Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from 13 Little Love Stories: An Anthology Inspired By Taylor Swift Songs, which releases on June 30th 2026.

If you could live inside one Taylor Swift song for a day, which would you pick? In this shimmering anthology, thirteen acclaimed, bestselling authors do just that, reimagining some of Taylor’s most iconic songs as love stories. 

Whether you’re in an era of fairy lights and folktales or diss tracks and dance floors, here’s a playlist that features all the hits: The soaring high note of first love. The minor key of heartbreak. And the steady rhythm of true friendship and self-discovery.

As clever and unforgettable as the songs that inspired them, these stories are sure to play on repeat in your head and your heart. 

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The post Read An Excerpt From ’13 Little Love Stories: An Anthology Inspired By Taylor Swift Songs’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto, which releases on April 28th 2026.

Retirement should mean long-awaited trips to the sapphire waters of Santorini or careening down a sand dune in Dubai. For sixty-three-year-old Mebel, retirement means her husband of more than forty years announcing that he’s leaving her for their private chef. Mebel isn’t sure who’s the bigger loss.

Not to worry, Mebel has the perfect plan: she’s going to win back her husband. No one knows what he needs better than her—after all, she’s been anticipating his needs their whole marriage. And if he wants a wife who can cook (why else would he leave her for a chef?), she will simply go to cooking school. And where better to learn to cook for your husband than France, the most romantic country in the world?

However, Mebel quickly learns that she has mistakenly enrolled in a culinary school not in glamorous Paris but rather in England—and in some small village outside of Oxford no less. Despite the less-than-warm welcome from her much younger classmates, Mebel manages to befriend Gemma, the breakout star of the program. And this unlikely friendship starts to show Mebel that maybe there’s more to her than being the perfect trophy wife…

All her life, Mebel Tanadi has always had a fear of-not so much death as much as situations that eventually lead to death. Like getting lost in a desert, for example. It’ll hit her when she drinks a glass of water and sees a tiny bit remaining at the bottom of the glass. Her brain will go: When you are wandering around a desert without any water, you will think back to this moment and wish you’d drank every drop. And Mebel will lift the glass once more and make sure she gets every single drop.

Or when she is swimming, treading water in the deep end of the pool, her brain might say: Check for sharks. And she’d look over her shoulder just in case a great white somehow found its way into the swimming pool in their backyard.

Sometimes, when Mebel cuts off a piece of steak a little too big, her brain says: I wonder if your face will remain purple after you die from choking on that bite. It would make for an interesting topic of conversation at the funeral anyway. And Mebel would cut the piece in half.

Long story short, Mebel’s brain is a bit of an asshole.

Though not as big an asshole as, it must be said, her husband Henk. The thing about Henk is, Mebel fell in love with him when she found out his name was spelled H-e-n-k and not H-a-n-k. She’s had an entire life of explaining to customs officers at airports that, no, that is not a misspelling in her passport, her parents really did mean to name her Mebel. Yes, they were aiming for Mabel. And “Henk” is so much more tragic than “Mebel” that she could not help falling for him. They were clearly created for each other. Except after forty years of peaceful marriage, Henk has just decided to drop a bomb right into their lives.

“You’re leaving me for our chef, Wendy?” Mebel says now.

Henk has trouble meeting her eye. “Yes,” he mumbles to a spot somewhere above Mebel’s head. Maybe he’s starting to lose his vision. Mebel makes a mental note to get an appointment with an ophthalmologist. Or maybe not, since he’s just revealed that he is leaving her for their chef, Wendy.

“She’s a baby,” Mebel says. And her name is spelled properly, her brain says. She chooses not to say this out loud.

“She’s twenty-four.”

“Exactly. Her brain isn’t even done developing!” Mebel is getting shrill and she knows it, but she can’t help herself. “Once it’s done developing, she might realize she doesn’t even like you,” she adds. It’s petty, but Michelle Obama once said that when they go low, we go lower. Or something like that anyway. She’s not one to argue with Michelle Obama.

Henk sighs. How can one short sigh convey so much? Though he doesn’t say it, Mebel senses his frustration and exhaustion sinking into the marrow of her bones. Their entire marriage, she’s sensed it, and she’s tried so very hard to avoid triggering Henk’s disappointment. She thought she’d done well; even at age sixty-three, Mebel is, dare she say it, fabulous. She was always, and always will be, a CHIP-a Chinese-Indonesian princess. When Mebel’s son told her what a CHIP was, Mebel had been proud of being one.

“CHIPs are all the same, Ma,” Sammy had said. “First of all, they’re raised in some European-style mansion with a hypermanicured Pomeranian. They get chauffeured around in Alphards, they get their bachelor in economics from USC or U Mich, and then come back to Indonesia to get married and become trophy wives.”

Mebel has never understood why being a trophy wife is somehow looked down upon. She loves being a trophy wife. She makes such a fantastic trophy. She’s even shaped like one, all slender curves and long thin legs that she has maintained in the same exact shape for the last few decades. She takes pride in being a trophy, except now it seems that Henk has decided to swap her out for a new one, and the thought is unbearable.

“I understand why you might feel the need to go for petty jabs,” Henk says in his reasonable tone. It’s a tone that he has used on their Pomeranian, Riri, and their son, Sammy, up until the age of eight, and Mebel for as long as she can remember. “I will spare you the indignity of moving out,” he adds magnanimously.

“Moving out?” Mebel echoes blankly. She hasn’t even thought of that possibility. But as soon as Henk says it, she thinks: I could do with a staycation for a few nights. Leave him in this big, empty house to think about what a mistake he’s making. The St. Regis Jakarta has a magnificent spa where they massage your face with a South Korean serum made out of salmon sperm.

But before Mebel can WhatsApp her assistant to make a booking at the St. Regis, Henk says, “Yes, I will be moving out.”

“You?” Mebel cries. “Where would you possibly stay?” Of course, as soon as the words are out of her mouth, she realizes the stupidity of her question. Henk is a real estate tycoon. The number of properties they own in the city is always growing, to the point that Mebel doesn’t know how many of them they own. If Henk wants to move out, he doesn’t have to worry about not having any options.

Henk shrugs. “One of the apartments in south Jakarta. I like that area.”

They live in north Jakarta. It’s only about twenty miles away from south Jakarta, but with Jakarta traffic, it’s a journey that could take anywhere between twenty minutes and three hours. He might as well have told her he’s moving to a different country.

“Since when?” she cries. She feels affronted by this. Years and years she’s tried to get him to sample one of the many trendy restaurants that have sprouted in south Jakarta, and each time, she’s been shot down with “It’s too far away,” and “Why bother? We have great restaurants here,” and so on.

Henk doesn’t answer, merely looks sheepish, and it begins to sink in with horrible clarity that the truth is: Since Wendy. Mebel is beginning to realize that from this point on, her life will be divided into two halves-one of them would be BW, Before Wendy, and the other would be AW, After Wendy. Kind of like BC and . . . uh, AD. But wait, a small voice pipes up in her atrociously messy mind, why is it AD and not AC? Because, replies a different small voice, then it would be air-conditioning. Mebel snorts.

Henk frowns. “This is not a joke, Mebel,” he says.

“I know,” she says, but she can’t help releasing a tiny little demented giggle.

Henk shakes his head. “See, this is the problem. I can’t have a proper conversation with you without you doing your . . . thing.”

“My thing?”

“You know what I mean.”

And now the mirth is gone, replaced by a searing hot rush of anger. “No!” Mebel snaps. “Actually, I don’t know what you mean.”

As though noticing the change in atmosphere, Henk deflates. “It’s fine, forget about it. I’m sorry,” he adds before Mebel can say anything. “I really am. I never thought-I didn’t plan on this happening.”

“Me neither,” she says.

She can see the frustration crossing Henk’s face. She’s done it again, hasn’t she? She’s found herself in a terrible situation, and instead of reacting appropriately, she reacts with snippy remarks. Why can’t she be honest with him, just for once? Show him her vulnerability, let go of the armor made up of humor and wit and acerbic comments? But, even as Mebel claws deep into the recesses of her heart, her ego embraces her tightly, refusing to let go. And so she stands there, unbending, as Henk takes a suitcase out of the walk-in closet. She can tell from the way he’s moving that the suitcase is full of things. When did he pack that? He’s never packed a single suitcase for as long as they’ve been married. Their helpers have always done that for them. She wonders for a horrifying moment if he did, in fact, ask their helpers to pack for him. Had Narti and Kus done that, knowing what they were packing for?

“Did Narti-” she starts to say.

“No,” Henk sighs. “Of course not. I packed by myself.”

Mebel releases her breath. She ignores the little glow of petty pleasure that comes at the realization that because Henk has packed his own suitcase, chances are he’s forgotten a ton of things. His nighttime retainer, for one, without which he’ll spend the entire night grinding his teeth. He doesn’t even have pointy canines anymore; they’ve been ground flat like the rest of his teeth. Mebel has always hated Henk’s teeth grinding. It sounds like someone rattling dice in a cup. Hah, let’s see how Wendy likes that. But the thought of him sleeping next to Wendy is a punch to Mebel’s heart. She thinks of Wendy, beautiful in her youth, her cheeks plump with natural collagen, and it makes her want to rip out her hair. She bets Wendy has none of her health issues-the stiff knees, the aching back, the dry eyes. Speaking of dry eyes . . . Mebel fishes a small bottle of eye drops from her pocket. These days, her eyes have become so dry that she has to make sure she always has eye drops on her all the time.

Halfway out of the bedroom, Henk says, “I’ve called Samuel. You shouldn’t be on your own, especially now.”

