved me for my weirdness. But it wasn’t until becoming an author that I met a lot of other people who were “weird” in the exact same ways!

Can you share a bit about what you are working on next? *whispers* Please say Inheritance Games 2.

Inheritance Games 2! I’m doing the last round of line edits right now, but can’t say much about the project without spoiling book one!

Other than your own books, can you recommend some reads for lovers of The Inheritance Games?

The Truly Deviously series by Maureen Johnson!

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

The post Q&A: Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Author of ‘The Inheritance Games’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Inheritance Games is a dark and twisted novel that is loosely based on the story of Cinderella. It is a contemporary YA thriller that is well aimed at fans of One of Us is Lying as it is full of intrigue and suspense with a multitude of mysteries and puzzles that must be solved before reaching the conclusion.

The book follows protagonist, Avery Kylie Grambs, a 17-year-old high school student from the wrong side of the tracks. Since her mother’s death two years ago, Avery has lived with her guardian and half sister, Libby. Life is tough for Avery and it always has been as they struggle to make ends meet and her friends are limited to her school friend Max and Harry, the homeless guy from the park who she plays chess with. So when Libby’s on-again off-again boyfriend moves back in, it is the final straw for Avery and she takes to living out of her car. Then, without warning, something completely bizarre happens and her world is turned upside down.

A reclusive billionaire with a penchant for riddles and puzzles has mentioned Avery in his will and she is whisked off to the reading at his home in Texas: Hawthorne House. When she arrives, she is confronted by a host of suspicious members of the Hawthorne family, namely his two daughters, Skye and Zara and four grandsons, Nash, Grayson, Jameson, and Xander. The biggest surprise occurs when the will is read and it reveals this enigma of a man, who she has never met, has disinherited his entire family and left almost his entire estate to her. There is one stipulation on her inheritance though. She must live at Hawthorne House for one year, alongside the family who are none too happy at their sudden loss of fortune.

“The only string attached to my inheriting billions of dollars is that I must move into a mansion. A mansion where a large number of the people who were expecting to inherit this money still live. And I can’t kick them out.”

The characterisation in this book is exceptional and really stands out. Each and every one of the characters are well depicted and introduced in such a skilful, effortless way that their personalities and mannerisms feel second nature to the reader. There are three robust and tenacious main characters that are supported by numerous dynamic secondary characters that move fluidly throughout the story. Every character seems to have a secret and while some are red herrings others are pivotal to the many mysteries that need to be solved.

“Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Jennifer Lynn Barnes utilises a few tropes in this book with my favourite being the “chosen one” trope. Normally, in this trope the hero of the story is special in some way. Either they have a special ability or there is a secret about their birth that will turn the story on its head. What I loved about Barnes’ use of this trope is that she completely flipped it! It is hinted throughout the book by secondary characters that there is some secret around Avery’s birth: her mother had an affair and she is secretly related to the Hawthorne’s being the most popular theory presented by the disgruntled family members. Instead, throughout the book Avery is refreshingly normal and watching her contend with this throughout the book is genuinely heart warming.

“To some people, you’ll be Cinderella. To others, Marie Antoinette”

As the story moves forward, the reader learns about who Tobias Hawthorne was. Gleaning information from his grandsons, we learn how he loved puzzles and riddles and soon discover that this will is his last hurrah: the final riddle of Tobias Hawthorne and he is using Avery as a pawn in the inheritance games. Teaming up with Jameson, Avery sets out to solve this puzzle to learn why she was chosen. Grayson is also searching for these answers and his animosity towards Avery and his brother is palpable. But all is not as it seems and these brothers have a secret in their closet that no one wants to bring out into the light of day.

“The old man was playing the long game.”

The development of the relationships between Avery, Jameson, and Grayson is another key trope featured in this book, the classic love triangle. It was something I was really looking forward to reading as angsty, tumultuous teenage drama (also known as trash) is a favourite of mine. Unfortunately, the romance failed to ignite for me in this first instalment. There was great potential for truly great sparks and tension, but it just felt forced and a little underwhelming. Perhaps in the next instalment there will be more time to allow the chemistry and tension to build or perhaps the addition of the mean girl ex-girlfriend, Emily, was the wet blanket no one wanted in this story.

“She wanted everything more than I wanted anything. And the one time I wanted something….”

To wrap it all up this book has so many shout outs to readers and book lovers which made me smile whenever I came upon them. From this description of Avery’s best friend, Max:

“Max watched a lot of television and had what could probably have been classified as a book addiction”

To the attention to detail when describing the numerous and stunning libraries of Hawthorne House it was a true celebration of a book lover.

“This isn’t the only library in Hawthorne House.”

The Inheritance Games lived up to its description. It was mysterious, suspenseful, and downright wicked at times, but is a book with characters you cannot help but fall in love with. It wraps up almost all the loose ends presented, but ends on a devilish cliffhanger that has left me needing the sequel yesterday! I highly recommend this to lovers of YA thrillers and cannot wait to see what Barnes has in store for Avery and the Hawthorne boys next.