Horror sinks in with ruthless speed, and Mebel’s entire body goes cold, as though someone’s poured a jug of ice water into her veins. “You told Sammy?” she gasps, scandalized. The thought of her sweet baby boy learning about his father’s indiscretion is, in fact, worse than the transgression itself. “How could you? He would be-”

“He’s a thirty-four-year-old man with a wife and kids,” Henk says flatly. “I don’t think we need to be protecting him from the realities of life anymore.”

“He’s my baby!” Mebel says, and even she has to admit that, when put like that, she sounds like one of those overbearing moms who are obsessed with their useless sons. Except Sammy is far from useless, of course. And Mebel is anything but overbearing. You really can’t be overbearing in full-body Chanel, it gets too warm.

Henk doesn’t even bother with a response before striding out of the room, wheeling his enormous suitcase behind him. She hurries after him, dozens of questions crowding her mind. Dimly, she thinks: I can’t beg him to stay. That would be beyond pathetic. I’ll tell him good riddance. But when she opens her mouth, what comes out is: “Please stay, dear. Please.” Damn it, so much for not begging.

“I wish you all the best, Mebel,” Henk says, and starts going down their elegant curved staircase.

For a fleeting moment, Mebel hopes the wheel of his suitcase will snag on their rug and make him trip, but of course it doesn’t. It’s a Rimowa, after all. And so she stands breathing hard at the top of the stairs, watching her husband of forty years walk out of their north Jakarta mansion and into the unforgiving tropical heat. It’s only when the front door clicks shut that it all sinks in. Mebel slides to the floor-gently, as her Chanel tweed skirt is somewhat snug, and if she split the seams, that would just be the icing on this cake of shit, wouldn’t it? She senses tears filling her eyes, but before they can stream down her face, the snot arrives. She has never perfected the art of crying prettily. Her body has always produced snot far more efficiently than it does tears. Maybe that’s why Henk left her. Maybe Wendy is one of those women who are able to cry prettily.

Girl, Mebel thinks, with another sob. Wendy is barely a woman, she is a girl. Oh god, she’s younger than Sammy. Ugh.

Just as that revolting thought settles into her consciousness, the front door opens once more. Mebel’s head whips up. Has Henk finally realized what a grand mistake he’s made? Maybe this was all a big joke, one of those things that young people are always playing on one another and posting to the Instagram. She dabs at her wet cheeks, hoping she doesn’t look too much of a mess.

“Mami?”

Mebel’s shoulders sag. Not Henk coming back to beg for forgiveness, after all. Still, she reaches deep within her soul and finds a kernel of persistence to cling to. She mustn’t let her sweet Sammy see her like this. She pulls herself up using the banisters for support, then straightens her skirt and tweed jacket.

“Mami?” Samuel calls out. “Are you there?”

“Ama,” the high-pitched voice of Mebel’s granddaughter Luciana shouts. “I wanna play makeup!”

“Shush, Luci,” Samuel’s wife, Hannah, says. “We’re here to check on your ama, not play with her.”

Mebel hurriedly dries her eyes and takes in a shuddery breath. She brushes down her outfit and primps her puffy hair. There, now she no longer looks like a woman whose husband of forty years has just left her. But when she comes down the stairs and sees her sweet Samuel, her Sammy baby, and his lovely family, the tears come rushing back, and she finds to her horror that she is crumpling like a piece of tissue. And when she opens her mouth to say, Oh Sammy, there’s no need for you to come here, what comes out instead is an elongated “Waaaah!”

Samuel wraps an arm around Mebel’s shoulders. Luciana clings to her mother and stares at Mebel with wide eyes.

“What’s wrong with Ama?” Luciana asks in a whisper loud enough to be heard all the way across the house.

“Shush,” Hannah says again. She turns around to signal at their nannies-there are two of them, one for each of the twin toddlers, Freydis and Aelgifu. Apparently they’re Viking names. Mebel has had to double-check to make sure that they’ve spelled Aelgifu correctly.

The nannies nod and take the toddlers, along with Luciana, away into the kitchen, leaving Mebel with her son and her daughter-in-law.

“Don’t worry, Mami,” Samuel is saying.

“Don’t worry?” Mebel cries. “How can I not worry? Your father is leaving me for”-she lowers her voice into a scandalized whisper-“for someone younger than you!”

Samuel fidgets, and the crack in Mebel’s heart deepens. “Oh, Mami. You’ll be okay. He’ll come to his senses. This is just a midlife crisis.”

“He is almost seventy years old!” Mebel snaps. “He’s much too old to be having one of those things. He had one of them already, when he was forty-five!”

Excerpted from Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto Copyright © 2026 by Jesse Q Sutanto. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block’ by Jesse Q. Sutanto appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

About The Fortune Flip: This charming rom-com is filled with Chinese traditions, second chances, and a luck-changing love story that will appeal to readers of Helen Hoang, Jasmine Guillory, and Sarah Adams.  Out March 17th 2026.

With Chinese New Year comes the celebration of a new cycle in the Chinese zodiac (this year, we’re entering the Year of the Horse), rituals to bring good fortune and prosperity, and traditions believed to attract good luck for the forthcoming year. Some of these traditions include eating lucky foods, such as dumplings and fish, wearing the auspicious color red, and sharing red envelopes filled with lucky money.

In my next novel, The Fortune Flip—releasing March 17, 2026—luck is a major theme throughout. When Hazel Yen and Logan Wells’ bad and good fortunes flip after a visit to a fortune teller, they have to work together to change back their luck. They try everything from lucky foods to luck consultants to feng shui, all while visiting different fortune tellers who can “temp check” their efforts. But is luck something we can attract more of, or is it something we make?

Luck is a word you’ll hear again and again during new year festivities. Many actions are taken in the lead up to, and during, the Chinese New Year two-week period that are centered on what you can do to increase good luck and eliminate the bad. It’s also a time for reuniting with family and friends and honoring those who have passed on. Because it’s believed that good things are better in pairs, I’ve matched books with lucky traditions and rituals for the new year ahead.

If you’re sending—or receiving—red envelopes: Women of Good Fortune by Sophie Wan

When Lulu, Rina, and Jane find themselves needing to escape life as they know it, the best friends scheme to steal the cash gifts at Lulu’s upcoming high-society wedding. Add to your TBR if you love stories about female friendships and commentary on the pressure women face, all signed, sealed, and delivered with a red envelope heist.

If you’re counting your lucky numbers: 888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers by Abraham Chang

Everyone gets seven great loves in their life, according to Young Wang’s uncle. But when Young meets Erena—his sixth love—is she just the penultimate relationship for him, or is she his one true love? Layered with Western pop culture, Chinese numerology and superstition, and the experience of being a first-generation Chinese American.

If you’re gathering with family or honoring your ancestors: Lucky Seed by Justinian Huang

After Big Boss Sun’s death, the Sun family scrambles and schemes to produce a male heir who can take over the family business. According to the family’s fortune teller, if they don’t succeed, the family will become “hungry ghosts” in the afterlife. In the Sun family, there’s no shortage of drama, power plays, and scandalous secrets. If you’re looking for a juicy family saga loaded with twists, this is it.

If you’re resolving disagreements and mending relationships: The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

A Chinese New Year family celebration goes terribly wrong when Meddy’s Second Aunt’s ex-beau shows up with gifts—and accidentally brings one not meant for the Chans. Instead, it was for a business rival to cement their alliance. Meddy and the Aunties decide to return the gift and find themselves in the middle of a decades-long war between rival crime lords. Packed with humorous hijinks, the entertaining kind of chaos, and good intentions, this novel takes you for a ride!

If you’re eating dumplings for good fortune: Time Loops & Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau

This time loop romance about Noelle, who’s stuck repeating the same Friday over and over again, will forever alter the way you view night market dumplings. Noelle thinks Cam, a handsome brewery owner, might be her way out of the time loop, yet when she “meet cutes” with him every (repeated) day, he never seems to remember her. This one is fast-paced, self-aware, and will make you hungry for dumplings (despite everything that happens because of them).

If you’re modernizing time-honored traditions: Chop Fry Watch Learn: Fu Pei-mei and the Making of Modern Chinese Food by Michelle T. King

A food-infused cultural history centered on the life of Fu Pei-mei, a celebrity television chef and cookbook author, who taught the world how to cook Chinese food—all while adapting as the times changed. This book provides a fascinating look into a food icon’s impressive and impactful career, offers insights on identity and the sociopolitical history of China and Taiwan, and illuminates the powerful role food plays through it all.

If you’re ready to celebrate the Year of the Horse: Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen

Two Chinese zodiac matchmakers go head-to-head in a competition to prove whose method works best—traditional matching vs. modern app dating. As Olivia takes on her rival, Bennett, who’s started a dating app that puts her family’s business at risk, she learns a hard, but much-needed, lesson that when it comes to love, the heart doesn’t always care about compatibility. For those who love matchmaking, characters who each other up on dates, sweet family interactions, and lots of food. It’s also a crash course in learning about the signs of the Chinese zodiac (perfect for welcoming the Year of the Horse)!

If you’re hanging lanterns, paper cuttings, and decorations to usher in good fortune and happiness: Double Happiness by Heather Eng

Mei must learn—and choose—what it is she really wants in work, life, and love in this novel about a woman with a carefully constructed life who’s caught between a relentless tech job, her fiancé, and an unexpected new relationship. This one comes out on May 19, 2026, so this is a peek at what’s on my TBR!

The post 8 Books Inspired by Lucky Chinese New Year Rituals appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Get ready to look forward to some great fiction book releases in 2026! We’ve rounded up just a few fiction books releasing between January and June from thrillers and historical fiction, to stories of friendship and family, and more. With new releases from Jennifer Niven, Simone St. James, Claire Heywood, Catriona Ward, CG Drews, Natalie Haynes, Megan Lally, Xochitl Gonzalez, Emma Straub, Kylie Lee Baker, Nick Cutter, Catherine Adel West, Jennifer Saint, Rob Hart, and more, plus debut novels, you’ll be sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list!

Be sure to check out our other 2026 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, Romance, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, and Young Adult lists!

JANUARY 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Funny, big-hearted, and deeply moving, Meet the Newmans is a rich family story about the dual lives we lead. Because even when our lives aren’t televised weekly, we all have a behind-the-scenes.

Is This A Cry For Help? by Emily Austin

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A luminous new novel following a librarian who comes back to work after a mental breakdown only to confront book-banning crusaders in an empowering story of grief, love, and the power of libraries.

Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Based on the long-buried history of the American Plan, this powerful and shockingly timely story of resistance and resilience exposes the real government program designed to regulate women’s bodies and sexuality throughout the first half of the 20th century.

Dandelion Is Dead by Rosie Storey

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With sparkling wit and aching tenderness, debut author Rosie Storey gives us a modern love story about the courage it takes to live again after loss and finding hope in the most unexpected places.

Skylark by Paula McLain

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife weaves a mesmerizing tale of Paris above and below—where a woman’s quest for artistic freedom in 1664 intertwines with a doctor’s dangerous mission during the German occupation in the 1940s, revealing a story of courage and resistance that transcends time.

You’ll Never Forget Me by Isha Raya

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In this captivating cat-and-mouse thriller, a struggling actress is only just beginning to enjoy the life sheʼs always wanted after inadvertently killing her rival—but now she must contend with the woman who threatens to take it all away.

Burn Down Master’s House by Clay Cane

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Inspired by long-buried true stories of enslaved people who dared to fight back, this powerful novel offers a searing portrayal of resistance. 

The Midnight Carousel by Fiza Saeed McLynn

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The Night Circus meets Water for Elephants in this enchanting, darkly glittering story of grief, obsession, revenge, and enduring love.

The Briars by Sarah Crouch

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The USA TODAY bestselling author of Middletide returns with a lush and atmospheric novel of suspense following a young woman whose job as a game warden puts her in the path of a murderer in a small town eager to protect its own.

Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg

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Fleabag meets Big Swiss in this bold debut about a charismatic misfit who livestreams her life for seven days and nights to raise money to save her comatose sister—a poignant and darkly funny exploration of grief, forgiveness, and redemption.

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

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Simone St. James, the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel, returns with her scariest, most shocking novel yet in this pulse-pounding story about siblings who return to the house they fled 18 years before, called back by the ghost of their long-missing brother and his haunting request: Come home.

The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams

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From the two-time Emmy Award–winning producer and host of the Black and Published podcast comes a sweeping multi-generational epic following seven generations of Dupree women as they navigate love, loss, and the unyielding ties of family in the tradition of Homegoing and The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois.

FEBRUARY 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

The Exes by Leodora Darlington

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Who hasn’t wanted to murder an ex—figuratively, at least? In this explosive debut thriller, a woman’s seemingly perfect romantic life is on the verge of collapse as she uncovers a hidden history surfacing dark secrets that have deadly consequences.

A Crown of Stars by Shana Abe

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A sumptuously vivid and poignant account of the Lusitania’s fateful last days, drawn from the true story of an extraordinary young actress who survived the unthinkable—for fans of Marie Benedict, Louis Bayard, Fiona Davis, Kate Quinn, and HBO’s The Gilded Age.

The Wandering Queen by Claire Heywood

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An epic and fiercely imaginative retelling of the story of queen Dido, the legendary founder of Carthage, from the author of the national bestseller Daughters of Sparta.

Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris

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From acclaimed author Terah Shelton Harris comes a poignant story of survival and redemption that questions what it means to stop existing and start living.

The Fourth Princess by Janie Chang

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From the internationally bestselling author of The Porcelain Moon comes a haunting Gothic novel set in 1911 China. Two young women living in a crumbling, once-grand Shanghai mansion face danger as secrets of their pasts come to light, even as the mansion’s own secret threatens the present.

Out of the Loop by Katie Siegel

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The Seven Year Slip meets Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers in this wholly original time loop mystery.

Superfan by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

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From National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree Jenny Tinghui Zhang, a novel about a pop idol and his superfan, whose stories shockingly collide

The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
When the last fare of the night turns up dead in her backseat, a Sri Lankan American taxi driver works off the clock to clear her name in this mystery novel by debut author Yosha Gunasekera.

Adrift by Will Dean

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A high-tension thriller about a family’s descent into darkness that is perfect for fans of Dennis Lehane and Lisa Jewell.

A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by MK Oliver

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A whip-smart and darkly funny crime novel—perfect for fans of My Sister, the Serial Killer and The Maid—that follows a wife and mother with a deadly secret that she must suppress if she wants to maintain her picture-perfect façade.

Bad Asians by Lillian Li

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the acclaimed author of Number One Chinese Restaurant comes an affecting novel about an unforgettable group of friends trying to make their way in the world without losing themselves, or one another.

Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Nowhere Burning is a harrowing tale of survival that places the dark fairy tale of Peter Pan and the ruthless dangers of Lord of the Flies into the unforgiving maw of the Colorado Rockies.

MARCH 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

No Friend To This House by Natalie Haynes

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
No Friend to This House is an extraordinary reimagining of the myth of Medea from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Stone Blind, Natalie Haynes.

Wretch by Eric LaRocca

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From rising horror star and award-winning author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke comes a nightmarish, haunting, tech-Gothic thrill ride about sorrow, memory, and the unabashed complexity of love as a transgressive act.

You Did Nothing Wrong by C.G. Drews

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Domestic suspense meets haunted house horror in this adult debut from the New York Times bestselling author of Don’t Let the Forest In.

Strangers In The Villa by Robyn Harding

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From the international bestselling author of The Drowning Woman, a psychological thriller about a couple rocked by infidelity who moves to a villa in Spain’s Costa Brava to rebuild their relationship, only to welcome a pair of visitors who have no intention of leaving.  

How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev

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Two sisters face the real consequences of a fake marriage scheme in an emotional yet hilarious novel about immigration, healing, and family from USA Today bestselling author Sonali Dev.

Bloom by Robbie Couch

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From the New York Times bestselling author of If I See You Again Tomorrow comes a delightful and heartwarming novel about family, love, grief, and one precocious houseplant, that reminds us of the beauty of living a life in full Bloom.

Dig by J. H. Markert

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J. H. Markert returns with a surreal horror novel, perfect for fans of Graveyard Shift and What Moves the Dead.

This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum

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Best friends Benny and Joy like to say they’ve been saving each other’s lives since the moment they met. Until the day Joy disappears and Benny is suspected of murder . . .

Turn Off the Light by Jacquie Walter

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Two women living centuries apart are bound by the same dark secret in this haunting novel that “upends everything you think you know about ghost stories” (Jennifer McMahon, author of The Winter People).

Sweetbitter Song by Rosie Hewlett

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Perfect for fans of The Song of Achilles and from the award-winning author of The Witch of Colchis comes a profoundly moving story of two women on the shores of Ithaca, in the shadows of a legendary war, who must face their own battle – one of sisterhood, survival, and a forbidden love that could destroy them both.

What We Did To Survive by Megan Lally

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A vacation in paradise turns deadly when four teens’ sailing charter hits stormy seas in this propulsive new thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Megan Lally!

Finlay Donovan Crosses The Line by Elle Cosimano

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From New York Times bestseller Elle Cosimano comes Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line—the highly anticipated next installment in the beloved Finlay Donovan series.

APRIL 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez

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New York Times bestselling author Xochitl Gonzalez delivers a captivating story about a young woman whose life becomes ensnared in her glamorous neighbor’s secret past

A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas DiDomizio

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The Guncle meets Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies in this fun, twisty mystery following a spoiled nepo baby forced to work at a struggling summer camp who stumbles into a real-life murder mystery he has no choice but to solve.

We Would Never Tell by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

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A high-glamour, high-stakes thriller trailing three ambitious women as they navigate Hollywood’s secrets, sins, and scandals during 12 days at the Cannes Film Festival. 

American Fantasy by Emma Straub

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From New York Times bestselling author of This Time Tomorrow, an irresistible story about what happens when your teenage fantasy comes true after you’re already an adult.

The Girls Trip by Ally Condie

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From the author of Reese’s Book Club Pick and instant USA Today bestseller The Unwedding, a novel of suspense and friendship about three friends who decide to disappear from their lives for a few days while on a trip to a national park—only to have one of them vanish.

The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke

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Fans of Agatha Christie’s locked-room mysteries and modern tales like Knives Out will fall for The Ending Writes Itself, which masterfully blends classic mystery elements with genre-bending tropes. Crafted with razor-sharp wit and a meta twist, this satirical take on the publishing world ensures readers will hang on every word, right up to its breathtaking finale.

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer

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Come along with the Book Witch in this magical and inspiring love letter to reading from the USA Today bestselling author of The Wishing Game.

The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer

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From Marcus Kliewer, a new “titan of the macabre and unsettling” (Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author), comes a supernatural horror about a young woman who accepts a caretaking job from Craigslist, only to discover the position has consequences far greater—and more dangerous—than she ever could have imagined.

Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker

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In this lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds.

The Island Club by Nicola Harrison

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Set against the sun-drenched beaches of Balboa Island, with its prim and proper 1950s facade, The Island Club is a story of love, loneliness and the lies we tell ourselves―and what can be gained when the truth is finally revealed.

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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A nearly divorced trophy wife enrolls in culinary school to win back her husband, only to find a fresh start in the unlikeliest of places in this new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.

Go Gentle by Maria Semple

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The New York Times bestselling author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette returns to form in her most exuberant and life-affirming novel yet with the story of one woman’s cheerful determination to live a life of the mind only to have the heart force its way in.

MAY 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego

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A bookseller must escape the infamously haunted library that holds her darkest secrets, but with a murderer in her tour group, escaping alive is not as simple as it seems, in this twisty locked-room thriller from bestselling author of You Are Fatally Invited.