The Inheritance Games is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 1st 2020.

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

Synopsis | Goodreads

A Cinderella story with deadly stakes and thrilling twists, perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying and Knives Out.

Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why–or even who Tobias Hawthorne is. To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man’s touch–and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes.

Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a con-woman, and he’s determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather’s last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.

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

The Dark Days Deceit by Alison Goodman
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The thrilling, genre-bending conclusion to Lady Helen’s demon-hunting adventures, set in the glittering Regency world. In the final book of the trilogy that began with THE DARK DAYS CLUB and continued with THE DARK DAYS PACT, the intrepid Lady Helen’s story hurtles to a shocking conclusion full of action, heartbreak, and betrayal.

This Is What It Feels Like by Rebecca Barrow
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It doesn’t matter what the prize for the Sun City Originals contest is this year. Dia knows that without a band, she hasn’t got a shot at winning. Ever since Hanna’s drinking took over her life and left. It used to be the three of them, Dia, Jules, and Hanna, messing around and making music and planning for the future. But now there’s a baby, a failed relationship, a stint in rehab, all kinds of off beats that have interrupted the rhythm of their friendship. No contest can change that. Right?

Archenemies by Marissa Meyer
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The Renegades Trilogy continues, in this fiercely awaited second installment after the New York Times-bestselling Renegades by Marissa Meyer, author of the Lunar Chronicles.

Pulp by Robin Talley
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In this novel told in dual narratives, New York Times bestselling author Robin Talley weaves together the lives of two young women connected across generations through the power of words. A stunning story of bravery, love, how far we’ve come and how much farther we have to go.

This Splintered Silence by Kayla Olson
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Lindley Hamilton has been the leader of the space station Lusca since every first-generation crew member on board, including her mother, the commander, were killed by a deadly virus. Lindley always assumed she’d captain the Lusca one day, but she never thought that day would come so soon. When a member of the surviving second generation dies from symptoms that look just like the deadly virus, though, Lindley feels her world shrinking even smaller. The disease was supposed to be over; the second generation was supposed to be immune. But as more people die, Lindley must face the terrifying reality that either the virus has mutated or something worse is happening: one of their own is a killer.

The Reckoning of Noah Shaw by Michelle Hodkin
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Noah Shaw confesses all in this second novel of a chilling new companion series to Michelle Hodkin’s New York Times bestselling Mara Dyer trilogy!

Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
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Set in the world of debutante balls, grand estates and rolling green hills, Little White Lies combines a charming setting, a classic fish-out-of-water story, and the sort of layered mystery only author Jennifer Lynn Barnes can pull off.

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott
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Stella Grant likes to be in control—even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. She needs to keep herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardise the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions. The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals. What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?

Any Second by Kevin Emerson
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Five years after being kidnapped, Elian’s captor sends him into the mall–with a bomb strapped to his chest. Across the mall is Maya, a girl whose crippling anxiety holds her prisoner in its own way. Whether it’s chance or fate, Maya keeps Eli from ending them all. And now nothing is the same. Drawn together by their dark pasts, Maya and Eli know it takes only seconds for their entire worlds to change. But time will tell if meeting each other will change them for better or worse.

Mammoth by Jill Baguchinsky
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The summer before her junior year, paleontology geek Natalie Page lands a coveted internship at an Ice Age dig site near Austin. Natalie, who’s also a plus-size fashion blogger, depends on the retro style she developed to shield herself from her former bullies, but vintage dresses and perfect lipstick aren’t compatible with prospecting for fossils in the Texas heat. But nothing is going to dampen Natalie’s spirit — she’s exactly where she wants to be, and she gets to work with her hero, a rock-star paleontologist who hosts the most popular paleo podcast in the world. And then there’s Chase the intern, who’s seriously cute, and Cody, a local boy who’d be even cuter if he were less of a grouch.

The Incredible True Story of the Making of the Eve of Destruction by Amy Brashear
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Arkansas, 1984: The town of Griffin Flat is known for almost nothing other than its nuclear missile silos. Now, film moguls have picked Griffin Flat as the location for a new nuclear holocaust movie, aptly titled The Eve of Destruction. When sixteen-year-old Laura Ratliff wins a walk-on role (with a plus-one!) thanks to a radio call-in contest, she is more relieved than excited. While on set after the scripted nuclear explosion, nobody seems to know if a real nuclear bomb has detonated or not.

The Resolutions by Mia Garcia
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New Years are for fresh starts, but Jess just wants everything to go back to the way it was. From hiking trips, to four-person birthday parties, to never-ending group texts, Jess, Lee, Ryan, and Nora have always been inseparable—and unstoppable. But now, with senior year on the horizon, they’ve been splintering off and growing apart. And so, as always, Jess makes a plan. She adds a new twist: instead of making their own resolutions, the four friends assign them for each other—dares like kiss someone you know is wrong for you. But not even the best laid plans can take into account the uncertainties of life.

What YA book are you most excited for this month? Tell us in the comments below!

The post November Book Releases: YA appeared first on The Nerd Daily.