The Dorians by Nick Cutter

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The all-new novel of terror from “one of the hottest horror authors on the planet” (Paste) and writer of the #HorrorBookTok sensation The Troop!

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister

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How far would you go to rescue your child? A mother races against the clock—and finds herself on the wrong side of the law—in a desperate fight to save her teenage daughter in this pulse-pounding thriller.

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

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The Calamity Club will make you laugh, cry, and cheer—an epic testament to underestimated women who know that calamity can be the spark of new beginnings. This is Kathryn Stockett at her most confident, heartfelt, and hilarious—the triumphant return of one of the most beloved storytellers of our time.

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay

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Twisty, high-concept, and emotionally charged, this novel is an utterly compelling story of the hunt for a serial killer. But it’s also a heartfelt―and heartrending―novel about fate, innocence lost, and two souls who find that sometimes being broken is the only way for the light to get in. 

The Young Will Remember by Eve J. Chung

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A sweeping novel about a correspondent trapped behind enemy lines during the Korean War, and the women who help her find her way home, from the national bestselling author of Daughters of Shandong.

Villain by Natalie Zina Walschots

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The Boys meets Assistant to the Villain in the electrifying, sharp, violent, and hilarious sequel to the highly acclaimed novel, Hench. Filled with a queer and neurodiverse cast, Villain asks the question: what happens when a diabolically brilliant henchperson looks back at their already storied career and thinks, I can be so much worse.

The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh

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From the New York Times–bestselling author of Ghosted and The Love of My Life comes an unmissable emotional thriller: an up-all-night, page-turning love story with a very dark secret at its heart.

Homebound by Portia Elan

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Five interlocking lives. One beloved story. A dazzling adventure across centuries and continents in search of the things that hold us together.

Lady X by Molly Fader

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The search for a notorious vigilante exposes the secrets among three generations of women in this propulsive novel of female resistance and rage, sweeping from contemporary L.A. to gritty 1970s New York.

The Hope Keeper by Heather Webb

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Set in Jazz Age D.C., the story of possession and obsession, and the ever-looming curse of the legendary Hope Diamond, comes to life as the socialites scheme and the jewels glitter in the evening light. 

The Players Club by Rachel Mills

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For fans of Lessons in Chemistry and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, a bold, big concept debut about a secret club of women who risk everything to ask the question: If you could be anyone…who would you dare to become?

JUNE 2026 FICTION BOOK RELEASES

Tell Your Friends by Lauren Wilson

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A former child star and an envious fan collide in this cat-and-mouse psychological thriller about obsession, self-invention, and the dark side of internet fame.

There’s Only One Sin In Hollywood by Rasheed Newson

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A cinematic, razor-sharp novel following a backlot fixer’s daring investigation into the suspicious death of a closeted Black actor within the glamorous world of Hollywood, from the bestselling author of My Government Means to Kill Me.

A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

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A gripping novel about two trailblazing women on opposite sides of the law—a prosecutor and a madam—who team up to bring down notorious mob boss Lucky Luciano in 1930s New York, from the New York Times bestselling authors of the million-copy bestseller The Personal Librarian.

Strangers Behind Closed Doors by Catherine Adel West

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A twisty thriller about a woman who vanishes from a luxury hotel, and the detective who believes the case is tied to the unsolved disappearances of other Black women in the city.

The Break-Up Retreat by Camilla Sten

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An undercover journalist goes to expose an exclusive psychological wellness clinic where women go to recover from heartbreak, with dire consequences, in this creepy thriller from The Bachelorette Party author Camilla Sten.

A Fortune of Sand by Ruta Sepetys

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The daughter of an automotive magnate escapes to an artistic retreat that holds more secrets—and more intrigue—than she could have ever imagined, in this Prohibition-era novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Salt to the Sea.

Girl’s Girl by Sonia Feldman

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From a dazzling new talent, a sensual and spellbinding novel about one summer that shatters the balance between three best friends, forcing them to confront the line between friendship and desire.

This Immortal Heart by Jennifer Saint

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The epic, captivating tale of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who must reconcile her mind and heart when she is drawn against all odds to Ares, the god of war, from the internationally bestselling author of Ariadne and Hera.

Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes

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A gripping blend of historical fiction and Southern gothic psychological horror, Our Sister’s Keeper is a fierce exploration of Black sisterhood, rage, and resistance.

Three Hitmen and a Baby by Rob Hart

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Welcome back to Assassins Anonymous, where family is everything and danger lurks around every corner.

Pool House by Mary H.K. Choi

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Bestselling young adult author Mary H.K. Choi debuts a brilliantly observed adult novel about mothers, daughters and the complexity of family set against the backdrop of Hollywood.

The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An ambitious young woman insinuates herself into a tight-knit social set, shaking up friendships and marriages in a small seaside town.

What 2026 fiction book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Fiction Book Releases To Check Out In 2026 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

We walk to the line of cars, where most of the Li family has gathered, chatting and loading bags into their various vehicles. James hurries here and there, telling anyone who will listen that he’s waxed Sultry just for this trip. Mushu is leaning against a Volvo.

“There’s a bit of a problem,” she says when Shang and I get within hearing distance.

“Yes?” Shang says.

“There doesn’t seem to be any room in the back seat of your car.”

“How did you know this was my car?” Shang says.

Mushu slides her gaze deliberately to the car before saying, “This car, just like its owner, is giving dad vibes.”

Shang laughs and says, “Okay. But what do you mean there’s no room in the back seat? There’s— Oh.”

The back seat of his car is stuffed with bags piled on top of one another, plus a huge cooler taking up all the remaining space.

“We ran out of room in the trailer,” one of the aunties calls out. “You don’t mind, right, Shang?”

“I may have suggested it to them,” Mushu says helpfully.

Shang sighs. “You didn’t think to suggest they put stuff inside Sultry?”

“James was smart enough to keep his car locked,” Mushu says. “Otherwise, yes, it would’ve gotten filled to the gills with Chinese barbecue pork and frozen wontons.”

“Smart guy,” Shang says.

“So,” Mushu continues, “I’ll go ride with the aunties. They all want to matchmake me with their sons, apparently.”

I frown. “I’ll go in the trailer, too.”

“No,” Mushu says. “Go with Shang. There’s no more space for you in the trailer.”

“What?” I say, but already she is walking away, waving a careless hand behind her.

“See you there, cuz!”

I watch her go. It’s slowly sinking in that I’m going to be in the car with Shang. Alone. On a five-hour car ride. I gulp, and though we are outdoors and there’s a pleasant breeze around us, the gulp is painfully audible. “Um . . .”

“You can put your bag in here,” Shang says, popping open the trunk. “Uh, thanks.” I yank my bag next to the car and struggle to lift it. “Let me help.”

“Nope,” I snap. I need to show him that I am more than able to handle this entire trip, never mind one stupid bag. One stupid, oversize, overstuffed bag. I’m normally a light traveler, I want to wail. I bend my knees, my quads straining as I grasp the bag with shaking hands, and lift. After a lot of very unattractive grunts, I somehow manage to pull it off the ground and onto the lip of the trunk. But as I shove it in, I hear a rip. “Oh no.”

Shang winces. “Sounds like it might’ve gotten caught on something.” He reaches over and easily lifts the bag one-handed. “The fabric’s a little torn.”

“That’s okay!” I say, trying not to let my face fall at the thought of my precious Samsonite bag all torn up. Maybe I should’ve accepted Shang’s help. But no, the whole point of this trip is to show them how manly I can be, and haven’t I proven that by lifting a bag I can easily fit my whole body into? I open the passenger side door and slide in. This is a work trip, I remind myself. So what if you’re alone in a car with the most beautiful man you’ve ever come across? You are a professional, and this trip means everything to your father. Behave professionally and bring, uh, honor? No. Equity? Yes. Bring equity to the firm.

Then Shang gets in as well and as soon as the doors shut, the nearness of him is overwhelming. I can feel every molecule of air spinning between us, can hear the sound of his breathing, the rustling of his clothes as he reaches for his seatbelt. He occupies the space in a way that is impossible to ignore, filling all of my senses.

When he finally turns the engine on, the sound of a podcast floods the car, and my shoulders unknot a little. Ambient noise, that’s good. That way, Shang won’t be able to hear the weird, neurotic thoughts speeding through my head. I try not to notice the way he turns the wheel with one hand while the other is—ack!—placed on my headrest as he backs the car out of the parking space. He’s totally going to catch me stealing glimpses of his forearm. Why is one-hand steering so freaking sexy?

The thing is, I’m not sure why I’m so nervous around Shang. Sure, he’s devastatingly handsome, but so are plenty of other men; we are in California after all, a state teeming with avocados, matcha lattes, and hot guys. Maybe it’s because there is so much riding on me impressing him and his family, on striking just the right note with them. Yes, that’s it. When it comes to romantic relationships and past boyfriends, I’ve never had to work hard to impress them or their families, simply because I’ve never really cared about a guy that deeply. But with Shang, it’s about a deal, it’s about making and preserving connections—guanxi—and that’s so much more important than any romantic relationships.

I force myself to focus on the present moment. The narration coming from the stereo catches my attention. “What podcast is this?”

Shang spares me a quick glance. “It’s not a podcast. It’s an audiobook.” He hits a button and it stops playing.

“An . . . audiobook?” The word is so alien to me that it comes out sounding like a foreign language.

“Yeah, you know, like a novel, but in audio format?”

“I know what an audiobook is, I just . . . have not come across an actual person who listens to them.”

“That’s because you’re a finance bro.”

My mouth drops open in mock annoyance. “I am not a finance bro!”

“Oh, really?” Shang gives me a skeptical look. “What was the last thing you did on vacation?”

“Ski trip in Aspen.”

One of those dark, thick eyebrows rises.

“Okay,” I say. “Maybe that is a tad finance bro-y. But that’s only because it was a company trip.”

“The fact that you even go on company trips just screams finance bro,” Shang says.

“I do tai chi! That’s, like, the antithesis of finance bro.”

Shang side-eyes me as he merges onto the main road.

“Okay, my mom does tai chi and she makes me do it when I go to their house for our weekly meal.”

Shang snorts.

“You’re not any better,” I grumble. “You’re a—whiskey bro? Is that a thing?”

“Oh yeah, that is definitely a thing. And I’d like to say I am not a whiskey bro, but I’ll leave it up to you to decide.”

I ponder this for a bit, a smile working its way over my mouth. “Okay, let’s see. What audiobook are you listening to? Let me guess: How to Be the Manliest Man Who Ever Manned?”

“You know, I think James is actually listening to that one.”

“James probably only listens to podcasts about how to be a good alpha male.”

“Okay, you’re probably right there. Anyway, I’m listening to a novel, not a nonfiction book.”

“A novel?” I narrow my eyes.

“A novel is a work of fiction, usually between seventy to ninety thousand words in length. It has a plot, which consists of a conflict that the protagonist is trying to resolve.”

“Okay, smart-ass,” I groan. “Wow, thank you for mansplaining what a novel is to me. What would I do without your wisdom?”

“Listen to podcasts about how to be a good alpha male, probably,” Shang mutters.

There’s a slight pause; then, as one, we both devolve into peals of laughter. What a surprise it is to be laughing with Shang. He’s come off so buttoned-up this whole time that I wasn’t sure that he even knew how to laugh, but now that he is, I’m realizing what a delightful sound it is, boyish and low, with the slightest tinge of surprise that makes me want to make him laugh again and again.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Worth Fighting For’ by Jesse Q. Sutanto appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Prepare your romance-loving heart as there are some stellar romance books releasing in the first half of 2025! Between the months of January and June, you’ll see new releases from Emily Henry, Charlotte Stein, TJ Alexander, Jasmine Guillory, Ali Hazelwood, Meryl Wilsner, Abby Jimenez, Sarah Hogle, Katherine Center, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Ashley Poston, and many more, along with so many debuts too!

You’ll be sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list and be sure to check out our other 2025 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, YA books, Fantasy & Sci-Fi, and Fiction books list.

JANUARY 2025

Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee

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A struggling vineyard owner gets a second taste of her first crush in this romantic comedy that sparkles with humor and heat.

Work In Progress by Kat Mackenzie

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A warm, sexy, laugh-out-loud rom-com about a woman who, desperate for a fresh start, books a literary bus tour across the UK that consists of a lively group of elderly ladies plus one infuriatingly handsome Scottish driver.

Unromance by Erin Connor

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A recently dumped TV heartthrob enlists a jaded romance novelist to ruin romance for him—one rom-com trope at a time—so he never gets swept off his feet again . . .

Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura

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Archaeologist Miriam and journalist Rafael are destined to be rivals and must journey together to find the Lost City of the Moon. As they navigate treacherous paths and rival crews, their hearts become entangled in a thrilling adventure where love and duty collide in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti

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USA Today bestselling author Alexandra Vasti returns with another hot, hilarious Regency romp about a reclusive earl and the wallflower-turned-radical-pamphleteer who turns his life upside down.

Yin Yang Love Song By Lauren Kung Jessen

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In this charming rom-com filled with Chinese traditions and a family curse, an herbalist fake dates a star musician–perfect for fans of Helen Hoang and Jasmine Guillory.

The Lodge by Kayla Olson

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From the author of The Reunion, a cozy rom-com about a writer who decamps to a Vermont lodge for work but finds herself distracted by the charming ski instructor next door.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams

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Two feuding second-grade teachers (and neighbors) find themselves teaming up in this new rivals-to-lovers romance set in Rome, Kentucky—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Rule Book and Practice Makes Perfect.

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters

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With his funny, big-hearted adult rom com debut, bestselling, award-winning YA author Julian Winters shows sometimes fake dating your ex can turn into a second chance.

For One Night Only by Jessica James

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When two former bandmates—and bedmates—are thrust back into each other’s lives in a fake dating scheme for publicity, they’ll be forced to face the music.

Let’s Call A Truce by Amy Buchanan

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Let’s Call A Truce is a sexy contemporary romance about second chances at life and love, bursting with humor and a touch of angst from debut author, Amy Buchanan.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese

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Star-crossed lovers learn that practicing romance leads to the perfect happy ending in this steamy reimagining of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

FEBRUARY 2025

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera

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Aurora Montalban, an ambitious doctor breaking societal norms to help women in 19^th century Paris, and Apollo Sinclair Robles, the reluctant Duke willing to risk everything for her.

Get Lost With You by Sophie Sullivan

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A second chance at love, small-town romance that’s all sweet with just a hint of heat from the “queen of sweet romance” (Falon Ballard) Sophie Sullivan.

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

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A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle–inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

I Got Abducted By Aliens and Now I’m Trapped In A Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming

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A hilarious and sexy romance about a woman who gets dropped on a strange planet only to fall for not one, but two, aliens, from the author of I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf.

Never Planned On You by Lindsay Hameroff

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A glittering, laugh-out-loud second chance romance that reminds us true love is sometimes the one thing you never planned on.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

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A steamy chance encounter between a professional hockey player and the manic pixie dream girl he just can’t seem to forget takes a turn when the pair realize that their parents are engaged—in an all-new rom-com by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey.

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon

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In this “brilliant, poignant love story perfect for fans of Emily Henry,” a former sorority girl starts a prestigious poetry MFA program only to discover that one of her classmates is her high school crush-turned-nemesis—​and he can’t stop writing about her. 

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard

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From the beloved author of Right on Cue and Lease on Love comes a whimsical new rom-com about a workaholic forced to aim for a goal she never thought she’d love.

Love and Other Hollywood Endings by Susannah Erwin

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An upbeat production exec is tasked with reining in the cynical director who was her forbidden college heartbreak in this sparkling, sexy contemporary romance.

The Launch Date by Annabelle Slator

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In this witty and fun rom-com debut from Annabelle Slator, rival coworkers become reluctant daters after they’re forced to work together on a brand-new dating app in hopes of winning a promotion—perfect for fans of Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game.

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

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A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.

The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest

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An R&B singer and a corporate executive find love that hits the right notes in this romance by Kristina Forest, USA Today bestselling author of The Partner Plot.

MARCH 2025

Go Luck Yourself by Sara Raasch

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It’s enemies to lovers in this sexy and delightful holiday mash up that pairs the spare prince of Christmas with the crown prince of St. Patrick’s Day!

Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker

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One fake prime minister, one ridiculously hot handler, and one Italian summer collide in this thrilling adventure rom-com.

The Love We Found by Jill Santopolo

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The long-awaited follow-up to the Reese’s Book Club pick and New York Times bestselling global phenomenon The Light We Lost: a thrilling love story about the roles fate and choice play in shaping a life.

Something Cheeky by Thien-Kim Lam

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A steamy new rom-com from the popular author of Happy Endings and Full Exposure, where two friends get the opportunity to work together on their dream project—a Cinderella rock musical with an all-Asian cast—and discover that falling in love was the easy part…

My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein

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Perfect for fans of Ted Lasso, this delicious slow burn romance turns a pretend marriage into real love.

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

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Grieving the loss of her best friend, a young woman’s life is turned upside down when she meets a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again, in this heartwarming, slow-burn romance by the author of Ready or Not.

Fan Service by Rosie Danan

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The truth is stranger than fan fiction in the next sexy paranormal rom-com from the beloved author of The Roommate.

Cover Story by Celia Laskey

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A hilarious, emotional love story about an extremely anxious publicist who’s tasked with keeping an extremely gay starlet in the closet—but who ends up falling for her instead.​

The Lady Sparks a Flame by Elizabeth Everett

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A Lady with a past. A man with ambition. A romance far from London society that might bridge their divides.

Just Our Luck by Denise Williams

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A lottery ticket + donuts = love in this steamy new fake dating romance from beloved author Denise Williams.

A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander

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From the acclaimed author of Chef’s Kiss, a groundbreaking trans Regency romance that’s both delightfully witty and refreshingly iconoclastic.

Love and Other Paradoxes by Catriona Silvey

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One of the greatest love stories in history gets derailed when a struggling poet at Cambridge runs into a time-traveler who agrees to help him find his muse—a thoughtful and uplifting romantic comedy for fans of About Time and The Midnight Library.

APRIL 2025

Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine

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A bestselling romance author flees to Alaska to reinvent herself and write her first murder mystery, but the rugged resort proprietor soon has her fearing she’s living in a rom-com plot instead in this earnestly spectacular debut by a stunning new voice.

The Geographer’s Map to Romance by India Holton

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Geography professors in a failed marriage of convenience inconveniently reconnect for an emergency mission in this swoony historical-fantasy rom-com.

Anywhere You Go by Bridget Morrissey

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A small-town waitress and a big-city Broadway press agent swap homes to escape the messiness of their personal lives, only to find new purpose—and new love.

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner

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Meryl Wilsner’s spicy romance, their first with a nonbinary lead, where two lifelong best friends go on a nonrefundable honeymoon together and discover sometimes to find a happily ever after, you just have to ask.

Swept Away by Beth O’Leary

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Two strangers find themselves stranded at sea together in this epic new love story by bestselling author Beth O’Leary.

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

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Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping new novel from Emily Henry.

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer comes a new playful yet deeply emotional contemporary romance.

The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle

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From the acclaimed author of Old Flames and New Fortunes comes a steamy enemies-to-lovers romantasy about a paranormal skeptic who is roped into a ghost hunting romp by the charming boy next door . . . who might just show her what real fantasies are made of.

Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage

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From the bestselling author of Done and Dusted and Swift and Saddled, the next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small town romance in which past lovers get a second chance to rediscover what they lost.

Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey

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A morbidly funny and emotionally resonant novel about the ways life—and love—can sneak up on us (no matter how much pepper spray we carry).

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

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The exciting new contemporary romance—and her first to feature a queer romance—by New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory.

The Matchmaker by Aisha Saeed

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A society matchmaker realizes she’s in danger when her clients’ weddings are sabotaged in increasingly disturbing ways—an utterly original mystery from the New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed.

MAY 2025

A Simple Twist of Fate by April Asher

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A witch and a shifter get a second chance at love in this new paranormal romantic comedy from USA Today Bestselling author April Asher.

Flirty Dancing by Jennifer Moffatt

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Sparks fly in this summer romp for fans of Casey McQuiston when dancers at a Catskills resort try to pull off the perfect show, and find happiness and a place where they belong on the way.

Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

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From the international bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola and A Lot Like Adiós comes a steamy love story of a divorced schoolteacher who discovers that her perfect no-strings fling is anything but…

Not So Fast by Karen Booth

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It’s Formula One—getting revved up is all part of the fun in this sizzling, high-octane rom-com for fans of Rush and The Hating Game.

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

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A radiant, new escape to the lake from #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

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Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ―along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

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A former adolescent TV punch line has left her awkwardness in the rearview mirror thanks to a fake-it-till-you-make-it mantra that has her on the cusp of success, until she tells a lie that sets her on a crash course with her past, spending a week on Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love.

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt

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An emotional, irresistible second-chance romance filled with sparkling humor, big feelings, and “melt your face off intimacy” (Jessica Joyce).

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon

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Falling in love with your husband is anything but convenient in this steamy romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Business or Pleasure.

Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake

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A small-town waitress and a Hollywood star’s worlds collide in this new romance by Ashley Herring Blake, USA Today bestselling author of Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date.

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews

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No one betrays the Academy. But now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart.

And They Were Roommates by Page Powars

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A hilarious, unputdownable second-chance-romance about the most unlikely, gay roommate mishap. Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Gwen & Art Are Not in Love.

JUNE 2025

Winging It With You by Chip Pons

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Popular bookstagrammer Chip Pons’s gay rom-com about two men who impulsively pose as a couple to compete in a reality show contest just minutes after meeting at an airport, and their run-in with the very real feelings that start to simmer between them.

The Ripple Effect by Maggie North

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A grumpy burnt out physician and a sunshine psychologist must fake an engagement to save his whitewater canoeing/ relationship therapy startup in Maggie North’s sparkling second novel about starting over.

If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You by Mae Marvel

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Ms. and Ms. Smith meets The Pairing in this heart-racing romance of secrets, spies, and steam.

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston

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A hitmaking songwriter and a bitter musician share a startling and inexplicable connection that they’ll do anything to shake, in the next sparkling, magical book from Ashley Poston.

Ready to Score by Jodie Slaughter

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Cleat Cute meets Friday Night Lights in this funny, spicy, emotional new sapphic romance from Jodie Slaughter.

Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler

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Two estranged best friends find that their long-abandoned treasure hunt might be the key to a fresh start—for both their futures and their feelings, from USA Today bestselling author Sarah Adler.

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson

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A band reunion may be enough to change two musicians’ tune on love in this electric romance from USA Today bestselling author Alicia Thompson.

I’ll Pretend You’re Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan

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In this contemporary novel from the author of Counting Down with You, singer-songwriter Summer Ali shakes things up with a PR stunt “dating” actor Jules Moradi, but the lines between real and fake begin to blur.

When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa

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The USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man is back with a fun and flirty rom-com about a pact between friends that goes awry when one of them unexpectedly announces they’re getting married.

Writing Mr. Right by Alina Khawaja

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In this charming, delightfully original rom-com, a struggling writer’s muse suddenly comes to life, but can they create their own happily-ever-after?

Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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Mulan is reimagined as a contemporary romance about family expectations, mistaken identity, and high stakes mergers—of both business and the heart.

Total Dreamboat by Katelyn Doyle

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From the author of Just Some Stupid Love Story, an irresistible rom-com about what happens when a cruise ship romance goes…overboard

What 2025 romance books are you looking forward to reading? Any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Swoonworthy 2025 Romance Book Releases You Need appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

This peels back the façade of perfectly curated social media lives to show the hard work and sometimes deception involved. Both Aspen and Meredith are incredibly self-obsessed and have their lives determined by their status and need to be liked. They fit that mould of influencer that is obsessed with their follower count and perception at all costs. Some of the best scenes involved the behind the scenes work to create that idyllic feed. This warps their entire perception of themselves and the world around them—everything has to be just so for the aesthetic of it all. This means that the line between fantasy and reality becomes increasingly blurred. I loved how we saw this across a collective of influencers though, creating this wider-spread atmosphere where the currency is your influence and that is a precarious place to be in. The mighty can always fall.

It is also interesting that both of them eventually become family influencers, reminding you of the exploitation of children often used in that industry. There has increasingly been conversations coming from the ‘child stars’ of these family influencers that shows just how dark and uncomfortable these channels can be for the real people behind them. Of course some aspects of this are exaggerated and do not necessarily reflect all the real life examples, but you can imagine some of this is very close to reality.

Ironically, Jesse Q. Sutanto exposes the false sense of authenticity and vulnerability as an additional weapon in the arsenal of influencing. Nothing is real, everything is filtered just so. It makes for darkly hilarious reading at some points and deeply disturbing at others. This toxic bubble also lends itself perfectly to the unhealthy relationship at the core of the book. It is a minefield of jealousy and unspoken competition. The methods Aspen and Meredith use to one-up each other are underhanded and downright nefarious. Sutanto pushes things to the extreme, but only in increments so that the tension and stakes feel like they build somewhat naturally. It is a cesspool of negativity and toxicity which completely contrasts the positive outpouring of their content.

Sutanto magnifies this further with the use of dual timelines, following each ‘friend’ at the pinnacle of their fame as they grow increasingly envious of the other. You chart their rise and fall in this claustrophobic social bubble. It also allows for some sprinklings of surprises as the twists and turns unfold. I also enjoyed how certain relationships were skewed very differently through each perspective and timeline. Neither one of these protagonists are particularly likeable, even if you can understand elements of their motivations. They also constantly feel like unreliable narrators, adding another element of manipulation and control. It means as a reader you are always on the backfoot and second-guessing what is in front of you. After all, within this space, what is an influencer if not a manipulator.

In addition to the space of beauty and family influencing, there is also an element of true crime. Sutanto focuses particularly on influencers within this industry and how easy it can be for cases to become sensationalised, to the extreme of dehumanising the real people involved to treat them as characters in a story instead. They become vessels to project your theories and preconceived ideas on. However, Sutanto adds a brilliant twist to this that slots in perfectly with the manipulation and unease throughout.

You Will Never Be Me places obsession and toxic influencer culture firmly in its crosshairs and delivers an explosively entertaining and skin-crawling story.

You Will Never Be Me is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up You Will Never Be Me? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

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.

Influencer Meredith Lee didn’t teach Aspen Palmer how to blossom on social media just to be ditched as soon as Aspen became big. So can anyone really blame Mer for doing a little stalking? Nothing serious, more like Stalking Lite. Then, Mer gets lucky; she finds one of Aspen’s kids’ iPads and swipes it. Now, she has access to everything: the family calendar and Aspen’s social media accounts. Would anyone else be able to resist tweaking things a little here and there, showing up in Aspen’s place for meetings with potential sponsors? Mer’s only taking back what she deserves–what should have been hers.

Meanwhile, Aspen doesn’t understand why her perfectly filtered life is falling apart. Sponsors are dropping her, fellow influencers are ghosting her, and even her own husband seems to find her repulsive. If she doesn’t find out who’s behind everything, she might just lose it all. What everyone seems to forget is that Aspen didn’t become one of TikTok’s biggest momfluencers by being naive. When Meredith suddenly goes missing, Aspen’s world is upended and mysterious threats begin to arrive–but she won’t let anything get in the way of her perfect life again.

The post Review: You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Jesse Q. Sutanto’s You Will Never Be Me, which is out now.

Influencer Meredith Lee didn’t teach Aspen Palmer how to blossom on social media just to be ditched as soon as Aspen became big. So can anyone really blame Mer for doing a little stalking? Nothing serious, more like Stalking Lite.

Then Mer gets lucky; she finds one of Aspen’s kids’ iPads and swipes it. Now she has access to the family calendar and Aspen’s social media accounts. Would anyone else be able to resist tweaking things a little here and there, showing up in Aspen’s place for meetings with potential sponsors? Mer’s only taking back what she deserves—what should have been hers.

Meanwhile, Aspen doesn’t understand why her perfectly filtered life is falling apart. Sponsors are dropping her, fellow influencers are ghosting her, and even her own husband seems to find her repulsive. If she doesn’t find out who’s behind everything, she might just lose it all. But what everyone seems to forget is that Aspen didn’t become one of TikTok’s biggest momfluencers by being naive.

When Meredith suddenly goes missing, Aspen’s world is upended and mysterious threats begin to arrive—but she won’t let anything get in the way of her perfect life again.

1. Meredith

I’m stalking my best friend. there’s no use denying it. When I first started, I told myself we were so in sync that we were like the same person torn into two halves, and those two halves were linked by an invisible thread that was always pulling us back to each other, so of course we’d constantly be running into each other. Simpatico. That’s what we always used to say. Simpatico! Followed by a wink, content and smug, because out of almost eight billion humans in the world, the two of us somehow managed to find our soulmates in each other, and what is that if not pure and beautiful magic?

And anyway, it’s not really stalking, not like the kind you see in the movies with the stalker prowling in all black (contrary to popular belief, black is not for everyone; it certainly does my skin tone no favors), a chloroform-soaked rag in one hand and zip ties in the other. I’m not trying to kidnap Bestie. It’s more like . . . Stalking Lite. I just want to know how she’s doing. I need to see if our earth-shattering fight mauled her the way it did me. That’s reasonable. And I sure as hell won’t find out anything through her social media accounts, which are all glossed over with giddily ju- bilant content. No, if I want to see signs of the wreckage under- neath, I need to see her in person—catch a glimpse of the tightness around the right corner of her mouth, or the way she licks her lips like a lizard does (a rapid twitch that does nothing to moisten them).

And that’s why I’m sitting in a car around the corner from the twins’ school, waiting for her car to appear out of the drop-off line. Damn it, I know it sounds bad; I’m literally parked outside of her kids’ school. But this has nothing to do with her girls, even though I miss Noemie and Elea so much (and I’m sure they must miss Aunt Mer), and Luca misses little Sabine.

“Don’t you, Luca?” I coo, glancing back at my eight-month-old son. “You miss baby Sabine, don’t you, sweetie?”

He’s too busy sucking on his toes to give me a reply. But I can tell. I know he misses Sabine. Sabine is two months older than Luca, and he hasn’t spent a single day away from Sabine’s side up until her mother and I had our catastrophic fight. It’s not fair to the kids. Why can’t she see that?

I tap the steering wheel impatiently, my eyes scanning each car as it leaves the school. Have I missed her already? I’m not cut out for this spy shit. What if she sees me? What if she recognizes the car? I was careful-ish. I switched cars with Clara this morning, telling her that I had plans to drive up to Griffith Park for a shoot and needed her four-wheel drive. Of course, I’ve driven my sister’s car a few times, so maybe Bestie will still recognize it. Maybe I should drive home. What the hell was I thinking?

But just then, I spot it. Her SUV pulling out of the school driveway. My breath catches in my throat, emotion welling up at the painfully familiar sight of her car. I can practically smell the inside of her car already—her Miss Dior perfume, the girls’ raspberry shampoo, and homemade kale chips. Then, as it drives past, I catch sight of her face, her eyes hidden behind her oversized Chanel sunglasses and her hair falling in loose mahogany waves down her shoulders, and tears rush to my eyes (behind my similarly oversized Jimmy Choos). Damn it, but I miss that bitch, Aspen. A bitter snort tumbles out of my mouth at her name. As- pen. I gave that to her. What’s in a name? Well. A name is the beginning of your brand, so, what’s in a name? Everything. In a way, you could say I made Aspen into who she is today. She owes me everything.

Nine Years Ago

I know it’s en vogue to hate LA—the dry heat, the fake cocaine- and wheatgrass- and matcha-fueled cheerfulness of everyone, the way that the checkout girl at the supermarket looks like she just stepped off a runway—but honestly? I love it. I can be as manically cheerful as the best of them, and I don’t even snort coke (except when I’m trying to lose weight, but ever since I started doing the celery juice fast, I haven’t done any lines). Back in Ohio, I was always “too much,” but it turns out that in LA, you can never be “too much.” Everyone here loves me. Some people—I won’t name names—even describe me as their “happy pill.”

I’m invited to so many parties that some evenings I literally spend just five minutes at each venue—just enough to make the rounds (Hi, sweetie! Oh my god, you look FAB! Ah! OMG, it’s been too long! We must catch up soon. We MUST! Oh, let’s take a selfie, you look AMAZING!), kiss cheeks, and make sure we’re photographed—before I make my exit (Sorry, gotta run. Chell is celebrating her birthday at the—yes, we MUST catch up soon! Okay, love you, bye! Bye! Kisses!). Then I zip down the 405, bill- boards grinning and winking at me like we’re all in on some great secret, to another party, glitzier than the one before; then to an- other party, more exclusive; then another, and another.

(Do you hate me? You mustn’t. I’m just a girl trying to make it big. Trying to thrive.)

It’s at one of these parties that I meet her. Ryleebelle. I only notice her because among the skinny, shimmering LA bodies and glinting fake smiles, she looks so out of place. Picture this: a non- skinny Asian woman in an ill-fitting black dress (black is less cruel to her than it is to me, but still—who wears an LBD to a party in LA, for fuck’s sake?), both hands clasped around a martini glass that she’s holding against her chest like a shield. Too much eye makeup. A terrified look on her face. I’m about to glide past her when she glances up and I catch the look that crosses her face.

Pure and unadulterated admiration. Imagine a fan being called backstage after a BTS concert. That’s the look on her face. More than just a fan. A worshipper. It seizes me (and do not try to tell me that it wouldn’t have seized you too).

I give her a kind smile. I’m gracious, generous. I like to help. There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women, etc. When she sees my smile, the relief that goes through her face is that of a drowning person who’s just been thrown a lifeline. I go to her.

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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.

Prepare your romance-loving heart as there are some stellar romance books releasing in the first half of 2024! Between the months of January and June, you’ll see new releases from Katee Robert, Christina Lauren, Anita Kelly, Olivia Dade, Tessa Bailey, Lynn Painter, Alison Cochrun, Kevin Kwan, Carley Fortune, and so many more, plus those making their exciting debut!

You’ll be sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list and be sure to check out our other 2024 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated list and Anticipated YA list.

JANUARY 2024 BOOK RELEASES

Hedging Your Bets by Jayne Denker

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Opposites attract in this enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy of feuding neighbors and dueling hearts from Jayne Denker, the author of The Rom-Com Agenda.

Love, Me by Jessica Saunders

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Reminiscent of novels by Sophie Kinsella and Rebecca Serle, Love, Me is a sweet, honest foray into love, marriage, and the fantasy of a second-chance romance with the one that got away. Readers will find this lively debut romance book easy to devour and hard to put down.

Love, Naturally by Sophie Sullivan

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A charming opposites-attract romance, Love, Naturally by Sophie Sullivan is for anyone who ever stepped outside their comfort zone and found that all the best things can happen when you take a chance.

Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar

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In this utterly charming debut romance, a teacher with big dreams joins forces with a no-nonsense engineer to survive an ex’s wedding and escape matchmaking pressure from their Indian families. Their plan? Faking an engagement, of course.

Midnight Ruin by Katee Robert

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Orpheus lost everything when he lost Eurydice’s love…but now he’s ready to brave the Underworld to take her back, even if that means going toe-to-toe (and heart-to-heart) with the right-hand man of Hades himself.

Take Two, Birdie Maxwell by Allison Winn Scotch

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Hollywood’s biggest rom-com star tries to recover from her damaged reputation by staging her own rom-com and following a lead on a lost love in the new romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Allison Winn Scotch. (Update: This title now releases on 5 March 2024)

Never Blow a Kiss by Lindsay Lovise

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In this delightfully witty Victorian romance, a governess spy running away from her past falls for an ex-soldier turned railroad magnate—perfect for fans of Manda Collins and Bridgerton!

Recipe for a Charmed Life by Rachel Linden

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After a day of unrivaled disappointments, a promising young chef finds every bite of food suddenly tastes bitter. To save her career, she travels to the Pacific Northwest to reconnect with her estranged mom, and discovers a family legacy she never suspected in this delicious novel from the bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.

Principles of (E)motion by Sara Read

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Lessons in Chemistry meets advanced mathematics in Sara Read’s heartwarming, STEMinist novel, PRINCIPLES OF (E)MOTION follows a female genius who solves a famously elusive math problem only to struggle with anxiety and prejudice when challenged to prove that the work is her own.

Not Bad for a Girl by Anastasia Ryan

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From hilariously awkward lunch breaks to cringe-worthy Zoom calls, this workplace comedy of errors is sure to put a smile on your face.

Last Call At The Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

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Opposites attract when a free-spirited American singer-songwriter with ADHD teams up with a charming Irishman to revitalize his family’s pub in the next heartfelt romance from the author of Luck and Last Resorts.

The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

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A rising-star musician has a second chance at love with an old flame she remembers all too well in this swoony romance from the acclaimed authors of The Roughest Draft.

FEBRUARY 2024 BOOK RELEASES

When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein

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A steamy, opposites-attract romance with undeniable chemistry between a grumpy retired footballer and his fabulous and very sunshine-y ghostwriter.

Fish Out of Water by Katie Ruggle

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A romcom perfect for fans of Christina Lauren’s Something Wilder and Sarah Morgenthaler’s Moose Springs, Alaska, about a city girl lost in the wilderness with only a grouchy mountain man to guide her…and there’s only one sleeping bag.

Not Your Crush’s Cauldron by April Asher

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In April Asher’s new Supernatural Singles novel, a witch takes a stroll on the wild-ish side, sparking an alert that saddles her with her very own Guardian Angel…who happens to be her secret crush―and new roommate.

Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair by Laura Piper Lee

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A new mom repairs her broken dreams in this hilarious rom-com about starting over that sparkles with intelligence, wit, and compassion.

Till There Was You by Lindsay Hameroff

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Set both in the chaos of fame and the high stakes world of New York City restaurants, this novel sprinkles in a second chance at love and a dollop of celebrity drama to create a romantic romp that will make even the most jaded reader smile.

How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly

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Chemistry sizzles in this workplace rom-com set in the world of high school basketball as the author of Love & Other Disasters delivers a sapphic romance full of humor and heart.

At First Spite by Olivia Dade

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Bestselling author Olivia Dade welcomes you to Harlot’s Bay in this delightfully sexy rom-com about a woman who buys the town’s famous Spite House, only to realize the infuriating man she can’t stand lives right next door—and their unwilling proximity might spark something neither can ignore.

Right on Cue by Falon Ballard

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From the beloved author of Just My Type and Lease on Love comes a new romantic comedy in which a former actress-turned-screenwriter finds herself back in the spotlight, only for her romantic lead to be the one man she can’t stand.

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone

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A surprise pregnancy leads to even more life-changing revelations in this heartfelt, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance of found family and unexpected love.

The Catch by Amy Lea

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A grumpy lobster fisherman tosses a fashion influencer’s impeccably curated life overboard in the next romantic comedy from international bestselling author Amy Lea.

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey

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#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey launches a super sexy sports romance duology with a rom-com about a bad boy professional athlete who falls for his biggest fan…

Sex, Lies and Sensibility by Nikki Payne

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Two sisters roll up their sleeves to run a dilapidated inn but must learn to work with the locals in this deliciously spicy novel inspired by Sense and Sensibility.

MARCH 2024 BOOK RELEASES

The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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What should have been a family celebration of Chinese New Year descends into chaos when longtime foes crash the party in this hilariously entertaining novel by Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties.

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

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Told with her signature warmth and insight into matters of the heart, Rebecca Serle has finally set her sights on romantic love. The result is a gripping, emotional, passionate, and (yes) heartbreaking novel about what it means to be single, what it means to find love, and ultimately how we define each of them for ourselves. Expiration Dates is the one fans have been waiting for.

In a Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati-Alexander

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The author of Love Buzz follows her acclaimed first novel with a delightful Caribbean-set romp about an ambitious designer of apocalyptic video games with a strategy for (almost) everything who discovers what happens when her best-laid plans go off course . . .

Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley

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Travel consultant Addie Macrae discovers more than just the countryside when she’s sent to help a struggling tour company in Alexandra Kiley’s debut Kilt Trip. Set against the vibrant Scottish countryside, this enchanting romcom features a spicy enemies-to-lovers tale full of clever banter and relatable family dynamics.

Trouble by Lex Croucher

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A Regency-era romantic comedy with a deliciously feminist and queer twist, from the New York Times bestselling author of Gwen & Art Are Not in Love.

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter

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A humorous and unique rom-com that sees two wedding crashers fall for each other. This intriguing premise delivers on its promise with so much feeling and so much fun.

The Love Remedy by Elizabeth Everett

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When a Victorian apothecary hires a stoic private investigator to protect her business, they learn there’s only one way to treat true love—with a happily ever after.

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

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For fans of Tia Williams and Colleen Hoover comes a deeply moving and personal novel about sacrifice, self-reliance, and finding true happiness from “one of the finest romance writers of our age.”

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage

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From the author of the BookTok sensation Done and Dusted comes the next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small town romance featuring opposites attract and forced proximity.

Maya’s Laws of Love by Alina Khawaja

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A bride-to-be convinced she’s cursed in romance finds her luck changing—at exactly the wrong time.

Flirty Little Secret by Jessica Lepe

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You’ve Got Mail meets Abbott Elementary in this sweet, sexy romantic comedy for fans of Lynn Painter and Lyssa Kay Adams. 

A Governess’s Guide to Passion and Peril by Manda Collins

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Bestselling author Manda Collins continues the Ladies Most Scandalous series with this delightful, witty historical romance in which two friends reunite —and discover hidden feelings—perfect for fans of Evie Dunmore and Netflix’s  Bridgerton!

APRIL 2024 BOOK RELEASES

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings

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A sexy, sapphic, opposites-attract romance with Mazey Eddings’ signature sparkling voice!

Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle

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A steamy, riotous second-chance romance about a magical florist’s unexpected reunion with her high school sweetheart . . . while she fake dates his soon-to-be stepbrother.

Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez

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A sharp and scintillating summer novel that will make readers laugh out loud and cry happy tears from the New York Times bestselling author of Yours Truly.

Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun

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The author of the “sexy, insightful, and utterly charming” (BuzzFeed) Kiss Her Once for Me returns with a new queer rom-com following once childhood best friends forced together to drive their former teacher across the country.

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

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The brilliant contemporary romance novel debut from Yulin Kuang, the acclaimed screenwriter of Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation and director of the forthcoming Beach Read feature film.

When I Think of You by Myah Ariel

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In this sweeping second chance romance from debut author Myah Ariel, the unexpected spark of two former flames may force them to choose between their dreams and each other.

The Rule Book by Sarah Adams

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College exes break all the rules when they reunite years later in this enemies to lovers, second-chance romance, the highly anticipated companion novel to the TikTok sensation The Cheat Sheet—from the New York Times bestselling author of Practice Makes Perfect.

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.

Happy Medium by Sarah Adler

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A clever con woman must convince a skeptical, sexy farmer of his property’s resident real-life ghost if she’s to save them all from a fate worse than death, in this delightful new novel from the author of Mrs. Nash’s Ashes.

Colton Gentry’s Third Act by Jeff Zentner

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“A story of love, healing, and second chances ” (Emily Henry) following a down on his luck country musician who, in the throes of grief after a shocking loss, moves back home and rekindles a relationship with his high school sweetheart, from award-winning author Jeff Zentner.

Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur

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Sparks fly when a lovelorn romance novelist and a divorce lawyer who has sworn off relationships agree to cohost a podcast series offering dating advice to viewers, in Truly, Madly, Deeply, the next steamy queer rom-com from Lambda Literary Award winner and national bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur.

Only and Forever by Chloe Liese

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It’s a room-mance for the books in this tender, steamy story about unexpectedly finding love and being brave enough to let it revise life’s narrative in the final book in the beloved Bergman Brothers series.

MAY 2024 BOOK RELEASES

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

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This Summer Will Be Different offers an idyllic coastal setting, enticing vacation descriptions, and a story that is equal parts sexy romance and female friendship.

Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan

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From the iconic internationally bestselling author of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy: A forbidden affair erupts volcanically amid a decadent tropical wedding in this outrageous comedy of manners from the iconic author of Crazy Rich Asians.

Savor It by Tarah Dewitt

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Filled with spicy summer fun, small-town charm, and Big Feelings, this highly anticipated romcom is Tarah DeWitt’s best yet.

Lovers and Liars by Amanda Eyre Ward

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Three wildly different sisters reunite for a destination wedding at an English castle in this heartfelt and rollicking novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters.

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

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A time travel romance, a speculative spy thriller, a workplace comedy, and an ingeniously constructed exploration of the nature of truth and power and the potential for love to change it all: Welcome to The Ministry of Time, the exhilarating debut novel by Kaliane Bradley.

One Last Shot by Betty Cayouette

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From the creator of viral TikTok account Betty’s Book List, a debut romance about a supermodel and a photographer with a past marriage pact who meet again ten years later on a photoshoot in Cinque Terre, Italy.

Mistakes We Never Made by Hannah Brown

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From The Bachelorette star and New York Times bestselling author Hannah Brown comes an irrepressibly funny romantic comedy about two frenemies on the verge of making the biggest mistake of all . . .

Lavash at First Sight by Taleen Voskuni

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Sparks fly between two women pitted against each other in this delectable new romantic comedy by Taleen Voskuni, author of Sorry, Bro.

Second Night Stand by Karelia Stetz-Waters and Fay Stetz-Waters

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One hook-up is about to become one seriously hilarious situationship in this vibrant and lively romantic comedy about taking chances . . . and breaking the rules.

Love, Lies and Cherry Pie by Jackie Lau

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The author of the “full of heart” (Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author) The Stand-Up Groomsman returns with a charming and clever rom-com about a young woman’s desperate attempts to fend off her meddling mother…only to find that maybe mother does know best.

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

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Christina Lauren, the instant New York Times bestselling and “reigning romance queens” (PopSugar), returns with a delicious new romance between the buttoned-up heir of a grocery chain and his free-spirited artist ex as they fake their relationship in order to receive a massive inheritance.

Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay

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When a librarian moves to a quaint Irish village where her favorite novelist lives, the last thing she expects is to fall for the author’s prickly son… until their story becomes one for the books, from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading.

JUNE 2024 BOOK RELEASES

One Last Summer by Kate Spencer

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From the cohost of the award-winning and uber-popular Forever35 podcast comes a dreamy, laugh-out-loud summer romance that asks: What do you do when the life you’ve planned isn’t what you’ve dreamed? 

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

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A forbidden, secret affair proves that all’s fair in love and science—from New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

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New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center’s latest laugh out loud, feel good rom-com about writing your own story, perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Christina Lauren.

Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren

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A witty and deeply romantic modern reimagining of Disney’s Tangled, by the New York Times bestselling author duo Christina Lauren, part of the acclaimed and bestselling Meant to Be collection.

Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb

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A divorcee embarks on her “year of yes” and crosses paths with a shy but sensitive birdwatcher who changes her life in this charming rom-com that is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Ali Hazelwood.

The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson

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

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

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A professor of literature finds herself caught up in a work of fiction…literally, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Year Slip and The Dead Romantics.

Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle

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For fans of Emily Henry, a debut about a rom-com screenwriter who doesn’t believe in love and a divorce attorney who does, forced together at their high school reunion fifteen years after their breakup

One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin

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A struggling writer is forced to walk down the aisle at her best friend’s wedding with the man who gave her book a very public one-star rating in this fresh romantic comedy from Laura Hankin.

Match Me If You Can by Swati Hegde

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A young magazine writer in Mumbai must prove her matchmaking skills—and contend with growing feelings for her close family friend—in this debut desi romance.

Isabel and the Rogue by Liana De la Rosa

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When a Mexican heiress defies Victorian society to protect her country a British war hero makes it his new mission to protect her…

Barely Even Friends by Mae Bennett

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A grumpy, rich recluse meets his match in this steamy Beauty and the Beast retelling—with a Succession twist. Fans of fairy tale adaptations, and readers of Julie Murphy and Falon Ballard, will adore Mae Bennett’s debut romance.

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

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